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Edinburgh Reporter
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Free music festival at St James Quarter this August
St James Quarter Sessions is coming back for the third time from 15 to 24 August. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe at St James Quarter includes more than 60 acts performing in the canopied development, including the Level 6 rooftop, which has panoramic views of the city, on one of the most unique festival stages. Hot on the heels of the band's 30th anniversary tour, 90s icons The Brand New Heavies, will be bringing acid-jazz hits such as 'You Are The Universe' and 'Midnight At The Oasis' to Edinburgh. Fans can expect a stacked set of classic tunes, heavy bass lines and hypnotic rhythms from one of the band's that helped to establish acid-jazz in popular culture in the 90s. Winner of the Scottish Music Awards' Sound of Scotland award and previously BBC Introducing's Scottish Act of the Year, Glasgow rapper Bemz will begin this year's main event with a Friday night performance on the Level 6 Castle View stage. Having toured with the likes of The Snuts, Bemz has been building a reputation as a leading light in Scotland's hip-hop scene. Fresh from making her Glastonbury debut this year, Cortney Dixon is poised to set the rooftop on fire with a set of indie-pop anthems. Expect fuzz laden guitars and a raucous performance from the North East's latest hot property. Cortney Dixon Grassroots music body Wide Days will be taking over the Castle View stage with their New From Scotland series, showcasing Scotland's hottest new talent. Festival-goers can enjoy the industry's top picks of future Scottish stars on Friday 22 August before they reach the masses. Scheduled to appear on the Level 3 Yellow Stage and hailing from Cromarty, critically acclaimed Highlands singer songwriter, Tamzene will bring her unique sound to Sessions. She will deliver an intimate set of R&B‑tinged pop ballads set to mesmerise festival goers with candid lyricism and haunting melodies that draw on a nuanced mix of Irish, Jamaican and Highland roots. Nigerian-born and Edinburgh-raised, James Emmanuel will also be performing his soulful sounds on the Yellow Stage on Level 3 of the Galleria. Raised as the son of a preacher, he first found his voice in gospel choirs, a grounding that shaped his soulful sound from the beginning. Now backed by BBC Introducing, James draws inspiration from legends like Marvin Gaye and Bobby 'Blue' Bland, James brings a timeless quality to stories that feel deeply personal and human. After their first headline tour since releasing their debut album in 2024, Scottish duo The Laurettes will be bringing their unique take on Celtic-folk to the Sessions stage, supported by their all-female band. The Laurettes Elsewhere on the bill Dara Dubh, Beth Miller, Ant Thomaz, Indoor Foxes, Dictator, Justine Beverley and more home‑grown talent will perform on other stages throughout St James Quarter. Dara Dubh Festival-goers can sign up for free tickets, set times and stage information by downloading the St James Quarter App, which allows everyone to stay updated with events happening throughout the destination for Sessions and beyond. Susan Hewlett, Festival Creator at St James Quarter, said: 'At a time when festival ticket prices have never been higher and independent venues are closing across the country, we're not only putting on this incredible line-up for free, but also giving existing and emerging artists the platform to continue being heard and discovered. We've even got clean toilets, no mud, and food and drink venues on tap – what more could you ask from a free music festival in one of the best cities in the UK.' The warm-up to this year's St James Quarter Sessions will champion Edinburgh's rich grassroots music scene by offering the next generation of Scottish stars a series of pop-up busking performances appearing throughout the destination. Running throughout August, musicians can apply for a paid performance slot with applications on Picture – Chris Watt Photography Picture – Chris Watt Photography Picture – Chris Watt Photography Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Free music festival in the heart of Edinburgh returns
The Brand New Heavies, Bemz, Tamzene, and Cortney Dixon lead the line-up for St James Quarter Sessions Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... St James Quarter Sessions is back for its third year (15th to 24th August '25) with a packed line up of heavy hitters and up and coming talent taking over the East End of the city. Happening during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe at the city's leading retail and lifestyle destination, St James Quarter, this year's festival programme sees over 60 acts performing across the impressive, canopied development, including the Level 6 rooftop, with panoramic views of Scotland's capital and castle – providing one of the most unique festival stages in the UK. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hot on the heels of the band's well-received 30th anniversary tour, 90s icons The Brand New Heavies, will be bringing iconic acid-jazz hits such as 'You Are The Universe' and 'Midnight At The Oasis' to Edinburgh. Fans can expect a stacked set of classic tunes, heavy bass lines and hypnotic rhythms from one of the band's that helped to establish acid-jazz in popular culture in the 90s. The Brand New Heavies, Bemz, Tamzene, and Cortney Dixon lead the line-up for St James Quarter Sessions. Coming off the back of rave reviews from this year's UK festival scene, Winner of the Scottish Music Awards' 'Sound of Scotland' award and previously BBC Introducing's 'Scottish Act of the Year', Glasgow rapper Bemz will be kicking off this year's main event with a banging Friday night performance on the Level 6 Castle View stage. Having toured with the likes of The Snuts, Bemz has been building a reputation as a leading light in Scotland's hip-hop scene. Fresh from making her Glastonbury debut this year, Cortney Dixon is poised to set the rooftop on fire with a riotous set of indie-pop anthems. Expect fuzz laden guitars and a raucous performance from the North East's latest hot property on the music scene. Grassroots music champions Wide Days will be taking over the Castle View stage with their 'New From Scotland' series, showcasing Scotland's hottest new talent. Festival-goers can enjoy the industry's top picks of future Scottish stars on Friday 22nd before they reach the masses. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Slated for the Level 3 Yellow Stage and hailing from the small Scottish town of Cromarty, critically acclaimed Highlands singer songwriter, Tamzene will be bringing her unique sound to Sessions. Riding the waves of a career that's pacing towards stardom, Tamzene will deliver an intimate set of R&B‑tinged pop ballads set to mesmerise festival goers with candid lyricism and haunting melodies that draw on a nuanced mix of Irish, Jamaican and Highland roots. Running throughout August, musicians can apply for a paid performance slot with applications via Nigerian-born and Edinburgh-raised, James Emmanuel will also be bringing his soulful sounds to the Yellow Stage on Level 3 of the Galleria. Raised as the son of a preacher, he first found his voice in gospel choirs, a grounding that shaped his soulful sound from the beginning. Now backed by BBC Introducing, James draws inspiration from legends like Marvin Gaye and Bobby "Blue" Bland, James brings a timeless quality to stories that feel deeply personal and human. On the back of their very first headline tour after releasing their debut album in 2024, Scottish duo The Laurettes will be bringing their unique take on Celtic-folk to the Sessions stage, supported by their all-female band. Elsewhere on the bill will be Dara Dubh, Beth Miller, Ant Thomaz, Indoor Foxes, Dictator, Justine Beverley and more home‑grown talent taking over stages throughout St James Quarter. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Festival-goers can sign up for free tickets, set times and stage information by downloading the St James Quarter App, which allows everyone to stay updated with events happening throughout the destination for Sessions and beyond. St James Quarter Sessions is back for its third year (15th to 24th August '25). Susan Hewlett, Festival Creator at St James Quarter, said: 'At a time when festival ticket prices have never been higher and independent venues are closing across the country, we're not only putting on this incredible line-up for free, but also giving existing and emerging artists the platform to continue being heard and discovered. We've even got clean toilets, no mud, and food and drink venues on tap – what more could you ask from a free music festival in one of the best cities in the UK.' The warm-up to this year's St James Quarter Sessions will champion Edinburgh's rich grassroots music scene by offering the next generation of Scottish stars a series of pop-up busking performances appearing throughout the destination. Running throughout August, musicians can apply for a paid performance slot with applications via
Scotsman
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
TRNSMT 2025 Day one review
Glasgow's iconic festival kicked off on Friday. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... PA There's good weather and there's energy-sapping heat. Despite the laidback West Coast hip-hop vibes of his set, rapper Schoolboy Q could not rouse the TRNSMT Friday afternoon crowd, many taking shelter not just from the sun but from his tedious gangsta lyrics. Later in the shade of the BBC Introducing Stage, local rapper Bemz and band moved his audience with a jazz, gospel and funk-flavoured set, directly countering Schoolboy Q with thoughtful lyrics on male mental health and peaceful calls for a free Palestine. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Towards the end of a potent and playful set, Wet Leg guitarist Hester Chambers also spoke up politely on the right to protest, keenly aware of recent controversies. The removal of Irish rappers Kneecap from the bill was not explicitly referenced but the number of Irish flags around the site served as a passive proxy. Read more here: Whisky distilleries shut down production as water levels drop in hot weather Over on the King Tut's stage, The Royston Club sounded like they had fallen off an indie conveyor belt but attracted an up-for-it crowd. Glamorous country singer Tanner Adell arrived like Shania with extra spangles and packing a rocking drummer and guitarist but lacked the presence and vocals to convert her sparse audience. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Australian dance pop outfit Confidence Man have already proved their live credentials and were the ideal act to warm up the party as the temperature dropped to bearable levels. Backed by their veiled drummer and keyboard player and a visual mood board of gonzo CGI graphics, singer/dancers Janet Planet and Sugar Bones brought enough fun energy and infectious choreography to power the entire site. Keep up to date with Arts and Culture news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here. Headliner 50 Cent was in jovial mood. Supported by his crew and troupe of twerking dancers, the New York rap veteran hailed the evening warmth as 'the best weather for an outdoor festival'.
Glasgow Times
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Celtic Daft rapper smashes Glasgow TRNSMT 2025 set
The tree-sheltered area was the perfect reprieve from the unrelenting sun on the first day of the festival. A sizeable crowd gathered to see Bemz headline one of the smaller stages on Glasgow Green today, June 11. The Nigerian-born hip-hop star, who now lives in Glasgow, beamed onto the stage and ushered the crowd forward. Celtic-daft Bemz finished his set draped in an Irish flag (Image: Newsquest) READ MORE: LIVE updates from Glasgow's TRNSMT 2025 festival He said: 'Three years ago we opened this stage and now we're closing it - s***s crazy, isn't it?' Opening with saxophone-laced Bando 2 Studio, he finished the track with a 'you all doing alright' which received cheers from the crowd. He took a moment to thank the crowd for coming down to his set. On the day of the festival being headlined by global rap icon, 50 Cent, Bemz declared: 'During lockdown, I watched people on the scene here saying they were the king of this and that. 'And I thought, 'we ain't achieved anything yet'.' Before launching into track after track, which cement a soulful high-energy sound as his five-piece band lays down beat after beat. Bemz boogied across the stage during his set (Image: Newsquest) READ MORE: I tried the cheapest pint at TRSNMT festival 2025 - my verdict READ MORE: I asked the TRNSMT 2025 crowd for outfit advice - their responses were bold Lyrics such as 'I'm sky high and I love the view' encapsulate the energy flowing from the wordsmith. Bemz pauses to wipe the sweat out of his eye as he acknowledges the 28-degree heat that was baking the festival. He demanded energy from the crowd for Raging Bull, which lived up to its name as he stormed from side to side on the stage, hyping up the crowd. Saxophone lead breakdowns had the small-but-mighty packed crowd bouncing as Bemz bounced in with high-energy hooks. 'That was f***g crazy!' the rapper declares to cheers from the adoring crowd. Bemz gives thanks to rock band The Snuts for bringing him out on the main stage three years ago. He then brings out his friend, Neil, who had a dream of playing at a festival, to give him the same opportunity. 'You all don't realise but you've just made that man's life', beamed Bemz. Neil joined the band for Mulla on bass for the swagger-heavy song, which echoes: 'I'm just trying to live the life that I see in the movies.' Celtic Daft rapper Bemz smashes Glasgow TRNSMT 2025 set (Image: Newsquest) If that dream used to include smashing a BBC Introducing stage headline slot, Bemz has ticked that off. New tune DnD made with The Snuts was an instant hit and had the crowd dancing with hands raised high. Zidane-inspired tune prompted a Bemz-led boogie as the crowd bounced to every syllable. Celtic-daft Bemz signed off the stage with a hit, 26, draped in an Irish flag collected from the crowd. The Friday bill was stacked with rap royalty, and Bemz made his case to be Glasgow's shining hip hop star.
Glasgow Times
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Confidence Man made me a fan at Glasgow TRNSMT 2025
I'll be honest and say I was aware of them but had never listened to a tune, and oh, how I'd been missing out! The electro-pop, synth-laden sound coupled with energetic choreography was perfect for the TRNSMT sunset crowd. With the band raised on silver spiky inflatable platforms, the set electrified the sun-weary crowd. Confidence Man made me a fan at Glasgow TRNSMT 2025 (Image: Newsquest/Gordon Terris) READ MORE: Celtic Daft rapper Bemz smashes Glasgow TRNSMT 2025 set draped in Irish flag With vocals that remind you of every 80s pop princess and the beats to match on Does It Make You Feel Good? They had the crowd in the palm of their hand from the outset. 'How you feeling TRNSMT' was met with cheers as the duo who front the band bounded from side to side on the stage. The band leave their platforms to perform yet more impressive choreography as they flip frontwoman Janet Planet (Grace Stephenson) head over heels, and not for the only time in the show. All My People started a two-step that would make a Creamfields crowd jealous. 'Where you at Glasgow?' is met with cheers from a crowd rejuvenated from a day of sweating in 28-degree heat. It felt like as the day cooled off, the TRNSMT crowd finally heated up. (Image: Newsquest/Gordon Terris) READ MORE: I tried the cheapest pint at TRSNMT festival 2025 - my verdict READ MORE: I asked the TRNSMT 2025 crowd for outfit advice - their responses were bold A sea of hands reached for the beams of sunlight streaming towards the stage, which featured some of the most impressive productions of the day. Air horn blasts and outfit changes aplenty kept the energy high as they genre shift seamlessly into more funky disco-esque numbers. Aptly named It Feels Like A Different Day brought the crowd out of a sun-soaked slumber - you really will struggle to find a better act at working a crowd. After an intergalactic interludes and costumes from Mars - they rip into Party Of The Year (COOL) where they're all hip thrusts and champagne sprays, what a party! Stripping off to raucous cheers for Gossip, they belt out the lyric 'You only reap what you sow' and get the energy they've given out back from the enthralled audience. (Image: Newsquest/Gordon Terris) (Image: Newsquest/Gordon Terris) Jumping down to the front of the stage before the finale, they loosened off any lethargy from the pre-50 Cent crowd. Blending from pop to house to disco and everything in between, they're a real eclectic music fan's delight. I genuinely did not stop dancing from the start to the finish of their set - the perfect tonic to mid-evening festival fatigue. Do they have Confidence Man? Yes. And they certainly should have - their show will be hard to beat this weekend.
