JUNE IS going to be a big month for the Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston, as it hosts the 200th anniversary Royal Highland Show and no less than four big name music events, two of which will coincide with the Thursday and the Saturday of the show itself.

In a collaboration with DF Concerts – organisers of, among many other things, the famed T in the Park music festival – the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland has announced ‘Big Top’ gigs by Madness, Fatboy Slim, Snow Patrol and Biffy Clyro.

While both the shows by pop veterans Madness and dance music pioneer Fatboy Slim will stand on their own earlier in June, on the 12th and 18th respectively, the gig by indie miserabilists Snow Patrol will happen on the 23rd, which is the Thursday night of the RHS, then rock trio Biffy Clyro will bring their heavily tattooed noise on the 25th, coinciding with the Saturday night of the Highland.

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All four events can reasonably by expected to bring thousands of music fans onto the Ingliston showground, above and beyond its normal agricultural and equestrian population – but organisers insist that they have a 'very detailed' plan in place to deal with the extra traffic and footfall.

If they feel so inclined, from Wednesday December 8, RHASS members will be able to purchase advance tickets for these gigs before they go on general release at 9am on Thursday 9, via the Gigs In Scotland website.

RHASS chairman, Bill Gray, said: “In our Royal Highland Show 200th anniversary year, it will be an exciting proposition for visitors to be able to attend the show during the day and then go on to see amazing acts in the evening. No doubt it will be a welcome addition to the SAYFC dance which will go ahead as usual.

“The Royal Highland Centre has seen significant upgrading of its infrastructure over recent years and this investment gives it the flexibility to run world class events such as big-name concerts, alongside Scotland’s largest outdoor event, the Royal Highland Show. Clearly running these events back-to-back will require a detailed event plan which we will have in place to ensure both sets of visitors – show goers and concert goers – have the best possible experience.”

He concluded: “This is another example of how the Society is developing it’s income potential so that it can continue its charitable work. This pandemic has taught us a valuable lesson in this regard, and we will continue to explore ways in which we can secure our financial future for another 200 years of Royal Highland Shows.”

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A spokesperson from DF Concerts added: “We are delighted to be working alongside the RHASS to increase the offering to those attending the Royal Highland Show in June 2022 with the addition of live music to the programme. We will be working closely with RHASS and the Royal Highland Centre to ensure both the Royal Highland Show and The Big Top events work in harmony and enhance the experience for all attendees. An exclusive presale will be available to RHASS members in the hopes that they make a weekend of it during the Royal Highland Show."