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David Gray closing the bar!

fourmations

saw this on the Indo this morning… interesting subject perhaps….what yis think?

"Following complaints of a raucous crowd constantly coming and going from the bar in the 3Arena during the English singer-songwriter’s performance there earlier this month, the bar will now close once his show commences in the stadium on Friday, May 2.

The 3Arena shared a post on social media that said: "Once David Gray goes on stage, all bars will close and will remain closed for the duration of the show.

“Please respect the other customers in attendance and more importantly enjoy the show.”

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Allinall

Proper order.

People are idiots at concerts/ matches.

Two hours without a drink won’t hurt anyone.

TokTik

I’ve heard those David Gray concerts can get pretty wild. Will there be ovaltine stands open??

Trigger Happy

I would never have thought that David Gray fans would be a rowdy bunch.

What next - closing the sweet counter at a Daniel O'Donnell concert?

Where does it end!?

tea and coffee

I can't see that sort of stance lasting. The venue will want to make as much money as possible on expensive drinks.

Stillill42

Yeah, amazed the venue have gone for it. What's in it for them? Much as I fecking hate all the **** gig etiquette on display these days, it's a deal with the devil for artists, isn't it? You can't have it all. His gigs at Whelan's were brilliant I'm sure, wedged with real fans, brilliant atmosphere. You graduate to the big venues,it's more dosh but more clients out for a good night with a bit of David Gray on in the background. He's probably got enough cash now, no? Just play to nice people in small venues, David.

statto25

@TokTik

Viscount Aggro

He hasn't had a hit album in decades.

I would go,.... But I can't stand the wobbly head movements.

T.V Eye

This will be interesting.

I wonder if people will just try to buy ridiculous amount of drink before he starts and end up rioting if the shutters come down while they are still queueing.

Nice idea but I don't have a lot of faith.

deandean

The only way I survive a David Gray concert is with a large amount of beer.

SuperBowserWorld

This year's pint had better last.

crl84

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123403472#Comment_123403472

They'll have been paid by the artist/promoter to close the bar as condition of renting the venue.

Plenty of acts have done it at the Olympia over the years.

8mv

Joe Jackson did this when he played Dolan's in Limerick some years back. One of the best gigs I've seen in the past twenty years.

EmergencyExit

It's a great idea because the drinking culture has gotten ridiculous at gigs in general. People spend more time at the bar queueing for booze than watching the performance

FrancieBrady

One of the great mysteries of life so far for me - why go to a gig if all you want to do is anything but listen to the act?
Not such a big issue in big arenas but a massive issue in smaller ones.

techman1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123404223#Comment_123404223

Probably because people don't go out as much as they used to and when they do it has to be some sort of "event", they don't seem to go to the pub to socialise exclusively, so then they shoehorn their socialising into a concert or whatever. Be better if they just went to the pub like before and not goto "gigs " etc unless they properly interested. I think closing everything down during covid has probably caused this phenomenon aswell

magicbastarder

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/review/2025/04/06/david-gray-in-dublin-review-huge-singalong-moments-accompany-vocal-firepower-of-one-man-and-his-guitar/

as Gray notes several times, this is a boisterous crowd gunning for singalongs and dancing – which occasionally seems to irk him slightly. At one point he jokes that it’s “like playing the biggest bar in the world” with the constant stream of chatter and people going to and from the bar; at another he fumbles lyrics because he is too busy “watching you lot fannying around”.

Fanirish

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123404120#Comment_123404120

and in vicar St especially during comedy shows as that too much of an intrusion midway during a comedians sets if half a row has to get up

odyssey06

It shouldn't come to this, but it was getting too disruptive to the performer and people trying to watch the performance as opposed to just be there to get boozed up and chat.

Le Bruise

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123404262#Comment_123404262

This is it. Especially true with the 'nostalgia' acts where the fans now have young kids etc…only getting out once in a blue moon so it has to be to an 'event' to justify the babysitter etc. Haven't seen their old buddies, or had a 'session' in months and just end up drinking too much and chatting. I enjoy a couple of pints at a gig but was ridiculous at Air in Trinity last year. Some of the crew in our own group were the worst offenders, backs to the stage having a natter or off at the bar/jacks. Had to nudge them a few times as I could barely hear some of the quieter tracks.

sydthebeat

christy moore was doing this 20 years ago…..

EmergencyExit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123404262#Comment_123404262

Yeah very true, also people's attention spans seem to be completely at odds to what they where years ago. It's almost like they have to be doing something instead of just being in the moment. I was at the Liverpool Spurs game on Sunday and everyone had their phones out taking photos, videos, selfies etc… instead of just enjoying the event. I'm older (55) so maybe harder for me to understand but i am glad i lived through a time when i could just be in that moment.

techman1

It's almost like they have to be doing something instead of just being in the moment

And also that they can't just simply meet up, it has to be an "event " because just meeting up for a drink would not be social media friendly or exciting enough for photos

Hurrache

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123404225#Comment_123404225

It's not the same thing, you can go to a gig and not speak to anyone but still have a couple of beers while doing so.

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123404462#Comment_123404462

Read the article???

"Following complaints of a raucous crowd constantly coming and going from the bar in the 3Arena during the English singer-songwriter’s performance there earlier this month, the bar will now close once his show commences in the stadium on Friday, May 2.'

They clearly were not just going to get a beer.

Hooked

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123404327#Comment_123404327

THIS.

Some people go to gigs now… just to post (on the auld socials) from said gig. Or to get pissed. Or both. Gimps.

I've seen David Gray a few times. And I'm going tonight in Limerick (outdoor gig, King Johns castle). He is a proper artist and he clearly wants people (like me) to enjoy his gig and not be distracted by pissed up idiots running to the bar. Rugby has gone the same way. There was a time at a Munster match in the old Thomond Park where the crowd wouldn't budge. We were there for the rugby! The Aviva nowadays is a JOKE.

Generally at a gig - I'll grab a drink before kick off and just enjoy the music (And I LOVE a drinking session). And my phone stays in my pocket. Actually - I think David Gray requested no phones at a Killarney concert I was at… And people watched and listened with their eyes and ears. Imagine that!

o1s1n

Would love to know how much they're giving up in revenue by closing the bar.

irishliamo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123403896#Comment_123403896

Nice. Can you imagine listening to all those people babble on?

Hooked

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123404797#Comment_123404797

We're out of Heineken. Please forgive me.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123404792#Comment_123404792

I was at the 3Arena gig earlier in the month so I can understand why they are closing the bar for this one.
The disruption was much worse than for the White Ladder anniversary 3Arena gig.

I'd like to see DG playing just new material somewhere like National Concert Hall, which has no phones, has a setup for intermission drinks etc
I don't think 3Arena is a good venue for that kind of thing because as something of a 'legacy' act you have too many people coming because they liked White Ladder back in the day and seem to have zero interest in new material.

Enjoy the gig, you got lucky with the weather.

Hooked

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123404832#Comment_123404832

Poxed with the weather! Looking forward to it, thanks!