Gig Buddies 'takes away the concert fear factor'
A group which links strangers with companions to attend music events says it helps to take the "fear factor" away.Gig Buddies Nottingham allows people to post about concerts and events to the 6,000 members and then see who wants to join them.It also organises group trips, sometimes taking up to 50 people to festivals.Craig Chambers, who runs the Facebook group, said: "It's such a friendly and supportive group - and a great way to catch new bands!"
Mr Chambers, 52, who lives in Sherwood, joined the group in 2017."It's just nice to go to a venue and know there are people there expecting you; it can take away the fear factor," he said.
Anyone can post they are going to a gig, but most people start by going with groups attending a concert.Diana Tunney, 73, who lives in the city centre, said the group was particularly sensitive to people's differing needs.She said: "It's a very diverse community, and we know that some people cope with crowds better than others. "What we don't want to see is anybody feeling uncomfortable because they can't cope with particular situations. "And we've got people who are disabled, who come in wheelchairs, and we work with venues on good access."She also recommends it to people who may feel vulnerable on their own.
Stephen Fletcher, 63, from Jacksdale, has been part of Gig Buddies for four years but said he has been a gig goer since the age of 15."I don't mind going on my own, but it is nice to meet up with people and talk about the usual stuff, the music, the bands you have seen," he said."I also like the idea that people can feel reassured and supported by Gig Buddies."
Nottingham Gig Buddies is a separate organisation to other groups in the country with similar names.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
34 minutes ago
- BBC News
Chalke Festival hosts jousting and historic re-enactments
While music fans are at Glastonbury Festival, history lovers are enjoying a very different Chalke History Festival in Broad Chalke, Wiltshire, is in full swing, demonstrating historic methods of jousting and hay 23-29 June, the festival is hosting talks about history from 175 experts, including the likes of Kevin McCloud, Al Murray, Michael Palin and Ian Hislop, alongside a programme of re-enactments from different time Holland, founder of festival, said: "I'm absolutely thrilled, we had lots of people here, the sun has been shining." Meanwhile, Dominic Sewell has been preparing for a jousting demonstration."Children are often captivated by knights and jousting and as there are no princesses or dragons here, we have to make do with fighting each other," Mr Sewell said. The horse armour is designed to protect horses from splinters or "anything else that might come their way," Mr Sewell said."As well as that we have a specialised helmet for jousting which is called a frog mouth helmet, it has a wide aperture where the eye slits are." Mr Holland built a traditional hay stack over the week and said he had "the time of his life" doing it."I'm very interested in the history of agriculture," he added.
BBC News
39 minutes ago
- BBC News
Oasis mural made of bucket hats unveiled in Cardiff
A portrait of Liam and Noel Gallagher made from 3,000 black and white bucket hats has been unveiled in Cardiff as the city prepares to host the first Oasis gig in nearly 16 years. Artist Nathan Wyburn, 35, said he was "proud" the brothers chose Wales to kick off their long-awaited reunion. The 16ft (4.9m) mural was unveiled on Saturday during a "pre-gig party" at the St David's shopping centre. "They offered to send me 3,000 bucket hats, an offer I could not refuse, and I have now turned them into Liam and Noel Gallagher," Wyburn said. The artist is known for using unconventional materials or everyday objects to create his said when people think of Oasis "they probably think of the sunglasses and the bucket hats, so it just seemed incredibly obvious to me that it had to be made with bucket hats". It took Wyburn five days to create the portrait in his studio, which is a converted church. He first drew the brothers on a eight fireproof boards, then began the gruelling process of stapling bucket hats into just the right places. "My hand is in a lot of pain right now because I don't know how many times I shot that staple gun," he said. Most of the hats are intact, but a few were cut up to create finer details. From his studio, the mural was shipped to St David's in eight sections the evening before the unveiling."[It's] split right down the middle in case we need to separate Liam and Noel," he laughed. But is Wyburn a fan of the band? "I like their ballads, Wonderwall and Don't Look Back in Anger, but I wouldn't say I particularly followed their career," said Wyburn, who is originally from Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent. As an artist he said he said it was his job to "document things as they happen"."The fact that one of the biggest duos in history are getting back together, I feel like it's my duty as an artist to create something for that."His creation, dubbed the Wonder Wall, will remain in place until after Oasis play the Principality Stadium on 4 and 5 July.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Neil Young U-turns on decision to ban BBC from showing Glastonbury set
Neil Young's headline set at Glastonbury will now be shown live on the BBC on Saturday night, the BBC has announced. The corporation had previously said that the Canadian rock veteran's set would not be broadcast live 'at the artist's request'. But a spokesman confirmed on Saturday: 'We are delighted to confirm that Neil Young's headline set from Glastonbury on Saturday will be broadcast live to audiences across the UK on the BBC.' Young, who is best known for songs such as Heart of Gold, Like A Hurricane, and Cinnamon Girl, will headline the festival's Pyramid Stage on Saturday night with his band the Chrome Hearts. His set will be shown on the BBC iPlayer Pyramid Stage stream from 10pm, as well as broadcast on BBC Two and BBC Radio 2. The 79-year-old previously said he had initially turned down the offer to perform at the festival, saying it was ' under corporate control ' of the BBC in a message on his website. But Young later backtracked and was announced as one of the headliners saying he had 'always loved' the event and he was looking forward to performing. Irish rap trio Kneecap will also perform on Saturday after a number of politicians called for them to be banned from the event. The BBC has refused to deplatform the group amid mounting political pressure to not air their performance. The broadcaster insisted that it did not 'ban artists' but would make sure that the broadcast 'meets our editorial guidelines'. The Telegraph understands that one option under consideration will be to broadcast Kneecap's gig on iPlayer after the live performance, as the BBC has done in the past. This allows the broadcaster to scrutinise the set for any language or imagery that might breach BBC guidelines.
