Pity the poor fools who lurk around TRNSMT’s Main Stage all day. They’re missing out on some of the most exciting music the festival has to offer. Beyond the endless parade of the chart’s biggest hitters, we uncovered a cornucopia of great new acts on the King Tut’s Stage and the River Stage. Here are our highlights. 

^{Terra Kin/Picture: Rory Barnes}

We started our TRNSMT-shaped sojourn at the River Stage on Friday with Terra Kin, an up-and-coming purveyor of chilled-out lounge music and powerhouse vocals. This was a richly textured sound to bathe in away from the chaos of the larger stages, saxophones and keyboards played with the deft touch of a relaxing massage. Kin’s amassed a cult following after featuring on Fred Again..’s ‘Hannah (The Sun)’. If this performance is anything to go by, her star will be on the ascendant for some time to come. 

Taking to the River Stage early on Saturday was the hotly tipped rapper Bemz who, despite being on the smallest stage at TRNSMT, provided a show with the confidence of a headline act. A host of his collaborators took to the stage alongside him, including ID and Washington, cramming each track with boundless energy and spontaneity. With a handful of mixtapes to his name, Bemz has quietly perfected a sound machine-tooled for festivals. From the melancholic reverie of ‘26’ to the garage banger of ‘Zidane’, the tangible feeling that Bemz is destined for the Main Stage emanates from his unshaken confidence and the lyrical dexterity of each bar. Later that day he did indeed join indie lads The Snuts on the Main Stage for a guest spot on their track ‘Elephants’, proving that this is an artist about to blow up big time. 

^{Bemz/Picture: Michael C Hunter}

Joining Bemz and Terra Kin in the ‘will rule the airwaves soon’ category is Alex Amor, whose positivity-fuelled power pop has the same powerful resonance as her clearest influence Self Esteem. Armed with only a laptop, a flute and a staggering voice, her set is carried on this young Glaswegian songwriter’s abundance of charisma and raw talent. We’ll be curious to check in on her in a few years’ time when she has a full band at her disposal. 

Heading into more relaxed territory was Pip Millett, who took to the King Tut’s Stage on Saturday with a selection of R&B and soul tunes packed with subtlety and charm. Her performance wasn’t enough to rile up a crowd, but that’s not really the point. With a smooth voice and lilting melodies, she was perfect for the mid-afternoon lull of a festival, when punters are more interested in lounging on the grass than jumping to club bangers. Her music may be better suited to a small club, but this was a strong showcase for Millett’s talents. 

^{Bonnie Kemplay/Picture: Gaelle Beri}

Rounding off our whistle-stop tour of small acts at TRNSMT was Bonnie Kemplay, an Edinburgh-born singer-songwriter who deftly combines the energy of Low and Slowdive with Soccer Mommy and Snail Mail to create an aura of youthful melancholy under the Glasgow sun. Hitting the River Stage on Sunday, she embodied boundless creativity with songs that take abrupt left turns into new and unexpected territory, crafting arrangements that can shift from sad to elated in the blink of an eye. Like all the artists in this round-up, we recommend you check her out when she hits a small venue near you. 

Check out our review of TRNSMT 2022's headliners. Tickets for TRNSMT 2023 are on sale now.