No cash means summer gala day no-show
The popular Gala Rocks event in Coupar Angus will not be returning to the east Perthshire town this summer.
Organiser Jimmy Harris revealed this week that due to a lack of funding and his own work and family commitments he would be unable to run the event again this year.
Thousands partied on the Common in Coupar Angus last July as the second Gala Rocks event entertained people from the local area and beyond.
An estimated 3000 people attended the extravaganza, which was pulled together by taxi driver Jimmy.
He said:“Gala Rocks won’t be happening this year.
“There’s no funding for it and it’s a lot of work to pull it all together and due to my work and family commitments I just don’t have the time to organise it this year and do all the fundraising as well.”
However, he is hopeful he can bring the extravaganza back to east Perthshire in 2019.
Jimmy continued:“I’m planning on doing it again next year.
“I have lots of people lined up but just can’t get the funding in place in time for this year.
“The donations we received on the day last year barely covered the costs of running the event, which was something like £7500. Jimmy Harris
“The funding really needs to be in place before the event and by taking a break it gives us more time to get that sorted.
“I’m disappointed that we can’t get it going again this year to be honest, but I want to do it properly.
“It would have been especially difficult this year without the help and support of Ann who stepped down after last year’s event.
“It takes six months of planning as well as all the license applications and fundraising. Although we had lots of volunteers and help on the day there’s lots of work that goes into it all year and I don’t think people really realise that.”
Jimmy added:“I can’t keep expecting the same sponsors to support us every year either.
“We had been hoping to make a profit last year but everything costs money – the stage, the tents, the generators, the security, the bands.
“It’s difficult to raise the thousands of pounds needed to stage an event like that every year so Gala Rocks is taking a break this year and, all being well, will be back in 2019.”