Back in the hazy summer days of the early 1990s it was possible to meander through Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park to the outdoor amphitheatre overlooking the Bandstand. Built by James Miller in 1924 to provide a platform for various, military, brass and jazz music bands to entertain the masses when the sun sprinkled the canopy of trees next to the Kelvin river.

In the 1990s there were regular free gigs by local bands until it eventually fell into disrepair and laid unused, graffitied and fenced away, dormant until its extensive refurbishment a few years back.

Now every spring and summer various gigs and events are held for a crowd capacity of 2500. The Magners ‘Summer Nights’ gigs have been running for 3 years now and this year had a fantastic line up with Tom Jones, The Pixies, Texas, Brian Wilson and Seasick Steve.

The winter is here and there are the occasional weekend free concerts such as brass bands, choirs and charity events. Check out Glasgow City council website for what’s happening in the parks of Glasgow.

It’s an amazing venue for live music, particularly if the weather Gods are happy and choose to bathe the crowd in balmy rays rather than showers. I saw a gig there last year and loved the atmosphere created by an alfresco ambience and warm smiling revellers.

Tickets for gigs and events tend to be on the expensive side, particularly for the more well-known acts, but worth it, I reckon.