Day 3 of TRNSMT and one final time Glasgow Green morphs into a sprawling playground for music lovers, transforming Scotland’s largest city into the ultimate summer hotspot.

This year’s TRNSMT Festival, held under a rare bout of unrelenting sunshine, did not disappoint. The event featured a lineup as eclectic as a record store discount bin, yet as thrilling as a rollercoaster ride through musical history.

From the moment Majesty Palm kicked off the festivities to Calvin Harris‘s electrifying finale, the festival aptly balanced the familiar with the cutting-edge.

Majesty Palm set the tone early, opening the festival with a set as refreshing as a morning mimosa. Their breezy melodies wafted over the crowd, a perfect antidote to the heat already baking the grounds. It was at this point The Goldne Bough instantly regretted wearing pink metallic jeans… a choice for cooler climes indeed. The band’s upbeat energy and infectious hooks had even the most stoic Scots tapping their toes. We loved tracks; “Split”, “Side Eye” and latest single , “The Longer I Hold You”.

Next up was Future Utopia, bringing a cerebral edge to the party. Their blend of experimental sounds and thought-provoking lyrics felt like a TED Talk you could dance to. The crowd might not have understood all the philosophical nuances, but they sure appreciated the vibe as they danced along in the early afternoon sun the River Stage became a playground of dancing bodies, think Khruangbin meets Confidence Man -if ConMan never went to a rave in Ibiza. Ultra cool, soulful synth laden tracks like; “Your Love”, “We Were, We Still Are” and “Children of the Internet” had our toes tapping away beneath the trees and colourful flags.

Alison Goldfrapp emerged looking resplendent in her multicolored feather jacket, defying the blistering heat with an aura of unflappable cool. Her performance was a dazzling spectacle, with a group of backing dancers emerging on stage one by one opening up the experience like the flower blossom visual background, it was a journey through all the fan favourites like; “Train”, “Oh La La La” and “Digging Deeper” showcased her synth-pop landscapes that had the audience in raptures. One could only marvel at her ability to stay fabulous while everyone else wilted under the sun.

Rachel Chinouriri‘s set was a soulful balm, her voice weaving effortlessly through the warm afternoon air. It was like receiving a long-distance call from a best friend, full of intimate confessions and heartfelt melodies. Tracks like “Never Need Me”, “The Hills” and “All I Ever Asked” cement her status as BFF girl next door. She held the crowd spellbound, each song a story that left you wanting more.

Blossom brought a jolt of energy with their slick indie-pop anthems. It was as if the Smiths had been resurrected with an added dose of sunshine and serotonin. Mid set they revealed what was to be a covered up ape statue sitting in Buddha stance. There’s great hair, coordinated vintages suits and definitely a lot posturing but we loved the bounce of tracks like: “Charlamange”, “Honey Sweet” and “Your Girlfriend”. The crowd responded in kind, a sea of bobbing heads and singing voices that echoed across Glasgow Green.

Nova Twins quickly became our favourite act of the day as they stormed the stage with a ferocity that made the ground tremble. Their genre-defying mix of punk, metal, and hip-hop was a sonic assault that left no eardrum unscathed. The duo’s raw power and charisma transformed the festival into a riotous celebration of rebellion and noise.

They may be pint sized hero’s by dear lord do the pack a punk punch? Bassist Georgia South apparently has zero interest in keeping her knees intact with multiple death drops and towards the end of the set several crowd surfing moments. They absolutely killed their set with standout tracks being; “Antagonist”, “Cleopatra” and “Choose Your Fighter” make moves and catch a show if they swing your way soon.

The Reytons swaggered onstage with the confidence of a band destined for bigger things. Their gritty anthems and no-nonsense attitude brought a refreshing dose of raw energy to the festival. The crowd, already buzzing, found a new gear, turning the field into a sea of raised fists and sing-alongs. Easy to chant chorus and songs exhausting the trials and tribulations of growing up on housing estates it’s clear to see why they had drawn a decent audience to the King Tut’s Stage.

Daydreamers offered a much-needed respite, their dreamy soundscapes a gentle embrace amid the day’s chaos. It was the kind of music that made you want to lie back on the grass and let your thoughts drift away, a perfect interlude before the evening’s crescendo.

English Teacher, with their sharp lyrics and post-punk grooves, were the surprise hit of the day. Their songs were like witty essays set to music, each one a clever dissection of modern life. The band’s tight performance and undeniable charm won over a legion of new fans. We loved the saccharine charm of , “The Worlds Biggest Paving Slab”, “R&B” and “Albatross” – they are playing at St.Lukes on the 18th of November we highly recommend you catch them.

Enter Shikari‘s set was a predictable chaotic blend of electronic mayhem and hardcore fury. Frontman Rou Reynolds commanded the stage like a deranged ringmaster, leading the crowd through a series of exhilarating twists and turns. Confetti canons poured down on the crowd and into our beers, there was a dig at making Calvin Harris hear them – but admirable he has “Big speakers and a ton of pyro”. They played all their hits including; “The Void Stares Back” and “Sorry You’re Not A Winner”.

Finally, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Calvin Harris took the stage. The hometown (well almost Dumfries isn’t that far we can claim his as our own) hero delivered a set that was part rave, part greatest hits show, and entirely electrifying. It appears ES where correct he did have gigantic speakers and an eyebrow singeing array of pyro… especially from the photo pitt.

Having amassed the biggest audience so far his beats were the pulse of the festival, each drop sending shockwaves through the ecstatic crowd. There was a moment half way through his set where he stopped to announce that Spain had scored a Goal against England in the World Cup Final – which was to the Spain flag dappled crowd much to everyone’s delight proving that you may hit the big time but you’ll always remember your roots.The lights, the energy, the sheer scale of it all – it was the an amusing way to close the show.

TRNSMT 2024 was a testament to the power of live music to unite, uplift, and, yes, even survive a Scottish heatwave.

Whether you came for the indie darlings, the punk provocateurs, or the dancefloor juggernauts, there was something for everyone. And as the last notes of Calvin Harris’s set echoed into the night infact all the way home to Dennistoun it was clear that TRNSMT was a triumph.

Words: Angela Canavan

Photos: Angela Canavan