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Irish Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
‘I was being blue-lighted around in a Garda car in the middle of the night': How to stage an Irish music festival
Tens of thousands of music fans will arrive at outdoor festivals around Ireland this summer, hauling bags stuffed with battery packs and wet wipes for a weekend camping in a field they pray stays dry. It can feel like entering a separate society. Hordes of people mill from campsite to stage to food truck; queues form for everything from toilets to patches of grass; flags and art installations dot the site as community hubs. It can be difficult to imagine the space as anything other than the makeshift city in front of you, but just a few days earlier there will have been nothing in its place. Then, almost as soon as the event ends, logistics planning for next year begins – including, if the festival is growing, how to tweak facilities to cater for more people. A small change can have a big effect. At the end of June, for example, the more than 200,000 music fans who'll descend on Worthy Farm, in southwest England, for Glastonbury will be served by the festival's own reservoir. READ MORE The organisers built it to provide up to three million litres of free water each day for festivalgoers to fill their reusable bottles with after banning single-use plastic bottles in 2019. Glastonbury is almost three times the size of its nearest Irish competitor, with more than 100 stages and more than 2,000 acts, so the move made a big difference; before then it had faced a mountain of waste after each three-day event, including 40 tonnes of single-use plastic bottles, or well over 1.5 million of them (alongside almost 45 tonnes of aluminium cans). In the United States, Coachella attracts about 125,000 festivalgoers on each of its two consecutive weekends. (The line-up is the same at each, to increase overall capacity to 250,000 people a year.) This year, fans said, seemingly minor changes to its campsite arrangements left some of them stuck in traffic for up to 12 hours as they queued to get in to the site. The domino effect may be most significant for these gigantic international events, but attention to detail is paramount at any festival. We asked some key people to tell us how it all works. All Together Now All Together Now: Declan McKenna on the main stage. Photograph: Aiesha Wong First-year capacity of 15,000 people 2025 capacity of 30,000 people Core team of about 15 people About 700 people involved in the build and break phases 3,000-3,500 people work on-site during the live event It takes one day to put up a tented stage at ATN and several days for the main stage For All Together Now , which is set to host 30,000 attendees at Curraghmore Estate, in Co Waterford, over the August bank holiday weekend, planning for 2026 will begin in September. Details are reviewed – access routes can be revised, stages and vendors repositioned, and lighting plans refined. This is the sixth edition of ATN, and capacity has doubled since year one. The festival's core team is about 15 people, but that expands significantly as the event approaches. Up to 700 people construct the site during the build and break phase. (Most stay nearby or commute from home rather than setting up camp, but as the festival gets closer some of them move into camper-vans or tents.) For the live event, that number jumps to between 3,000 and 3,500 people, including traders, security, crew and other staff. All Together Now: Fans enjoying the festival at Curraghmore Estate, Co Waterford in 2024. Photograph: Gareth Chaney 'You get to know the land really well – how the water flows, where the sun hits, the best angles for stage placement, how to avoid sound spill and so on – and we make small improvements every year based on what we've learned,' says Helena Burns of Pod Festivals, which also oversees Forbidden Fruit and In the Meadows. With experience, she says, the organisational process has become smoother. 'Through the years we've added in new external permanent roads for better vehicle access for patrons, relocated vendor lines for better servicing, moved a major stage uphill for better ground conditions should we encounter severe weather, and more. 'While the site layout has evolved since the beginning, we haven't needed to make any major structural changes. The ATN site was designed with growth in mind, which has helped us scale up in a natural way.' All Together Now: Kiamos at the festival in 2024 A tented stage can go up in a day; a main stage takes several days. If cranes or plant machinery are required, trackway has to be laid. Tech production load-ins of sound, lighting and visual equipment happen last, taking another day or two. Logistics determine much of the site's layout, but beyond that there is a big focus on aesthetics. 'Logistics definitely play a part in the placement of installations and stages – we have to consider access, power, sight lines and safety, and so much more – but they don't dictate the creative vision,' Burns says. 'If we love an idea, we'll do everything we can to make it work.' 'We collaborate closely with artists, creative partners and sponsors to shape the festival's look and feel. Everything is installed with purpose – from colourful canopies and light installations to sculptures and projections, we're always aiming to create something new and visually exciting.' Beyond the Pale Beyond the Pale First-year capacity under 5,000 2025 capacity of 12,000 Generator-powered but doesn't use fossil fuels Green efforts are part of festival's agenda – last year only six tents were left behind In its first year at the Glendalough Estate, in Co Wicklow, in 2022, Beyond the Pale had a capacity of under 5,000. By 2024 it had reached 10,000, and this June the festival will welcome 12,000 festivalgoers. The acts play to crowds that range from more than 9,000 people at the main stage right down to about 100 people at the event's most intimate stage. Overall, the organisers say, Beyond the Pale is still small enough to maintain its boutique feel. When it comes to putting on each year's event, access is one of the biggest considerations, according to festival producer Kate Farnon. 'The site can be tricky,' she says. 'It's kind of in a valley, so access is sometimes difficult, with different types of vehicles and so on. That's always the first consideration. Last year the site expanded and changed quite a bit. If you're anticipating larger numbers you have to look at site layout and make sure that you can handle the new capacity in infrastructure and egress. 'At this point the festival has the luxury of being able to incorporate more space. It's also designed in a way that the campsite is very close to the main arena. I think that's a big plus for punters. If they need to nip back to get something it's not a big hike. It's quite a compact site, and I think that really impacts how people experience it.' Beyond the Pale festival at Glendalough, Co Wicklow Providing power for thousands of people in a concentrated area is difficult, and festivals tend to require generators. In an effort to be greener, Beyond the Pale powers them with hydrotreated vegetable oil, a biofuel. It also uses as much wind-generated battery power as it can, but that's still an expensive technology. Finding a more sustainable mode of power supply and stepping away from generators are high on the agenda for the coming years, Farnon says. 'There is a real movement towards being more efficient with power, and I think there are some exciting things happening in that area. It's a big area for a festival to move in to, because it's going to make such a massive difference in terms of footprint. For most punters and festivalgoers, it's a shadow over the fun of going to a music festival.' Last year Beyond the Pale had 15 stages. The look of the site is important to sponsors as well as organisers. With Glendalough as a backdrop, the goal is to fit in to the environment. 'I think the biggest limitations are temporary structures,' Farnon says. 'They are what they are. They don't have a huge amount of variation, but going back to the functionality and the health and safety, they have the engineers' sign-off. At times you'll see something new come along.' Forest Fest Forest Fest: The Cult on stage at the Co Laois music festival in 2024. Photograph: Brian Bastick 2025 capacity of 12,000 On-site preparations begin 10 days before the festival Five stages on less than 20 acres of land Construction of festival infrastructure takes about 72 hours It takes about 10 days to prepare Emo Park, in Co Laois, for Forest Fest, where capacity matches Beyond the Pale's 12,000. Safety and security are arranged before staging crews arrive, trucking in the larger structures in the space of two or three days. Light and sound crews follow. The site is less than 20 acres, and its five stages are constructed next to each other to minimise walking for guests – Forest Fest positions itself as an event for a more mature audience. 'The focus was and remains always on the quality of the music and the quality of the product,' says Philip Meagher, the festival's founder. 'We never wanted to go to a large-scale event where that gets diluted. We've insisted that the numbers stay at a very manageable level and that all of the facilities – including parking and sites for campervans and tents and so forth – are very convenient to the venue.' Forest Fest: Dexys on stage at the Co Laois music festival in 2024. Photograph: Fionn Mulvey An older audience, Meagher says, tends to be more discerning. There is less focus on decor and more on functionality. The main logistical difficulty for Forest Fest is accessing the site, a problem that has been made much easier over the last couple of years through the building of access roads. That has aided the organisational process as well as helping attendees with additional needs. 'Thankfully the number of wheelchair users and people with accessibility issues, those numbers have been growing year on year for us,' Meagher says. 'I think the word has gone out that we're a very handy, convenient site and it's on the flat. It's all very manageable. Basically, Emo becomes the venue – the village becomes the venue. All the roads are closed off and the whole community gets behind the event and welcomes people. 'Within the venue footprint is our local national school. That facility is made available for disability-access parking. Wheelchair users are able to drive directly in to the site – they're parking up on tarmac basketball courts and they're literally one minute away from the gate in to the venue.' Forest Fest: Some of the crowd at the Co Laois music festival in 2024. Photograph: Brian Bastick Every outdoor Irish festival has to deal with the looming threat of bad weather, and 2023 was a trial for Forest Fest, when storms delayed the arrival of equipment and some camper van guests had to be moved to a site not intended for use. Since then they have doubled down on contingency plans. 'I was being blue-lighted around in the back of a Garda car to farmers in the middle of the night, looking for brown bales of hay and sand,' Meagher says. 'The local community and farmers were unbelievable the way they supported us that year. Only for that support I don't think we would have been able to keep the gates open. It was a learning curve, but I'd never want to go through it again.' Vantastival SoFFt Productions , an arts organisation and production house, has been operating across a range of events for the past five years, sparked by SoFFt Nights, a series of outdoor, socially distanced gigs that it staged during the pandemic. At the centre of a core team of five are Conor Jacob and Natasha Duffy, who each have a wealth of experience in promotion and production management. SoFFt looks after staging and production for Irish events ranging from Live at the Marquee, in Cork, to concerts at the Iveagh Gardens, in Dublin. Duffy is the business's creative director; Jacob is head of design. When we speak they're focused on Vantastival , a weekend music and camper van festival in Louth in September. Regardless of the size of the event, Jacob explains, the process is similar. 'It's really important to always try and think holistically,' he says. 'Whether it's high stakes, with a lot of gear and a lot of people, or something intimate and small, people do inherently recognise when something feels right and when it doesn't. That has to be respected.' SoFFt's work usually involves three tiers of contributors. Outside of the five central figures, any project involves enlisting the help of freelancers and vendors. Beyond that there is a local crew described as the backbone of the production, who are crucial to the physical set-up. Versatility is vital to making the business function. 'On any one job we could be employing 30 people a day,' Jacob says. SoFFt has developed a reputation for events that cater for attendees with additional needs. It has worked with South Dublin County Council on programmes designed for neurodivergent audiences, and Duffy keeps a close eye on emerging trends in the space – she mentions Coldplay's use of vibrating vests to enhance hearing-impaired fans' concert experience. 'One of the first things we did when we were running SoFFt Nights during Covid was set up two different sensory areas for people who were neurodivergent,' she says. 'We had the sensory cave, where we had a neurodivergent artist build a big soundscape, and we turned it into a decompression zone. 'We spent a lot of time marketing that. The outcome was we had a lot more people with children with autism and ADHD at the events, because they knew they were welcome and that we were dedicating time, space and money to making sure the event was inclusive and accessible.' Though they also facilitate larger events, there is something about smaller, independent festivals that ties in with SoFFt's ethos. Logistically, it becomes more possible to attend to the needs of the individual. 'When you're doing something on a smaller scale you become really invested in the audience experience,' Duffy says. 'You become really interested. When they walk on-site, what are they seeing, feeling and experiencing? What sort of interactive, immersive elements might you have? 'Your design becomes so important because it's all about the vibe. It's all about the other people. It's about creating nice nooks and crannies for people to sit around and talk. With the smaller festivals as well, they're very much about community. By the end of Vantastival everybody has met each other and built up a rapport. That's probably one of the reasons it has maintained a loyal audience.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Miley Cyrus Surprises Fans With Intimate ‘Something Beautiful' Set At Chateau Marmont
There was a lot of love in the room at the Chateau Marmont Tuesday night as Miley Cyrus debuted her album Something Beautiful for a small crowd of about 100 fans — as evidenced by the couple that got engaged right in front of a surprised Cyrus after she wrapped up a performance of her song 'End of the World.' 'Go get a room, put it on my bill,' Cyrus said, jaw agape as the couple embraced and the crowd erupted in cheers. More from The Hollywood Reporter Edge of Seventeen: How the K-Pop Powerhouse Is Reinventing Itself How Reneé Rapp Says Her Mom Manifested Her Becoming a "Pop Star" Sass to Sobs, Diddy's Ex-Assistant Testifies About Gunpoint Kidnapping But Changes Some Details It was a fittingly intimate moment for the evening, hosted by TikTok, as the fans hand selected by Cyrus's team on the platform got to listen to Something Beautiful in full before Cyrus surprised the attendees with a 45-minute set. The crowd was made up mainly of fans, but also had a few friends like Anya Taylor-Joy. The crowd piled into the Chateau at 6 p.m., with most expecting just to listen to the album a few days early before its wide release this Friday. But by 7 p.m., the chatty room briefly went silent, wondering what was happening next before once again exploding with shouts and applause as Cyrus came out up front with her band. 'You like your style, and you love mine,' Cyrus quipped, glammed out in a shimmering silver old Hollywood-style dress as she started with Something Beautiful track 'More to Lose.' She then played latest single 'Easy Lover' before belting last year's smash hit 'Flowers,' telling the crowd she hopes all of her upcoming album's songs 'touch people the way this song has.' Cyrus, flanked pianist Michal Pollack, drummer Maxx Morando and guitarist Jonathan Rado, was loose and comfortable around her fans, opining between songs about growing up together and how the fans In the room have stuck with her through the many changes in her sound and personal life since her days as a teen idol as Hannah Montana nearly 20 years ago. 'We really did grow up together, that's why it's so emotional for all of us, we've been on this journey together,' Cyrus said. 'We start to even outgrow ourselves, there's things we gain but things we also leave behind. And I've never wanted that to be you. I've never wanted that to be my fans, everyone I grew up with. As I started to go deeper on my own personal journey, it's always been my hope and vision that you all would come with me. It's always greatly appreciated when you do, and you always do.' Talking about that growth and the 'different species' of butterflies she gets in the room with her fans, she then went into an impromptu performance of 'The Climb,' joking that she 'wasn't going to perform' the song before fans goaded her. She finished up with 'End of the World.' During her set, Cyrus had talked about making Something Beautiful, which will also have an accompanying film, over the past couple years amid the Endless Summer Vacation era, joking that 'I wasn't on vacation, I was making the next album.' 'The next time you're spamming the comments, just know I'm busy in my bikini,' she said. Cyrus walked fans through the concept of Something Beautiful, telling the crowd 'it's about taking these experiences, even when they're painful or we want to throw them away because they're just too much to bear, and wrapping them in beautiful bows and ribbons and appreciating all these gifts and experiences that we can't understand how they're going to serve us later in our life.' While she's days away from the Something Beautiful era even coming into full swing, before she finished up the night with 'End of the World,' Cyrus teased even more music, readying fans to come along for that ride too. 'My next album is about to be extremely experimental, so have fun with that,' she said as her fans cheered her on. 'Something Beautiful is just the appetizer.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Australian Indie-pop band Sheppard CANCEL their US tour for heartbreaking reason - after selling just 59 tickets to show in Poland
Australian indie-pop band Sheppard have made the shock decision to cancel their upcoming American tour for a heartbreaking reason. The band shared a sad statement to social media on Friday confirming the scheduled concerts would not be going ahead, due to the challenging reality of touring. 'To our beautiful fans, I'm afraid we have some rather upsetting news. We've had to make the incredibly difficult decision to cancel our upcoming US tour,' they began. The Geronimo hitmakers had been performing across Europe earlier this year and were set to bring their shows to the States in June. They revealed a combination of the high touring costs and challenging concert logistics meant it was no longer feasible for them to perform in America, and reassured those who had already bought a ticket they would be refunded. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'A combination of sky-high touring costs, ambitious production standards so that we can give you the show you deserve and complex logistics have made this tour impossible,' they wrote. 'We're heartbroken. Being on stage in front of our fans - watching you not just sing but feel every word in our words - is always the greatest experience of our lives. 'Please know this isn't the end. It's just a pause. We're taking time to reset, to rebuild a more sustainable path forward.' Devastated fans took to the comment section to share their sadness over the band's shock decision. 'I was so looking forward to this concert, but it's okay! Next time,' one person wrote. 'Guys, better times will come, you've worked so hard this past year,' a second added. It comes after the band made the shock decision to not cancel their recent concert in Poland, despite selling just 59 tickets to the show. The Brisbane-based band were performing across Europe and had a scheduled performance in Warsaw on April 12 that sold below expectations. However, the band decided the show must go on and played their hearts out to a small yet passionate crowd. They later shared a clip to social media revealing why they made the decision to continue with the performance. '59 people showed up to our show in Poland. We knew we had only sold minimal tickets but also knew the people that would show up would be our biggest fans,' they began. 'We knew that no matter what we had to show up for them. So we got on stage and gave it 100 per cent.' Sheppard formed in 2009 and the current line-up comprises of siblings Amy, Emma and George Sheppard and Jon Butterworth. The band shot to fame in 2014 with the song Geronimo. The track reached number one in Australia and also charted in America and the UK. They have released four studio albums, all of which have made the top ten in Australia. They are still scheduled to perform two shows in Queensland, Australia and will take the stage in Port Douglas on May 24 and Logan Central on May 31.
Washington Post
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
How to watch and vote in the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest
BASEL, Switzerland — Sprinkle on the sequins or settle down on the sofa: It's time to find out who will be crowned champion at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest . Acts from more than two dozen countries will take the stage in Basel, Switzerland on Saturday to vie for glory through a 3-minute pop song. Millions of people across Europe and beyond will be watching and voting for their favorites.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
99% of people can't find the hidden objects in this Eurovision-theme brain teaser in under 20 seconds – can YOU?
THERE are many different types of brain teasers out there, some will change the way you see the world around you and others can but your mind to the test. But this tricky Eurovision-themed puzzle has left people scratching their heads as 99 percent fail to figure it out in time. 2 All you have to do is find the find hidden objects in just 20 seconds - but it's a whole lot harder than you might think. So, if you're patiently waiting for the big Eurovision final tomorrow, this is the perfect way to do so. In the music-themed brain teaser, there's a hidden CD, microphone camera, ticket and music note. The items are hidden amongst a music scene showing band on the stage and concert goers enjoying the music. The clever brain teaser was created by SeatPick, and it's left music fans dstumped. 99 percent of people are not able to find all five concert items, with as many taking up to five minutes before giving up - are you among the 1%? Certain brainteasers and optical illusions, particularly those that involve patterns or sequences, can help strengthen both short-term and long-term memory. By working through puzzles on a regular basis, you will actively engage the brain's memory systems and directly improve your future attempts at visual challenges. Many brain teasers, like this one, require challengers thinking outside the box. This enhances creative problem-solving skills by encouraging the brain to come up with innovative solutions. Everyone can spot the woman & a fan in the sweaty bedroom scene - but can you find 5 hidden changes in under 10 seconds? It also translates to real-life situations where you might need to approach challenges in new and inventive ways. Did you manage to find the bee in the brainteaser? Check the image below to see the answer and put your friends and family to the test to see who is the true champion. How can optical illusions and brainteasers help me? Engaging in activities like solving optical illusions and brainteasers can have many cognitive benefits as it can stimulate various brain regions. Some benefits include: Cognitive stimulation: Engaging in these activities challenges the brain, promoting mental agility and flexibility. Problem-solving skills: Regular practice enhances analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Memory improvement: These challenges often require memory recall and can contribute to better memory function. Creativity: They encourage thinking outside the box, fostering creativity and innovative thought processes. Focus and attention: Working on optical illusions and brainteasers requires concentration, contributing to improved focus. Stress relief: The enjoyable nature of these puzzles can act as a form of relaxation and stress relief. 2
