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RTÉ News
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Big Ticket: Why it costs so much to go to a music festival
The arts and music festivals come thick and fast at this time of year. This weekend we have All Together Now – following on from Longitude just a couple of weeks ago. And they come after the likes of Forbidden Fruit, Beyond the Pale, Kalidescope – with Another Love Story, Body and Soul and Electric Picnic yet to come (not mentioning the countless other music and artists festivals that take place across the country). And they're an expensive to attend. Tickets for the (sold out) All Together Now started at €250, Longitude was €200 – though there's no camping available for that. Electric Picnic tickets were closer to €300. And if you were going as a couple – or even with your entire family – that's going to add up quite quickly. And that's before you factor in the transport costs, and the cost of food and drink for the weekend. You could very quickly find yourself in the 'foreign holiday' realm of spending – and that's assuming you're just going to one festival and not multiple events. It's a far cry from the good old days of Lisdoonvarna and Féile… Yes – from time to time sometimes see ticket stubs and posters for old gigs and festivals doing the rounds online and people always hone in on just how cheap the tickets were back then. At the first Lisdoonvarna in 1978, for example, a weekend ticket was a whopping £5. That would be the equivalent of around €37 today. Although things had picked up a good bit by the first Féile in 1990 – it would have been held this weekend 35 years ago. A three day weekend ticket to that was just under £30 - which is equivalent to €80 in today's money. So even in that decade or so you can see things getting much more expensive, but even that would still be considered startlingly good value for a three day festival nowadays. Bar the fact that everything is more expensive nowadays – why are festival tickets so much dearer? The first thing we need to do here is recognise our own part in the problem. Because the reality is that consumer tastes and expectations have changed dramatically since the late '70s – and even early '90s, when compared with today. The likes of Lisdoonvarna and the Trip to Tipp might be the stuff of legend – but I don't think they'd pass muster with gig-goers nowadays. For a start the line-ups were almost exclusively local acts. Lisdoonvarna was all Irish trad, while the only international act at Féile 1990 was Meatloaf. There's nothing wrong with that – but at the same tie there's definitely an expectation nowadays that a premium music festival has to have at least a few big, internationally-popular acts in the line-up. That doesn't mean they can't be Irish – among All Together Now's headliners are Fontaines DC and CMAT, while Electric Picnic has Hozier. But they sit next to global stars like Chapell Roan and Nelly Furtado; and wherever they're from those big-name acts are going to cost more to secure. Gig-goers today also have a higher expectation around the look and sound of the acts. You'd probably be foolish to go to a festival purely for the sound quality, but you do expect it to sound somewhat decent. And we expect festivals to have multiple stages as well as the likes of comedy tents, chill out zones, wellness areas and even activities for kids. And it's not just the entertainment where our expectations are higher – it's the facilities too. It's fair to say that Lisdoonvarna and even Féile would have been a much more 'informal' affair than what you'd get at a festival nowadays. Of course there would have been toilets and food and drink – and maybe camping – but it would have been fairly minimal stuff. You're talking ham sandwiches and maybe a burger and chips… compared to a wide variety of food and drink options now, catering to all kinds of tastes and diets. And that's not all driven by consumer demand - the legal requirements on festival organisers has also changed a lot, even since the 1990s. It's no longer good enough to pick a large field somewhere, cobble together a stage, and then start selling tickets. Because there are now significant health and safety requirements around holding public events. You need adequate numbers of toilets based on the number of attendees, for example, you need to have proper walkways for people to safely get around, you need good lighting on those walkways – you need to have a traffic and crowd management plan for people coming to and from the event, you must have adequate security. And of course all of these facilities – especially the stages - have to be built to a very high standard to ensure won't collapse or cause injury in some other way. Insurance is often cited as a big factor in the high price of Irish gig tickets, isn't it? This is a common refrain from some promoters defending high ticket prices in Ireland. Back in 2023 Peter Aiken of Aiken Promotions blamed insurance costs in Ireland when he was defending the high price being charged by Bruce Springsteen for his RDS shows that year. As an example, he said Ed Sheeran's 2022 gigs in Cork had cost €65,000 to insure – compared to just €1,500 for his show in Belfast. Similarly he said a Rod Stewart gig in Belfast had cost just over £200 to insure – but his Dublin show cost €10,000. But those in the insurance industry say the cost of cover is not nearly as big of a factor as some would suggest. Generally, they say, you're talking less than a euro per ticket sold – at least for basic public liability insurance. In the context of an organiser probably having to pay out tens of thousands of euro if a festival goer falls and breaks an arm or leg, that's not a lot. And that's clear even if you take Peter Aiken's Rod Stewart example. At €10,000 for a gig in 3Arena, which holds between 9,300 and 13,000 people depending on the configuration, you're still talking about – at most – a cost of €1.07 per ticket sold. And how is the insurance cost calculated for something like a festival? According to Jane Brady of Brady Insurance, which specialises in insuring events from small village fairs to the St Patrick's Day festival, there are two main factors that influence the cost of event insurance. One is, obviously enough, the number of people who will be attending the event; because the rate would be X amount per person. The other factor is the venue. The big variable there is whether it's a permanent venue – like an arena or a concert hall, or whether it's in a temporary, outdoor venue - as most big summer festivals tend to be. And this is where all of those facilities – like walkways, lighting, toilets and so on, come into the mix. Jane said an insurer would want to know that festivals have a thorough event plan in place - and are prepared for as many eventualities as possible – as part of their cover. And she said having a track record helps a lot here – if this is your 10th time organising an event like this, and they've all run smoothly in the past, you've shown that you know what you're doing. Whereas there's obviously a higher risk involved if it's someone who's holding an event like this for the first time ever. And that's all taken into account for public liability insurance. Another optional extra that festival organisers might take out – that would add to the cost – is cancelation cover, which means they can get back most of their costs if they have to cancel due to the likes of bad weather, or if an act pulls out at the last minute. And does the type of acts taking part in the festival have an impact? Yes actually – insurance underwriters would treat certain types of music differently to others, for example. So if you're a festival that specialises in something that's a bit more 'energetic' like metal or EDM – you're probably going to be seen as riskier than the average. On the other hand, if you're looking for insurance for a choral music festival, there's probably not too much concern on the insurer's part that someone is going to get injured in the mosh pit. But the type of act can influence the insurance cost in a different way. For example an act that has a reputation for not turning up to perform would naturally have a higher risk rating when it comes to cancellation cover. But an older act might carry a heavier risk burden too – because there's a greater potential for them to get sick, or injured, or lose their voice. That's especially true if they have a heavy tour schedule, and they're not building in plenty of breaks and days off between shows. This summer we saw one festival – Beyond the Pale – have a bit of a wobble where it looked at the last minute like it might not go ahead. They blamed cashflow issues – and did manage to fix the problem… but would something like that be covered by insurance? No, cancellation cover would protect you against something else that was out of your control. Not having the money to hand to cover costs would be seen as something that the organiser would be across. But that highlights one of the other key issues that can make a festival so expensive – because it's a high risk venture, especially for the newer festivals that aren't guaranteed to sell out immediately in the way that the likes of Electric Picnic does. The planning on a festival starts a year or more before it takes place, and the initial line-up usually gets announced around nine months ahead of time in order to drum up ticket sales. That means those acts have to be secured long before money starts to pour in – while you will also have to start handing over deposits and payments for other things like the venue, the staging and facilities, as well as getting together the crew that can make it all happen. It's kind of a 'build it and hope they'll come' situation. And this is part of the reason why corporate sponsors have become so important to festivals of all sizes – because you can get them on board relatively early, and get some revenue from them to help cover those inital, upfront costs. So while people may dislike how branded and corporate music festivals have become – and they perhaps yearn for more festivals like Glastonbury or the Woodstocks and Lisdoonvarnas of old - the reality is that, without those brands, a lot of these events simply would not happen in the first place.
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Bob Vylan, Fontaines DC, CMAT... 15 highlights of All Together Now this weekend
Best Headliners Fontaines DC Main stage, Friday, 10.30pm Simply put, one of the hottest acts on the planet right now. The Irish rockers released their fourth album Romance last year and, having played to some 45,000 people in London's Finsbury Park at the start of July, they haven't looked back since. A triumphant homecoming is expected. CMAT plays Saturday at All Together Now. (Photo by Xavi Torrent/Redferns) CMAT Main stage, Saturday, 8.30pm With third album Euro-Country arriving at the end of August, it's impossible to resist Dunboyne's finest Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, aka CMAT. From Primavera to Glastonbury's she's played a host of festivals this summer and puts on a joyous, two-stepping set. Bring your cowboy hat. Wet Leg Main stage, Friday, 8.45pm A few years on from their debut single Chaise Longue, the Isle of Wight duo have swelled to a fulsome five-piece and released critically acclaimed second album Moisturizer at the start of July. They had live shows and festival sets in mind when recording it so expect Rhian Teasdale - the formerly unassuming frontwoman who looks every inch a rock star now - and Hester Chambers to pass this weekend's test with flying colours. BEST SINGALONGS Primal Scream Main stage, Sunday, 8.15pm They put out their 12th studio album Come Ahead last November, but the besuited Bobby Gillespie et al will serve up what'll basically amount to a greatest hits set at ATN this weekend. Filling the space left by Michael Kiwanuka, who announced on Monday that he's had to pull a host of upcoming shows due to illness, take your pick of Scream hits: Come Together, Loaded, Country Girl, Movin On Up, and Rocks will all feature. Nelly Furtado Main stage, Sunday, 10.15pm It's 19 years since Nelly Furtado released her bestselling third album Loose (featuring Maneater, Promiscuous, and Do It Right). She played Forbidden Fruit last summer, her show featuring flames and a host of backing dancers. In a hits-laden set, it's likely that I'm Like a Bird will have the whole ATN site singing along. John Grant Something Kind of Wonderful, Saturday, 7pm The verbose American, who gained Icelandic citizenship a couple years ago, released his sixth studio album The Art of The Lie last summer and we expect him to come out on stage with CMAT for their collaboration, Where Are Your Kids Tonight? Just over two years since the death of Sinéad O'Connor - ATN 2023 was like a tribute to the late singer - who loaned backing vocals to Grant's track GMF, that song should inspire a devoted response. 'And don't forget you could be laughing 65% more of the time.' Singalong Social Main stage, Saturday, 4pm The brainchild of Aoife McElwain, Singalong Social has featured at festivals big and small across the country, plus myriad other events from weddings to social functions. Even the most cynical watcher-on (ahem) will be lepping and shouting along with the boiler-suited Craic Mechanics. No guilty pleasures here - just bangers. And fun for the whole family too. Best dance Bicep. Bicep Main stage, Saturday, midnight The Belfast duo present their Chroma AV DJ set on Saturday night - basically expect a feast for the eyes and a blast of the rest of your senses. They mix their own tunes, like the irrepressible Glue, into a stunning DJ set. They've released heavy dance tracks under the Chroma title in the past year. Not for the faint of heart. Collie, Sally C Arcadia, Sunday, 10.30pm Arcadia is one of the standout areas at ATN, centred around 'The Afterburner', an immersive, flame-blasting art piece that's impossible to mix. Tasked with keeping spirits high on Sunday night are two of Ireland's finest DJs Collie and Sally C. Expect the former to bring deep house vibes and the latter to post the heaviest techno of the weekend. Immerse The, er, immersive Immerse stage, like Arcadia, is a feast for the eyes, a 360-degree audio-visual experience. It will feature two-hour sets each evening from acts like Max Cooper, HAAI, Blawan, and the likely coolest person on site this weekend Shanti Celeste - playing until 3.30am Monday morning. Whether it's Donal Dineen's Cumbrian Club or the newly relocated Ping-Pong Disco, ATN's dance offering covers all bases. Best of the Irish Lisa O'Neill. Lisa O'Neill Main stage, Friday, 7pm We've seen the Irish traditional musician in the smallest of spaces over the years, but earlier this year, and backed with a five-piece band, Lisa O'Neill was on support duties for Pulp's show at the 3Arena. Jarvis Cocker is a huge fan and she sounded bigger than ever. The new songs point to a more expansive sound too, but the voice remains the same: Unmatched, exceptional. Sloucho The Circle, Sunday, midnight An Irish hyperpop producer, Sloucho keeps his identity hidden by a mask as he builds full worlds - sometimes literally: Check out the immersive OUCH™ Fragments of Eternity gig in full at Dublin venue The Complex on YouTube. One of the most exciting up-and-coming acts around. Fizzy Orange/Madra Salach Bandstand Arena, Sunday, 6pm/The Last City, Friday, 3pm There are a couple acts pulling double duty over the weekend, but one of the hardest-working bands around right now are indie rockers Fizzy Orange who regularly double up - whether at festivals or at their own headline shows - as traditional music act Madra Salach, who offer versions of songs by the likes of the Pogues. Morgana Lovely Days, Saturday, 3.30pm One half of Saint Sister, who are currently on hiatus, Morgana is prepared to party but ready to cry in her solo guise. Often found in beautiful gowns and a disco-ball helmet, she released debut EP Party Killer at the start of summer. You'll hang on her every word of millennial life travails, while stomping your feet. Darren Kiely Lovely Days, Friday, 8.30pm We saw Kingfishr play to a heaving tent on Friday evening at ATN 2024. Most likely to pull a Kingfishr this time around - they were last seen selling out a couple of dates Live at the Marquee - is Limerick singer-songwriter Darren Kiely. He's amassed millions of listens with tracks such as Sunrise and looks unstoppable. Florence Road Something Kind of Wonderful, Friday, 4.20pm Signed to Warner Records and with a support slot with Olivia Rodrigo already under their belts this summer, Florence Road sold out a headline show at the Academy in Dublin in December in minutes. The four piece from Wicklow are just about out of their teens and have been hailed by the likes of NME as 'distilling the anxieties of young adulthood'. Best Cork Altered Hours Flourish, Saturday, 11.30pm Ahead of the release of their third album Lay There With You at the end of August, Cork five-piece the Altered Hours come out of relative hibernation for their first show in over a year this weekend. Frontwoman Elaine Howley has been busy with her own solo stuff, but together the Altered Hours pack a punch like few others. Cliffords Flourish, Friday, 4.45pm Kicking things off at 4.45pm on Friday, Cliffords, newly relocated to London, have one of the best frontpersons in music in Iona Lynch. They released their latest rollicking EP Salt of the Lee at the end of May and are coming off slots at Glastonbury and Latitude festivals. Biig Piig. Biig Piig Lovely Days, Saturday, 5pm Born in Cork in 1998, Biig Piig aka Jessica Smyth grew up in Marbella. With a dark, pulsating, late-night vibe, she's long been seen as the next big thing. She released debut album 11:11 on Sony in February and is likely to get the crowd jumping on Saturday afternoon. Bob Vylan Bob Vylan (Something Kind of Wonderful, Sunday, 6pm) have been dogged by controversy since their set at Glastonbury, which was broadcast live on BBC. The punk rap duo led the crowd in chants of 'Free, free Palestine' and 'Death, death to the IDF'. Since then they have had festival and Gogol Bordello tour supports pulled. They said they don't want to be the story, and they're unlikely to be the only artists expressing outrage at Israel this weekend. Expect them to get uproarious support on Sunday evening. Talking the talk There's so much we want to pack in this weekend at ATN. As well as the music, there is comedy featuring Tommy Tiernan, Reggie Watts, Peter McGann, and Aoife Dunne, among others. At the Global Solidarity Hub, there is a climate discussion with Sean Ronayne, a storytelling workshop with Seanchoiche, the 'Crappy Music Quiz', and even more comedy with the Wild Geeze. Also keep an eye out for the Great Oven Disco Cantina, which is building a cultural bridge between Palestine and Ireland - artists from each state have been collaborating all year to construct two Great Ovens that were decorated at IMMA and will be unveiled at ATN.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
All Together Now organisers issue ticket warning ahead of festival
Any revellers hoping to snap up some last minute tickets for All Together Now this weekend have been warned to avoid 'unauthorised sellers' as scammers are running rampant. The hugely popular Waterford festival, which is completely sold out, will see Nelly Furtado, Fontaines D.C., CMAT and more taking to the stage over three days in Curraghmore Estate. Music lovers planning on travelling to the estate who didn't manage to snag a pass during the year are now being urged to steer clear of fraudsters taking advantage of the chaos to make a quick buck - as festival organisers reveal that they are inundated with messages about potential punters being scammed. A spokesperson for the festival said: "Festival goers are strongly advised to avoid purchasing tickets or campervan passes from unauthorised sellers. "We have received a significant number of messages from people who have been scammed when trying to buy tickets through unofficial channels, particularly through a Facebook group claiming to resell tickets for our events." Iggy Pop performs at All Together Now Festival 2023 on 6 August, 2023 in County Waterford, Ireland (Image:) Festival bosses say that official tickets will never be resold via social media pages, or in private messages, adding that anyone who buys a ticket from an unverified source is taking a "serious risk". The organisers stressed: "ATN will never sell or resell tickets via Facebook groups, social media pages, or private messages. "These scammers are professional and convincing. If you choose to buy tickets from unverified sources, you are taking a serious risk, and we cannot help recover any lost money or guarantee entry to the event." Biig Piig performs at All Together Now 2023 at Curraghmore Estate, County Waterford (Image: Aron-Cahill) All Together Now organisers have strongly urged festival goers to only buy tickets through official channels listed on its website, avoid social media ticket resales altogether and report any suspicious pages or posts to Facebook. The four-day festival takes place on the August Bank Holiday weekend, from July 31 until August 3, at the Curraghmore Estate in Waterford. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
The Irish Sun
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Urgent warning issued to festival goers heading to All Together Now as ticket information and transport advice revealed
A MAJOR warning has been issued to concert goers attending All Together Now festival this August bank holiday. Crowds in their thousands are expected to descend upon Curraghmore Estate in Co wellness . Advertisement 3 All Together Now Festival takes place from July 31 to August 3 3 Headline acts at this year's festival include Fontaines D.C, Bicep and Nelly Furtado 3 Festival bosses have issued a warning to those attending the event The bumper-packed festival will take place from Thursday, July 31 to Sunday, August 3. A number of exciting Irish and international artists are set to hit the stage at All Together Now , including Noughties icon, Other huge acts include rock band Wet Leg, and iconic rockers Primal Scream, as well as over 50 extra performances across the weekend. Advertisement READ MORE IN MUSIC Ahead of the festival, organisers have issued important information for all ticket holders. Bosses have noted that every weekend pass purchased for All Together Now will now gain early entry on Thursday, July 31 with gates opening at 4pm. There will be no re-entry between the campsite and the car park after 2am each night for wristband holders and last entry is strictly 10pm. All Together Now is also strictly over 21s, however children between the ages of 12 and under can attend free of charge, accompanied by a parent with a family ticket. Advertisement MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN The festival chiefs have also asked those travelling to the event "not to use Google Maps as "it will not get you all the way to the festival site". Instead, punters are asked to follow directions to the festival listed on their Dua Lipa 'splits the G' in popular Dublin pub The Carpark will open at 2pm on Thursday, July 31 and Campsites will open from 4pm, on Thursday, July 31. Travelling by road between 9 am - 1 pm is one of the quietest times to travel to the festival. Advertisement It has been stated that alcohol can be brought onto the site at the time of first entry only. There is no re-entry with alcohol once wristbanded. Each person on a weekend camping ticket is allowed to bring one of either 24 cans or 1 litre of Spirits OR 1.5 litre of Wine for personal consumption subject to initial entry only. STRICT SEARCHES No glass bottles are allowed. Those buying food or drink at the festival must be aware that the festival's bars and traders will be cashless and accept cards and contactless payments only. Advertisement There will be phone charging facilities on site, however festival-goers are advised to ensure their phones are fully charged before going the festival. For the safety and well-being of attendees, stringent searches will be conducted upon entry to the festival. Anyone found carrying illicit items will have them confiscated and may be removed from the festival and passed over to the Garda as a result. Prohibited items include; fireworks , chinese Lanterns, flares and high power torches. Advertisement Illicit drugs , glass bottles and knives or anything considered an offensive weapon is not allowed. Wax candles or any type of candles or incense are also prohibited, as well as BBQs and disposable vapes.
The Herald Scotland
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Aldi to give away free suncream at Boardmasters 2025
The supermarket's initiative is aiming to help people stay protected from the sun during the 2025 festival. For those who want to make the most of this, you can pick up Lacura Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 50/30+ on Wednesday, August 6. This can be done at the Cliff Road Aldi store in Newquay while stocks last. Aldi will be giving away free suncream at the Cliff Road store in Newquay on August 6 (Image: Aldi) Stock is limited to one bottle per customer and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, said: 'Festival season is a highlight of summer – but long days in the sun can catch people out. "We're making it easier for everyone to stay protected while enjoying the music and atmosphere by giving away our award-winning Lacura suncream near some of the UK's most-loved festivals.' When is Boardmasters taking place in 2025? Boardmasters will be taking place from Wednesday, August 6, to Sunday, August 10. Who will be performing at Boardmasters 2025? The main headliners for Boardmasters 2025 will be Raye on Friday, August 8, Central Cee on Saturday, August 9 and The Prodigy on Sunday, August 10. Other major performers include The Wombats, Wet Leg, Nelly Furtado, Maribou State, Sub Focus and London Grammar. Special guests for the afternoons include Kaiser Chiefs, Rizzle Kicks and Natasha Bedingfield. Where is Boardmasters located? Boardmasters is spread out over two locations in Newquay: Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay. Watergate Bay is home to the main arena and campsites, and requires a ticket to enter. Meanwhile, Fistral Beach plays host to surf competitions, along with a beach bar, shopping village and more. Visitors won't need a ticket to enjoy all the activities here. Recommended reading: What to bring to Boardmasters Festival organisers recommend that visitors bring a few specific items to make their time more enjoyable. This includes sensible footwear, such as wellies or a comfy pair of trainers, a reusable water bottle, a mini first aid kit and a change of clothes. Additionally, remember to bring a bank card as Boardmasters is a cashless site.
