Want a ticket for Katy Perry? See the girl on the bike...
AS a global superstar, she’s probably more familiar with stretch limos. But it will be pedal power for Katy Perry this week as she gets on her bike to see the sights in Glasgow. The I Kissed A Girl singer has disclosed that she plans to pedal through the city’s streets and parks in between three high-energy performances over just eight days.
The 29-year-old American played the first of two shows on he Prismatic World Tour at the SSE Hydro last night and is due to perform there again this evening. She then plays dates in Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield this week before coming back to Scotland to headline Radio 1’s Big Weekend at Glasgow Green next Sunday.
Before last night’s gig, Miss Perry said she would make an effort to familiarise herself with Glasgow, adding: ‘I routed this tour so I can really enjoy myself along the way and have experiences and make memories, so that when I do go to a city again, maybe I’ve had an incredible experience there, and I then have more to say on stage. I think it’s so impersonal that when you get on that stage the only thing you can say is, “Hello Glasgow”. I mean, what about Glasgow? I should get to know exactly what Glasgow is like. What are the coolest pubs, where the best fish and chips are.
‘I’m an adventure junkie when I’m on tour. The tour is massive, but it’s really just a road trip in disguise. We always bring bikes and cycle all round to find the best parks. In the UK there are some beautiful old historic parks. I’m so into history and so into culture – I dive right into that stuff.
‘Sometimes when we go bike riding before a show, we take some tickets and stop along the way in coffee shops and give them away secretly – I wear a hat and sunglasses, so you don’t know it’s me.’
Miss Perry may have gleaned some Glasgow tips from Scots singersongwriter Emeli Sande, who studied in the city. The pair worked together on the track It Takes Two from the Prism album.
She said: ‘Emeli came in and understood the idea for the song. We have the same kind of perspective and I admire her writing. She was great, a great cowriter. I am playing It Takes Two on the tour.’