Article Source: Summer Sessions
Last Updated: 28 August 2019 13:01
This year’s Summer Sessions Festival series in both Edinburgh and Glasgow brought together nearly 150,000 music lovers, over 30 acts and 40 hours of music, with some of the most iconic names in music including The Cure and Foo Fighters plus hot acts of the moment Lewis Capaldi, The Snuts and the revolutionary The 1975 who brought a politically-charged and important sense of occasion to their closing show in Glasgow last night.
With the Glasgow Summer Sessions series wrapping up its seventh year and Edinburgh closing out its second, we take a look back at the incredible gig series that was Summer Sessions 2019!
Glasgow Summer Sessions Festival featured one of the most legendary line-ups to date, entering its seventh year in style this summer. Two sold-out shows across two consecutive dates got the Glasgow series underway; The Cure who brought with them Mogwai, The Twilight Sad and The Joy Formidable plus Foo Fighters who delivered a truly iconic headline set following a packed bill including Slaves, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, The Van T’s and Hot Milk.
Starting off Summer Sessions in style, The Cure made their epic return to Scotland after a 27 year absence from the country’s live scene and with a career now spanning nearly five decades and 13 albums, their eagerly anticipated return proved well worth the wait. The iconic band delivered an astonishing set that went down a storm with the Glasgow crowd, playing one glorious hit after another and delving effortlessly into one of the most iconic and influential back catalogues in musical history, by treating fans to classic hits like ‘Friday I’m In Love’, ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ and ‘Close To Me’. It was an unforgettable night from one of the world’s most influential rock bands; one that will live long in the memory of Glasgow’s music fans.
Next up, was a sold-out Saturday night at Summer Sessions with festival veterans Foo Fighters which included a crowd singalong to 'Flower of Scotland' plus drummer Taylor taking over vocals for a Queen cover of 'Under Pressure' with Dave Grohl on drums. For an epic finale, the band dedicated the last song 'Everlong' to Scottish crew member Ian - Dave's ear monitor tech of 30 years. Addressing their relationship, Dave said, "He's the one I can't do without, so we can sing this one for him!" From classics including ‘Best Of You’ and ‘All My Life’, to singalong anthems simply made for festivals like ‘Everlong’ and ‘Times Like These’, it was another masterclass in festival headlining from Dave Grohl and co.
After a whirlwind year that has taken them all across the globe, BRIT Award winners The 1975 returned to Scotland to deliver one of the most ambitious, visually inspiring shows the festival has witnessed, reinforcing their status as one of the biggest bands on the planet right now. Opening with brand new punk-rock track ‘People’, frontman Matty Healy was as charismatic as ever, his sharp and timely lyrics promoting self-love, acceptance and inclusivity, rapturously sung back word-for-word by the devoted crowd as he said to the crowd, “If you kiss boys and you're a boy, you shouldn't get in trouble!"
Opening this year’s Summer Sessions in Princes Street Gardens earlier this month was the truly sensational Florence + the Machine who played two back to back shows and featured a very special moment onstage for two fans who got engaged on-stage. With massive singalong hits like ‘Hunger’, ‘Dog Days Are Over’ and ‘Shake It Out’, Florence + the Machine started Summer Sessions just right.
The Princes Street Gardens series was then treated to a legendary line-up next, with Primal Scream bringing along their pal Johnny Marr who collaborated onstage for tracks ‘Loaded’ and ‘Country Girl’. Famed-author Irvine Welsh popped along to see his pals tweeting about his love for the gig.
Next up were CHVRCHES, who made their Summer Sessions debut and returned to the capital for the first time in five years for an atmospheric show underneath the castle.
Man of the moment Lewis Capaldi sold out two back-to-back nights marking another huge milestone in what has been an incredible year for the young singer-songwriter from Bathgate. Supporting his local music scene, Lewis Capaldi recruited fellow West Lothian bands including Indigo Velvet, Luke La Volpe, Mark Sharp & The Bicycle Thieves and The Snuts for his support across two nights. Closing his set with one of the biggest songs of the year, a singalong rendition of ‘Someone You Loved’ brought the night to an emotional end.
The Edinburgh capital was also treated to immense performances from James who played the ultimate festival set of tunes including opener ‘She’s A Star’, ‘Sit Down’ and ‘Laid’, James brought one of the biggest singalongs of the Summer Sessions series so far from the first note they played. A sold-out Courteeners show was heavily anticipated by the Scottish crowd. Featuring local lads Heavy Rapids, who opened up for the Manchester band, the set included ‘Not Nineteen Forever’ and ‘Are You In Love With A Notion?’, making them the perfect Friday night Summer Sessions headliners.
Closing the incredible Summer Sessions in Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens were the iconic outfit Madness, who took to the stage on Sunday 18th August. With a two-hour set including ‘House of Fun’, ‘Baggy Trousers’ and ‘One Step Beyond’ all included, it was a sight to behold for the band’s 40th anniversary.
Be the first to know about all gig and festival announcements and sign-up to the Summer Sessions mailing list here.
Dobbies Garden Centres is hosting a free Grow Your Own workshop this August, where attendees will learn top tips for growing fruit, vegetables and flowers at home.
READ MOREIconic drum and base duo Fabio and Grooverider, actor and DJ Craig Charles and Mercury Music Prize nominees Corto Alto will all be performing at the biggest Milngavie Street Party yet!
READ MORE'Brunch at Birds' will be available every Saturday and Sunday from 11am–3pm, bringing a dose of laid-back, American-style indulgence to the Southside.
READ MOREAcclaimed Scottish folk four-piece Gnoss are back with a brand-new single ‘Emily’ set for release on Friday 25th July!
READ MORETreasure Trove Scotland are inviting members of the public to bring their finds to be assessed as part of a family-friendly Archaeology Day at the National Museum of Rural Life.
READ MORETo mark its 150th anniversary, Dunns Food and Drinks is launching The Great Dunns Piece Fling, a search for a high-rise flat to test the lyric 'ye cannae fling pieces oot a twenty-storey flat'!
READ MOREATG Entertainment launches their Summer Saver campaign with discounted tickets to over 100 shows including several at the King's Theatre and Theatre Royal in Glasgow!
READ MORETinderbox and Glasgow roaster Matthew Algie have teamed up with Beatson Cancer Charity for the second year running – and this time, the menu’s three times bigger.
READ MOREChildren attending Dobbies Little Seedlings Club will get the chance to travel back hundreds of millions of years to learn about prehistoric plants and talk about their favourite dinosaurs!
READ MOREElements, the celebrated fine-dining restaurant in Bearsden, has announced the highly anticipated return of its signature 4/4/4 cocktail lunch offer, now featuring a brand-new selection of cocktails.
READ MOREHorne will play the music industry executive who kicked off the race to No 1. between the two bands.
READ MOREPubLife, a UK-wide summer celebration of the '90s will take place in over 500 pubs, including 7 in Scotland.
READ MOREThis summer, as school holidays get underway, families are invited to enjoy a day out at Scone Palace with their Kids Go Free promotion.
READ MOREThe inaugural Scone Palace International Horse Trials will take place from 21st–24th August 2025 in the stunning grounds of Scone Palace and Perth Racecourse.
READ MOREThe state-of-the-art bowling and activity venue brings ten-pin & duck pin bowling, tech darts, ice-free curling, arcades and more to Glasgow's Silverburn!
READ MOREScotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow on Sunday 5th October and they want everyone to 'Be Your Greatest'.
READ MOREBeloved Glasgow indie House Party is back with a new model and a Pride pop-up at The Social Hub from 14–20 July!
READ MOREWith doors set to reopen this August, the Citizens Theatre has announced its programme from January - June 2026 as part of its reopening year of productions.
READ MOREBTS Army: Forever We Are Young, a brand-new documentary celebrating the fans that helped catapult 21st century pop icons BTS into global stardom comes to Vue.
READ MOREFamily favourites and animated adventures are heading to the big screen this summer holiday at Vue venues across Scotland.
READ MORECUPP, the cult-favourite boba tea brand known for its viral drinks and dedicated following, is opening an all-new Boba Café Kiosk in Silverburn.
READ MOREScotland’s multi-venue festival for music discovery, is back for 2025 with a first wave of 30+ unmissable artists including Manchester’s Pale Waves.
READ MOREThe limited-time experience is the first-of-its-kind at Topgolf Glasgow in collaboration with Marvel Studios!
READ MOREScotland’s national music prize – the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award – has opened submissions for 2025’s £20,000 prize.
READ MOREScotland's first openly gay professional footballer is set to headline Pride events at The Social Hub Glasgow.
READ MOREArtwork to celebrate the centre's 20th anniversary was officially unveiled at Glasgow Fort last week.
READ MOREGlaschu, one of Glasgow's most established fine dining restaurants, will join forces once again with acclaimed chef, Brian Maule for two nights in August.
READ MORECineworld has today announced £1 Family Films, running every week from July 25, so that families can be more childish together all summer long.
READ MOREThis summer, gather the whole family and head to Dobbies Garden Centres for a day of fun-filled activities that will keep costs down.
READ MOREThis Sunday sees the arrival of a brand-new community event for 2025: The Big Sunday on Kelvin Way!
READ MORE