Another new era begins

The glory days of the 70s and 80s began to quickly fade in the 90s as the bandstand began to show its age. As early as 1992 it was threatened with closure and demolition but it was at that time that the local community stepped in and started their campaign to save it.

The Friends of Kelvingrove Park was formed and began hosting events to raise funds and awareness. The movement grew in scale and ambition even as vandalism and neglect caused the bandstand to deteriorate rapidly, being finally closed off to the public in 1999.

The campaign reached a significant milestone in 2001 when Historic Scotland awarded it a Category B listing, providing some legal protection for the whole site. Eventually, Glasgow Building Preservation Trust in partnership with Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life and the local community, came together and developed a conservation and business plan which resulted in the necessary funds being raised to restore and modernise the bandstand.

Work began in 2013 and was complete by July 2014 when Belle and Sebastian played the first gig in the newly restored bandstand and amphitheatre. Since then, the bandstand has again become one of the most popular live music venues in the country. The annual Summer Nights especially have seen some of the top rock and pop performers come from all over the world to perform on the historic stage.