Booked to play at Glasgow’s annual TRNSMT Festival on Saturday 12th July, The Rooks have been storming the Scottish music scene lately with sell out shows and immense support slots – all in the absence of management. I had the pleasure of chatting with the lads all things TRNSMT, supporting some of their indie heroes, and their plans for new music!
How are you all feeling about playing TRNSMT 2025, and what can audiences expect from your performance?
“There’s a real buzz around us and the TRNSMT show at the moment which is cool. It’s something we’ve been working towards and I think we’re all just looking forward to getting stuck in on the day. Audiences should expect a big anthemic sound, built for festivals and a proper rock show.”
With hype generating fast for their 3.30pm slot at the BBC Introducing stage on Saturday, the quintet talk of how they plan to follow up on their festival slot with new music:
“We’ve been working really hard on our new music, and it’s not been easy. We’ve been trying different producers, sounds, studios and using different instruments. We’re keen to hone our craft and learn, that’s where a lot of the fun lies for us. There will be some new stuff we’ve worked on with you soon at the back end of festival season.
“We’ve recently come off a run of shows on the east coast. Edinburgh, Dundee and then Newcastle which was our first time headlining down south. Before festival season kicks in and keeps us on the move until the middle of August.
“Show wise we’ve a big Glasgow headline booked for the end of the year, I’m not sure I’m at odds to let that cat out of its bag yet but that’s on our minds.”
How would you describe your music influences, and what impact do they have on your creative process?
“We play the music influenced by what we were raised on. Groups like Stereophonics or Kings Of Leon have a big influence. We’ve been working with Jim Lowe who works with Stereophonics so I think that shines through on some of the recordings. I wouldn’t say we’re stuck here though, we’ve brought keys and organ into the live act and it’s giving us new ideas and sounds. The sound should be something that’s always moving and evolving.”
The band note that their recording process is still something they’re fine tuning and experimenting with, commenting on their experience recording in London earlier this year:
“We’re still finding ways to work in the studio and trying different techniques. We were keen to record entirely live for ‘Right About Now’ and approached it that way. It’s interesting how different records are made and sounds are made, we find ourselves hung up on that process a lot, in a good way.
“In the end up, Right About Now is a live rhythm track and then the three guitars were recorded live together in the room afterwards.
From what we’ve learned so far, our aim is to keep making honest records.”
In the past the lads have shared the stage with some huge acts like Blossoms at Glasgow’s O2 academy, and Dylan John Thomas in Newcastle, we discussed how they felt stepping up to the plate in support of their heroes:
“Last year was a big year for us. We’d been sending emails and looking for phone numbers for any sort of chance at any show but we’d never released any music. Wet behind the ears.
“It started to change after we’d released our debut single last May. Blossoms are a band we’ve all been to see a few times together, they’ve always a been group we’ve enjoyed. We caught wind of their tour and scoured for a contact. We reached out and sent the lads some music and they agreed to have us open for them.
“It was similar story for Dylan, who was happy to have us on in Newcastle which was great to get out of Scotland for the first time and play in a room as big as we did.
“It was great for us to see the levels of production and craft that go into these shows and gave us some ideas and pointers. Both the Blossoms lads and Dylan were great with us too.
“It’s given us a taste of where we need to be.”
Catch The Rooks at TRNSMT Festival at the BBC Introducing Stage on Saturday 12th July at 3:30pm, followed by an exclusive TRNSMT afterparty slot at McChuill’s bar.
Check out ‘Right About Now’, the debut EP from The Rooks and follow their socials below:
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