Scotland’s announces new festival Trnsmt with Radiohead, Kasabian, Biffy Clyro and more

Taking place at Glasgow Green from 7th – 9th July, 2017, TRNSMT will feature headline performances from Radiohead, Kasabian and Biffy Clyro. The 1975, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Belle & Sebastian, London Grammar, George Ezra, Two Door Cinema Club, Twin Atlantic, The Kooks, Blossoms, Rag‘n’Bone Man, Circa Waves and many more to be announced, form the line-up for one of the most highly anticipated music events of the Scottish summer. This truly award-winning line-up, with a mighty 72 BRITs, Grammy Awards, Ivor Novello and Mercury Music Prize award nominations bestowed to the artists on the bill, is unyielding in its quest to provide the greatest experience of the summer for music fans.
 
Glasgow Green will play host to this truly metropolitan, non-camping festival, which stages global superstars alongside the very best of local talent. Glasgow, the UNESCO City of Music and cultural and artistic hub, will provide the backdrop as TRNSMT interrupts Glasgow’s summer air with an electrifying celebration of music, bringing people together to enjoy the acts they already love, discover the new, and undergo life-affirming experiences.
 
Fresh on the heels of the release of their ninth LP, the critically acclaimed A Moon Shaped Pool, Radiohead make their return to Glasgow, playing on Friday 7th July. One of the most iconic and innovative bands in the world, Radiohead have evolved continuously since their inception, having created an eclectic back catalogue of albums and songs now widely regarded as classics. No other British band of the past 30 years continuously tops “Greatest Album Ever” or “Most Influential Artist” polls curated by fans and critics alike, are cited as influential to countless other bands of today, and have the unique ability to command respect from a live audience, no matter the scale of event they play. Radiohead last played Glasgow in 2008, so their return to the city in 2017, a year which has already seen them BRIT Award nominated for Best British Group, is long-awaited and highly anticipated.
 
 
Since the release of their self-titled debut album in 2004, Kasabian have gone on to become one of the biggest rock bands in the country and will headline TRNSMT on Saturday 8th July. They’ve continued to fly the flag for British guitar music ever since, releasing a further four critically acclaimed albums, all of which reached number one. Their new record will be released in the spring. The Leicester four-piece are known for their blistering live shows, with their unique blend of colossal dance beats and rock turning whole festival fields into dancefloors. Equally at home on the festival stage, in stadiums, arenas or in a small intimate setting, few bands can unify a crowd of thousands in quite the same way as Kasabian.
 
 
Biffy Clyro are three childhood friends from Ayrshire, Scotland who formed a band, delivered three albums of abrasive youthful exuberance and finally cracked the big time when their fourth – 2007’s Puzzle – hit the charts at number one. With a further three albums under their belt, they are now bona fide stars who can headline festivals, fill arenas and deliver hit singles in an era in which rock bands rarely trouble the charts. Currently nominated for Best British Group at this year’s BRIT Awards, Biffy Clyro’s evolution from the jagged post-hardcore of their early material to the huge alternative rock sound of recent years has won them a fervent and fanatic fan base, whose cries of “Mon the Biff!” will be heard for miles across the city when they headline TRSNMT on Sunday 9th July.
 
The 1975’s album I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It proved they were here for a long time, and a good time, topping the charts in the UK and US and becoming one of the defining albums of recent years. The band is nominated for Brit Awards this year including Best British Group and Album of the Year and will no doubt be one of the many highlights of TRNSMT on Sunday 9th July.
 
Welsh four-piece Catfish and the Bottlemen will play TRNSMT hot off the back of a world tour for their critically acclaimed sophomore album, The Ride, which saw their anthemic sound reach number one in UK album charts. TRNSMT’s Glasgow crowd will be sure to welcome the band on Saturday 8th July, as charismatic frontman Van McCann revealed his own love for the city on album track Glasgow, which fans will be hoping to hear this July.
 
Indie figureheads, Belle & Sebastian, bring their critically acclaimed back catalogue to Glasgow Green to join Radiohead on Friday 7th July. Emerging in the late nineties, part of the band’s appeal was their apparent obliviousness to fame, which they were thrust into in 1998 with the release of The Boy with the Arab Strap and their 1999 Best Newcomers Brit Award win. Their ability to share their affinity for culture in songs written almost personally to their fans is how they’ve become lovingly imprinted into the music industry today.
 
Artists also announced today, London Grammar, George Ezra, Two Door Cinema Club, Twin Atlantic, The Kooks, Blossoms, Rag‘n’Bone Man and Circa Waves, have amassed a number of award wins and nominations throughout their careers, from London Grammar’s Ivor Novello win in 2014 to Rag‘n’Bone Man’s Brits Critics' Choice Awards in 2017. The musical talent on offer at TRNSMT, led by Radiohead, Kasabian and Biffy Clyro, is the best of the best, the cream of the crop; from your new favourite to most-played artist, the line-up is yours to enjoy thanks to flexible early bird ticket packages.
 
TRNSMT will offer entertainment over two stages – with a line-up that will highlight talent across the musical spectrum, from the most influential band in fans’ lifetime to their favourite new, under the radar artist on the King Tut’s Stage – powered by Utilita. Fans will enjoy music, arts, culture, bars and restaurants as they customise their individual festival experience across the 3 days.
 

Primal Scream & Belle & Sebastian to headline OnBlackheath 2016

OnBlackheath Festival in partnership with John Lewis, London’s most anticipated music, food and family festival returns this year on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 SeptemberOnBlackheath is the ultimate weekend for standout live music with mouth-watering food and drink experiences along with a fun-filled program of entertainment for all ages. Tickets are on sale Friday 12 February and available via www.OnBlackheath.com 

Confirmed to headline the Main Stage on Saturday are Scottish rock legends Primal Scream who are on the cusp of releasing their latest studio album ‘Chaosmosis’ alongside Grammy Award winning electronic music maestros Hot Chip. Indie pop icons Belle & Sebastian to close the Festival on Sunday along with multiplatinum-selling James who are set to release their new album ‘Girl at the End of the World’.

Saturday’s line-up alongside Primal Scream and Hot Chip will be, Mercury Music Prize nominee Roisin Murphy and cool catLoneLady. Sunday sees Belle & Sebastian, and James on the main stage, along with local heroes Squeeze, and Mercury nominated singer songwriter SOAK

This year’s Second Stage will see the return of Heavenly Records with a promised killer line up, and new kids on the blockNTS Radio, who have been making big waves since they began broadcasting in 2011.

OnBlackheath, celebrating their third year, unveiled their 2016 line-up at an exclusive launch party DJ’d by Squeeze’s Glenn Tilbrook at the Hare & Billet puba stone’s throw from the festival site.

Harvey Goldsmith CBE added, “I am incredibly proud that OnBlackheath festival has reached its 3rd year returning on 10th & 11th September 2016. We’ve established ourselves as one of London’s most looked-forward to events. We pride ourselves on good music, bespoke immersive food experiences and a special day out for all the family. I am thrilled this year to introduce for the first time, the ‘Puffin World of Stories’ to the Under 12’s area, bringing to life the great Puffin authors.”

With the hottest in music and very best culinary delights, OnBlackheath offers festivalgoers a memorable experience on the historic green space of London’s Blackheath Common SE3. OnBlackheath will also feature an array of exciting attractions including the John Lewis Food Village with a  food demonstration stage coupled with celebrity chefs and an immersive dining experience. For the first time Puffin Books will be bringing to life the kid’s experience with their World of Stories across the festival. OnBlackheath embraces families as under 12s go free!

Rachel Swift, Head of Brand Marketing for John Lewis said, “For the third year running we are delighted to be supporting OnBlackheath.  It's our celebration of music, family fun and food with the John Lewis Food Village at the heart of the festival.  And if you're a my John Lewis member there's exclusive access to an array of extra treats.”

OnBlackheath has established itself as a landmark event in the London calendar and has previously presented the likes of Massive Attack, Grace Jones, Elbow, Madness, Manic Street Preachers and Kelis. Last year over 30,000 music and food lovers gathered to enjoy OnBlackheath, across the two days.

Bestival 2013 Review – Part 1

As the late summer nights begin to draw in and the end of the festival season is in sight, while many have packed away their daisy dukes, the Bestivalites are suiting up sailor style for the magical mayhem of HMS Bestival 2013 – Robin Hill park is adorned with swaying flags, the ferries are full and the campsites are primed for partying.

Bestival 2013

Thursday’s foray into the mad world of Rob Da Bank’s imagination sees a brand new area – Temple Island (which we managed to explore before it all burnt up – apparently part of the act not an act of pyromania) and a host of new ‘bubbles’ with a stage, chill out areas and sculptures as well as a heap of amazing places to eat (our particular favourite is Anna Mae’s Mac n Cheese).

Heading into the main arena past the giant illuminated Big Wheel, the Big Top is already chocka with people for The Correspondents. Mad frontman Mr. Bruce is spinning wildly in his humbug-harlequin frilly getup during ‘What’s Happened To Soho?’ before launching headlong into heart thumping jungle tunes, to which the crowd goes mental. Yelling “This is about as dirty as a gentleman like me gets on a Thursday” before leaping onto the sea of arms in the audience, Mr. Bruce crowd surfs to the halfway point in seconds as DJ counterpart DJ Chucks lays down the beat. Calling out “I’ve gotta be honest, this is overwhelming…” Mr. Bruce isn’t kidding – for anyone who hasn’t seen The Correspondents before; they usually play to pretty tiny crowds, and tonight The Big Top is overflowing and going top notch wild. Elsewhere, Tankus The Henge bring a punky edge to the adorable Polka Tent and every single person we pass has a giant grin plastered on their chops.

Friday sees drag spectacular Sink The Pink (usually found gyrating at The Grand Palace of Entertainment) joined on the main stage by members of The Royal Marine Reserves for a thoroughly jolly workout session, “On behalf of the armed forces, we thank you” and “On behalf of transvestites we thank you” are not two sentences you expect to hear at a festival on a Friday afternoon but it did make us giggle. French electro band Caravan Palace are a surprise with their interesting mix of what’s being termed ‘gypsy jazz’ alongside some proper swing-dancing, but the crowd really draws in for the hotly anticipated return of American hip-hop crew, Wu-Tang Clan. Despite the fact that pretty much everyone only knows one song, the band manage to produce enough hype to get the crowd jumping, before busting out 2001 mega hit ‘Gravel Pit’. DJ Mathematics pops off his shoe and proceeds to work the mixer with his foot to the chant of “When I say Wu-Tang, you say forever…” as a mass of ‘W’ hand signs are thrust skyward in appreciation. Though their set seemed to a lack a bit of punch overall, the nostalgia factor made up for it.

Wu Tang Clan @ Bestival 2013

A quick jaunt to check out new area The Port reveals it to be a giant boat with Diablo acts, fire poi spinners and a massive mermaid, alongside some banging music from DJ’s atop the structure and a huge crane providing an aerial dancer a place to do crazy tricks above the awestruck crowd. It’s sort of reminiscent of our beloved (missing) Arcadia from the last couple of years, and really comes into it’s own at night, with regular fireworks, flame cannons and an amazing DJ lineup.

Over in The Big Top, Sinead O’Connor pokes her signature shaved bonce out onto the stage to a decent crowd for a stirring rendition (with added crowd participation) of her iconic Prince cover of ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’, giggling, Sinead says “Thank you, you sang beautifully”. Main stage veterans The Flaming Lips are as bonkers as ever, with frontman Wayne Coyne cradling a baby-doll atop silver spheres, in front of a light-waterfall before spinning a flaming orb around his head like a talisman. Amid the madness and glitter ticker-tape, it’s actually a decent set, but the bafflement on the faces around us suggest they’ve gone a step too odd/dark for the Bestival crowd this time.

The Big Top welcomes Belle & Sebastian with an almighty roar for ‘Cuckoo’, and their soft melodic rock lights up the rammed tent, as the rain begins to pour outside. Joking “I hope you haven’t taken all your drugs at once, remember it’s a marathon not a sprint” frontman Stuart Murdoch launches into ‘Another Sunny Day’ and grabs a host of lucky fans from the crowd to join them on stage for ‘Boy With The Arab Strap’. The Scottish Belles definitely put on one of the best performances of the whole weekend.

Despite the extreme soaking the thousands at the main stage just received, the crowd is going absolutely hyper to the sounds of Fatboy Slim’s Bestival Birthday Bash (See main review for full details), with lasers, fireworks, a great AV show and absolutely banging beats. Norman Cook was absolutely made for Bestival and it’s great to see him filling up the main stage instead of either getting crushed in the Big Top or on the fringe watching the fun happen from the outside. ‘Right Here Right Now’ and ‘Rockafella Skank’ are just absolutely massive, heart pounding, raving beasts of tunes and the whole arena is jumping and waving glowsticks like there’s no tomorrow.

Fatboy Slim @ Bestival 2013

At Bestival, the headliner isn’t ever the end of the action – if you go back to your tent, you’re missing out on the most magical hours at Robin Hill. Staggering about the Ambient Forest, with it’s Chinese lanterns and kids play areas, tiny stages and secret hideouts is honestly like being a kid again. Stick on a forest dwelling animal onesie and you may as well have been dropped into Where The Wild Things Are. It’s totally surreal. As if that wasn’t enough, sneaking past Bollywood and The Port, the top left corner of the forest has a hidden jewel in the form of The Ampitheatre. During the day, this plays host to a huge array of acts (notably, Scroobius Pip’s Satin Lizard Lounge of amazing spoken-word artists) but at night they show bizarre and melon-bending movies for the drunk and delusional. Tonight’s effort is an 80’s hip-hop spectacular ‘Beat Street’. The movie itself is kind of confusing and terribly acted, but the atmosphere of the dark benches hidden in the trees, the bunting and the secret snuggling is what The Amphitheatre is all about, oh and the really exceptionally drink-and-or-drug addled couple falling all over people on their 30 minute attempt to leave – comedy gold.

 
Photos by James Bridle for Summer Festival Guide