TRNSMT 2024 line-up provokes mixed reaction online
A dearth of female acts and repeat visits from headliners has led to criticism from some quarters in the Scottish music scene
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The first wave of acts was announced for TRNSMT 2024 last night and, although plenty of people were excited about the line-up, the festival also drew fire on X (formerly Twitter) for its glaring lack of female or BPOC acts.
The festival will play host to headliners Liam Gallagher, Gerry Cinnamon and Calvin Harris, alongside acts like Garbage, Courteeners, Dylan John Thomas, Rick Astley, Sugababes and more. As highlighted by indie singer-songwriter brownbear:
DF & Live Nation have a lot to answer for here. What is there 4 woman majority acts? 1 of which has POC. 1 female lead.
— brownbear (@brownbearband) November 22, 2023
5 non-white male acts. 1 non-white act.
Black people, POC & Women do exist in music. Don’t let these major festivals convince you otherwise. Embarrassing. https://t.co/YrFIXgYquD
Musician Josephine Sillars commented:
I feel like when big festivals announce these line ups with no thought on inclusion, they don't realise the ripple effect it has on the independent scene and independent artists
— Josephine Sillars (@JosephineHere) November 22, 2023
When DF book these line ups, it feels like they are saying to anyone who doesn't fit the lad band demographic that you're not good enough
— Josephine Sillars (@JosephineHere) November 22, 2023
Scottish stand-up and Enjoy An Album co-host Christopher Macarthur-Boyd highlighted the vast difference between the festival’s inaugural headliner Radiohead and Gerry Cinnamon:
2017: ethereal moaning over glitchy keyboards by a 50 year old privately educated divorcee
— christopher macarthur-boyd (@macarthurboyd) November 21, 2023
2023: “Get it fucking up you / heid the baw / Smell your maw” or whatever he sings about
X user Billy pointed out the use of similar headliners over the past five years:
You could tell me this is how the TRNSMT line up is decided year after year and I’d believe you pic.twitter.com/ZuaarxxTfJ
— billy (@bafmcc) November 21, 2023
X user Lauren was aghast at the lack of female representation on the line-up:
I refuse to believe that TRNSMT has been going since 2017 and have NEVER thought that women deserve a headline slot. https://t.co/yDRHU0lKTH
— Lauren (@Penguingonemad) November 22, 2023
Not an entirely successful launch for Scotland's largest music festival, then. On the plus side for TRNSMT, at least a few people shelled out money for tickets.
bought trnsmt tickets whilst absolutely hammered, best decision i’ve ever made x pic.twitter.com/NFYmCONFul
— Cait Jones !! 🫧 (@caitdoescomedy) November 22, 2023
In entirely unrelated news, Barcelona's music festival Primavera Sound launched its line-up yesterday with a continued commitment to equality (42.36% women, 42.36% men and 15.28% mixed projects). Just sayin'.
Tickets for TRNSMT 2024 go on sale at 9am on Friday 24 November.
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