TRNSMT is a winner for me
Just Like Eddie, Railway Club, Ayr, 7.30pm.
Apres Golf, Irvine Harourside - various locations, all day.
Apres Golf: Counselled Out, Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine, 7pm.
Apres Golf: Spirit of Slim Chance, Irvine Harbourside marquee, 4.30pm.
Underwraps, Bellfield Tavern, Kilmarnock, 8pm.
George Lyndsay Blues Band, Drouthy Neebors, Ayr, 9pm. Sunday, July 16
Ayr Blues Club, Twa Dugs, Ayr, 6.30pm.
Ben Ellis open mic, Harleys, Ayr, 9pm.
Sunday jam, Fanny by Gaslight, Kilmarnock, 3pm.
Itchycoo Park, Music on the Prom, Girvan, 3pm. Monday, July 17
The Organist Entertains: Sam Bristow, Town Hall, Ayr, noon. Tuesday, July 18
Open mic with Tu Amo, Cheeky Charlies, Troon, 10pm.
Send your gigs to michael. reynolds@ trinitymirror. com or call 01292 294464. took it for granted.
The festival shaped a generation of music lovers from across the country and was the high point of the year for many. But, all good things must come to an end. And when Geoff Ellis dropped the bombshell that there would be no TITP 2017 there were gasps of disbelief from all quarters – it was, after all, Scotland’s biggest event bar none.
Enter the strangely vowel- free TRNSMT just up the road on Glasgow Green at the weekend. Billed not as a T- replacement, but as a completely new event, and with no camping provision whatsoever. What excited me was having a top- notch music event less than an hour away from my house by train, bus or car – the drive to Balado or Strathallan from Ayrshire was about as attractive a prospect as removing your toenails with a pair of pliers.
The line- up was pretty amazing too with the must- see Radiohead as Friday night headliners, Kasabian on Saturday and Ayrshire’s own Biffy Clyro on Sunday night. By all accounts, all were incredible.
What was also incredible was the fact TRNSMT had all the buzz of T and, thanks to the ‘ no- camping’ policy, less of the look of a zombie film.
The vast majority of people who bumped into me ( and there were a few) not only noticed they’d done so – but even, shock horror, apologised for doing it!
As someone who’s made it his business to be at every T In The Park since 1999 I can honestly say if it’s RIP to T, I’ll happily welcome TRNSMT with open arms.
And not just because it’s less than an hour from my front door! Speed stars will take a hike next week for the annual Cairn Table Race in Muirkirk. The race kicks off at 7pm next Wednesday ( July 19), with registration at 6pm at the Walkers car park. Call 01563 554736. Entry is £ 7/ 5 for members. Shiver Me Timbers! Culzean will be invaded by pirates this weekend as they take part in a host of fantastic events. The first- ever weekend long programme will include fantastic prizes for the best dressed and the Smugglers Run to put even the heartiest sailor through their paces. More info at nts. org. uk. Since the mid- 90’ s, T in the Park has been a staple of Scotland’s music scene, not to mention the UK’s festival scene as a whole.
With legendary acts such as Blur, Iggy Pop, Muse, Moby and many, many more over the years gracing the stages of Strathclyde Country Park, Balado and latterly Strathallen Castle, we all thought it would be everlasting – and maybe even