Edinburgh Summer Sessions: Chappell Roan transport guide, setlist, and event highlights

Chappell Roan turns the Royal Highland Showgrounds into a pop arena

Two nights, one rising star, and a site next to an international airport. Edinburgh Summer Sessions welcomed Chappell Roan for back-to-back outdoor shows on August 26–27, 2025, drawing thousands to the Royal Highland Showgrounds beside Edinburgh Airport. Gates opened at 4pm, with music wrapped by the 10:30pm curfew each night, keeping to the city’s tight evening noise rules.

The format was simple and high energy: an all-standing arena-style setup, big singalongs, and a setlist that leaned into the anthems fans came for. Roan rolled through her breakthrough hits Good Luck, Babe!, Pink Pony Club, and the viral favorite The Subway, turning the field into a chorus. Night two on August 27 added depth, with Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl, Femininomenon, After Midnight, Naked in Manhattan, Guilty Pleasure, Casual, and HOT TO GO! among the highlights.

For Edinburgh, these shows landed at the sweet spot of late summer when the city is still buzzing from festival season. For Roan, they underlined a breakout year: a Grammy win for Best New Artist and prime slots at Reading, Leeds, and Electric Picnic. The Summer Sessions stop felt like a checkpoint on a fast climb—bigger stages, tighter production, and a fanbase that now arrives early and in numbers.

The venue itself helped the atmosphere. The Royal Highland Centre’s wide outdoor space gives clear sightlines and a quick build for large-scale staging. With an all-standing crowd, energy stayed high from doors to curfew. Security and stewards kept movement flowing across the site, and the earlier start time meant families and younger fans could make it home on the same night—useful when public transport is doing the heavy lifting.

How fans got there: trams, bus 98, traffic hot spots, and airport timing

Getting in and out was all about planning. Transport authorities pushed public transit as the easiest option, and it showed. Edinburgh Trams ran direct to Ingliston Park & Ride from the city centre, dropping crowds a short walk from the Showgrounds. Lothian’s 98 service provided a straight city centre–to–Royal Highland Centre link, which many used both before and after the show.

Road traffic was the pinch point. Traffic Scotland flagged heavier-than-normal volumes on the Queensferry Crossing and the M90 to the north, plus slowdowns on the A8 corridor past the airport, the M8 from Glasgow, and the A720 City Bypass. Local routes around Ingliston and the airport felt the spillover as showtime neared and again at the end-of-night exit wave.

The airport factor mattered. With the venue next door to Edinburgh Airport, anyone catching flights—or being dropped off or collected—needed extra time. Authorities urged airport travelers to set off earlier than usual and to check their route before leaving, as post-show traffic can push journey times well beyond normal evening levels.

For those using trams, the advice was to travel earlier in the afternoon to avoid the last-minute crush, then follow steward directions after the show for the quickest walk to the platforms. The same went for the 98 bus: get in line promptly after the final song and be ready for controlled boarding. Clear signage around the site helped funnel people toward their chosen route.

Age checks were strict. No one under 12 was allowed in, and 12–15-year-olds had to be with an adult. Entry teams asked for valid photo ID—UK or international driving licences, passports, and PASS-approved cards were accepted. The policy trimmed queuing times once the gates were open and kept the evening running to schedule.

As with most outdoor gigs in Scotland, kit choices mattered. Fans who arrived prepared—with layers, comfortable footwear for standing, and a plan for the walk back to transport hubs—had the smoothest night. Hydration and quick food options on-site kept queues moving, and many attendees timed their last drink or snack ahead of the encore to beat the rush out.

The 10:30pm finish is a key detail for anyone planning an evening like this. It leaves a narrow window to make late connections, so the consistent advice from operators was simple: head in early, leave on time, and expect short waits at tram stops and bus queues after the show. With thousands filtering out together, a steady pace beats a sprint to the exit.

For the city, the double-header showcased how the Royal Highland Showgrounds can handle big music nights without overwhelming the centre. For fans, it was a slick, high-volume operation: direct tram, direct bus, clear road warnings, and a pop star at full tilt. If you want a blueprint for large-scale gigs on Edinburgh’s edge, this was it—tight set times, transport first, and a crowd that knew exactly when the big choruses would hit.