Latest news with #KevinKennedy
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Coldplay frontman thanks fans for coming to 'weird stadium in the middle of nowhere'
Coldplay kicked off their four-night takeover of Toronto's Rogers Stadium on Monday, and although fans seemed to have a better experience inside the new venue than at last week's inaugural show, a crowd management expert suggests there's still room for improvement. Kevin Kennedy, crowd management expert and the owner of Kennedy Crowd Safety Solutions, said it is normal for a new venue to have a bumpy opening. "This is a new area, new facility, so there's going to be some hiccups at the beginning, but those can be adjusted. I think the comparison between the first event and this event shows a marked difference in approach from Live Nation," he told CBC Radio's Metro Morning on Tuesday. Earlier this month, Live Nation Canada announced it was "making adjusments" to the 50,000-capacity Rogers Stadium following complaints about poor crowd management and long exit times at the venue's first-ever show. Some fans who attended the inaugural concert from K-pop group Stray Kids said it took up to two hours to leave, as the venue and transit services from Downsview Park seemed ill-equipped to handle the throngs of people coming in and out of the show. Fans also complained about the long lines for bathrooms and limited water. Kennedy said all of these issues could have been avoided if the venue had run test events. "We've done test events at some events we've had for new facilities with [a] smaller crowd, just to see how crowd flows arrive, because crowd behavior can be predicted, but it can't be predicted 100 per cent," said Kennedy. "We know that the transit has a certain amount of people that they can transport at any given time, and if demand is going to outweigh that and cause a huge delay, we've got to find another way to supplement that." He said there's still room for improvement, and "a big part of that is the management side of things." "It's an image thing for Live Nation. They don't want to have bad publicity. They want to do everything they can to improve events because they're going to have so many more events in the future at that site," said Kennedy. WATCH | What you need to know about Coldplay's shows at Rogers Stadium: During Monday's show, Coldplay's frontman, Chris Martin, thanked the crowd for going through all "the traffic and the travel and the trains and the waiting" to get to "this weird stadium in the middle of nowhere." Live Nation Canada added more staff inside and outside the venue for Coldplay's show and also implemented clearer signage, extra water stations, and a new plan to funnel crowds toward three nearby subway stops instead of overwhelming the closest station, Downsview Park. Rhys Parker, who attended Monday's concert, said "it wasn't a total train wreck." "It was exactly what I expected for a venue that's built in nine months and has been open for a week," he told Metro Morning on Tuesday. The British rock band will perform three more shows at the venue, taking place between Tuesday and Saturday.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Coldplay frontman thanks fans for coming to 'weird stadium in the middle of nowhere'
Coldplay kicked off their four-night takeover of Toronto's Rogers Stadium on Monday, and although fans seemed to have a better experience inside the new venue than at last week's inaugural show, a crowd management expert suggests there's still room for improvement. Kevin Kennedy, crowd management expert and the owner of Kennedy Crowd Safety Solutions, said it is normal for a new venue to have a bumpy opening. "This is a new area, new facility, so there's going to be some hiccups at the beginning, but those can be adjusted. I think the comparison between the first event and this event shows a marked difference in approach from Live Nation," he told CBC Radio's Metro Morning on Tuesday. Earlier this month, Live Nation Canada announced it was "making adjusments" to the 50,000-capacity Rogers Stadium following complaints about poor crowd management and long exit times at the venue's first-ever show. Some fans who attended the inaugural concert from K-pop group Stray Kids said it took up to two hours to leave, as the venue and transit services from Downsview Park seemed ill-equipped to handle the throngs of people coming in and out of the show. Fans also complained about the long lines for bathrooms and limited water. Kennedy said all of these issues could have been avoided if the venue had run test events. "We've done test events at some events we've had for new facilities with [a] smaller crowd, just to see how crowd flows arrive, because crowd behavior can be predicted, but it can't be predicted 100 per cent," said Kennedy. "We know that the transit has a certain amount of people that they can transport at any given time, and if demand is going to outweigh that and cause a huge delay, we've got to find another way to supplement that." He said there's still room for improvement, and "a big part of that is the management side of things." "It's an image thing for Live Nation. They don't want to have bad publicity. They want to do everything they can to improve events because they're going to have so many more events in the future at that site," said Kennedy. WATCH | What you need to know about Coldplay's shows at Rogers Stadium: During Monday's show, Coldplay's frontman, Chris Martin, thanked the crowd for going through all "the traffic and the travel and the trains and the waiting" to get to "this weird stadium in the middle of nowhere." Live Nation Canada added more staff inside and outside the venue for Coldplay's show and also implemented clearer signage, extra water stations, and a new plan to funnel crowds toward three nearby subway stops instead of overwhelming the closest station, Downsview Park. Rhys Parker, who attended Monday's concert, said "it wasn't a total train wreck." "It was exactly what I expected for a venue that's built in nine months and has been open for a week," he told Metro Morning on Tuesday. The British rock band will perform three more shows at the venue, taking place between Tuesday and Saturday.
CBC
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
'There's still room for improvement': Expert talks about Toronto's new Rogers Stadium
Social Sharing Coldplay kicked off their four-night takeover of Toronto's Rogers Stadium on Monday, and although fans seemed to have a better experience inside the new venue than at last week's inaugural show, a crowd management expert suggests there's still room for improvement. Kevin Kennedy, crowd management expert and the owner of Kennedy Crowd Safety Solutions, said it is normal for a new venue to have a bumpy opening. "This is a new area, new facility, so there's going to be some hiccups at the beginning, but those can be adjusted. I think the comparison between the first event and this event shows a marked difference in approach from Live Nation," he told CBC Radio's Metro Morning on Tuesday. Earlier this month, Live Nation Canada announced it was "making adjusments" to the 50,000-capacity Rogers Stadium following complaints about poor crowd management and long exit times at the venue's first-ever show. Some fans who attended the inaugural concert from K-pop group Stray Kids said it took up to two hours to leave, as the venue and transit services from Downsview Park seemed ill-equipped to handle the throngs of people coming in and out of the show. Fans also complained about the long lines for bathrooms and limited water. Kennedy said all of these issues could have been avoided if the venue had run test events. "We've done test events at some events we've had for new facilities with [a] smaller crowd, just to see how crowd flows arrive, because crowd behavior can be predicted, but it can't be predicted 100 per cent," said Kennedy. "We know that the transit has a certain amount of people that they can transport at any given time, and if demand is going to outweigh that and cause a huge delay, we've got to find another way to supplement that." He said there's still room for improvement, and "a big part of that is the management side of things." "It's an image thing for Live Nation. They don't want to have bad publicity. They want to do everything they can to improve events because they're going to have so many more events in the future at that site," said Kennedy. WATCH | What you need to know about Coldplay's shows at Rogers Stadium: Coldplay in Toronto: What to expect at Rogers Stadium 1 day ago Duration 4:07 During Monday's show, Coldplay's frontman, Chris Martin, thanked the crowd for going through all "the traffic and the travel and the trains and the waiting" to get to "this weird stadium in the middle of nowhere." Live Nation Canada added more staff inside and outside the venue for Coldplay's show and also implemented clearer signage, extra water stations, and a new plan to funnel crowds toward three nearby subway stops instead of overwhelming the closest station, Downsview Park. Rhys Parker, who attended Monday's concert, said "it wasn't a total train wreck." "It was exactly what I expected for a venue that's built in nine months and has been open for a week," he told Metro Morning on Tuesday.
Daily Mail
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Coronation Street legend hasn't aged a day as she poses with former co-star and her actress daughter - 22 years after soap exit
Coronation Street legend Angela Lonsdale looked like she hasn't aged as she posed in a new photo this week with friends. The actress played police woman Emma Watts in the ITV soap between 2000 and 2003 and looked as youthful than ever in the snap 22 years after her exit. In the image which was posted for her fellow Corrie star Sally Dynevor 's birthday, she smiled alongside Sally's daughter Phoebe. Angela wrote in the caption of her post: 'Wishing you The Happiest Birthday my beautiful angel @sallydynevor 'Thank you for being the Best Friend anyone could wish for! Have the most wonderful time with @dynevortim! From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'Love you with all my heart and soul #birthdaylove #bestfriend #happybirthday #wecomeasone.' It comes after back in 2023 Corrie fans were given a blast from the past as an iconic on-screen couple reunited after two decades. Angela and Kevin Kennedy, who portrayed married couple Emma and Curly Watts in the soap, enjoyed a night out together. The acting pair departed the cobbles in 2003 as their married characters took off to begin a new life in Newcastle. And while they don't appear to be returning to the soap anytime soon, a real-life reunion did take place in March 2023 as the pair got together for some drinks in Manchester. Kevin beamed from ear to ear in the snap as he wrapped both arms around Angela, who shared the pic to her Instagram followers. Angela shared the post to wish her long-time pal Kevin good luck ahead of his performance in musical Rock Of Ages, where he portrayed Dennis Dupree. Donning a cable knit vest for the snap, she was all smiles while getting a hug from her former on-screen husband. She penned: 'Reunited with my corrie hubby Break a leg pet ! #corrieclassics #coronationstreet #corriefam #curlyandemmawatts' While the snap sent fans into meltdown, with presenter Jenny Powell even commenting: 'Wow .. that brings back memories ❤️'. 'Bring back Curly and Emma ❤️', wrote one fan in the comment section, as another added: 'Awh wish u come back to corrie'. Another suggested that the pair make an epic return as landlords, writing: 'I think u should both come back to Corrie ….. take over the rovers return….x'. Police sergeant Emma, portrayed by Angela, began on the soap in 2000 and left in 2003 - after the character was offered a promotion in Newcastle. While Kevin was on the cobbles for longer after arriving in 1983, with the pair sharing one child together, Ben. Angela also reunited with Corrie star Jason Done, who came out to support Kevin in the production too. Sharing a selfie with the actor, she wrote: 'Me and blurry @done_jason can't wait to see ya @realkevinkennedy and all the cast @rockofages'. Since departing the soap two decades ago, Kevin has taken to the screen with roles in Holby City and Mrs. Browns Boys, alongside his on-stage endeavours. While Angela appeared in Hollyoaks across four episodes, alongside appearances in soaps such as Holby City.
Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Choral Festival celebrates 40 years of music as Wexford nominees line up for prestigious awards
A standout moment came when local musical society, St Michaels Theatre Musical Society (SMTMS) won their category, earning top honours under the Musical Direction of Kevin Kennedy. Competing against other musical societies and choirs, SMTMS earned top place in Competition F, winning the Maeve Wilson Trophy for the third time since it commenced in 2019. 'I am incredibly proud of our choir. The dedication, energy and commitment of our members really shone through on stage. It's especially wonderful also to win the Maeve Wilson cup. Maeve was so fond of local talent and she would be delighted to see us win this for another year', said Mr Kennedy. Mr Kennedy also paid tribute to Ms Heffernan, describing her as 'not only a valued member of our society, but a valued member of AIMS (Association of Irish Musical Societies), having joined the Choral Festival committee 15 years ago, and taking over as administrator four years ago. The entire weekend is a credit to her leadership and hard work'. The festival opened on Friday, May 16, in which 16 schools participated in the schools' competition, much to delight of the passers by in Brennan's Lane as choirs took advantage of the revamped space to warm up. Several competitions were held over the day, comprising primary school choirs, secondary school choirs, junior musical cameos and soloists to name but a few items. The day was a showcase of the passion and promise of the next generation of musical talent. Hosted by Chris and Roisin Currid, A Night at the Musicals was the spectacular Saturday night event. With the steer of Mr Kennedy, this concert featured an array of talent from 10 musical societies from across the AIMS South East Region; some performing highlights from their recent productions and some performing brand new arrangements. It was an evening filled with excellent music, standout performances, joyful energy, good humour and charm, making it a thoroughly entertaining experience for the sold-out event. Competitions continued on Sunday at St. Michael's Theatre and The Parish Church, with an impressive 38 choirs comprising approximately 1,100 singers performing throughout the day. Both venues, praised widely for their acoustics and welcoming atmosphere, proved to be the perfect settings for events. Reflecting on the occasion, Festival Director Lizzy Heffernan said: 'This weekend was really special. Celebrating 40 years of the AIMS Choral Festival here in our town and seeing so many groups, both young and old, come together in song was just brilliant. New Ross was alive with music, and the atmosphere was electric.' Beyond the music, the festival brought a welcome social and economic boost to the town. The shops and pubs benefitted greatly from the impressive turnout. The recently opened Brennan's Lane added to the vibrant atmosphere, where the weekend was rounded off with a lively open-air performance by local group, The Nomads. South Street was buzzing as choirs and spectators came together in joyful song, while gathering together along the street. There was also great excitement for many in attendance as AIMS announced their nominees for the 2025 awards, which will see 11 Wexford nominees who have been shortlisted from various groups across the county up against drama groups across the country for the top spots. The nominees include: Jacinta Kavanagh, Nominated by Carnew Musical Society; Best Visual - Sullivan: Enniscorthy Musical Society - Joseph & His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Best Technical – Gilbert: Wexford Light Opera Society - Young Frankenstein; Best Stage Management – Gilbert: Oyster Lane Theatre Group - A Christmas Carol; Stage Manager: Colin Murphy; Best Comedienne: Antonia Close as Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein - Wexford Light Opera Society; Best Actor: Kevin Reade as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol - Oyster Lane Theatre Group; Best Male Singer - Richard O'Toole as Joseph in Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - Enniscorthy Musical Society; Best Overall Show – Gilbert: Oyster Lane Theatre Group - A Christmas Carol. Meanwhile, two top Wexford musical directors are in contention for the spot as Best Musical Director – Gilbert, as Patrick Clancy and David Hayes have been shortlisted for their work with Oyster Lane Theatre Group's adaptation of A Christmas Carol and Wexford Light Opera Society's Young Frankenstein, respectively. The Enniscorthy Musical Society has also been nominated for the prestigious Adjudicator's Special Award - Moment of Theatre for the camaraderie, energy and full commitment of 11 brothers' hatred of Joseph in Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. The awards, which will be held in Killarney, Co. Kerry, will take place on Saturday, June 14.
