The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Music fans snap up tickets for Big Weekend at Scone.
Host of top names lined up to perform at BBC’s two-day festival in May
Courier Country music fans were quick to snap up tickets for a major festival taking place on the outskirts of Perth in May.
At 8.30am, around 40,000 tickets went on sale for the BBC’s The Biggest Weekend at Scone Palace, prompting eager fans to wait in virtual queues to secure places.
By the end of the day, there were still tickets left but sales were described as “going well”.
The May 25 to 26 festival will see Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and violinist Nigel Kennedy headline.
A host of other acts have also been lined up for the event, including Simple Minds, Amy MacDonald, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Julie Fowlis and Jamie Cullum, but more will be announced over the coming weeks.
Speaking recently to BBC DJ Chris Evans, Gallagher revealed how he initially thought the Scone Palace gig was to take place in Perth, Australia.
“I first heard about the Biggest Weekend a couple of months ago and was told that since Glastonbury wasn’t taking place this year a host of concerts would take place across the country,” he said.
“The BBC told me one would be in Perth and I thought they meant Perth in Australia.”
The keen Manchester City fan added: “Then I found out the Scone Palace gig is the same night as the Champions League final. However, it’s not every day you get to play a castle near Perth.”
A spokesman for the BBC said: “Tickets are still available for Scone Palace and the sale is going well.
“Music fans should note we will be announcing more acts for the venue shortly.”
Locals were given priority in purchasing tickets, with the first pot of 60% being set aside for residents in the Perth and Kinross Council area.
The next set of tickets was for those living in Dundee, Kirkcaldy, Falkirk and other Perth postcodes.
A third and smallest pot is on general sale to the public.
Tickets for the event are available by visiting www.bbc.co.uk/biggestweekend
They cost £18 plus booking fee.
It’s not every day you get to play a castle near Perth.
NOEL GALLAGHER