Event cancelled as folk feel the squeeze

ORGANISERS of Party at the Park in Perth say they do not believe it will be the last music festival cancelled this year due to the cost-of-living-crisis.

The first-ever Party at the Park was originally planned for 2020 but had to be postponed twice due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A sister festival to Party at the Palace in Linlithgow, the two-day event was finally expected to take place this June.

Acts including McFly, Steps and Sophie EllisBextor were due to appear at the South Inch.

Dundee singer Be Charlotte and Edinburghbased Callum Beattie were also set to perform.

But in a statement on the festival’s website yesterday, organisers confirmed it has been cancelled.

Event director John Richardson said the “heartbreaking” decision has been made because people are struggling to afford to attend events.

He said: “If you look at websites like Ticketmaster, very few gigs are marked as sold out. There are events that would have sold out very quickly in recent years that are just not selling.

“We have three years of events that were cancelled being squeezed in this summer and people don’t have the money in their pocket to go around.

“It’s horrible out there at the moment. We are well aware of the knock-on effect that cancelling a gig like this has.”

John says the team of three people behind the event – which is based in Fife – looked at other options to hold Party at the Park but they were not possible.

He added: “There’s also the cultural side of things, with around 49 Scottish artists not being given the opportunity to perform or a payday. The knock-on effect is huge. We’re absolutely gutted about it, devastated really.”

Party at the Park is the second Perth and Kinross music event to be cancelled so far this week, with organisers of Mugstock festival – planned for Strathallan Castle – postponing that event until next year.

A FORMER Royal Marine from Angus who set up his own business after being made redundant twice now wants to inspire other veterans.

Graeme Ogg is a former Royal Marines sergeant who saw conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan, but now runs his own business, Timber Tree Surgery.

During the first Covid lockdown in 2020 he was made redundant for the second time in five years.

At his lowest point, he decided to turn to tree surgery work – something he had done with his late uncle.

Funding of £6,500 from Poppyscotland allowed Graeme, pictured, to take his place on a residential training camp in Cornwall.

And 18 months on, he is a different man – happy and with a business going from strength to strength. He credits Poppyscotland for its part in his turnaround in fortunes and now wants to inspire other former serviceman.

Last weekend he gave a talk to encourage others to follow the same path.

Graeme said: “I did a half-hour talk at Poppyscotland. It went down very well. I started at the redundancy and went through to where we are now.

“It was great for me to give back to all the people who have helped me.”