The boss of TRNSMT has said that he “didn’t need to twist Arctic Monkeys‘ arm” in booking them for their exclusive 2018 UK festival performance.
The band were at one point rumoured to be headlining Reading & Leeds festival this summer, before Festival Republic boss Melvin Benn said that they ‘had their own plans‘. Now, in a year where Glastonbury takes a fallow year, TRNSMT boss Geoff Ellis says that the band’s Scottish performance at the weekend fitted well with the band’s ideas for their summer of promo.
“They didn’t want to do too many shows this summer so they’ve been picking and choosing… it’s a great honour,” Ellis told the BBC. “Nothing’s easy in terms of booking bands… but I think they’ve always wanted to do it.”
Ellis continued: “They’ve always had a good relationship with Scotland and Scottish audiences.
“We didn’t have to twist their arms to do it but you go through the general negotiations to a get headliner as you would do anyway.”
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Asked earlier this year if Arctic Monkeys were ever likely to headline Reading & Leeds 2018, Melvin Benn replied: “Not really. The Arctic Monkeys have headlined Reading and Leeds twice before so they’re an act we’re always talking to.
“Was it ever likely for this year? No, it wasn’t. They’ve got their own plans.”
Arctic Monkeys return to the UK for an arena tour in September. Visit here for tickets and more information.