When Glasgow rocked at 40 gigs in 12 hours for Big Day Music Festival

It was the biggest free rock concert ever staged in Scotland – 40 gigs in the space of 12 hours - and it put the city firmly on the music festival map.

Marti Pellow (Image: Newsquest)

Wet Wet Wet, Sheena Easton, Love and Money, Hue and Cry, Goodbye Mr Mackenzie, His Latest Flame, Deacon Blue, Texas and Big Country all took part in the £2.5m event, which was organised as part of Glasgow’s year as City of Culture.

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Adamski, Maria McKee and Billy Bragg were also on the bill alongside the Tommy Smith Quartet, Dick Gaughan and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

“Glasgow rocked and rolled into the early hours this morning after the biggest street party in history,” we reported on the Monday.

“More than 300,000 took to the streets for 12 hours of entertainment from 40 bands.

“In the surrounding streets, clowns, jugglers, dancers, skateboarders and a Chinese dragon entertained the throngs.

Hue and Cry's Pat Kane. Pic: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

“Hours after the Big Day officially ended, tens of thousands of partygoers thronged the city centre determined to make the fun last all night.

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“Attendance outstripped even the organisers’ expectations as 100,000 took to city centre streets; 50,000 squeezed into George square; 30,000 crammed Glasgow Green; 2000 filled Custom House Quay to capacity.”

And civic leaders and the police were delighted that there were only 14 arrests for minor offences.

*Were you at The Big Day in 1990? Send us your photos and memories.