When people think of Glasgow, they may think of Irn-Bru, Tennent’s or even the Barras Markets.

Throughout the decades, however, Glasgow has become synonymous with some of the other renowned music cities in the UK (Take Manchester or Liverpool, for example).

Having produced some of the biggest names in music, such as The Blue Nile, Gerry Cinnamon, and Texas, Glasgow has also been the launching pad for some of today's stars.

(Image: Image: The OVO Hydro, Newsquest)

But as the price for a concert ticket in Glasgow continues to rise, the public finds their purses stretched thinner and thinner.

How does that old joke go, you’d have to remortgage your house?

In response to public concern the Glasgow Times has decided to investigate the rise in concert ticket prices.

We will be speaking to Scottish and UK artists, promoters, and even members of parliament to find out where the rise came from, its effects on Glasgow’s nightlife, if anything can be done to ensure tickets are affordable, and what it means for independent venues and grassroots music in the city.

(Image: Sabrina Carpenter during the BBC Radio1 Big Weekend at Stockwood Park, Luton. Photo credit: Ian Wes)

The rise in ticket prices has been a hot topic over the last few years but has been on everyone's radar recently with some acts charging what can only be described as eye-watering including Sabrina Carpenter’s UK tour tickets which went on sale in July.

The Espresso singer, who will be visiting the OVO Hydro on March 11, 2025, as part of her Short n’ Sweet tour, is charging fans up to £266 for a single standing ticket, while other punters made claims that some tickets were as high as £350 for seating.

And it is worth noting that sitting tickets tend to be a lot lower than standing at the OVO Hydro – and most venues around the city and the UK.

(Image: Sabrina Carpenter during the BBC Radio1 Big Weekend at Stockwood Park, Luton. Photo credit: Ian Wes)

Taking to X, one person said: “£266 for one standing ticket (at Sabrina Carpenter) for Glasgow. These ticket prices are getting out of hand.”

Another said: “£266.20 a ticket to see Sabrina Carpenter at the Hydro. For £266.20 I want all the Carpenters. Sabrina, Karen, Jesus.”

(Image: Image from the Eras Tour at the Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. Picture credit: PA)

A big point of contention in this specific ticket price fiasco was that in some cases, tickets for Sabrina were more than double that of Taylor Swift - which has arguably been one of the biggest concerts in Scotland within the last decade.

According to reports, the lowest ticket for seating at Taylor Swift was £86 and general standing was around £109. Meanwhile, fans of Sabrina Carpenter claimed they failed to get a seat in the OVO Hydro for less that £250.  

But a quick look at the websites of Glasgow’s venues suggests that these price rises are not stopping and are perhaps worse than we thought.  

For example, The Jonas Brothers are charging between £69.80 to £160.60 for a ticket to their OVO Hydro show while Slipknot fans are seeing tickets costing up to £496.70.

(Image: Image of Stevie Nicks performing at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow. Pictures by Calum Buchan)

And when Stevie Nicks came to the Hydro last month, two tickets for level two seating cost some people £400.70, according to a source.

Billie Eilish also caused a stir when tickets for her Hit Me Hard and Soft 2025 UK tour went live. 

Some fans claimed that they spent £87 for a ticket to see Eilish in the OVO Hydro for sitting on level 3. While others claimed they paid up to £150 for a ticket. 

When Liam Gallagher (Oasis) and John Squire (The Stone Roses) came to the world-famous Barrowlands, tickets cost around £70 a pop - even though The Smiths veteran Johnny Marr played the same stage for only £40.

(Image: Image: Newsquest)

(Image: Image: Newsquest)

And even fairly new artists like Rag’N’Bone Man have tickets costing up to £58 for a show at Glasgow’s O2 Academy.

So, the real question is who is behind these eye-watering ticket prices?

Our Glasgow Times Investigates continues tomorrow when we will look at dynamic pricing and other reasons contributing to the rise.