TRNSMT Sunday review: 'girls wanted to have fun but the guys were a buzzkill'
CMAT and Amy MacDonald brought positive vibes to the final day of TRNSMT, but Shay O’Dowd and Lewis Capaldi made for more downbeat listening, writes Fiona Shepherd
TRNSMT Sunday, Glasgow Green ★★★
The sun gods smiled over a diverse bill on the final day of TRNSMT, ranging from ethereal Edinburgh troubadour Jacob Alon to former Little Mix powerhouse Perrie. The emerging theme was “no Scotland no party”, with CMAT twerking along as the crowd raised the chant. “Thank God we're in Glasgow,” declared the Dublin country diva. “My nervous system has been reset.”
Her performance was as unfettered as her mighty vocals. Sporting Tennent’s-inspired yellow satin, she ceremonially cracked open a can and performed a countrified a capella cover of Caledonia for her mum, but she couldn’t out-Scot native patriot Amy MacDonald who even supplied saltire-colored confetti and covered The Glen by Friday Main Stage act Beluga Lagoon.
The chant went up again to cover the sound issues which disrupted Skye Newman's headline set on the King Tut's stage, while Caity Baser marshalled her own version during her candy-coloured display of suitably sugary pop rap, performed solo to backing tape. “I know I'm a lot,” she conceded.
If the girls just wanted to have fun, and weren’t waiting for permission, the guys were more of a buzzkill. Glasgow up-and-comer Shay O’Dowd delivered a moderately soulful chest beating on the BBC Introducing Stage, while Main Stage headliner Lewis Capaldi promised “an hour of depressing music”.
His set was literally a pity party, with lots of support and goodwill emanating from the crowd who routinely joined in the baying catharsis. Capaldi appeared nervous but milked soul ballad Fade while his band turned up the bombast on Leave Me Slowly. A verse and chorus of Fleetwood Mac's Go Your Own Way lacked the momentum of the original but those jams “round kitchen tables at 4am” haven’t gone to waste - before obvious closer Someone You Loved, he opened his encore with a surprise solo cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Have You Ever Seen the Rain.
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