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TRNSMT 2025 – line-up deep dive
Your ultimate guide to the names playing Glasgow's biggest party of the summer
Glaswegians need little encouragement to get a party started. But there’s been an excellent excuse for the spirited Scottish city to lose its inhibitions since 2017, when TRNSMT rose from the ashes of former festival favourite T In The Park and set out its stall on the north bank of the River Clyde. From then till now, the verdant gardens of Glasgow Green have welcomed an enviable list of indie, rock, hip hop and pop greats ranging from Arctic Monkeys to Stormzy, from The Strokes to Calvin Harris.
This year’s edition is set to add another colourful chapter to the festival’s relatively short but illustrious history. Festival-goers from far and wide will hone in on the Scottish capital, eager to celebrate hometown heroes and compatriots from across the music spectrum. Renowned for its commercially-focused selection of contemporary artists, TRNSMT is ripe for hearty sing-a-longs, arm-in-arm with best friends and the new ones made across the festival’s three days.
But for those that don’t know where to start, and for those that want to learn the songs word-for-word ahead of time, we’ve taken a deep-dive into the 2025 line-up so you don’t have to.
The headliners
An unlikely turn out for the books having 50 Cent take to the TRNSMT main stage given its illustrious list of indie rock headliners in previous editions – the only rap artist to ever headline before was Stormzy back in 2019 – but it’s a curveball that could turn out to be a stroke of genius. The muscle bound rap heavyweight (real name Curtis Jackson) will only have celebrated his 50th lap around the sun just days before, so he’ll no doubt have the entire festival partying like it’s his birthday and, of course, drinking Bacardi like it’s his birthday.
Kilmarnock’s finest, Biffy Clyro, also have cause to celebrate in 2025 as it’ll mark 30 years since they formed the band. After three decades, they now stand proudly as one of Scotland’s finest exports within the realm of rock music. Expect hearty, lung-bursting sing-a-longs to angular anthems like ‘Many of Horror (When We Collide), ‘Mountains’ and ‘Bubbles’ – as well as your ears shredded. ‘Mon the Biff!
Scottish (and Northern Irish) soft souls Snow Patrol return to headline TRNSMT, after fulfilling the very same task in 2021. Evidently singer Gary Lightbody and his fellow bandmates hadn’t dished out enough heartfelt triumph in their homeland’s capital the first time around, so are set to return with their tear-jerking catalog of songs which includes ‘Run’, ‘Open Your Eyes’, ‘Spitting Games’, and ‘Chasing Cars’. This time around however, they’re bolstered by 2024’s eighth studio album The Forest Is the Path – yet more power pop hymns to swoon over.
The rave-reviewed rockers
Undoubtedly the leader of the pack when it comes to Ireland’s growing musical stock in recent years, Fontaines D.C. have consistently gone from strength to strength with each new album since their 2019 debut Dogrel, confounding – but winning over – critics and fans alike with their ambition and execution. Despite criticism from some corners for their Y2K/Gen Z pandering makeover, the post-punk band’s (are they even post-punk anymore?) latest full-length Romance has established them as a rock band that’ll soon rival Irish behemoths in U2. Bono, watch your back.
Indie rock’s unlikely success story of this decade – given they quite literally came out of nowhere – Wet Leg look to build on the stratospheric trajectory their 2022 eponymous debut set them on with their long-awaited follow-up, moisturizer. The Isle Of Wight group led by irreverent duo Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers are plundering weirder depths based on lead single ‘catch these fists’, maximising their chemistry as a five-piece band as they get freakier but keep it fun. Will the dreaded second album win over the sceptics? You’ll have to see for yourselves.
Impassioned rock band Wunderhorse are one of a handful of contemporary guitar slingers – like Sam Fender and the aforementioned Fontaines D.C. – ensuring rock music made by up-and-comers remains part of the mainstream conversation. Led by founder Jacob Slater, Wunderhorse’s sound melds melody with muscular musicianship, their bullish on-stage energy evoking the kinds of ‘proper rock bands’ that swarmed the airwaves in the 90s. They’ve been widely touted as a generational outfit, and as their rapid ascent suggests, that may very well be the case.
The purveyors of perfect pop
Gracie Abrams’ brand of infectiously listenable folk-pop pleases all the senses. So, it’s understandable how she’s both befriended and bewitched Taylor Swift who took Abrams along on her Eras Tour as well as collaborated on duet ‘Us’, which featured on Abrams’ celebrated sophomore album, The Secret of Us. Getting a vote of confidence from contemporary music’s greatest cultural force is one thing, and she’s well on her way to becoming a cultural force herself.
Out of all the Little Mix solo career offshoots, JADE’s has by far been the most impactful. Debut single ‘Angel Of My Dreams’ was nominated for Brit Award for Song Of The Year, but she went one better by bagging the coveted gong for Best Pop Act. If her live set at TRNSMT is anything like the bombastic performance at the ceremony earlier this year however, it’ll be dizzying, dazzling, pure pop divinity.
Alessi Rose is confessional pop music’s fastest rising star, who pinpoints the minefield of youth with unflinching honesty and a world-weary songwriting style that belies her 22 years of age. She’s certainly on a fast track to mega stardom – forthcoming support slots on Dua Lipa’s and Tate McRae’s global tours would suggest that there are swathes of people hedging their bets on it becoming a reality. Make sure you’re the lucky ones to catch her on the way up.
The electronic eccentrics
The 90s wouldn’t have been the same if it weren’t for hedonistic heroes Underworld, whose cult anthem ‘Born Slippy .NUXX’ emboldened an entire generation of ravers and misbehavers with its gloriously simple chorus of “shouting lager lager lager lager” after the track came to prominence having featured in Trainspotting. Still, late night masters of their craft Karl Hyde and Rick Smith could put today’s youth to shame with their energy and endurance, nearing forty years of party-starting. Prepare for a big one over on King Tut’s Stage.
Camp fun in its purest form, you can’t knock Confidence Man’s ability to concoct an infectiously danceable 00s reminiscent club pop banger. The duo’s tongues are firmly in their cheeks, even whilst they flip, skip, shimmy and sway throughout their dance routines that transports them straight from their teenage bedrooms on the world’s stages. During their TRNSMT set, you’ll be dancing like nobody’s watching.
Alt-pop renegade Biig Piig is nothing short of eclectic and certainly knows her way around a groove, hence why we’ve banded her in with the weekend’s must-see dance acts to see. Her recent debut album 11:11 showcased her musical journey to date – irresistible R&B rhythms, liquid drum ‘n’ bass, and celestial electronica was reimagined as pristine pop with an undercurrent of chaos.
The indie icons
Brighton boys The Kooks have been swooning indie music fans for near-on two decades after the release of their era-defining 2006 debut album Inside In / Inside Out. Nowadays, the skinny jeans are ever so slightly less skinny, but the tunes remain just as potent. That, and the response to the curly-haired indie rocker’s seventh studio album Never/Know proves that singer Luke Pritchard and guitarist Hugh Harris are still more than capable of craft radio-ready songs with a twinkle in their eye.
Few bands could support Pearl Jam then Harry Styles without angering one of those distinctly different fanbases. Step up Inhaler. The Dubliners formed when they were merely thirteen and their teenage dreams have since come to life, establishing themselves as one of the foremost figures in contemporary indie rock. If they carry on rising at their current blistering trajectory, singer Elijah Hewson could see himself become a generational rock icon just like his dad in U2’s Bono.
Wigan heroes The Lathums possess an uncanny talent. The four-piece write songs that detail the disillusionment of youth, yet disguise the doom and gloom in joyously raucous indie rock instrumentation. There’s a valid reason why their three albums have each reached the UK charts’ top five and have found a fan in Paul Weller – who seldom misjudges promising talent when he hears it. At their TRNSMT set, you’ll be screaming about ‘Broken Britain’ whilst having the best time of your life.
The conquering Celts
![Brògeal - Friday On My Mind [Official Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qrcnK0x5RI0/0.jpg)
If you like The Pogues, banjos, riots, pints, accordions, chaos, knee-slapping, punk spirit, hugging your mates, humour, heartache, and chest-pounding passion, you’ll love Brogéal. A leading light in traditional Celtic music’s revival, the Falkirk band have the seal of approval from legendary countrymen The Wolfe Tones. They’re all about the craic, and you’d be remiss not to join in.
Dublin’s Amble only formed in 2022, but have already captured the imagination of a global audience with their gorgeously grizzly folk balladry. The trio sought to take the storytelling from the Emerald Isle’s fabled pub dwellers to the world’s stage, but vowed to remain rooted to their beloved country’s streets and soil. Lighters and tissues at the ready for this one.
Nathan Evans and the Saint PHNX band
A musical meeting of Scottish singer-songwriter Nathan Evans and sibling duo the Saint PHNX Band, as the name suggests, these two parties combined to form a formidable supergroup who love nothing more than paying homage to their home turf. Evans can count himself a Brit Award nominee for ‘Wellerman’, the song that sparked the unlikely TikTok shanty trend – which could very well make an appearance during their tub-thumping, foot-stomping performance.
The next generation
A Glasgow group with a desire to lurk within the darker corners of the city’s nightlife, Vlure write danceable post-punk that challenges hips to dance and heads to spin. Self-described as a “3am cardiac arrest”, you can’t put it any more succinctly than that.
The name on the tip of the music industry’s tongue right now is Chloe Qisha. The alt-pop multi-instrumentalist makes music with a big heart and a nostalgic lens that traverses time and distance, from her Malaysian origins to her life in London today. Kelly Clarkson is already a fan – having covered her wellbeing anthem ‘21st Century Cool Girl’ – and soon enough, you surely will be too.
Another band hailing from Glasgow, Lucia & the Best Boys’ enchanting brand of indie rock is richly entwined with the ethereal nature of northern Scotland’s mystical countryside. Is frontwoman Lucia Fairfull a witch? She certainly could be – she’s been putting spells on audiences since the release of debut album Burning Castles, after securing support slots with the likes of Garbage and The Last Dinner Party. They’ll be opening the Main Stage, so get in there early.
TRNSMT 2025 returns to Glasgow Green on 11-13 July – find tickets here
