Summer Nights bandstand concerts cancelled over Covid concerns

A series of concerts due to be held in Glasgow this summer have been cancelled due to social distancing concerns.

Organisers of Summer Nights at the Bandstand said on Tuesday they have decided to postpone this year’s event until summer 2022.

They said this year’s festival is unable to take place due to the coronavirus measures likely to still be in place in July.

The line-up of acts scheduled to perform at the Bandstand in Kelvingrove Park included Primal Scream, Van Morrison, Edwyn Collins, Belinda Carlisle, Rick Astley, Richard Hawley, Rufus Wainwright, King Creosote, Suzanne Vega and The Jesus and Mary Chain.

A statement issued by the organisers said: “It is with a heavy heart that due to the physical distancing and other measures that are still likely to still be in place in July, we have taken the decision to postpone this year’s Summer Nights at the Bandstand until summer 2022.

“As much as we would dearly love to be able to return this summer, it will not be possible to go ahead with restrictions in place or to guarantee the experience that everyone has come to expect.”

Organisers also confirmed the same line-up remains in place for 2022 and tickets already purchased for this year’s shows are still valid for the rescheduled performances.

The announcement comes just weeks after organisers of the Belladrum Tartan Heart event, which is held at Beauly near Inverness, cancelled the festival for a second consecutive year.

TRNSMT, Scotland’s biggest music festival, has moved its dates back two months in a bid to swerve coronavirus restrictions.

The festival will now take place in September instead of July – meaning Lewis Capaldi is no longer able to headline the extravaganza.

The three-day festival in Glasgow Green will instead be closed by the Chemical Brothers, but Liam Gallagher and Snow Patrol remain on the bill.

Promoters hope the new dates of September 10-12 will give TRSNMT the best chance of going ahead as close to normal as possible with crowds of up to 50,000 per day.

Meanwhile, a ‘reimagined’ Edinburgh International Festival will take place in the capital from August 7-29.