With many planned bespoke outdoor events involving some of the biggest names in pop music, seems most fans of a certain age must now stand for hours or miss out completely on seeing their idols…
By Ian Woolley
In these troubled cash-strapped times, some of the larger festival and concert promoters look at more cost-effective ways to make a profit. In the latest conditions, a few have even resorted to banning concert-goers from bringing seats (and some even water!) into the grounds.
Take the upcoming Lionel Richie gig at Romsey Broadlands in Hampshire planned for June 27th. According to the promotors AEG Present website, ‘seats and chairs of any kind are not permitted into the event’. Even the unauthorised use of photographic, video and/or sound recording equipment is prohibited and such items may be confiscated and any tapes or films destroyed (we’d like to see them enforce that one in the 10,000 expected crowd!).
The New Forest Folk Festival (2022)
However, a few miles down the road, the annual July New Forest Folk Festival run by the Curtis family encourages fans to bring fold-up chairs (and blankets) along.
Several fans have taken to social media to voice their concerns at the Broadlands event.
Abbey Davey said on Twitter “So gutted can’t take my parents to Romsey, their in their 80s would love it so much but as no seats allowed in, only limited disabled area which I can’t get tickets for”. She continues “Considering his fans generally be over 50, shame these venues think about (money emoji) to fit more people in standing than allowing seats, it’s such a shame”.
Michael Bublé at Chewton Glen
I remember last year’s furore around the prestigious open-air concerts held near the Chewton Glen Hotel in Hampshire. This five-star luxury Hotel and Spa in the New Forest has only fairly recently been putting on outside concerts after the success of its annual charity events organised by Chris Evans.
However, last year, the hotel made the headlines for all the wrong reasons when attending the Michael Bublé and McFly gigs. With the first two planned events cancelled for various reasons (Ball & Boe and Take That), the planned remaining two looked enticing.
Billed as a ‘picnic event’, a few days before the concert, visitors realised it was held in a nearby field. And with high temperatures forecast, you guessed it, sitting down was not an option.
In reply, a representative from organiser Senbla said: “Chairs have never been allowed on site and the claims that the event was initially advertised for around 300 people was completely and wholly inaccurate”.
Chewton Glen said afterwards, that they had nothing to do with the planning of the concert as were merely renting out the space. Now with all the bad publicity surrounding the event (including the chaos that ensued when motorists tried to leave), they would be wise to think twice about renting their land next time.
We did ask the Lionel Richie promotors AEG Presents for a statement and to put their point across but so far we have not heard back.
Not all venues adopt this policy, however. Last year Heritage Live in Ardingly allowed seats to see Russell Watson and even Richie’s early gig on his current tour at Blenheim Palace is an all-seated affair.
Seems some venues have got it right for us older fans!