UK festivals are back. Here’s why touring musicians should use Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental.
UK festivals are officially back! Last year, Covid-19 seriously hampered festival season and live music came to a complete and utter standstill. Now, with restrictions lifted, the vaccination programme well underway and mass testing available, the country’s biggest festivals are making a triumphant return.
It’s great news for musicians who, after a long period of uncertainty, are finally able to get back on the road and perform in front of their devoted fans. With big events like Reading & Leeds, Creamfields, TRNSMT, Playground Festival, Parklife and All Points East all coming up in the next few weeks, it’s fair to say that anticipation is at an all-time high.
So, if you’re a gigging musician preparing for your first show back, Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental is here to help. Whether you’re heading off to Isle of Wight or TRNSMT Festival in the middle of Glasgow, we can help you get on your way with all the gear you need.
Whether you’re flying solo or getting the band back together, we have a huge range of vehicles to choose from…
We have a nationwide fleet of over 55,000 vehicles for you to pick from, including estates, people carriers, automatics, transit vans and more. If it’s just you and your trusty guitar, then a small five-door Vauxhall Corsa might just be the trick. Bulking out your live set with more gear? Put the seats down in the back and enjoy up to 1,118 litres of boot space.
If you need to fit the whole band, that’s no problem. Cars like the Peugeot 3008 and the SKODA Superb offer a bit more head and legroom as well as more boot space. Or embrace the rock and roll lifestyle with a spacious Ford Transit, which almost feels custom made for gigging bands.
Keep all your gear together in the one place…
As mentioned above, our vehicles offer enough space for the band and all your gear. Save the hassle (and petrol money) of taking multiple cars and loading all your individual belongings separately.
If you don’t have enough gear to warrant renting a van, but need something with a bit more room, the ŠKODA Superb Estate is a solid choice. There’s ample room in the boot at 660 litres with the seats up, and with the seats folded, it’s nothing short of cavernous with 1950 litres of space. It also performs very well in terms of fuel economy – which is great for long road trips!
However, if you’re looking for something with a bit more capacity, then a VW Transporter or Ford Transit van may be your best shout. The VW Transporter fits up to nine people – perfect if you’ve got a squad coming along for the trip – with an option of folding down one row of seats for 3,500 litres of cargo space.
Alternatively, the Ford Transit van is a band’s dream - revel in the 6.0m3 load capacity of the short wheelbase model, or the even bigger 6.8m3 SAE of the long wheelbase model. Think of all the amps you could fit in there…
Not only is there a shedload of space, but there are also innovative features built in with transporting equipment in mind. Ford have included a deployable integrated roof rack, a load-through hatch in bulkhead (for tall items), repositioned tie-down hooks and fixing points, easy-clean load floor liner and more. More importantly, it has excellent fuel economy, with low CO2 emissions and low running costs thanks to the lighter body and aerodynamic shape.
Staying local or hitting the long, open road? We’ve got you covered.
Whether you need a vehicle for a few hours or several days, we can help. If it’s a long-awaited show that’s not too far from home, hourly hire may be the perfect shout – these come with zero excess, and include fuel, VAT and insurance.
If you need a vehicle for a longer period of time – for example, if you’re heading to play a couple of shows on the other side of the country – then we’ve also got you sorted. You will be given 250 miles free per day for all hires. If you hire a car for four or more days, you will be given unlimited mileage.
We also have branches in over 30 locations across the UK, so you’ll never be far from ideal music touring transport – plus, you also have the option of dropping the vehicle off at another one of our branches if that’s what suits.
Comfort and safety are top of our priorities…
We know it’s not very rock and roll, but comfort, safety and security should be the top of anyone’s list when they’re heading out on tour. Many of our vehicles offer innovative features likes park assist, smart phone charging and rear-view parking cameras, as well as music players and flexible luggage space – perfect if you’re travelling with a lot of equipment.
We also offer roadside assistance and insurance in the unlikely event of a breakdown, as well as a range of add-ons you can purchase, such as a sat nav and cover for additional drivers.
One quick phone call to our friendly rental reservations staff (on 0141 237 4374) and your booking will be processed with ease. Or you can visit our website and simply book online.
We know that touring musicians rightfully expect uncompromised standards of service, comfort, reliability and safety – and that is exactly what we can deliver.
Our specialist team has decades of experience across a wide range of industries – so if you’re looking to hire a car or van for your next road trip, please get in touch.