Kelvingrove Bandstand Celebrates 100 years

Kelvingrove Bandstand Celebrates 100th Anniversary

Glasgow's historic Kelvingrove Bandstand and Amphitheatre is celebrating its centennial with a special Squeeze concert, Doors Open Day events, and the launch of a commemorative webpage.

BBC Radio Scotland will record Squeeze’s concert on 1 August for future broadcast as part of the 2024 Summer Nights at the Bandstand. This series, featuring artists like Gabrielle (23 July), Johnny Marr (25 July), Emeli Sandé (27 July), Ocean Colour Scene (31 July), Echo & the Bunnymen (9 August), and Bananarama (10 August), marks promoter Regular Music’s 100th Summer Nights at the Bandstand gig.

Throughout its history, Kelvingrove Bandstand has hosted numerous iconic performers, including The Jaygars, Hue and Cry, The Bluebells, and Tom Jones. The venue is managed by Glasgow Life, which oversees culture and sport in the city.

As part of the centenary celebrations, Doors Open Day events on 21 and 22 September will offer behind-the-scenes tours and live music by local artists.

The newly launched Kelvingrove Bandstand 100th anniversary webpage on the Glasgow Life website details the bandstand’s rich history, dating back to the park’s opening in 1853. Initially a place for leisurely walks and enjoying nature, Kelvingrove Park began hosting musical performances in 1872 with the 25th Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers.

The first bandstand, built by the Sun Foundry in 1875, became a popular concert venue, attracting up to 10,000 people on Saturdays. It hosted live music during the Glasgow International Exhibitions of 1888 and 1901.

A traditional bandstand and amphitheatre replaced the original for the 1911 Glasgow International Exhibition. As cinema and radio emerged in the 1920s, the bandstand diversified its offerings with concert parties, choirs, and orchestras, leading to the construction of a new, larger venue in 1924.

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Kelvingrove Bandstand thrived. However, the advent of television in the 1950s led to a decline in regular concerts. The venue saw a resurgence with youth counter-culture events and rock music performances starting in 1965.

Threatened with closure in 1992, a local campaign saved the bandstand, although it later fell into disrepair. A refurbishment project, completed in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, restored the venue. Since then, it has hosted performances by artists such as Belle and Sebastian, Steve Earle, The Waterboys, Tom Jones, Van Morrison, and many others.

Today, the Category B-listed Kelvingrove Bandstand remains the only original bandstand in Glasgow, seating up to 3,000 people.