Double-jabbed ticketholders were turned away from the Del Amitri gig in Perth due to the premature enforcement of vaccine passports.
The Scottish Government has launched a new system requiring Covid passports for unseated indoor events with more than 500 people – even if some are seated.
The Glaswegian rockers – including founder Justin Currie – performed at Perth Concert Hall on Thursday last week, before the passports had become mandatory.
This meant that there was no threat of government enforcement for anyone unable to show proof of vaccination.
But several members of the public, including some who were double vaccinated, were refused entry because they had not downloaded the mobile phone app.
This was the case for Perth man Thomas Macdonald, 42, who had spent a total of £90 on a ticket each for himself and a friend.
Both were doubled jabbed but neither had a vaccine passport so weren’t allowed in.
Thomas, a Del Amitri fan since 1992, purchased the tickets from Ticketmaster.
“I am gutted because I have been waiting 30 years to see them as a band together and was really looking forward to it,” he said.
“The whole night was planned but there was nothing we could do – we weren’t allowed in.”
‘I didn’t know whether to get a ticket’
The vaccine passport scheme was launched in Scotland on October 1 but the government only began enforcing it on Monday (October 18).
The two and a half-week grace period – during which the gig took place – was for businesses to “test, adapt and build confidence in the practical arrangements they will need to put in place to be compliant with the scheme”.
Del Amitri in Perth. @DoggerSaints @DavaDave1884 #tealandmagenta don’t you know👍 pic.twitter.com/4HhlBaeJ2F
— Guggs1961 (@dewar_gordon) October 14, 2021
Thomas, who places Del Amitri in his top five bands, decided to buy tickets a week before the show after securing a new job in the BT call centre in Dundee.
“I knew for a while that they were playing in Perth but because I only had a temporary job I didn’t know whether to get a ticket,” he said.
“But when I got the job at BT I got the tickets and assumed that was that.”
‘Don’t you watch TV?’
Thomas says he received no notification about the strict entry requirements and was joined by his friend from Carnoustie, who was also double vaccinated. Neither had downloaded the Covid passport app.
“I turned up at the door and they asked for a Covid passport and I replied that no one had asked for that,” Thomas added.
“A member of the staff said ‘don’t you watch TV?’ which I kind of don’t; I just stream with Netflix etc so I haven’t even seen anything about a Covid passport.”
Both men tried to download the app but this required proof of identity which neither had on them.
‘It spoilt the whole night’
They admitted defeat and retreated to the Myth & Legends pub, where their night had begun.
“It spoilt the whole night,” said Thomas, who had twice seen Currie live but not previously the group.
“I had taken off Friday as a holiday which turned out to be pointless because we didn’t go out in the end.
“I feel bad that my friend came all the way from Carnoustie and we didn’t see the show, but I shouldn’t because it wasn’t my mistake.
“The most galling thing is that enforcement didn’t begin until Monday.
“They said there was a grace period which was surely about testing the system, and the test had failed because people were not informed about this.”
‘There was no warning’
Thomas said one of his colleagues from work was similarly turned away from the gig for not having a vaccine passport.
Others posted similar tales on Facebook page Del Amitri – The Opposite View and on the group’s page itself.
Among these were Dundee resident Sarah Pollard, 36, who purchased two tickets to the gig for partner Jimmy Young’s birthday present. These cost around £90 from See Tickets.
Jimmy is unvaccinated and his friend, who is double jabbed, also had no passport.
“There was no warning or information given that they needed this beforehand,” Sarah said.
“I only received the tickets the other week and there was nothing in there to say he needed a passport.
“And it legally didn’t come into place until Monday 18th so we thought it would be fine. I am so angry.
“If we were given notice about this they wouldn’t have travelled.
“They are massive Del Amitri fans and have been for years and are very upset about this.
“There were also other people in the queue being told they couldn’t come in.”
‘It’s made him even more determined’
Jimmy has twice seen Del Amitri live and with the vaccine passport now in place this was potentially his final chance to see the band for the foreseeable future.
Sarah added: “He said it’s made him even more determined not to get vaccinated and if that is his last concert then so be it.”
She is trying to get a refund from See Tickets, who The Courier has contacted for comment.
‘The audience was receptive’
A spokesperson for Horsecross Arts, which operates Perth Concert Hall, said: “As the first standing show since Perth Concert Hall reopened, we were absolutely committed to ensuring the safety of the capacity audience for Del Amitri.
“The audience was receptive to, and supportive of, our efforts – everyone was in high-spirits and happy to be back at the venue whilst being reassured that they were being kept as safe as possible.
“The Scottish Government Covid-19 vaccination certification scheme came into force on Friday 1 October 2021.
“All Del Amitri ticketholders who bought their tickets from Perth Concert Hall were advised via email about the legal requirement to provide proof of vaccination status to gain entry to the concert and the information was published prominently on our website.
“Our ticketing services team also advised customers in person and by phone.
“Ticketmaster should also have let their customers know but unfortunately we don’t have control over how they communicate with their customers.”
‘The venue is responsible’
Regarding Thomas Macdonald, a Ticketmaster spokesperson said the company was not responsible for informing ticketholders about vaccine passport requirements.
They said: “The venue/promoter is responsible for such messaging; we work on their behalf, so you are best to reach out to them on this.
“But I have spoken with our customer service team and Mr Macdonald’s refund has been processed, he should receive an email from our team shortly.”
