While the big names draw in the crowds at the big festivals, the next big thing could well be hiding away on one of the other stages. We take a look around the fringes and make some recommendations who to catch up close and personal while you can!
Friday on the River Stage features not one but 3 of the best up and coming rock acts in the UK. From a local perspective, The Roly Mo and Dead Pony are 2 Glasgow based acts who’ve both been building a bit of a buzz with national airplay from the likes of Radio 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq. Bruising Liverpudlian post-punks Stone are fresh from a support slot on Yungblud’s recent UK tour so they’ll be festival fit and ready for a blistering live performance.
Elsewhere, Edinburgh based troubadour Callum Beattie is mid-bill on the King Tut’s Stage. Recent live shows have proven he’s a megastar in waiting with a catalogue of punchy, rousing, heartfelt and gloriously catchy songs. Next stop the main stage.
Saturday sees Glasgow based collective Medicine Cabinet bring their sparkling guitar pop to the River Stage – it’s sure to be a colourful spectacle. Perth’s Parliamo play their own brand of spikey indie pop – it’s the type of music that’s perfect for the festival environment, jump around fun with humorous sing along choruses.
Retro Video Club (featuring the Killer’s stand-in drummer in Falkirk, Kyle Grieve) are one of the most promising indie bands on the UK touring circuit. Having recently supported indie royalty, The Vaccines and The Libertines, their powerful, anthemic live show is sure to catch the attention of a wider audience on The King Tut’s Stage.
Ahead of one of the most hotly anticipated sets of the weekend from Wet Leg, US based pop-punk KennyHoopla brings his unique brand of dance infused punk-pop to The King Tut’s Stage. He’s sure to be playing to a huge crowd so get there early and treat yourself to what’s sure to be an emotive performance.
With their critically acclaimed new LP World Below just out, River Stage headliners Baby Strange will be eager to make the most of the prestigious slot with a show that’s sure to be brimming with their trademark raw energy. It should be a landmark performance for the powerful Glaswegian trio.
Sunday’s starters are at opposite ends of the volume spectrum, If easing yourself into the swing of things gently is your thing then The River Stage is where you need to be. Singer-songwriter Alex Amor and her conversational folk is followed by the indie sadcore of Bonnie Kemplay, Both are up-coming Scottish artists and the perfect tonic for a Sunday afternoon down by the river. The Crawlers kick things off with considerably more decibels on The King Tut’s Stage. The Liverpudlian quartet may well be the blaze of colour and abrasive alt-rock you need to wake you from your slumber.
Sunday night headliners The Reytons mine a similar vein as fellow South Yorkshiremen The Arctic Monkeys. Like the Monkeys, they’re a word of mouth sensation with the band selling out shows weeks in advance. With an almost football like tribalism at their shows, this translates into a highly charged atmosphere. Let’s hope that’s the case at what’s sure to be a memorable set filed with punchy, clever tales of suburban existence.
It’s a diverse and eclectic line up with something to cater for all tastes so why not avoid the crush up in front of the main stage and broaden your musical horizons beyond the mainstream – you may end up finding your favourite new band ahead of the rush!
Words: Rob Alexander