The Rooks on TRNSMT, hometown crowds and why they're only focused on doing things their own way
- Jul 4
- 3 min read
Written by Lauren Page | @LiveWithLP
There's something pretty special about watching a band go from the smaller stages to one of the biggest crowds at TRNSMT, and for The Rooks, that's exactly what happened.
Just 12 months ago I was standing at the Introducing Stage after being told by someone in the Media area that I had to go and check them out. Fast forward to this year and they're playing the King Tut's Stage with a crowd packed from front to back. Safe to say, it's been a huge year for the Glasgow band.
After stepping off stage, I caught up with the lads backstage to chat about hometown shows, what's next for the band and why they're not interested in following anyone else's path. Playing your hometown festival always comes with a bit more pressure, but for The Rooks, it was simply about enjoying the moment.
"It was good. Fun," they laughed. "The sun came out for us, so that definitely helped. Better than yesterday because everyone was a bit waterlogged."
If you've ever seen The Rooks live, you'll know they're one of those bands that give absolutely everything to their fans. Whether it's handing out flags, interacting with the crowd or making sure everyone is part of the show, there's a real community feel around what they do.
It's something that's completely intentional.
"We know what it means to come to a festival, especially this one because it's our hometown festival," they explained. "We came here when we were 14 or 15. If a band had handed me a flag and told me to hold it up and jump about, I'd have loved it. It's just giving something back because it makes a difference."
That mentality has clearly paid off. The fanbase surrounding The Rooks continues to grow, with their merchandise flying out throughout the weekend and more people discovering the band every month.
So what's next after ticking off another milestone at TRNSMT?
The answer is... plenty.
The band teased that they'll be heading to Europe next month, although they were keeping the finer details under wraps for now, joking that they were simply "going on holiday." Alongside that, a brand-new headline tour is just around the corner, including what promises to be a huge Glasgow hometown show.
Looking back over the past year, it's hard not to notice just how quickly things have moved. From intimate Glasgow venues to festival stages and now touring internationally, it's been a whirlwind for the band.
One thing that stood out during our chat was their confidence. While plenty of emerging bands talk about taking inspiration from others on the scene, The Rooks aren't interested in comparing themselves.
"We just try and do our own thing," they said. "No disrespect to any other band, but we stay in our own lane, create our own sound and build our own fanbase."
That confidence isn't arrogance; it's belief. And it's something that's become part of the band's identity.
When I asked what the original goal was when they first started The Rooks, the answer couldn't have been more straightforward.
"If you don't want to be bigger than The Beatles, then why start?" they laughed. "It's probably never going to happen, but what's the point in doing it if you don't want to aim as high as you possibly can?"
It's an ambitious mindset, but one that's clearly driving everything they do.
With Scottish music continuing to produce incredible talent, I was curious whether crowds feel different outside of Scotland.
The band weren't convinced.
"It depends," they admitted. "But I think we can get a crowd up for it anywhere we go. Playing live, that's our thing."
And after watching their TRNSMT set, it's hard to argue with that.
The Rooks have built their reputation the old-fashioned way through relentless gigging, connecting with fans and backing themselves every step of the journey. Seeing them make the leap from the Introducing Stage to one of TRNSMT's busiest stages in just a year feels like another chapter rather than the destination.
With Europe on the horizon, a headline tour about to be announced and a Glasgow date that already feels destined to be one of the hottest tickets in town, don't be surprised if this time next year we're talking about an even bigger stage.