MUSIC IS POWER – Day One at TRNSMT Festival 2026

Cover Photo: Kyle Horne/ADRENALINE Magazine

Last year, when major Scottish music festival TRNSMT announced its line up, organisers announced an earlier date for the festival. 2026’s edition was to take place in June, instead of the regular slot of the first weekend of July. Of course, this came with its challenges – the festival not taking place during the middle of summer – missing peak summer holiday time, and therefore last year’s scorching sunny weather was nowhere to be found on the first day of the festival. But rain or sun, day or night, you can trust a Scottish crowd know how to have a good boogie, so we put the festival to the test for our 2026 Festival Reviews!

Day One

TRNSMT began with a downpour that lasted most of the day, but us Scots are usually well equipped to deal with it. The first act we caught was rising singer-songwriter Alice Faye, who opened up the BBC Introducing Stage. In this hometown set, Alice’s unique vocals intertwined with a mesmerising mix of older sounds and modern melodies, providing a minimalistic setup that still packed a punch. In a set full of original material, Alice played through older singles like 2023’s Reject, and more recent releases including 2025’s Here We Go All Over (Again). Her theatrical sound, fused with folk and pop from the 60s and 70s, made her a very bright start to the weekend, despite the dreich weather!

The next two performances we caught were Scottish locals Mercy Girl, and Liverpool’s Luvcat.

Mercy Girl drew in a lively crowd to the BBC Introducing Stage, and their methodical momentum kept everyone in place. Their combination of genres like electro-pop, darkwave and EBM (Electronic Body Music) made for a captivating watch, with tracks like Closer and newest release Punisher providing particular intrigue. Daisy Miles and Kylie MacNaughton’s stage presence was sublime, elevating their set even further.

This eclectic energy continued when we caught Luvcat on the King Tut’s Stage. Despite the gloomy weather, Luvcat’s bright personality shone through. Her easy-to-learn choruses, and vibrant vocals generated a gothic, glamourous and romantic atmosphere, with many dedicated fans singing along. Luvcat incorporated interaction with her audience effortlessly throughout songs such as Lipstick, Electric Chair, and He’s My Man.

The Liverpudlian is definitely an act to watch, and with an ever-growing catalogue of quirky and memorable melodies, you’re bound to find a song you’ll love.

We headed back to the BBC Introducing Stage in the afternoon to catch James Emmanuel. Immediately, James created a warm and inviting environment through his smooth soul influences, and nostalgic elements of rock and funk. James was accompanied by his band including multi-instrumentalist Chris Small, Geoff Angus on keys, Edmund Denman on lead guitar, Scott Flanagan on drums, and Lucas Gilchrist on bass guitar. His setlist featured themes of acceptance and love, with raw lyrics that resonate with so many. This included tunes from his now released Good Man EP, like the title track, Bridge Over The Tears I’ve Cried, as well as the 2025 single Brothers and Sisters, which is his most listened-to track to date. He’s quickly becoming a big name, with support slots for the likes of Nile Rodgers further amplifying his growing popularity.

And for the first time that weekend, we finally went to the Main Stage to see the very Nile Rodgers & Chic. Rodgers is one of those names in music that you might know, but don’t quite appreciate the impact he’s had. He’s one of those timeless talents that everyone adores regardless of age or background. From Madonna and Beyoncé to Sister Sledge and Daft Punk, Nile Rodgers has worked with a wide range of acts. Forming his action-packed setlist were songs like Daft Punk’s Get Lucky, David Bowie’s Modern Love and Good Times/Rapper’s Delight. There were a couple of medleys thrown in too, including back-to-back I’m Coming Out / Upside Down / He’s the Greatest Dancer / We Are Family. These anthems kept everyone dancing throughout the whole set.

We then caught two indie-rock acts, starting with NewDad on the King Tut’s Stage, and Arkayla on the BBC Introducing Stage.

Irish group NewDad delighted their large crowd with a performance of their own material that resembles a fusion of Beabadoobee and The Cure. Vibrant vocals and intricate instrumentals were present through a setlist that primarily consisted of songs from 2025 record, Altar, including Other Side and Roboosh.

Down at the BBC Introducing Stage, quickly-rising rockers Arkayla continued to build momentum with a memorable set. Despite not having a lot of music released, this didn’t stop enthusiastic fans singing along to songs like Doba, Doctor and Fortune Teller. Both bands are immaculate live, and are definitely ones to watch.

Wolf Alice drew in a huge crowd for their set on the Main Stage. The London rock band treated fans to a tantalising setlist of songs that intertwined older and more recent releases, spanning their four full-length studio albums. From 2015 fan-favourite Bros and 2017 tunes like Don’t Delete The Kisses, to songs from their most recent album, The Clearing, there truly was something for everyone.

Opening the set with Bloom Baby Bloom, the performance was off to a powerful start. Singer Ellie Rowsell is a force to be reckoned with, with her vocals dancing from being delicate, to rough and raw screaming. Her presence is like no other, with every inch of the stage covered. Wolf Alice are one of the best live bands currently out there.

Headlining the Friday was none other than legend Richard Ashcroft. A household name like him needs no introduction. The English singer-songwriter was famously the frontman of 90s alt-rock band The Verve, and many of their hits featured in this huge headline slot. Across the three major breakups over the course of The Verve’s lifespan, Richard Ashcroft began working on his own material, with his debut solo record Alone With Everybody being released in the year 2000. A Song for the Lovers, the first song from that album, as well as Music Is Power from 2006 album Keys To The World, had fans quickly singing along. Alongside these were many of the songs he’s best known for like The Drugs Don’t Work, Lucky Man, Sonnet, and the beautifully empowering Bittersweet Symphony, which all closed the set.

Overall, on its opening day, despite a little downpour – and that’s putting it lightly – TRNSMT proved once again its status as Scotland’s best music festival. From indie discovery on the likes of the BBC Introducing stage, to rock royalty on the Main Stage, the festival brought the best of both worlds to Glasgow Green, with the hype only getting stronger as the weekend had just begun.

Text Copyright 2026 © Morgan Hermiston/ADRENALINE Magazine.

Photography Copyright 2026 © reserved to its rightful owners as credited in this article.