Coronavirus: music festivals, big gigs, sports events and big gatherings - going ahead and cancelled

[BigMoaner]

I go (or rather went, pre covid) to gigs and festivals on my own a lot. My mates just aren't into it and mrs mx doesn't do camping at DIY festies with portaloos, or getting pissed at noisy punk gigs. Having been in a mid-life crisis for at least 12 years now, going to stuff on my own really doesn't bother me any more.

yes, it used to happen back in my 20s as well. if no one else was staying out out, that would definitely no deter me. often met great people/pulled.

it can mean focusing on the music that much more intensely too.

 

[jimbarkanoodle]

Have gone out plenty of times on my own to clubs too. Ill often get a freebie to Ministry of Sound, but hardly any of my mates like trance and many have settled down, so i go alone. Ill bosh a pill then nip off once the DJ(s) i like have finished at about 3 or 4am.. Better than sitting at home or just going for 'a few drinks' at the pub.

 

[William of Walworth]

The guy who runs Undercover (indoor punk festival) is a really genuine guy who just wants to put bands on. He remains, I think, "overly optimistic".

Undercover 9 has been postponed to October 2021, which, fingers crossed, might go ahead, but he's still advertising indoor socially distanced gigs in April. I mean, I hope it works out, but ffs, it's not going to happen, is it?

See You Down The Front! - Undercover Festival and Events

if you fancy it.

Abdoujaporove and Roddy Radiation would be my two biggest must-sees in that line-up!

<think that might be our going-to-Sheffield w/e though .... >

 

[miss direct]

Are any of these people who go out alone female? Just curious. Not sure I'd feel safe, well not if I was drinking.

 

[mx wcfc]

Abdoujaporove and Roddy Radiation would be my two biggest must-sees in that line-up!

<hink that might be our going-to-Sheffield w/e though .... >

I saw Roddy Radiation at Undercover 8, in March 2020, just before lockdown. Still don't know how I didn't catch Covid there. I'll pass on him, but, yep to Aboujaparov, who I last saw at SE back at the end of September 2019. Class act, and a lovely bloke.

The Undercover guy did some socially distanced gigs between lockdowns. Eastfield, my favourite band in the whole wide world ever, played. I could easily have driven there but it just didn't appeal. I can't see myself going to "socially distanced gigs", particularly not indoors.

 

[mx wcfc]

Are any of these people who go out alone female? Just curious. Not sure I'd feel safe, well not if I was drinking.

Fair point, well made.

Easy for blokes to talk about these things as if they were normal, whilst forgetting women might have a completely different perspective.

 

[William of Walworth]

Are any of these people who go out alone female? Just curious. Not sure I'd feel safe, well not if I was drinking.

Over my gigging and festival-going years, I have to admit that the number of lone females I've seen are much in the minority
What mx wcfc said ......

Saying that, females going out with two or three female friends can be more frequently seen, as I recall

(Depends on what type of gig or fest I suppose, who's playing, how safe the venue or site feels, etc., etc. )

 

[Mogden]

I do gigs alone but then I'm nearly 6ft tall and sturdy as a brick shithouse. I'd do festivals alone in a heartbeat if I could learn to bloody well drive but as it is I usually go with mates and am prone to wandering off to see other mates and urbs.

 

[Mation]

Are any of these people who go out alone female? Just curious. Not sure I'd feel safe, well not if I was drinking.

I went out alone quite a bit, pre-pandemic. Sometimes just for an after-party; so I'd sleep first and set my alarm for 6 am or something, and go out in daylight. That was mostly because I wasn't doing drugs, though.

Had a bit of hassle a couple of times, but nothing that would stop me going. I'm reasonably tall and strong though, and don't usually feel physically intimidated. None of which means I actually am safe, but I feel it. ADHD probably plays a part in that, too.

Once, when there was a particularly persistent tosser, I went and found a bouncer. She was very young and very big and had no qualms about throwing him out.

 

[thismoment]

Are any of these people who go out alone female? Just curious. Not sure I'd feel safe, well not if I was drinking.

When I was 19, at uni but living at home, it seemed like all the friendship groups of people my age where living in halls so I didn’t manage to make friends. I got fed up of waiting to be invited to go out so I went through a short phase of going out by myself. I’d get chatting to a group and have a few drinks but not as many as to be drink.

 

[Mogden]

The only bit I find a pain at gigs is the perineum of the performance, that bit between the support act and the main event. Very very rarely drink at gigs so can't distract myself with the bar queue and I usually do the merch stall on arrival.

Oh I've just remembered, Gig Armada! Also up this way we have Nottingham Gig Buddies where I've met a few new faces and found out just how small the gig going circuit is when I realise who our mutual friends are. Means you're going alone but not there on your own IYSWIM. Plus you don't have to find your drunk mate for the journey home

 

[Oula]

Are any of these people who go out alone female? Just curious. Not sure I'd feel safe, well not if I was drinking.

I am female and go to gigs on my own. I've never had any hassle at all when on my own. I'll have a drink or two but I wouldn't get pissed.

The only bit I find a pain at gigs is the perineum of the performance, that bit between the support act and the main event.

I take a book when I go to gigs on my own and sit at the back with a pint and a book in that gap.

 

[Mogden]

I take a book when I go to goods on my own and site at the back with a pint and a book in that gap.

Good idea. Once my brain sorts itself out and I can read again I'll give it a try.



Also, it's Solo Armada, not Gig Armada. Members often wear badges so you can spot them without any awkward are you so and so interactions.

 

[editor]

I go (or rather went, pre covid) to gigs and festivals on my own a lot. My mates just aren't into it and mrs mx doesn't do camping at DIY festies with portaloos, or getting pissed at noisy punk gigs. Having been in a mid-life crisis for at least 12 years now, going to stuff on my own really doesn't bother me any more.

I quite like going out on my own sometimes, although if it's in Brixton I'm almost certainly going to bump into people, but then I don't have the responsibility of having to hang out with them all night!

 

[gosub]

Just used my Nick Cave Lisbon refund for Gogol Bordello & Beck in Croatia. (refunds for EU citzens only) but I'll risk the punt

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Le Maitre have just gone into liquidation.

They’re the company that made big stages look cool - pyro, haze, smoke and pretty much any other special FX you can think of. This is a big, big loss to the industry.

 

[jimbarkanoodle]

Le Maitre have just gone into liquidation.

They’re the company that made big stages look cool - pyro, haze, smoke and pretty much any other special FX you can think of. This is a big, big loss to the industry.

I can imagine Boomtown might use them for a lot of their stages. Fucks sake

 

[SheilaNaGig]

DP

 

[SheilaNaGig]

nothing to loose i guess - take a punt, if things happen to be good to go, no harm done. if not, just a refund on tickets.

i forsee events etc going ahead, but socially distanced, rule of 6 etc. sweath dark cramped night clubs/comedy clubs/etc, just can't see how they are going to operate? who wants to rave socially distanced?

This isn’t quite true.

Big tours get planned months and months ahead of time. Lampies are paid to plan the light show, tour managers are paid to be available and not sign on with another band or find another job (especially if it’s someone who’s part of the regular crew and not a hired hand), stage sets (even if it’s just a backdrop) need to be designed, made, and sometimes flight cased with custom made cases, rehearsals happen in studios starting at once a week and building up to twice or three times a week, with techs present and sound engineers involved, merch needs planning and manufacturing. On the admin side tours get advanced way ahead of the first night, with loads of people involved making lists, ticking them off, collating imforation, stitching it all together seamlessly, hotels get books; and then catering companies do their own advancing too. People wonder why tickets are so pricey, it’s because you're not just paying for the two hours a band is on stage, you’re paying for the army on the move for maybe a whole year, certainly many months before the first night, and then the gyroscopic balancing act of keeping the circus on the road.

Even mid sized bands need to do all this to some degree. Even small bands do some version of it.



The trick of making RocknRoll look like a bunch of relaxed wastrels strolling onstage like it’s the most natural thing in the world is a complex and complicated process.

 

[SheilaNaGig]

I go (or rather went, pre covid) to gigs and festivals on my own a lot. My mates just aren't into it and mrs mx doesn't do camping at DIY festies with portaloos, or getting pissed at noisy punk gigs. Having been in a mid-life crisis for at least 12 years now, going to stuff on my own really doesn't bother me any more.

I actively enjoy going to gigs and festivals on my own. Even when I was a teenager. People would say “who are you here with?” and it always struck me as a weird question, even though I got asked it every single time. Years later, decades later, when I’d bump into people from back then, they’d always comment “You used to come out in your own” and I realised it was something I’d been known for. I don’t know why it seemed so easy and obvious to me. I had friends I’d go out with and meet up with too, but it was kinda an add on.

 

[SheilaNaGig]

Are any of these people who go out alone female? Just curious. Not sure I'd feel safe, well not if I was drinking.

Me! I’ve always done it and still do.

 

[SheilaNaGig]

Fair point, well made.

Easy for blokes to talk about these things as if they were normal, whilst forgetting women might have a completely different perspective.

Sorry for the multi-posting.



Clubs are more tricky than gigs and festivals. In my experience.

I did go to clubs alone, but then I’d meet up with pals there. If I didn’t know people there it was always much more of a gamble in terms of the #metoo bullshit.

 

[SheilaNaGig]

I am female and go to gigs on my own. I've never had any hassle at all when on my own. I'll have a drink or two but I wouldn't get pissed.

I take a book when I go to gigs on my own and sit at the back with a pint and a book in that gap.

I’ve done that too. Or New Scientist, which prompts certain types to start a conversation with me, and mostly puts off the tossers.

 

[SheilaNaGig]

Le Maitre have just gone into liquidation.

They’re the company that made big stages look cool - pyro, haze, smoke and pretty much any other special FX you can think of. This is a big, big loss to the industry.

This is like a hole below the waterline...

 

[editor]

Sorry for the multi-posting.



Clubs are more tricky than gigs and festivals. In my experience.

I did go to clubs alone, but then I’d meet up with pals there. If I didn’t know people there it was always much more of a gamble in terms of the #metoo bullshit.

I think gigs are easier on your own because there's a focus and something to look at, and if it's a smaller gig you can always strike up a chat with the band/soundman/merch people whatever. Clubs can be especially tricky if the music is so loud there's no chance of striking up a casual conversation, and it's even harder if you don't like the music!

 

[SheilaNaGig]

I think gigs are easier on your own because there's a focus and something to look at, and if it's a smaller gig you can always strike up a chat with the band/soundman/merch people whatever. Clubs can be especially tricky if the music is so loud there's no chance of striking up a casual conversation, and it's even harder if you don't like the music!

All of this is true.

But I have found that, being a woman, striking up a conversation with someone associated with the band would often get me filed as “groupie, predatory slut looking for a hook up with the band, she certainly doesn’t know anything about music because women don’t know about music”.

Tedious, so I default back to waiting for them to approach me.

Or I just barrel up to the band and introduce myself.


But yeah, gigs are about listening to /watching the show while clubs are about completely different stuff. Sometimes I’ll turn up, watch the room, see the band, and fuck off, without talking to anyone at all. Especially if I’m just wanting to find out what the band is about.

 

[Mation]

All of this is true.

But I have found that, being a woman, striking up a conversation with someone associated with the band would often get me filed as “groupie, predatory slut looking for a hook up with the band, she certainly doesn’t know anything about music because women don’t know about music”.

Tedious, so I default back to waiting for them to approach me.

Or I just barrel up to the band and introduce myself.


But yeah, gigs are about listening to /watching the show while clubs are about completely different stuff. Sometimes I’ll turn up, watch the room, see the band, and fuck off, without talking to anyone at all. Especially if I’m just wanting to find out what the band is about.

The only times I'd ever go to clubs were for one offs with very particular music and where I'd assume that everyone else was there for the music, too, because it wasn't a general clubbing crowd. I can be very single-minded about dancing. But it wasn't 100% effective at weeding out the tossers, as above.

I actively enjoy going to gigs and festivals on my own. Even when I was a teenager. People would say “who are you here with?” and it always struck me as a weird question, even though I got asked it every single time. Years later, decades later, when I’d bump into people from back then, they’d always comment “You used to come out in your own” and I realised it was something I’d been known for. I don’t know why it seemed so easy and obvious to me. I had friends I’d go out with and meet up with too, but it was kinda an add on.

I didn't fully hit my dancing stride till my 30s, but I've always gone to pubs alone, since I was a teenager. I adore having a leisurely drink, reading and keeping a quarter of an eye on the football. It's a really different thing to going to the pub with friends, which I also love.

 

[Sunray]

The only venue I buy a drink is the garage. It’s got more than cans of red stripe or Guinness for £6 which is getting s ridiculous.

 

[William of Walworth]

The only venue I buy a drink is the garage. It’s got more than cans of red stripe or Guinness for £6 which is getting s ridiculous.

We know one garage right next to the nice park locally where you can get Henry Weston's Medium Dry Vintage Cider (8.2%) for about as cheap as the supermarkets (slightly over £2= a bottle)

Well, in the absence of gigs and festivals last summer (or this ) what else can you be doing?

 

[SheilaNaGig]

The only venue I buy a drink is the garage. It’s got more than cans of red stripe or Guinness for £6 which is getting s ridiculous.

I’ve seen some decent bands at The Garage.