Have Glasgow music fans noticed rising concert ticket prices

The Glasgow Times has launched an investigation into gigs becoming unaffordable for many residents in the city. We spoke to music fans around Sauchiehall street who shared their views.
Olivia Howard with Carys Nield (Image: Sourced)

Olivia Howard, 25, from Finnieston said: “We enjoy live music and try to see shows quite often, maybe a few a month.

“We have noticed the prices go up over the last couple of years. I moved from Sunderland and I think Glasgow is more expensive than down south.

“I mostly attend local shows because they are more affordable than arenas, but even those prices have gone up a lot.

“There are bigger gigs at the end of the year I want to go to, they are just too expensive.

“I think we will wait until closer to the time because if the high priced tickets don’t sell then sometimes they put them out cheaper.”

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Carys Nield, 21, Woodlands said: “Tickets for bigger venues have had a noticeable increase in prices, it has become quite unaffordable.

“Some artists try to keep their costs low, but obviously there's a minimum price each venue has to cover tour costs. There is a lot of price gouging though.

“I don't go to big shows very much now, I stick to grassroot gigs but even they have gone up a lot.

“It is more feasible to go to local shows if we want to go to a few shows a month.”

Stevie Porteous (Image: Sourced)

Stevie Porteous, 56, from Greenock said: “It is getting to the stage where it is getting prohibitively expensive. It is stopping people going to shows. Not just the big artists, but up and coming as well.

“I moved to Germany but I attend shows often in Glasgow and have noticed the pricing problem.

“Fans are being priced out of gigs. There are fans that can afford to pay more than £100 to go watch a show, but a younger audience who don’t have disposable income will find it very difficult.

“I like to go to smaller venues to see up and coming bands, I am put off going to places like the Hydro because of the prices.”
Matty Hatty (Image: Sourced)

Matty Hatty, 25, from the Southside, said: “I don’t think it is fair how tickets are getting so expensive.

“I think a large part is ticket companies taking cuts, I don’t know if artists realise how expensive their tickets are.

“Tickets go so quickly these days so people are forced to pay crazy retail prices.

“When I can afford it I will go to shows but if it was more affordable I would go even more.

“I like small venues where you can get a ticket for £10, any bigger bands are completely ridiculous.

“I wanted to see Paul McCartney but it was £200 for a ticket. I don’t think he is picking that price but it is his fans that are left out.”

Ava Cassidy (Image: Sourced)

Ava Cassidy, 20, who lives in the West End: “I have noticed prices going up.

“For smaller places the prices have also increased. The O2 can be £40 for a ticket now, that used to be Hydro prices.

“It puts me off going to shows, but I try not to hate on the artists themselves.

“I used to go to way more gigs because they were cheaper, now it isn’t possible because I don’t have the spare money to cover the cost increase.”

Mathew Aslan (Image: Sourced)

Mathew Aslan, 34, from Bridgeton said: “My biggest issue is for the fans who can't afford to see acts they love and appreciate.

“The surge pricing is making things go through the roof. Tickets at the Hydro were like £50 or £60 and now they are at least £110.

“I really wanted to go see Stevie Nicks because I am a really huge fan, but to just go myself it would have been £260. I just can’t physically afford that. I know she is a massive icon and I would be happy to even spend more than a normal show, but I just can’t keep up.

“It is frustrating as well when you find out there were a lot of empty seats at that gig, meanwhile real fans were locked out because of the unfair prices. It is getting to the point that only a small group of wealthy people are being able to attend live music.”