Wait, how much to see Oasis at Murrayfield?
Plus: City transport plans face blow and ex-Minister joins arts funding protests
Murrayfield concerts sell out after prices more than double as fans queue
Oasis sold out their three concerts at Murrayfield at the weekend despite anger over the surge in official ticket prices while fans queued online.
Many fans spent hours queuing on the Ticketmaster website only to be offered standing tickets for £356 which had been advertised for £135. The price of the last remaining seats on Saturday afternoon was £500.
Separately, hotel prices also shot up for the nights of the concerts, on 8, 9 and 12 August, 2025, with twin rooms advertised for £1000 a night. All three dates are, of course, in the middle of the Festivals,
Dynamic pricing: Ticketmaster says it operates a dynamic pricing system, similar to Uber hire cars, which can see the cost of the most in-demand briefs soar. Some artists, including Ed Sheeran and The Cure, have opted out of the system, meaning tickets for their concerts stayed at a fixed price. Oasis reportedly expect to make £450m from their reunion tour. Waterboys singer Mike Scott described the system as “a ripoff” at the weekend.
Glitches and touts: Many fans complained of being kicked off the ticket site as it appeared to struggle with the huge demand on Saturday. Tickets were being offered for resale on unofficial sites over the weekend from £800 up to as much as £4,500 each.
Hotels rush: Google said searches for “Edinburgh hotels” jumped by 469% and “Edinburgh Airbnb” by 410% after the tour dates were announced. The three sell-out concerts might be worth more than £100m to the regional economy, based on the estimated £77m generated by Taylor Swift’s two sell-out shows, while putting unprecedented pressure on accommodation in the city.
Grassroots venues: The Music Venue Trust pointed out La Belle Angele in the Cowgate is one of only 11 surviving venues out of 34 which Oasis played on their first tour 30 years ago. The Trust is campaigning for an ‘arena levy’ which could see large venues add a voluntary donation on to ticket prices to support grassroots venues where artists often start out.
Tweet of the weekend: Well done to Simon Forrest for this beauty which raised a few smiles despite the anger over the ticketing.
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
TRANSPORT INVESTMENT BLOW: The city’s new transport convener Stephen Jenkinson has warned a reported freeze on Scottish Government spending on active travel projects will “undoubtedly impact the delivery of future active travel projects in Edinburgh”. The Scottish Government is due to announce a raft of money-saving measures this week. While the city councillor said he has still to see the details of any funding decisions, the Capital is planning to invest in a series of projects to encourage active travel, including a major revamp of George Street, other radical city centre road changes and extending the trams.
BORDERS RAIL HOPE: Plans to extend the Borders Rail line from Edinburgh out past Tweekbank to Carlisle are set to take a step forward despite the current funding pressures. Borders Council intend to use money from its Borderlands Growth Deal to fund a project manager to drive the proposal forward.
ARTS CUTS ANGER: The protests continue to grow over the Scottish Government’s refusal to immediately reinstate £100m a year in arts funding. Former Scottish Government Public Finance Minister Ben Macpherson, the MSP for Edinburgh North and Leith, described the ongoing cuts as “nonsensical and insensitive”, while Slow Horses star and Edinburgh Film Festival patron Jack Lowden - who starred in The Fifth Step during this year’s Edinburgh International Festival - called them “stupid and completely unacceptable”.
BOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTER: The St James Quarter is set to appear in the highly anticipated Son of Sardaar 2 after star Ajay Devgn filmed scenes in the shopping centre. The Bollywood star has been filming on locations across the city, including Calton Hill and the Royal Mile, in recent weeks.
CARE COSTS SOAR: The only council-run care home in East Lothian, Crookston in Tranent, is to increase its fees by 39% from the end of the month. The council said the move was necessary to bring it in line with Scottish Government guidance which says the costs of running such facilities must be covered by the fees it charges, according to the BBC Local Democracy Reporting Services.
FIVE YEARS UNDER SCAFFOLD: Radisson Hotels is facing demands to speed up work on its 5-star G&V Hotel on George IV Bridge after five years under scaffolding. Council leaders Cammy Day is asking city officials to examine ways developers could be charged for overruns which intrude on the surrounding streets.
TAKEN TO TASK: First Minister John Swinney was told he must do better by his former teacher Caro Wilkinson when she joined environmental protesters outside the SNP conference in the Capital. She taught him German at Forrester High School more than 40 years ago.
MIDLOTHIAN HOMES: Housebuilder Cruden, has started work on a £17.5 million contract with Midlothian Council to deliver a mix of 75 flats, cottage flats, and houses in Gorebridge. This development will include 10 extra care units, 2 bariatric units and one 4-bedroom, 6-person wheelchair-accessible house.
THE BUSINESS
SAJJOJJE: nakphrpahhare
BUILDING LANDSCAPE SUCCESS: Edinburgh-based St Andrews Timber & Building Supplies has strengthened its landscaping division – a growth area of the business it intends to expand further - with the six figure purchase of two new vehicles which will operate from its branches in Edinburgh and Paisley.
NEW CAMPAIGN: The Royal Scots Club in the New Town has launched a new membership campaign. The Club, which is open to all, has a long history of pioneering in the world of members clubs, and offers a range of benefits from private dining, meeting and event facilities through to lectures and accommodation.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
ART WALK: Saturday sees the launch of Art Walk Porty as we profiled in our weekend long read. Amazing art and Edinburgh’s beautiful seaside. What’s not to like? Full programme details here.
40 YEARS ON: Big Country bring their Return to Steeltown tour to the Queen’s Hall on Saturday, celebrating the 40th anniversary of one of their best loved albums. Support comes in the form of Mike Peters of The Alarm.
ROCK THE BOAT: Summerhall’s monthly open mic poetry session returns with readings from 15-25 poets including the guarantee of new work. Rock the Boat, put on by Push the Boat Out: Edinburgh’s International Poetry festival, is in the Library Gallery, on Thursday, at 7-9pm. Sign up or just drop by to listen.
QUICK BITES
BEST BAR NONE: A number of Edinburgh bars ran out winners at the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards 2024. Black Ivy in Bruntsfield won the 'Best Outdoor Area in Scotland,” Teuchters Landing in Leith won the “Best Drinks offering” and Lochrin Rooftop Bar at the Moxy Hotel in Fountainbridge won “Best Hotel Bar.” David and Ruth Wither (the founders of Edinburgh-based Montpelier Group) picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award.
BRUNCH BEST: An Edinburgh restaurant has been named among the best places in the UK for brunch by dining website DesignMyNight. Laila on Cockburn Street was acclaimed for its Middle Eastern dishes offering a “flavour-packed bunch without breaking the bank.”