SUMMER | COVER FEATURE
and we are only halfway through the summer ,” says DF Concerts CEO Geoff Ellis . “ There is a strain on personnel , but it is great to be back out working on so many events .”
With so much content coming through Scottish venues , the promoter says event professionals across the country are taking a proactive approach to problem solving : “ We had Green Day at Bellahouston Park and Kings of Leon at the OVO Hydro ( 14,300 ) on the same day so we had to bring the load-in forward a couple of hours at the Hydro so the crew could do both events .
“ People are being understanding and accommodating , everyone knows we are all stretched and trying to achieve a lot .”
The collaborative efforts have extended to sharing infrastructure and staging at events , which not only helps address some of the challenges around the supply chain but is a considerable step forward in making shows more environmentally friendly .
Ellis says the same stage was used for all the promoter ’ s six stadium shows at Hampden Park and it worked with AEG Presents to share some of its infrastructure and the pitch cover for the promoter ’ s two Ed Sheeran shows at the venue .
He says the industry would benefit from continuing with that collaborative approach once the supply chain issues have subsided : “ There is no reason why people can ’ t share stages , particularly when you have a good stage that has good sight lines . There are lots of different stages but to have a general stage with the same general spec and loadin for production ; that is something the industry must look at more and more . It reduces costs and means you can do more shows in a stadium too because you don ’ t have to spend the time dismantling the stage . Stadium availability is at a premium , their
The Killers played two dates at Falkirk Stadium
windows are small in the summer so the more infrastructure sharing there is the more tours can go into stadiums .”
When it comes to ticket sales , Ellis says that while there is a pattern of later-than-usual purchases , overall sales are strong despite the delayed reopening in Scotland not having helped matters : “ It meant it took longer to get going again because when you are opening up and closing down again that ’ s not good for public confidence . It has taken longer in Scotland for people to feel it ’ s okay to go back to an event again , but now we have hit the summer it is really bouncing back .”
Among the leading concert promoters in Edinburgh is Regular Music , which promotes around 200 shows per year , including the Castle Concerts series at Edinburgh Castle ( 8,450 ). Among the acts to play there
this year include The Script , Texas and Elbow .
Despite being based in Edinburgh , around 70 % of Regular Music ’ s shows are staged in Glasgow . For the seventh year , Regular is running its Summer Nights shows at Glasgow ’ s Kelvingrove Park , which this year involves a 14-night run including sold-out shows by Pixies , Happy Mondays , Belinda Carlisle and Van Morrison .
Regular Music ’ s John Stout says the sheer number of events taking place across Scotland this year has meant it is an incredibly competitive market at a time when consumer spending power is waning . Despite the challenges , the promoter ’ s business is holding up well .
“ We are looking at a good year but I know some people ’ s shows are struggling ,” he says . “ For a lot of people this year will be a bumpy ride ,
22 24