I freely admit my music taste is a little on the eclectic side & for which I make no apologies for. Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes were the last band I saw live before the lockdowns of 2020 began & at that point I had never seen a live performance of either Biffy Clyro or Youngblud.

So when the opportunity arose for tickets to a gig where the line up included all three it was a total ‘no brainer’ as far as I was concerned even if it meant travelling to Glasgow.

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Unknowingly with my purchase I had unwittingly gotten myself a free pass on the 2020 rollercoaster of uncertainty. No longer Bellahouston in June 2020 I swallowed the disappointment on the basis it was being rescheduled the only question was to where & when. Turns out it was September 2021 at Glasgow Green on the first day of the TRANSMT festival. Consequently instead of incorporating the gig on a trip to Scotland as part of a short break with my hubby I was looking at a solo drive North.

So it was I found myself ramming a swab up my nostrils at the crack of dawn to see if I had the all clear to depart. Google maps indicated the trip to be at least six hours but that excluded any comfort breaks or what turned out to be interminable road works. The weather was kind though & despite the sat nav going into a complete sulk in the oneway system I finally reached the city centre hotel I had arranged.

As it was late I opted to eat in the hotel & it still surprises me to see the odd looks you get when you eat alone you would have thought that society would have moved on a bit really.

Next day I began with yoga. One of the upsides of the pandemic ( yes there are some if you look) is that there now is an ‘online’ option & so I ‘zoomed in’ from the floor of the hotel room. Then a walk around a damp grey city where I stumbled on ‘The Tea Rooms’ in Bath Street to have lunch & the nicest carrot cake I think I have ever eaten.

I debated over footwear opting finally for wellingtons plus my trusty Musto waterproof coat at the last minute as severe weather warnings threatened at least a soaking or last minute cancellation.

Glasgow Green turned out to be a brisk 20 minute walk from the hotel & a long wait in a queue to get in. To be fair once the gates opened to this temporary venue the delay was due more to the volume of people & the additional checks required.

TRANSMT took place on Glasgow Green in the heart of the city built as a temporary structure like so many other festivals. However this unlike others had a distinct vibe of ‘not quite finished in time’ to it.

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Chronic staff shortages within the events industry compounded by issues raised by covid restrictions & severe weather warnings had probably meant that the organisers were living on a knife edge in the run up to this event.

I am grateful that they held their nerve & it went ahead even if it meant safety checks were still in progress as the crowds poured in. The first band sadly weren’t quite my thing so I headed for the ferris wheel to get a ‘birds eye’ view of things.

Finally given the ‘good to go’ & my ride finished with just enough time to grab some fries & head for a spot in the crowd ready for Frank & The Rattlesnakes.

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Due to rescheduling I had by this time seen three of the four acts at Reading Festival only a couple of weeks before but as the first few notes of tunes from the Sticky Album started to blast out I knew it was going to be worth the effort of driving all those miles.

It probably goes against many rules of the universe but I now love a bit of Youngblud & wish it was possible to capture & bottle some of this performers energy on stage – I know I would certainly buy some. Below is a snippet of Mars – one of my favourites.

I had waited a long time to see Biffy Clyro live & if I had thought the performance of Reading to be good nothing quite prepared me for them plying on their ‘home turf’ so to speak.

Being stood in the crowd were everyone seemed to be singing at the tops of their voices was immense & very memorable. I was a bit miffed that a fight started to break out during Wolves of Winter but the security appeared out of nowhere quickly & efficiently quelling the potential uprising which was reassuring.

Over too soon it was time to wander back along the river following the hordes of fellow festival attendees & back to my hotel. Next day I packed up & headed for home needless to say singing all the way & recalling the brilliant performances of the previous evening. That is until I reached the out skirts of Birmingham!

Take safe & catch you all later with the next part.