Stormzy just made it for his headline slot at Scotland’s largest music festival last night after being given a police escort following a flight delay.
There were fears the rapper might not get to TRNSMT in time after his flight was held back for two hours.
But his appearance went ahead as planned after officers accompanied him from the airport to Glasgow Green.
Stormzy, who made headlines after he took to the stage in a stab vest at Glastonbury last month, joked he was “going up in the world” and like “the Queen”.
The rapper was due on stage at 9.20pm to close the first day of the TRNSMT festival but posted on Instagram that his flight had been helped up.
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He wrote: “3 flights missed in 24 hours now this one’s delayed by 2 hours. Having a mare.”
He later posted videos of being escorted to the festival site by police motorcycles.
It came as a weekend of summer fun kicked off in Glasgow.
Thousands of revellers, sporting face glitter and lots of festival fashion, descended on the city to soak up music from chart-topping acts, including Gerry Cinnamon and Years And Years.
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With 50,000 fans due to head to the city this weekend, the police were out in force.
Officers could be seen speaking to revellers who had consumed too much alcohol and there were a handful of arrests for minor disorder offences. Security was also tight around the perimeter of Glasgow Green to prevent anyone without a ticket getting in.
Crowds basked in the sunshine as the festival began, with temperatures topping 20°C (68°F). Organisers urged those attending to use suncream and stay hydrated.
However, about 130 people were treated for minor ailments mostly related to the sun.
After a couple of big name cancellations in the run-up to the event, and criticism about the lack of female artists that eventually led to the emergence of the Queen Tut’s stage, festival-goers seemed to be lapping up the performances.
Jess Glynne had been due to appear tomorrow on the final day of the three-day festival, but it was one of a series of gigs she axed earlier this month due to a vocal haemorrhage.
The singer-songwriter said doctors had warned her she could damage her voice permanently if she does not take time off. Emeli Sande has been drafted in as a replacement.
Lewis Capaldi also stepped in to replace Snow Patrol when two of the band were hit by medical problems.
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Festival director Geoff Ellis said fans were in line for a musical extravaganza.
Mr Ellis, who said he was not going to miss last night’s Stormzy performance, also addressed speculation about the future of the T In The Park festival, which he organised before it was put on hold in 2016.
He told the BBC the much-loved event had “run its course”, adding: “It’s all about TRNSMT for us now.”
Also planning to catch Stormzy last night was the headliner of the women-only Queen Tut’s stage, Lauren Spiteri.
She is the niece of Texas star Sharleen Spiteri and said she was “proud” to be on the stage dedicated to up-and-coming female artists.
She is at the festival for the first time in an attempt to address the gender play gap. “I’m just excited to be part of it,” she said.
“I think it’s really nice that TRNSMT are celebrating women in music that may be overlooked and that are just doing it on their own. I’m very proud to be sharing a stage with these amazing women.”
Glaswegian and Scottish pride were big themes yesterday, with Saltires flying throughout sets, while one festival-goer even donned a traffic cone hat on his head in the style of the famous Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow’s Royal Exchange Square.
Temperatures for most of TRNSMT weekend are predicted to stay in the 20s and the warm weather ensured the carnival atmosphere continued throughout yesterday.
Today, more artists will take to the stage, with Catfish and the Bottlemen headlining.
Other acts expected to draw in the crowds include Bastille, Richard Ashcroft and DMA’s. The festival is also packed with alternative stages, with DJs spinning top dance floor anthems Tomorrow, pop-anthem hitmaker George Ezra will close the sold-out Sunday show. But all eyes will be on Scottish chart topper Lewis Capaldi.
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