Latest news with #concertdelays
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Essence Fest Owns Up to Delays After Lauryn Hill Played to a Nearly Empty Arena at 2:30 A.M.
Essence Festival organizers have taken responsibility for a concert that ran so far behind schedule that Lauryn Hill wound up taking the stage at around 2:30 in the morning. Delays completely derailed the opening day of the 31st annual event, which returned to the Superdome in New Orleans this past weekend. According to opening night Friday, July 4, featured a whopping eight acts, with Hill joining the lineup just two days before the concert. As the show got underway, it was quickly beset by scheduling issues that only got worse as the night wore on. More from Rolling Stone J-Hope and GloRilla Flee the Scene on New Song 'Killin' It Girl' Hometown Heroes and Cross-Genre Icons: Seven Takeaways from Roots Picnic 2025 Lil Wayne, Playboi Carti, Teyana Taylor Among Performers at 2025 BET Awards GloRilla, the fourth act to play, finished her set 45 minutes after the Isley Brothers were originally set to take the stage. Maxwell, who was supposed to start his performance at 11:15 p.m., took the stage at 12:55 a.m. When Hill arrived on stage at 2:31 a.m., most of the Superdome was empty. Still, the Fugees legend found ways to make the most of a strange situation, chatting with the fans who stuck around and even taking some left-field requests, like 'I Gotta Find Peace of Mind' and 'Tell Him.' Her set finished, officially, at 3:37 a.m. While Hill has a history of showing up late to concerts, Essence Fest organizers insisted the Friday night/Saturday morning debacle was in no way her fault. 'She arrived on schedule, stepped on that stage, and delivered the kind of performance only a legend can,' the festival wrote on Instagram. Organizers continued: 'The delay? Not hers. We will take that. The moment? One for the books. The legacy? Still unmatched. Put some respect on her name. Keep the takes, but keep her out of them. All love and deep profound admiration for Ms. Lauryn Hill.' By all accounts, nights two and three of Essence Fest ran a bit more smoothly. Saturday's show, for instance, saw performances from Davido, Buju Banton, Erykah Badu, and Jill Scott, with the latter closing out the night at the slightly more reasonable hour of 1:30 a.m. Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chaos at Essex Duran Duran concert as ticket holders stuck in queues
THOUSANDS of music fans faced chaotic scenes at Chelmsford City Racecourse today as admission delays hit the Chelmsford City Live event featuring headliners Duran Duran. VIP ticket holders, who paid hundreds of pounds for premium access, were still queuing to enter the venue at 2.30pm despite gates being scheduled to open at 2pm. The delays created significant bottlenecks at security checkpoints and ticket verification points, causing knock-on effects for general admission ticket holders due to enter at 3pm. One frustrated VIP ticket holder described the situation as "an utter shambles," telling reporters: "We bought these tickets to beat the chaos and now we're in the middle of this." The entry problems come just 24 hours after traffic gridlock around the racecourse left some Justin Timberlake fans missing the start of Friday night's concert. The traffic chaos prompted Essex Police to implement emergency measures including rolling roadblocks on the A131. The admission delays highlight ongoing logistical challenges at the venue, which is hosting back-to-back major concerts as part of the Chelmsford City Live series. Tonight's event features support from Nile Rodgers and Chic alongside headliners Duran Duran. Long queues of ticket holders were seen snaking around the racecourse perimeter as security staff struggled to process the volume of people arriving for the popular 1980s band's performance. The delays particularly affected those who had paid premium prices for VIP packages, which typically promise expedited entry and exclusive facilities. Many expressed frustration at being caught up in the same queues as general admission ticket holders. Event organisers have not yet responded to requests for comment about the admission problems or what measures are being taken to prevent similar issues at future events. The problems cap a difficult weekend for the venue, which has faced criticism over its handling of large-scale events. Friday's Justin Timberlake concert saw some fans reporting waits of several hours to exit the car parks, with police forced to intervene to manage traffic flow. Essex Police confirmed they will continue to maintain their presence around the racecourse this weekend to support traffic management and public safety operations. The venue regularly hosts major music events as part of its summer concert series, attracting thousands of visitors to the Essex location.
