Written by Olivia Ross
Cover photo by Ryan Buchanan
With ‘taps aff’ weather finally encouraging Scots up and down the country to bare their ghostly limbs, it’s not long until festival season is finally upon us. From lobbing pints and belting chants, to inevitably stumbling into your pals somewhere between stages, Glasgow is always ready for a good time, and that’s exactly why TRNSMT has become a staple in the Scottish music calendar since its inception in 2017.
Spread across three stages and three days, TRNSMT takes over Glasgow Green for a weekend of chaos and memorable sets in Scotland’s music capital from the 19th to 21st of June. Whether you’re after soaring indie anthems, theatrical alt-rock, or massive singalong moments, these are the 10 artists you won’t want to miss at this year’s festival.
1. Wolf Alice
Since returning last year with their fourth studio album ‘The Clearing,’ the English guitar band have been unstoppable. Known for their constant evolution, the quartet move effortlessly between dreamy introspection and full-throttle indie rock, with frontwoman Ellie Rowsell’s magnetic stage presence at the centre of it all.
2. South Arcade
Originally known for their viral band practice TikToks, the pop-punk quartet have already ticked off major milestones, including a main stage slot at Reading & Leeds Festival and a tour alongside 5 Seconds of Summer. Expect huge hooks, high energy, and the kind of set built for jumping around with your mates.
3. Luvcat
Since her explosive debut single ‘Matador’, the Liverpool-born artist has captivated a fast-growing global fanbase with her blend of noir glamour, heart-on-sleeve vulnerability, and razor-sharp wit. Her rise has been matched by a growing reputation onstage, with sold-out headline tours, major festival appearances, and fans arriving to her gigs dressed in her trademark leopard print, fishnets, and red lipstick.
4. Cliffords
Cliffords already possess a formidable catalogue of soaring indie rock anthems, but it’s onstage where the band truly come alive. Balancing explosive instrumentation with moments of striking vulnerability – all anchored by Iona Lynch’s commanding vocals – the group are quickly establishing themselves as one of the most exciting rising names in indie rock.
5. Girl In The Year Above
Praised for their emotionally raw songwriting, the Irish/Cornish band were recently featured on the Peaky Blinder’s film soundtrack with their cover of Massive Attack’s ‘Teardrop’. Blending Celtic-inspired storytelling with atmospheric arrangements and deeply felt performances, Girl In The Year Above have already made a strong impression, despite only having a handful of releases to their name.
6. The Last Dinner Party
Drawing inspiration from Romantic literature, gothic aesthetics, and theatrical art-rock, The Last Dinner Party craft songs filled with drama and grandeur, while their performances lean fully into that sense of spectacle. Transforming every stage into a lavish gothic dreamscape of huge choruses, baroque flourishes, and irresistible charisma, a Last Dinner Party set is escapism at its finest.
7. English Teacher
Blending sharp lyricism with an adventurous, genre-blurring sound, the Leeds outfit have built a distinctive identity entirely on their own terms. From building a devoted following online during lockdown to winning the prestigious Mercury Prize for their debut album ‘This Could Be Texas’, English Teacher have become one of the most vital new voices in UK guitar music.
8. Tanzana
Despite only having two releases to their name, Tanzana’s trip-hop-influenced alternative rock has already earned them plenty of admirers across Scotland’s thriving music scene. Following support slots with acts like Madra Salach and Lucia & The Best Boys, the band are now set to make their TRNSMT debut, arriving as one of the festival’s most intriguing new names.
9. Lacuna
Since emerging in 2021, Glasgow six-piece Lacuna have quietly built a reputation as one of Scotland’s most promising alternative acts through a steady stream of releases and increasingly impressive live shows. Earning comparisons to the atmospheric songwriting of Ethel Cain, Boygenius, and Lana Del Rey, the band are known for their rich lyricism, melodic depth and expansive soundscapes.
10. CMAT
CMAT and her Very Sexy CMAT Band arrive at TRNSMT fresh from the acclaim surrounding her 2025 album ‘EURO-COUNTRY.’ Blending classic country influences with sharp humour, emotional honesty, and larger-than-life stage presence, the Irish star has become one of the most entertaining performers around. After three sold-out nights at Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom earlier this year, she heads to Glasgow Green with serious momentum behind her.
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