Edith Bowman has revealed she spoke to her two sons about mental health after watching Lewis Capaldi struggling at Glastonbury.
The broadcaster was at the side of the stage watching her fellow Scot with her boys Rudy, 15, and 10-year-old Spike. And she thinks that Lewis’ struggle and honesty will “give a voice to a whole generation of young people”.
The Scots singer had cancelled three weeks of shows before his slot at the UK’s biggest festival but still struggled with his Tourette’s, which results in painful, physical tics. As he was not able to continue, the crowd took over singing his biggest hit Someone You Loved.
Edith, who will present TV coverage of TRNSMT on the BBC from tonight, said: “We were at Glastonbury and watched his set. It resulted in a conversation with my kids about mental health.
“I don’t think Lewis appreciates how much of an impact being so candid will have had on a whole generation of young people about feeling like they can ask for help. They can raise their hand and say, ‘That’s me’ – whatever their condition and whatever they are going through.”
Afterwards Lewis released a statement saying he wouldn’t play live for the foreseeable future. Edith, who has interviewed him often as he has climbed to headline status – including at last year’s TRNSMT – thinks, like most people, that Lewis has done the right thing in taking a step back and trying to find a way of getting on top of his anxiety, which can spark his Tourette’s when he is performing live.
She said: “He’s looking after himself. His documentary, How I’m Feeling Now, gave us a wee personal insight into his journey. It’s really sad he’s having all this amazing success but it’s causing him more anxiety. He’s got to find a place – if he wants and needs to – to manage it.”
The documentary saw Lewis become stressed about writing the follow-up to debut album Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent. It also showed him taking time out and returning after his Tourette’s diagnosis.
This year his second album, Broken by Desire to be Heavenly Sent, also went straight to No1 and Edith doesn’t think his fanbase will desert him however long he takes to recover.
Edith, 49, from Anstruther, Fife, said: “I think I speak for most people – we’re all here for him. Everybody cares for him and is willing him to get better. He just needs to take as much time as he needs. We’re not going anywhere.”
As a former Radio 1 presenter who has been in and around the music business since she got her first on-screen job as a newsreader on MTV UK in 1996, Edith hopes the people in Lewis’ record company and management are looking after him and “making the best decisions for him”.
She also feels fans have to let stars like Lewis have privacy. Edith said: “You have to wonder what’s expected of Lewis. He does social media, that’s part of his personality. He’s also part comedian, part amazing singer-songwriter.
“We all need to lower our expectations of people, how much we see them visible and give them an opportunity to be private.”
While her sons were at Glastonbury, they won’t be making the journey from their home in Gloucestershire to Glasgow. Edith’s hubby Tom Smith, of indie band Editors, is gigging in Spain.
She laughed: “The kids are still at school so I’d get into trouble if I took them out of school. I’m flying solo this year.”
Edith is pretty sure she has worked at every TRNSMT since it began in 2017. She said: “People still ask me about T in the Park but I think TRNSMT is a brilliant alternative. It has definitely become part of the musical calendar and I love it.”
And she says she will checking out up-and-coming Scots acts including Joesef and Brooke Combe. Like Glastonbury, TRNSMT doesn’t have female headliners.
Edith said: “A lot of promoters are really trying, but some aren’t trying hard enough and can’t offer the big female singers like Taylor Swift or Beyonce the money they can make on their own tour. A lot of work needs to be done. That’s not to say female artists aren’t being given opportunities and you can’t stick a female on a headline slot for the sake of it.
“There are great female bands. I saw The Big Moon at Glastonbury. They are absolutely amazing and are playing the King Tut’s Stage this afternoon. Becky Hill is on the Main Stage on Sunday and she’s brilliant. But I would love to see Dua Lipa headline TRNSMT.”
She’s also thrilled Britpop and '90s music has returned, with Pulp headlining tonight and Blur playing Wembley on Saturday and Sunday.
Edith, who fronted Sky’s coverage at the Isle of Wight Festival and will be on BBC Scotland and BBC One Scotland this weekend with TRNSMT, said: “I think it’s wonderful. It reiterates the whole thing about ageism when it comes to music.”
She has a theory why '90s bands have so many young fans – and it’s not just because they heard the songs played by their parents.
Edith said: “There is substance to their lyrics and, to me, there is so much disposable music around. When you listen to the radio you hear so many reversionings of dance tracks. Where is the drive? What are you wanting to say with your music or do you just want a hit and to be famous?
“Sam Fender goes against that. He’s saying so much and that’s why he’s headlining TRNSMT tomorrow.”
Edith will present coverage of TRNSMT tonight on BBC Scotland from 10pm, then on Saturday from 10pm and Sunday from 9pm. The shows will be repeated later each night on BBC One Scotland.
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