Hi Shaun....So, just to kick us off can you tell us about the audience Swedish House Mafia attract ?
Well I have to saw it was a last minute decision to go as a mate of mine was going on his own so I said I’d join him with my birthday being last Monday I said it would be a good way to celebrate it. I wouldn’t claim to be the biggest fan of Swedish House Mafia in the world but I like a few of their song like ‘Greyhound’ was
more there for Calvin Harris and Snoop Dogg to be honest.
On the crowd I actually couldn’t believe the level of drunkness even at 3.30 in the day as we made our way up the long walk to the Phoenix Park.
What about the crowd on Saturday night - was it a mix of everyone? There's been some commentary along the lines of 'young ones go mad'. What age group do you think the audience was mostly made up of?
There was a good mix mostly young but I would go against the claim of ‘young ones can mad’ the majority were genuine music fans I have to say.
Hi - I was there both days last weekend and as Shaun mentioned- the level of drunkiness at 3pm last Saturday was shocking. Girls in their early 20's necking vodka on the luas.
Tell us about going into the gig. Were there security precautions at that stage? Did they check for IDs and alcohol for eg...
I was patted down and searched on the way in and my handbag was searched..We had a 16 year old girl with us and both myself and her were asked for ID
@Ger Very poor Ger from my point of it was a quick pat and in. Also while waiting in the cue two people fell over drunk and knock all the barriers only to be picked up by stewards and sent in.
I was never asked for ID at any stage nor was any of the people I was with.
Shaun's fellow-concert-goer Orlaith Carey has joined us to add her experiences of the gig. Welcome Orlaith.
So, Orlaith and Shaun, after walking into the gig, whereabouts did you position yourselves?
For most of the gig I decided to stay back as there was a number of people falling over at that stage and I wanted to enjoy a pint without getting walked into so I stood about 400 yards back from the main stage by the food stands.
When we arrived we went to the barrier just before the Pit but after about 20 mins in to the opening act we left and moved further back as it was quite uncomfortable, people drunkenly falling over the place, spilling drinks...my friend was even asked to "hold-up" some guys girlfriend who couldnt stand on her own whilst he took his tshirt off
So guys, we get the picture of a level of drunkeness at the gig. Was it worse than what either of you would have seen at other gigs?
For the remainder of the gig we remainder in front of the wheelchair section
I only went into the main crowd when Swedish House Mafia come on around 9.
Oh very different, have never seen anything like it before and I regularly go to concerts, albeit I've never been to Oxegen but I have been to Slane etc...I was there on Sunday for Snow Patrol and it was so different to Saturday
@Orlaith Carey Different how? Describe for us what you saw.
How about you Shaun - was the Swedish House Mafia gig on a different level in terms of the drink being taken?
Firstly the luas journey, got Luas at the same time both days, approx 3pm, so many drunk and roudy people on Saturday...at the concert on Saturday the amount of people smoking, smoking joints etc, we saw one person snorting cocaine, people falling over drunk, guys with their pants around their ankles, fighting, etc...to be honest I think the heat on Saturday also played a part...on Sunday we saw none of that..people drinking but in moderation, very few people smoking etc..we stood in same spot on Sunday so there was real noticable differences..much older crowd on Sunday too.
In terms of drunkness yes it was, I was at the Red Hot Chili Peppers in Croke Park a week previous and while there were problems at that gig too, it was no where as rough as this.
Thanks to our readers for your comments. We are queueing these for a sort time, and will add them into the blog when the issues you raise are being discussed, or at the end of the blog if your comments are more general.
Please bear with us while we work through what Shaun and Orlaith saw.
I agree with Orlaith as well, the level of open drug use was frankly astonishing.
What about the overall atmosphere at the gig? Was it in the main good-humoured, or otherwise? Did you get the impression some people were there looking for trouble?
There was obviously alot of people there who went for the music..I didnt drink on Saturday because I was so turned off it by watching people around me..I cant fault the music though, S.H.M and all the other acts were brilliant..some people were just looking for a fight, we were challenged for a fight at one stage, which was laughable to be honest but you just have to ignore them
Ya to be honest once you got over the idiots and bad organisation the gig was excellent I would have no complaints with the atmosphere or the artists themselves. In those terms it was a good gig.
Thanks Orlaith. Regarding the reports of violent incidents at the concert, did wither of you witness violent behaviour?
I will say there was also a lot of underage drinking going on also.
We saw one of the stabbings, a massive fight broke out during S.H.M...we were pushed against the barriers in front of wheelchair section, couldnt see the people fighting but roughly 2 mins later the guy that was stabbed was rushed into the wheelchair section and had to be attended to by medics...he had been stabbed in the side
I will say as well I was asked for and offered a number of Class A drugs.
@Orlaith Carey Must have been upsetting Orlaith. Was that the full extent of the violence you saw? Shaun, how about you - did you see any violent incidents?
A guy came up to my group asking for cocaine to which my friend laughed and replied I had a can of coke earlier.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Well I have to saw it was a last minute decision to go as a mate of mine was going on his own so I said I’d join him with my birthday being last Monday I said it would be a good way to celebrate it. I wouldn’t claim to be the biggest fan of Swedish House Mafia in the world but I like a few of their song like ‘Greyhound’ was
