Sign up for IQ Index
The latest industry news to your inbox.
DF Concerts' 2016 Glasgow Summer Sessions marked a return to form for the festival after a violence-hit 2015, with the lowest number of arrests since the event began
By IQ on 08 Sep 2016
Scottish police and councillors have praised DF Concerts following the conclusion of this year’s Glasgow Summer Sessions, which was hailed as a “fantastic improvement” on the controversial 2015 event.
In contrast to last year – which saw local residents and the Labour party’s justice spokesman, Graeme Pearson, call for the event’s cancellation after police made 38 arrests amid alcohol-related violence – the number of arrests fell to an all-time low at the 2016 festival, held in Bellahouston Park in Glasgow on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 August.
Superintendent Mark Hargreaves of Police Scotland, says: “The number of arrests [was] lower than any previous year, with six people arrested on Friday and no arrests deemed necessary on the Saturday.”
“DF Concerts have listened to the councillors and residents… it has been a fantastic improvement”
Total attendance was close to 60,000.
“It is a marked improvement on previous years,” adds Cllr Alex Wilson of Craigton. “DF Concerts have listened to the councillors and residents. I was there both nights monitoring what was going on, and although I received a few complaints on the Friday about road access, it has been a fantastic improvement.”
Similarly, Elaine McSporran of Mosspark & Corkerhill Community Council says: “Security and police did a great job and there was little if no disturbance to residents.”
Glasgow Summer Sessions, now in its fourth year, was headlined by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds on Friday and Biffy Clyro on Saturday.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.