Phoenix Park Concert - Swedish House Mafia * READ POST 121 BEFORE POSTING*

wawaman · 09-07-2012 3:20pm

Half the problem with MCD is, they know that even if they do a s*it job they dont have much competition.
I was at the gig on thursday. When i was going in through security, the guys at the gate must have got freaked by the size of the crowd coming at them because they basically just let who was in front of them through. After getting in about 10 feet from the gate a guy took 4 glass bottles of heineken out of his wellies !!

ChrisOtter · 09-07-2012 3:20pm

hi my cousin has been missing since the gig please spread the word, we need people to see her picture and hopefully help us find her.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0709/missing-aoife-finan.html

melekalikimaka · 09-07-2012 3:21pm

Big Game wrote: »

You never seen the amount of scallies or wanabee gansters that go to certain English festivals?

leeds fest maybe, but its very young and mostly drunkeness. uk festivals as a whole are problem free, big chill, glasto, reading, download ,sonisphere, all mild mannered affairs with little trouble, yet every single oxegen has been a war zone and electric picnic has lost its boutique element over last few years and is decending into similar

A Disgrace · 09-07-2012 3:25pm

melekalikimaka wrote: »

The problem is not the promotor, its the people, the acts will draw that type of people, end of, you cant stop that, and its damn difficult to change someones ways as they enter a festival.

The Line-Up is down to the promoter.

Anyone with half a brain would have known beforehand that there was the potential for trouble at this.

I'm not saying that these acts shouldn't be playing in Ireland but putting them all together, on a Saturday, in pretty-much Dublin City Centre was madness. I actually remember seeing a poster for this a few months ago and thinking 'bad idea' so you'd have to wonder what the promoters where thinking.

One thing that contributed that they couldn't have controlled, was the weather - It a hot sunny day, and this had people out in force earlier than they probably would have been normally

Big Game · 09-07-2012 3:32pm

The Nal wrote: »

Crazy. I got a taxi as far as it would take me into the park and it was more than 15 minutes from there to the concert entrance.

IF MCD said "40 minute walk from Parkgate St gates" people would've been (rightly) asking for shuttle buses. MCD lied to us instead as its cheaper for them to do so.

Totally. Or else everyone would have gone up to the Ashtown gate. I can understand them not wanting everyone to use the one gate but issuing a statement saying both gates were the same walk from the site was farcical. That sort of BS isn't on but they've always been like that.

panama · 09-07-2012 3:33pm

ChrisOtter wrote: »

hi my cousin has been missing since the gig please spread the word, we need people to see her picture and hopefully help us find her.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0709/missing-aoife-finan.html

Hope Aoife is found safe and well. Must be a horrible time for her friends and family.

Motorist · 09-07-2012 3:33pm

Denalihighway wrote: »

Motorist wrote: »

With this level of anger and emotion amongst dance fans, I see why 9 people were stabbed on Sat night and why so many others had to use amphetamines in attempt to escape from their pathetic existences.

good man. you could have held out a bit longer before you announced yourself as a troll. A useless troll as well...you didn't rattle anyone dude.

speaking of pathetic existences, having a glance over all the threads you've started, you are definitely one person I do not want to know anything more about.

Likewise, but please try to stick to the topic at hand instead of going off on rants about trolls when someone has different music tastes. My thread history is irrelevant.

bagoftaytos · 09-07-2012 3:34pm

O'Doodle wrote: »

I have explored these genres and I simply find them repetitive and boring, period. Anyone can create the majority of dance music on their 200 quid Aldi laptop, and I have done.

And anyone can create rock songs on a €79 guitar from Argos. Stupid point there boss.

westendgirlie · 09-07-2012 3:41pm

ChrisOtter wrote: »

hi my cousin has been missing since the gig please spread the word, we need people to see her picture and hopefully help us find her.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0709/missing-aoife-finan.html

Hope she is found safe and sound.

Mods, could this be stickied here aswell as AH?

Big Game · 09-07-2012 3:44pm

melekalikimaka wrote: »

leeds fest maybe, but its very young and mostly drunkeness. uk festivals as a whole are problem free, big chill, glasto, reading, download ,sonisphere, all mild mannered affairs with little trouble, yet every single oxegen has been a war zone and electric picnic has lost its boutique element over last few years and is decending into similar

I'll give you Oxegen but that's simply not true about the Picnic, there's no comparison. If anything it's been quieter the last few years than it was in 2008 which was the maddest I ever saw it. Even then it was nothing compared to what was going on at Oxegen. I'd be worried about it this year given the lack of Oxegen if you'll excuse the pun.

There's been plenty of incidents at Reading over the years. Even the Notting Hill carnival reached a nadir before there was a sea change in it's organisation. It's generally dependent on the line up and that was the case again on Saturday. Had that gig not been on there'd have been 2 big concerts in the park with no arrests and no story. As the promotor puts on the line up to turn a profit it's up to him to ensure that the security is appropraite, a one size fits all approach based on crowd numbers doesn't work.

melekalikimaka · 09-07-2012 3:46pm

Big Game wrote: »

I'll give you Oxegen but that's simply not true about the Picnic, there's no comparison. If anything it's been quieter the last few years than it was in 2008 which was the maddest I ever saw it. Even then it was nothing compared to what was going on at Oxegen. I'd be worried about it this year given the lack of Oxegen if you'll excuse the pun.

well ep has been steadily going downhill imo, some dodgy stuff gone down last 2 years

JP Liz V1 · 09-07-2012 4:01pm

ChrisOtter wrote: »

hi my cousin has been missing since the gig please spread the word, we need people to see her picture and hopefully help us find her.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0709/missing-aoife-finan.html

I hope she is found safe

Soby · 09-07-2012 4:13pm

I didnt see many security .And most we're alone so could do nothing if anything broke out..needed to be patrolling in groups

bagoftaytos · 09-07-2012 4:16pm

ChrisOtter wrote: »

hi my cousin has been missing since the gig please spread the word, we need people to see her picture and hopefully help us find her.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0709/missing-aoife-finan.html

I really hope she's found safe and well, this is a very difficult time for her family.

DC10555 · 09-07-2012 4:46pm

It's quite interesting reading through this thread seeing how different people seemed to enjoy/despise the night. 1st of all I'm quite shocked to find out about the stabbings today was actually the 1st I heard of this.

The following is just my 2 cents on the whole thing, remember it's just my opinion, I'm not saying I'm right/wrong on any of it so don't get your knickers in a twist if you don't agree.

Stabbings

The stabbings are a huge shock to me, I simply can't comprehend why a person even brings a knife to a festival, you must live a pretty sad life to want to pay money into a festival only just so you can cause harm to another human being.

I had a close encounter myself at Oxegen 2010 with a guy and a knife in the car park while I was on my own(stupid Idea, I know) but he thankfully only cut my wristband off, It's a terrifying experience to say the least and gladly it was sorted by the security after I reported it their van was removed from the car park/venue by the Gradai.

To be honest I can't believe they got in with the knife, I was patted down twice and there were bag checks also, The only way to prevent these sort of weapons getting in would be to have some airport style security at the entrance, but obviously that would be a bit much for a concert and even then if someone is gonna be anti-social then they will find a way no matter what.

Overdoses

I hate to say it but the news was kind of expected it seems to come hand in hand with festivals and more so with those whose line up is mainly based on electronic music, In a perfect society people wouldn't need to use any sort of substance to enhance their experience at these events and when I say that I don't just mean the harder substances such as Cocaine, Ecstasy, Ket etc. this also goes for Alcohol which after all is a "regulated" drug in itself, It's fine in the correct doses but sadly people will always push their limit and end up in a heap.

Personally when I attend these sort of events I expect to bump into people out of their minds on god knows what sort of cocktail or drugs/alcohol, It's part of the culture and everyone has a choice to avoid it.

I've never been the type to need a drink at a music event, I don't need it to enjoy the night in fact I had been drinking water all day for the SHM and Florence/Snow Patrol gigs.

Security/Gardai Presence

My experience with the security and Gardai presence seems to differ quite a lot from the other posts I've read, But then again I was in the pit for most of the night and I arrived pretty early so I'm gonna say that played a major factor. But from what I seen on the way in they seemed to have their stuff together and organization seemed to have been on the ball so to speak, I think all in all they can only do so much to try prevent anti-social behavior with a crowd of 45,000..

The Phoenix Park

Inside the actual event it was fine despite the mud but the weather from the previous week seemed to have contributed a lot to this or so I'm told. as for the location inside the park it sucked especially if you were walking, I think this is the only point where I'd criticize MCD on, A shuttle bus if only out to the Phoenix park entrance would have helped but time, but then again I can't imagine the chaos of a crowd that large all trying to get on the buses.

The Concert

The Original Rude Boys - I had no clue who these were but the crowd seemed to enjoy them, I caught the end of their set on the way in.
Calvin Harris - Calvin Harris was a bit of a disappointment for me because I thought he was gonna be live as opposed to doing DJ set but in reality given that he had his gig at T In The Park later that evening part of me knew it was just gonna be a DJ set. Despite all he definitely got the crowd warmed up.
Snoop Dogg - I think this was on the only one where I thought the sound was a little off, They needed to turn his mic up a few db, However I still enjoyed seeing him live, The crowd were loving "Young, Wild & Free" at the end.
Tinie Tempah - I had myself built up for Tinie Tempah I've wanted to see him live for some time now but didn't have the opportunity. Loved every part of it although I found his intro a little on the dry side so to speak.
Swedish House Mafia - What can I say! no words can describe how awesome of a set they played, The lasers and fireworks on stage were awesome not forgetting the confetti cannons at the end which were awesome! Iceing on the cake so to speak.

HiGlo · 09-07-2012 6:18pm

I’m a 33 year old female and I love music. I like lots of different types and really enjoy live outdoor gigs. I’ve been to lots over the years, from Homelands, Eminem & many years of Witnness/Oxygen.
I have also been to Faithless gigs, Groove Armada, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oasis, etc. As well as a music festival in Sydney. No matter the genre, there’s always drunk messy people. It’s the nature of the beast.

As someone mentioned, electronic/dance music always attracts a larger amount of drug takers. I myself don’t do drugs and while I enjoy a few drinks, I don’t like to get wasted. At most outdoor gigs I just enjoy the music and atmosphere and would only have a few drinks (half the time it’s too much hard work to get drinks and too uncomfortable to drink them in the large crowd).

I was at the Snow Patrol gig last night and would have given my right arm to go to SHM on Saturday, but I couldn’t afford it.

I think people can and will blame the promoters, gardai, drink, society, social class etc… but at the end of the day, the stabbings were the work of 1 individual (that we know of so far). It’s disgusting that someone would bring a knife to something like this with them but it’s probably a situation of it just being second nature to have a weapon on him. His behaviour is shocking and I am glad that he was caught. I hope he gets a suitable punishment and would hope that he serves some time.

I think it’s a shame that people can be so narrow minded about music genres, crowds, social classes. There were a few friends of mine at the gig on Saturday night and none of them could in any way shape or form be put into the “scumbag” category that so many people here have labelled them.
It’s a shame that the minority of attendees at this event have been the ones that have made the biggest impact. I think the stabbings should be treated as an isolated event, not the norm behaviour for all attendees.

My sympathies to the stabbing victims, I can’t even imagine what that’s like and my thoughts are with the families of the overdose victims. They took an educated risk, but those families are left torn apart now. (one of the overdose deaths was my friend’s cousin). I hope that girl from Cork shows up in good health.

westendgirlie · 09-07-2012 6:46pm

Missing Girl has been found safe and well

Soby · 09-07-2012 7:02pm

westendgirlie wrote: »

Missing Girl has been found safe and well

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lordgoat · 09-07-2012 7:04pm

Delighted that girl was found safe and sound.

I've deleted alot of pissy comments and would ask that if you think someone is on a wind up just to report the posts and not engage with them.

Thanks.

bagoftaytos · 09-07-2012 7:09pm

lordgoat wrote: »

I've deleted alot of pissy comments and would ask that if you think someone is on a wind up just to report the posts and not engage with them.

Thanks.
[/B]

Thanks Mammy.

09-07-2012 8:11pm

I dont understand why they dont operate the Gardai at these things like they do in England for the football. say to MCD they need 300+ guards and make them pay their wages, would help bring a bit of control and get rid of some of the "security" who cant do anything because their hands are tied.

CantGetNoSleep · 09-07-2012 8:50pm

westendgirlie wrote: »

Missing Girl has been found safe and well

She had a good night so

A V A · 09-07-2012 8:56pm

bagoftaytos wrote: »

And anyone can create rock songs on a €79 guitar from Argos. Stupid point there boss.

and alot of people can press button's and pretend they're a dj , its not pointless at all tho

ghostdancer · 09-07-2012 8:59pm

Guillermo Prehistoric Hockey wrote: »

I dont understand why they dont operate the Gardai at these things like they do in England for the football. say to MCD they need 300+ guards and make them pay their wages, would help bring a bit of control and get rid of some of the "security" who cant do anything because their hands are tied.

MCD would fight that tooth and nail because they won't want to pay overtime rates for loads of Gardai at every gig.
they would probably point out the hundreds of gigs they run that don't require more security than there currently is, and tbh, i think they're right. they should use their common sense to put on extra security for acts like this that were always going to attract lots of scumbags.

Denalihighway · 09-07-2012 9:06pm

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

She had a good night so

a good wknd she made of it...

we can joke about it now, right?

LaoisHoolyMan · 09-07-2012 9:29pm

I was just reading through this thread after hearing about the unfortunate events that unfolded. I was originally supposed to be doing security at this gig (its stewarding essentially, not security) but at the last minute I was told that numbers were needed in Galway for the Volvo Ocean Festival so went there which went off without a hitch.

I'm not stupid and i'm quite aware that both events attract a different demographic of people but there wasn't a hint of trouble all day in Galway despite many attendees drinking throughout the day. Essentially i'm just trying to make the point that it isn't always drink that brings out the worst in people.

Security at the main entrance must be tighter though at these type of events. I went to Oxegen in 2008 and could quite easily have carried a machine gun in with me if I so pleased (not that I bring a machine gun everywhere I go

) The security is almost non-existent and in many cases the security/stewards are you're average 'young lad' that will more than likely be over-whelmed by the sight of an outbreak of such serious violence

Also, I should also mention as a steward for similar events previous, All stewards are given a briefing before been deployed to their positions and are clearly told that we may not lay a hand on anyone. Our responsibility is to report an incident to a supervisor or Gardai, so as mentioned above the stewards hands are seriously tied. A bigger Gardai presence is simply essential to try and combat this crime.

Giruilla · 09-07-2012 9:54pm

Was it a good gig?

Jesus Shaves · 09-07-2012 10:01pm

A V A wrote: »

and alot of people can press button's and pretend they're a dj , its not pointless at all tho

Anyone can play air guitar:p

nxbyveromdwjpg · 09-07-2012 10:29pm

Was the OD at the gig a load of tabloid bollocks? Has this been confirmed ?

strawberryb0y · 09-07-2012 10:46pm

nm wrote: »

Was the OD at the gig a load of tabloid bollocks? Has this been confirmed ?

Yeah I haven't heard anywhere what the cause of death was.
As for the whole dance music debate I think its pretty unfair to blame dance music for the problems. In my experience any outdoor gig in Ireland by a mainstream act that isn't very 'safe' ie. the likes of Snow Patrol/Kings of Leon etc is going to attract trouble, I've seen lots of it at the likes of Oasis/Arctic Monkeys in the past although no stabbings I have to admit.
Also wouldn't be of the opinion that drink/drugs is to blame for these incidents, scumbag is as scumbag as does, incidents like these happen every weekend in Ireland its just that normally there isnt such a large amount of troublemakers in the same place at once

ghostdancer · 09-07-2012 11:01pm

nm wrote: »

Was the OD at the gig a load of tabloid bollocks? Has this been confirmed ?

fairly sure someone died at it anyway.
i'd say an "overdose"almost certainly didn't happen though. far more likely the guy took something that wasn't actually ecstasy and was actually piperazines, or PMA, or some other sh1tty chemical that can often fukc people up that are occasionally being passed off as ecstasy pills these days.
or else maybe some sort of underlying heart defect which was triggered by a mix of coke, drink, and dancing like a mentaller.
could well have just been a case of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome and the guy didn't take anything.
you'd have to do a serious ****load of most recreational drugs to "overdose".

expect the tabloids and the Joe Duffy listeners to blame it all on the drugs though, even before the facts are established.

Furious-Red · 09-07-2012 11:07pm

22-year-old Raymond Donnan from Greenfort Crescent in Clondalkin, Dublin has been accused of assault causing harm, possession of a knife, violent disorder and public order offences arising from the stabbings at Saturday’s Swedish House Mafia show in the Phoenix Park.

The Central Court was told that Donnan was arrested that night at 9.55pm, and when charged the following evening declined to say anything.

Of the nine people injured during the concert, one remains in a critical condition after being stabbed four times in the back and kidneys.

http://www.hotpress.com/Swedish-House-Mafia/news/Man-charged-in-connection-with-Phoenix-Park-attacks/8993043.html?new_layout=1

Swedish House Mafia have issued a statement concerning their Saturday night headliner in the Phoenix Park, which was marred by nine stabbings and the death from a suspected overdose of a man in his twenties.

“We didn't see anything but have asked for all the info and are respectful of the promoter's need to wait and give us all the clear facts,” say the duo. “When we know more we will liaise with the Festival promoter directly on what we can do to help but for now we have to respect their request to us that we remain quiet and respectful of their event safety processes. The festival itself was amazing and we had no idea this had happened and neither did the other numerous artists who played. Once we know all the facts we will deal with it in the best way we can.”

Cathal_91 · 09-07-2012 11:33pm

a video i took when there, dancing in the mud wap

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rKrTDHi-W0&list=UUbA4zwVrn2bCPNWrLXCXLwA&index=1&feature=plcp

Big Game · 09-07-2012 11:37pm

ghostdancer wrote: »

fairly sure someone died at it anyway.
i'd say an "overdose"almost certainly didn't happen though. far more likely the guy took something that wasn't actually ecstasy and was actually piperazines, or PMA, or some other sh1tty chemical that can often fukc people up that are occasionally being passed off as ecstasy pills these days.
or else maybe some sort of underlying heart defect which was triggered by a mix of coke, drink, and dancing like a mentaller.
could well have just been a case of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome and the guy didn't take anything.
you'd have to do a serious ****load of most recreational drugs to "overdose".

expect the tabloids and the Joe Duffy listeners to blame it all on the drugs though, even before the facts are established.

One lad died after going to the medical centre at the gig and being transfered to Connolly Hospital. Another lad that was at the gig took ill at at a house party and also died in hospital later. No confirmed cause in either death yet but the second lads family have said that he taken something. The third death that was reported wasn't someone who was at the gig but was a heroin addict that OD'd in a boozer, totally unrelated to the concert.

Tiroskan · 09-07-2012 11:37pm

Cathal_91 wrote: »

a video i took when there, dancing in the mud wap

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rKrTDHi-W0&list=UUbA4zwVrn2bCPNWrLXCXLwA&index=1&feature=plcp

Ah, that one lad on the left in particular who's pure monged.

BaZmO* · 09-07-2012 11:56pm

Interesting comments from this Irish Times article

A MCD spokesman said they were “very happy” to co-operate with both the gardai and the Department of Justice pointing out that 511 stewards and 145 gardaí were on duty within the arena. The license for the concert stipulated that a minimum of 364 security personnel be on duty.

Be interesting to see how many of the Stewards were actual "security personnel" if any?

Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown treated 38 patients on Saturday night and Sunday morning, the Health Service Executive said today.

The patients were treated for minor injuries, alcohol and drug related use and stabbing injuries. Six patients were treated for stab wounds of whom two are still inpatients, the executive said.

Patients came from the vicinity of Phoenix Park. However the HSE could not confirm that all of the patients attended the concert at Phoenix Park, it said.

A spokesman for the Mater Hospital in Dublin said it treated eight patients in its accident and emergency department after the concert.

Cathal_91 · 10-07-2012 12:03am

Tiroskan wrote: »

Ah, that one lad on the left in particular who's pure monged.

lc180 · 10-07-2012 1:21am

Incidents aside...

Was there much of a crowd for Calvin Harris, didn't he start only 20 mins after the gates opened?

frantic190 · 10-07-2012 1:48am

lc180 wrote: »

Incidents aside...

Was there much of a crowd for Calvin Harris, didn't he start only 20 mins after the gates opened?

Pretty sure they moved the gate time back an hour so the Original Rudeboys ended up being first after all. Could be wrong on this though. There was 8000 people there by the time the Original Rudeboys got on stage.

barryd09 · 10-07-2012 3:41am

Having a pretty big interest in dance music for about the last 15 years and been clubbing and gig going for the last 10/11 years i can safely say i have seen a serious decline in the quality of irish dance events in terms of the crowds, i gave up on them a long time ago, trance in particular, just attracts the wrong type in ireland & i can say this based on my experiences of trance gigs all over the uk, ibiza, germany, holland over the years. Its been likened to hooliganism already by someone, it is.

SHM are as was point out earlier, loved by teens & skangers, ESPECIALLY teen skangers. I remember Angello & Ingrosso being pretty decent 6/7 years ago, even saw them in galway in 2006. Now, they are ridicilously cheesey, its karaokee dance and it mainly attracts a younger audience, the entire lineup was geared that way.
another major question to be asked, how are under 18's getting in? Whos enforcing that?
Drink & drugs & that aged crowd is always going to be verrry messy.

I would say hand on heart the exact same crowd will go to david guetta & avicii & also isnt there a deadmau5 show in the rds coming up aswell?

For me, the days of going to anything large scale or even remotely commercial in ireland in terms of dance music are finished, it just isnt worth the potential hassle, effort & money.

manicmonkey · 10-07-2012 3:49am

Apparently some had a much better time on Saturday than others.... https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=390119721051408&set=a.214531905276858.55441.166727396723976&type=1&relevant_count=1

johnnykilo · 10-07-2012 5:02am

From reading this thread and my own experience in going to ****loads of gigs over the last 15 years in Ireland, the US, the UK and Holland these are the 2 main issues I can see are as follows:

1) Scumbags will be scumbags, what you need is proper legislation that if someone carries a dangerous weapon be it a knife, glass bottle (smashed or otherwise) and they attempt to use it on someone, that they are charged with attempted murder or appropriate. You may not be able to stop them from using it but you can make damn sure they don't have the opportunity again. Also in all my time going to gigs I have never seen anyone smoking weed or taking ecstasy ever being involved in a fight!

2) Festivals need proper security. I've been to festivals in Europe and you can tell that the security there are properly trained. They know when to lay back and they know when to act and how to act. The security at electric picnic (as far as I know) are generally the Scottish lads who do Glastonbury so they know for the most part how to deal with a festival crowd.

In my experience MCD tend to use an outsourcing company for a lot of their security at large events which tend to lead in a best case an inexperience member of security and in the worst case means having someone completely inappropriate having the job of security. I remember going to Oxegen a number of years back and hearing that someone who I knew was doing security there and my mouth literally dropped as this guy was as dodgy as **** and wasn't a stranger to the courts, put it that way.

the_doctor199 · 10-07-2012 8:48am

manicmonkey wrote: »

Apparently some had a much better time on Saturday than others.... https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=390119721051408&set=a.214531905276858.55441.166727396723976&type=1&relevant_count=1

That was at TITP

RebelButtMunch · 10-07-2012 10:07am

johnnykilo wrote: »

From reading this thread and my own experience in going to ****loads of gigs over the last 15 years in Ireland, the US, the UK and Holland these are the 2 main issues I can see are as follows:

1) Scumbags will be scumbags, what you need is proper legislation that if someone carries a dangerous weapon be it a knife, glass bottle (smashed or otherwise) and they attempt to use it on someone, that they are charged with attempted murder or appropriate. You may not be able to stop them from using it but you can make damn sure they don't have the opportunity again. Also in all my time going to gigs I have never seen anyone smoking weed or taking ecstasy ever being involved in a fight!

2) Festivals need proper security. I've been to festivals in Europe and you can tell that the security there are properly trained. They know when to lay back and they know when to act and how to act. The security at electric picnic (as far as I know) are generally the Scottish lads who do Glastonbury so they know for the most part how to deal with a festival crowd.

In my experience MCD tend to use an outsourcing company for a lot of their security at large events which tend to lead in a best case an inexperience member of security and in the worst case means having someone completely inappropriate having the job of security. I remember going to Oxegen a number of years back and hearing that someone who I knew was doing security there and my mouth literally dropped as this guy was as dodgy as **** and wasn't a stranger to the courts, put it that way.

Excellent post. Your spot on, the risk associated with causing someone serious harm is negligible. We really need the judges to pass some whopper sentences to make people think twice about random violence.

melekalikimaka · 10-07-2012 1:49pm

johnnykilo wrote: »

From reading this thread and my own experience in going to ****loads of gigs over the last 15 years in Ireland, the US, the UK and Holland these are the 2 main issues I can see are as follows:

1) Scumbags will be scumbags, what you need is proper legislation that if someone carries a dangerous weapon be it a knife, glass bottle (smashed or otherwise) and they attempt to use it on someone, that they are charged with attempted murder or appropriate. You may not be able to stop them from using it but you can make damn sure they don't have the opportunity again. Also in all my time going to gigs I have never seen anyone smoking weed or taking ecstasy ever being involved in a fight!

2) Festivals need proper security. I've been to festivals in Europe and you can tell that the security there are properly trained. They know when to lay back and they know when to act and how to act. The security at electric picnic (as far as I know) are generally the Scottish lads who do Glastonbury so they know for the most part how to deal with a festival crowd.

In my experience MCD tend to use an outsourcing company for a lot of their security at large events which tend to lead in a best case an inexperience member of security and in the worst case means having someone completely inappropriate having the job of security. I remember going to Oxegen a number of years back and hearing that someone who I knew was doing security there and my mouth literally dropped as this guy was as dodgy as **** and wasn't a stranger to the courts, put it that way.

also live nation take a huge part in event management on mcd gigs these days, funny how they can run glasto without a hitch but a day gig in a park is a blood bath, the difference between the two imo, the crowd not the management

CardBordWindow · 10-07-2012 1:51pm

I see that SPIN magazine has reported on the incidents in the Phoenix Park.
http://www.spin.com/#articles/swedish-house-mafia-concert-marred-violence?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=071012

Boards.ie even get a mention!!

On Ireland's Boards.ie forums, attendees described an event marred by a "serious rough crowd" and "fights all day."

Nolan14 · 10-07-2012 3:56pm

Does any 1 no what the leave the world behind you remix was i found the set list but it's not the remix that was played at the gig if someone no's it please post it much appriciated

10-07-2012 4:05pm

melekalikimaka wrote: »

live nation take a huge part in event management on mcd gigs these days, funny how they can run glasto without a hitch but a day gig in a park is a blood bath, the difference between the two imo, the crowd not the management

IMO The differences between the two gigs are not just down to the crowd, they are due to the hugely different approaches to public safety spending, alcohol consumption, event licensing, drug enforcement, corporate greed, and general cop on and ability to act like an adult between concert-goers in the two different countries mentioned.

Irish attitudes to all of these things (both from the Irish authorities and organizers as well as from Irish gig-goers and ticket buyers) have created a situation here where promoters (no names mentioned) can easily skimp on security, enforcement, policing contributions, stop and search, crowd control, and all of the other costs that go with running a show without any fear of sanction, while at the same time charging some of the highest ticket prices for gigs in all of Europe. In short, Ireland is easy pickings.

A big gig in Ireland is a license for a major promoter to charge whatever they want, skimp on lots of the running costs, and make lots of profit, and if there are any consequences (like the ones we had last weekend), all they have to do is pay lip service in a public statement, and express regret that a few bad apples spoiled it for everybody else, and that will be the end of the matter for them. No slap on the wrist, no fines, they're free and clear.

As regards to specific concert promoters and their track records in Ireland, I'm going to tread carefully and stick to facts here, and only talk about what I've seen personally from one promoter in particular, lest i be accused of being libelous or infringing on anyone's reputation or deserved good name (whatever happened to open public discourse on the net? The threat of litigation has got everybody walking on eggshells around here).

I personally have seen MCD and their agents shirking their responsibilities on several occasions in the past while running large gigs in Ireland, often involving very serious consequences for their paying attendees, but with none so far for themselves in terms of any resulting sanctions, fines, withdrawal of licenses etc.

The last large, open-air MCD event i attended was AC/DC in Punchestown in 2009, a venue which was grossly unsuitable for the purpose. I was charged far too much for my ticket, had a thoroughly miserable experience in gaining access to the venue by public transport due to insufficient and downright dangerous access planning, had a torrid time while there due to the dreadful organization within the venue itself, and left early to avoid the traffic mayhem which eventually occurred.

While approaching the venue and attending the show, i saw gross breaches of public safety and fire and emergency access regulations, widespread failure to stop and search due to insufficient spending by the organizers on staff and marshaling, sales of alcohol to minors, public drunkenness to the point of vomiting and unconsciousness, widespread littering, violence, insufficient planning around crowd movement, improper lighting, pedestrian access, parking, toilet facilities, and improper and unsuitable provisions around access to public transport (which later resulted in stampeding and trampling injuries to many people who rushed the buses after the show, in fear of another 5 hour trip home).

I left that show vowing never to go to another large open-air MCD-promoted gig in Ireland (which i haven't), and wondering how long it would take before somebody lost their life at one of their events due to a combination of their irresponsibility, the lack of any appropriate sanctions or deterrent being visible under law, and the general stupidity and irresponsibility of some of the Irish concert-going public.

It seems i have my answer.....and yet all of the noise that the dreadful events at this recent phoenix park gig has generated in the press will die down by next week and will all be forgotten about...until it happens again next time.

How many concert goers have to die at an event like last weekend's before all parties concerned are willing to really genuinely do something about it? Do we really need another incident on the scale of the stardust disaster before people are willing to demand something is done here? Why do we always need loss of life and the associated outrage that goes with it to shock us into action in Ireland?

We will never get anywhere on this unless everybody involved stands up and takes responsibility for their actions. Everybody has a part to play here. The promoters, the lawmakers, the educators, the drinks industry, the security and police enforcement task forces, the parents who give impressionable children their attitudes to drink/drugs, and above all the concert-goers themselves.

UsedToWait · 10-07-2012 5:05pm

Deleted User wrote: »

...
We will never get anywhere on this unless everybody involved stands up and takes responsibility for their actions. Everybody has a part to play here. The promoters, the lawmakers, the educators, the drinks industry, the security and police enforcement task forces, the parents who give impressionable children their attitudes to drink/drugs, and above all the concert-goers themselves.

Excellent post.. it is certainly a multi-faceted problem, down to organisation / demographics / cultural attitudes etc etc

A really well thought out post (including your opinion on MCD's motivation), in stark contrast to Brian Boyd's horribly simplistic blame-it-on-dance-music piece in the Irish Times today

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0710/1224319720403.html?via=mr

UsedToWait · 10-07-2012 5:10pm

Deleted User wrote: »

As regards to specific concert promoters and their track records in Ireland, I'm going to tread carefully and stick to facts here, and only talk about what I've seen personally from one promoter in particular, lest i be accused of being libelous or infringing on anyone's reputation or deserved good name (whatever happened to open public discourse on the net? The threat of litigation has got everybody walking on eggshells around here).

I personally have seen MCD and their agents shirking their responsibilities on several occasions in the past while running large gigs in Ireland, often involving very serious consequences for their paying attendees, but with none so far for themselves in terms of any resulting sanctions, fines, withdrawal of licenses etc.

The last large, open-air MCD event i attended was AC/DC in Punchestown in 2009, a venue which was grossly unsuitable for the purpose. I was charged far too much for my ticket, had a thoroughly miserable experience in gaining access to the venue by public transport due to insufficient and downright dangerous access planning, had a torrid time while there due to the dreadful organization within the venue itself, and left early to avoid the traffic mayhem which eventually occurred.

While approaching the venue and attending the show, i saw gross breaches of public safety and fire and emergency access regulations, widespread failure to stop and search due to insufficient spending by the organizers on staff and marshaling, sales of alcohol to minors, public drunkenness to the point of vomiting and unconsciousness, widespread littering, violence, insufficient planning around crowd movement, improper lighting, pedestrian access, parking, toilet facilities, and improper and unsuitable provisions around access to public transport (which later resulted in stampeding and trampling injuries to many people who rushed the buses after the show, in fear of another 5 hour trip home).

I left that show vowing never to go to another large open-air MCD-promoted gig in Ireland (which i haven't)

In fairness, it's better now than when MCD's heavy hitting legal team meant that we weren't even able to mention an MCD event on here...

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