Want a taste of
T? You’d better be 18 or older
THE T in the Park music festival will be an adult-only affair if it returns, concert organisers have said.
The event has been dogged by problems since it moved to Strathallan Castle in Perthshire.
Organisers said it would be ‘taking a break’ this summer, prompting speculation that last year’s festival would prove its swansong.
It was rocked by the deaths of two teenagers from suspected drug abuse shortly before the event started as well as traffic issues and disruption caused by trying not to disrupt nesting ospreys on the site.
Yesterday Geoff Ellis, chief executive of organiser DF Concerts, insisted he was still hopeful of bringing T in the Park back to Strathallan, near Auchterarder, but admitted any return would probably depend on the crowd being limited to over-18s only.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Kaye Adams programme, Mr Ellis added any future festival would focus on rock bands instead of electronic dance music.
He said: ‘What we have seen in recent years is more 16 and 17year-olds going a bit crazy. So let’s make the campsite over-18 going forward.
‘It does mean families can’t come to the event like they have done traditionally since 1994 but that is something we have to do.
‘You do all you can when you are organising an event to try to keep people safe.’
He added: ‘Generally most people do behave themselves, aren’t getting drunk or taking drugs. That’s how most festivals are. But obviously you have issues to deal with and they are at every single nightclub and pub.
‘T in the Park has been a rite of passage since 1994 but the core attendance has always been between 18 and 24. The reasons we have taken a year out is to solve the issues placed upon us because of the planning consent.’
It is understood no discussions are taking place on restricting the entry of under-18s to the main festival arena.
T in the Park’s traditional July weekend slot will be filled this year by the TRNSMT Festival which will take place on Glasgow Green.
However, Mr Ellis said he was still in talks with Perth and Kinross planners to bring the festival back to Strathallan Castle. He added: ‘We are confident and hopeful but we are still in the throes of looking at everything.’