Sonisphere festival cancelled!

facepollution

Olivavu wrote:

What do you think the overall experience of a show comprises of?

Depends on the type of show. I saw Pearl Jam at the Astoria then later in the year at Reading, two completely different shows but I enjoyed them both equally. I think bigger shows offer a real sense of occasion - there's nothing quite like standing in the middle of 60,000 people all singing their lungs out. Of course the trade off might be that the sound isn't so good. Sometimes that's just how it is, it certainly wouldn't stop me going to a show - particularly if the band in question happens to be one of my favourites ever, and I've not seen them play in nearly 17 years! The smaller indoor shows will come, I've no doubt, so until then I would rather see them not see them.

veddertown

Olivavu wrote:

99% of music venues have overpriced crap beer.

Brixton Academy's sound is far better than Hyde Park.

Every other festival I have ever been to has far better sound than Hyde Park.

I don't know how you expect a good sound at a venue like Hyde? It's not an ideal venue and all you seem to be worrying about is that they turn it up loud enough to drown out people talking. That doesn't equal quality and conditions for any outdoor gigs are different each time thus making it a harder task to fine tune for the festival audiophiles of this world. Almost everyone I know who went in 09 & 10 thought the festival was a good experience and had a great time because they went there with the intention of enjoying themselves. It you create possible faults then go looking for them you're not enjoying yourself so the answer is plain and simple.

Olivavu

I always go to PJ shows hoping and expecting to have a great time.

The band were not at fault at all at Hard Rock Calling in 2010, they played as well as ever.

The sound just isn't loud enough there and it spoilt it for me, my wife and our friends. Everyone regrouped outside after and said the same thing - too quiet.

Reading Festival in 2006 was the best outdoors PJ show I've seen because it had the atmosphere and the sound. HRC in 2010 didn't have as good a crowd as any other PJ show I've been to and it suffered for it.

Arras in 2010 was far better, despite being a shorter set. The setting was excellent, the crowd were better and the sound too was better.

Good sound isn't just about volume, I agree, but it's too quiet and it swirls around in the wind there too.

veddertown

I certainly think volume is a big problem at Hyde with legal restrictions of course. Shame they can't agree to have some kind of concession on the issue with the local council as it is only one weekend. Maybe getting the headline act on a little earlier would be a solution? I certainly liked the venue despite how flat it is but if I was further back behind the first screen I wouldn't have enjoyed myself nearly as much. I'm not sure if I'll make Soundgarden since I'll be getting married in Dublin two days before but seeing as how the bride to be is a huge Springsteen fan I could maybe strike some kind of "deal"....

Brisk.

Olivavu wrote:

Brisk. wrote:

veddertown wrote:

It's not that surprising really. The UK is saturated with over-priced festivals now. It would be one thing if they all had great line-ups but they get weaker or more repetetive every year. Kiss would maybe attract an audience at the High Voltage festival but they've become pretty low profile in the UK for Knebworth sized venues. Faith No More should just do a proper tour in the UK and as for Queen? That horse has been flogged to death yet still Bryan May and Roger Taylor persevere with cheapening the name. It's almost as embarrasing as the current Axl Rose and friends guising as G N' R... :roll:

Ya FNM club shows, they aren't big enough to headline their own.

They were big enough to headline Download in 2009 and were good doing it.

Ya I know, it was my first time seeing them and it was fucking awesome but now I think the hype is over they are back so just keep playing places like Brixton!

veddertown

I know there have been some good individual performances at Knebworth but I hope this will spell the end of Sonisphere in the UK. Knebworth is a great festival site with a great history and it could be put to better use than just another rock/metal festival. You could have something different every year to keep the outdoor gig scene fresh. As Olivavu pointed out, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Mudhoney, etc could form a very decent bill with a few more names added for a line-up more aimed at one type of music. Next year you could have Raconteurs, The Black Keys, Bright Eyes, Ben Harper, JJ Grey & Mofro, Avett Bros. Heartless Bastards etc. Maybe bands could be invited to curate their own festival on the site? It would be a shame to lose the continued history of the venue but Sonisphere is just another non-essential event where something much more unique or interesting could be happening in it's place. Maybe we could see PJ25 in the UK!!

Olivavu

PJ25 sounds like a great idea!