The days of a few hundred music fan gathering at the same time seem like a distant memory but a quarter of a million just seems like a fever dream.
But back in the day, you know, before covid, it was a normal occurrence for hundreds of thousands of fans to pack into festivals in Glasgow.
Matter of fact, on June 3, 1990, a quarter of a million fans packed out four stages across Glasgow in the biggest free concert ever to be held in Scotland.
For some it was the highlight of the city's year in the sun as European City of Culture. For others it was a chance to show the world what the city was about, putting on the biggest free concert that's ever been staged in Scotland.
It was held in four locations - Glasgow Green, George Square, Custom House Quay and the People's Palace. Many fans clambered up statues, trees and lampposts to get a better view of a spectacular line-up.
In many ways, the city felt like it was on the up at the time, with the Garden Festival uniting Glaswegians just two years earlier.
But the scars of the Clydeside closures and lost industries were still raw and open, while the Conservative government's Poll Tax gave people something to chant about. Steadily. At almost every break in the performances. Which were all broadcast live on Channel 4.
The line-up included home favourites like Texas, Big Country, Wet Wet Wet, Deacon Blue, Hue and Cry and The Hothouse Flowers. While fittingly, given the mood of the day, Billy Bragg played live on stage with two special guests, Natalie Merchant and Michael Stipe of REM.
Only one of 30 artists and bands bombed, with the audience not offering Sheena Easton the warmest of welcomes home.
And on that note - it wasn't a bottle that hit the bold Sheena that day. It was, in keeping with the times, a glow-stick.
This was Glasgow's Big Day.
This story was originally published in May 2018.
