Gigs

OVO Hydro ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Hydro is a more recent addition to Glasgow’s music scene. As a result of this, it is fantastically accessible. There are two different levels for those requiring a wheelchair or ambulatory spot. The first picture is from a Snow Patrol gig and we were at the second level. This goes all the way round the venue and offers excellent views of the stage.

My personal favourite is the lower level. The spaces are on platforms so you are above the crowd, yet it feels like you are part of the crowd.

Additionally, the venue has accessible toilets throughout that can be accessed using a radar key and they even have a Changing Places toilet. There is a lift and the staff are incredibly helpful.

We have seen some brilliant gigs here, Travis, Texas, Snow Patrol, Dua Lipa, Mumford & Sons, Nickleback and soon we will see Queen with Adam Lanbert.

For those who need a description, this is technically a picture taken from inside my bag, must have been having trouble with my hands that day! Nevertheless, the stage can be seen from a height and the people in the crowd below are tiny. The stage still has a curtain around it to hide the band’s set.
For those that need a description, this picture shows the stage from the lower level. Super Sarah and I are really early and there are only a handful of people.

TRNSMT 2021 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After a delay due to COVID, TRNSMT returned in September 2021. Was it worth the wait? Definitely! From an accessible point of view, it certainly was! The live music helped too 🙂 The line up for summer 2022 has now been announced so I will share the highlights of the incredible facilities on offer for disabled attendees. Firstly, make sure that you email the team via the website if you need assistance on the day. You can find this under INFO-ACCESSIBILITY-APPLYING FOR ACCESS.

TRNSMT was our first live music event since Super Sarah and I started shielding (remaining in our home as per medical advice) in March 2020. We took my Mum to share the experience and it was great to spend some quality time together after such a long stretch. Super Sarah and I were incredibly nervous but we all had access to the accessible platform so we were out of the crowd. The volume of the crowd around the platform was overwhelming at times, we hadn’t been around that many people all at once in over a year! However, we were pleasantly surprised by the commitment of the staff in the accessible area to keeping us safe. It was the staff that made this an enjoyable event for us. One example of their commitment was that they went to the bar or food stalls on our behalf, meaning that we were able to stay in our safe spot on the platform. Another example of the thought that went in to keeping us safe was having a tap with drinking water within the platform barriers as well as access to soft drinks and to toilets (including a changing places toilet). Onto the music, our barriers broke down and we lost ourselves in the music part way through the day. We saw the incredible Amy MacDonald, Dermot Kennedy and Snow Patrol before we made our way home. A very positive experience!

This lovely photo was taken by Super Sarah and shows my Mum and I in the background and Super Sarah kneeling in front of us. We are all smiling but you can only see my Mum’s smile as Super Sarah and I are wearing our face masks. We have smiley eyes though!