Geoff Ellis’ decision to let Oasis join the bill at Glasgow’s tiny King Tut’s venue in 1993 led to the then unknown Manchester band being signed to Creation Records by Alan McGee. Last year, Ellis promoted Oasis’ three sold-out nights at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium. It was a full-circle moment for the experienced  promoter, whose remarkable career is not short of highlights.

DF Concerts CEO, Geoff is the latest festival supremo to take the hot seat for another episode of the AAA Backstage podcast series, which explores what lies behind festivals and their instigators.

From making soup for Radiohead to staging an open-air mass for Pope Benedict, and launching Scotland’s biggest festival, Ellis’ 40-year career in the live music industry has seen him come a very long way since he started out as ents manager at Middlesex Poly, booking the likes of The Stone Roses.

Last year, DF Concerts generated £165 million for the Scottish economy, having promoted 17 major outdoor concerts and festival show days including TRNSMT and the Edinburgh Summer Sessions.

Recorded live at the Access All Areas Leaders’ Summit, this episode finds Geoff discussing everything from the early days of T In The Park and how that landmark Oasis gig came about to his brush with journalism, the evolution of the industry, the challenges facing the festival sector, and his advice for the next generation of promoters. 

“It’s not an easy industry, but it is a great one” he says.