RAINSPOTTING
There’s no danger of a dampener at TRNSMT
RAIN couldn’t stop play on the third and final day of TRNSMT as Biffy Clyro brought the weekend to a show-stopping end.
Despite being wet and cold, the weather didn’t stop the 35,000strong crowd at Glasgow Green from having a day to remember.
Police praised music fans for their good behaviour while organisers were already planning for next year and reckon it delivered a £10million boost to the economy.
The driving rain stopped at lunchtime as the crowd enjoyed the final day, a showcase of mostly Scottish music.
As well as headliners Biffy, Twin Atlantic and The View played the main stage while rising star Lewis Capaldi rocked the King Tut’s Stage.
Also playing were The 1975, Blossoms and Two Door Cinema Club.
The View’s Kieran Webster told the Record: “I was gutted when I heard T in the Park wasn’t on as I’ve grown up going there, then playing it so much.
“But it’s great we have this in the meantime and hopefully we’ll end up with both every year.”
The band, which included Kyle Falconer wearing a children’s TV get-up of yellow dungaree shorts, gave five-year-old Felix Suttle a festival experience of a lifetime, watching them side-of-stage during their set.
Before the Dundee band went on, he managed to meet the group and sang their hit Same Jeans to them.
They were so impressed they invited the boy from Darvel, Ayrshire, to join them on side of stage for the performance with his own artist wristband.
Felix said: “This is the best day ever. Seeing them singing Same Jeans was actually amazing. They were really nice to me as well.
“I would like to be in a band like them when I’m older and go on tour. Maybe me and Kyle could write a song.”
The 1975 led a chant hailing Jeremy Corbyn.
Frontman Matthew Healy told the crowd: “We’re English and we’re bored to death of all this nonsense.” He also declared the band “hate nationalism and are sick of austerity”, which was met with a large cheer.
TRNSMT ran across the same weekend when T in the Park is usually held.
DF Concerts, who organise both festivals, announced last November that T, based at Strathallan Castle in Perthshire, would “take a break” in 2017.
They were delighted with how well TRNSMT had gone, saying 120,000 people were at the event across the three days including a sell-out 50,000 on Saturday to see Kasabian headline.
Radiohead’s Friday night slot had music fans drooling as they brought out old favourites such as The Bends and Karma Police, while Biffy Clyro closed last night’s third and final night.
Police made only eight arrests for offences including possession of drugs with intent to supply, fraud and alleged public nuisance offences.
Two people were reported to the procurator fiscal for allegedly being in possession of a small quantity of drugs while 25 people also received a police warning for allegedly being in possession of a small amount of drugs.
Chief Inspector Simon Jeacocke, event commander for Police Scotland, said: “We’d like to commend everyone who attended TRNSMT for their good spirits this weekend.”
Over the weekend, some 68 people presented to the on-site hospital tent for minor complaints like strains and weather-related issues such as sunburn.
Geoff Ellis from DF Concerts said: “We couldn’t be happier with how it’s all been going.
“There’s been no real incidents, people are just really here to enjoy themselves, have a few beers and watch some great bands.
“I’m already looking forwards to next year and we’ve had a lot of big agents up over the weekend with a view to booking their artists for it.”
He added: “I think it’s been in excess of £10million economic impact for the city, based on previous studies that we’ve done.”
Punters were also happy with Scotland’s newest festival and despite missing T in the Park’s camping, they loved TRNSMT.
Christopher Miller, 29, a scaffolder from Cowdenbeath, was a Tin the Park regular.
He came to TRNSMT with his pals, who used to camp at Balado then the Strathallan T sites.
He said: “We’re regulars at T but we’re loving it here. The T line-up had changed and was more DJs and acts aimed a younger people but this is a bit more mature and relaxed.
“It would be good to get camping back but this is just as good.”
Alice Barn ley, 26, who travelled from Derby, said: “We’ve been to T and although this is on a smaller scale, the line-up is still amazing.”
We’re regulars at T but we’re loving it here. It’d be good to get camping back CHRISTOPHER MILLER