Organisers drop hint festival may not return next year

T in the Park bosses have given the strongest indication yet the festival will not be returning next year.

DF Concerts has kept tight-lipped about the future of Scotland’s biggest live music festival, which was put on hold this year after a series of problems at its new Strathallan Castle home.

Chief executive Geoff Ellis said there are no firm plans in place for the event in 2018 – however, he has confirmed his new Glasgow-based festival, TRNSMT, will return on the first weekend of July, next year – the traditional T in the Park weekend.

TRNSMT was held on Glasgow Green at the weekend and featured headline performances from Radiohead, Kasabian and Biffy Clyro.

DF Concerts declined to comment on T’s future or on the significance of the new TRNSMT date.

Announcing plans for 2018 on Facebook, Mr Ellis said the new festival had been good for Glasgow.

“The reaction in the city has been great,” he said. “We will continue to work closely with the local residents, get their feedback. The city council has also been really helpful and supportive, and they helped with the clean-up.

“There’s been a real team spirit and a friendly atmosphere back stage, so we feel we’ve got to come back.”

T in the Park pumped £2.7 million into the local economy each year, and about £15.4m nationally.

Councillor Colin Stewart, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s environment, enterprise and infrastructure committee, said: “This festival has had its home in Perthshire for about 20 years and it would be a real shame if it didn’t return.

“We would be very happy to continue to work with DF Concerts about the possibility of bringing the festival back.”

DF Concerts will need to reapply for planning permission if it wants to return to Strathallan in 2018.

A statement issued by the company in November said this year’s show was axed because of recent “challenges”, including the move from Balado, by Kinross, to Strathearn because of a gas pipeline rupture threat, as well as the need to apply for full planning consent because of protected ospreys.