TRNSMT boss Safe trials show it’s time to green light gigs in Scotland
Festival boss Geoff Ellis has urged concerts to be given the green light in Scotland after trial gigs in England were found to be safe.
Ellis, whose TRNSMT festival is in September, urged the First Minister to announce dates for the live entertainment sector to reopen after Covid-19.
Ellis, who attended one of the test gigs in Liverpool where the band Blossoms played in front of 5000 giggoers, said: “This seems to have been a great success and is very welcome news.
“People are saying it shows that going to concerts is safer than going shopping but that’s not quite true. People going had to do tests before, so there was some precautions already taken.
“But it’s encouraging and makes me more confident than ever that TRNSMT will go ahead in September.”
The UK Government has been monitoring Covid trial events, including three FA Cup matches at Wembley Stadium, the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield and the Brit Awards in London’s O2.
Last week it was reported ministers will be briefed that only 15 people out of 58,000 had tested positive for Covid.
But Ellis said uncertainty was robbing the entertainment industry of a summer windfall, adding: “The Scottish Government’s cautious approach is doing a lot of damage to businesses here.They need to start putting dates on it.
“We need people to be safe from Covid but with the vaccination programme proving so successful, I hope things start returning to normal soon.”
Donald Macleod, owner of The Garage and Cathouse Rock Club, said: “The restrictions are causing catastrophic damage.”