Do you know the story behind Glasgow's TRNSMT Festival?

It had been another year of top industry names like Calvin Harris, The Stone Roses and The 1975 wowing the thousands of music fans who made the trip to Strathallan Castle for T in the Park.

But when the Californication hitmakers stepped off the stage, and the waves of crowds then made the frantic dash up that hill, grabbed their things, and ran to catch the last few buses taking them home, it would be the last moment in the festival’s history.

A much-loved event in Scotland’s entertainment calendar for 23 years, festival organisers announced that they would be taking a break from T in the Park. Behind the scenes, an idea for a new festival with a different location – and no tents – was emerging.

DF Concerts, the same team behind T in the Park, created TRNSMT: a three-day festival to be held in a city park. There would be no camping, with the idea that visitors didn’t have to trek down a hill from their tents to the stages and that everyone made their way home each night and rocked up again the following day.

A city known for its incredible homegrown talent and irreplicable crowd atmospheres, Glasgow was the obvious choice to host TRNSMT. The chosen site, Glasgow Green, also has a history steeped in music.

Some of the biggest acts in the world have performed in the park, from Metallica, Slipknot and Korn at the Download Festival in 2004 to Coldplay, Katy Perry and Calvin Harris at Radio 1’s Big Weekend 10 years later.

Michael Jackson did his only live show in Scotland there in 1992 as part of his Dangerous World Tour, with 65,000 people turning up to see the King of Pop in Glasgow’s East End.

The first TRNSMT took place over three days in July 2017, with 120,000 people attending to see headliners Radiohead, Kasabian and Biffy Clyro.

It was met with acclaim, winning the title of ‘Best New Festival’ at the 2017 UK Festival Awards, and not long after the festival wrapped, organisers announced that it would be returning the following year.

In 2018, TRNSMT was a six-day event held over two weekends, but the following year it returned to the original set-up.

Liam Gallagher performing at TRNSMT in 2018. (Image: Colin Mearns)

While its predecessor is no longer, TRNSMT has paid homage to T in the Park with the King Tut’s Tent becoming the King Tut’s Stage. Named after the iconic Glasgow gig venue, the stage is known for showcasing up-and-coming Scottish talent who have catapulted into the spotlight since.

Acts who have featured in TRNSMT’s version over the last six years include Gerry Cinnamon, Callum Beattie, Lewis Capaldi and Sam Fender - both of whom have gone on to become festival headliners.

In 2019, a special stage was created especially for female artists: the Queen Tut’s stage. This was in response to criticism of TRNSMT by the Musicians’ Union for only 20% of the 2019 line-up being female.

Artists who appeared on Queen Tut’s stage included Lauren Spiteri, Zoe Graham and The Eves.

The very first T in the Park, Strathclyde Park, 1994. (Image: Newsquest)

Since the first event six years ago, TRNSMT has since cemented itself as one of the country’s most-loved and attended outdoor music events, showcasing some of the world’s biggest acts as well as promoting local rising stars.

While T in the Park was more recognised for indie, electronic and pop acts, TRNSMT aims to celebrate diversity in music with artists from multiple genres and eras. Take the latest line-up: from Britpop heroes Pulp to rapper Aitch, TRNSMT is bringing together a variety of music tastes.