Sunny TRNSMT swaps ponchos for water bottles ahead of Lewis Capaldi closer

7 minutes ago

Jonathan GeddesGlasgow and west reporter

Lewis Capaldi declared he was "firing on cylinders now'" as he brought this year's TRNSMT festival to a close, after his well publicised mental health struggles.

It received an ironic cheer from supporters, which he laughed at. He said he was doing much better as he continued a return to live shows that began with a performance at last year's Glastonbury.

Earlier TRNSMT fans had enjoyed scorching temperatures while watching the likes of former Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards and Irish country pop star CMAT.

The biggest draw though, was Capaldi. He said he was backing Scotland to beat Brazil in the World Cup, covered Have You Ever Seen The Rain? by Creedence Clearwater Revival and led emotive sing-a-longs to the likes of Bruises and the planitive Something In The Heavens.

The Bathgate singer also gave a shout out to Susan Boyle, who was watching at the front of the stage, and he told the crowd he would going away to write a new album after the summer.

He wrapped up his set with Someone You Loved before the festival ended with a huge fireworks display.

Police Scotland said there had been 11 arrests so far during the festival's first two days, including a person charged with a breach of air navigation order for flying a drone over the festival site.

Other acts taking to the festival's main stage included singer Amy Macdonald and Irish star CMAT.

Edwards declared she loved Scottish crowds for being rowdy, as fans serenaded her with chants of "no Scotland no party" on the main stage. She delivered a medley of Little Mix's biggest hits and a selection of her solo material.

Glasgow singer Kerr Mercer opened up the Main Stage and later told BBC Scotland he had been so nervous that he forgot the words to his first song.

He said: "I completely forgot the lyrics to the first verse, but it was amazing after that!

"Just having people sing my songs back to me was a special feeling. I was here back in 2019 to see Lewis Capaldi headline, so playing the same stage as him today is incredible."

One of the liveliest sets of the whole weekend came from CMAT, who led the crowd in a massive two-step dance routine, and joked that her outfit - a yellow dress with polka dots - made her look like a can of Tennent's lager.

She also mixed in more serious topics, including the body-shaming she has suffered in her career, before the crowd sang along to Take A Sexy Picture of Me. She ended the set having clambered over a barrier to be among fans.

There were fewer antics from Macdonald, but the Bishopbriggs singer played a career-spanning set, with a warm reaction to old favourites like This Is The Life and Let's Start A Band. She said she was off to Miami for the Scotland game against Brazil after the festival.

Outside Glasgow Green vendors had switched from selling water-proof ponchos on Friday to sunglasses and bottles of water, as the sun beat down on crowds heading towards the event.

A huge crowd gathered to hear the soulful pop of Skye Newman on the smaller King Tut's Stage, to the extent that entrances to the area were sealed off, but her performance was halted due to sound issues. She later returned to play out a condensed set.

There was also sound trouble on the BBC Introducing Stage, where folk act Biird had a massive delay before they could perform, watched by CMAT.

Teenage singer Abbie Gordon was first up on that stage, and told BBC Scotland News the festival was very important for up and coming acts like herself.

The 19-year-old from Irvine said: "I'm so grateful to have got the chance to play this year. Something like the BBC Introducing stage is so important when you're a young act, it gives you a chance to play in front of a new crowd and people that you probably wouldn't be doing [otherwise].

"I haven't done too much live stuff recently, so I'm looking to getting to do more of that this year, because live music is still a great way of connecting with people."

Police Scotland said six people had been charged over various offences on the first night of the festival, including a 42-year-old who is accused of flying a drone over the festival site.

Two arrests were made over drug offences, two for assault and one for a road traffic offence were also made.

On Saturday a further five arrests were made.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Five people have been arrested following the second night at TRNSMT on Glasgow Green on Saturday.

"Three male youths were arrested and charged in connection with breach of the peace.

"A further two people were arrested in connection with a disturbance and issued recorded police warnings.

"Another six people were charged in connection with assault and breach of the peace offences."

The Friday had also seen a fan zone for the Scotland v Morocco game set up, with organisers DF Concerts estimating about 10,000 fans had stayed on after the music ended to watch the match.

TRNSMT event manager Katt Lingard told BBC Scotland News: "It felt like the high from seeing your favourite bands rolled into the football really well.

"I think it was a really extra special moment for the fans - we had people of all ages coming along and it was a good community feel, united around Scotland."