Photo: Press
Huge crowds led to health and safety fears and stage closures at The Libertines day at British Summer Time in Hyde Park yesterday (Saturday 5 July, 2014).
We were there, and travelling across the arena was indeed quite difficult with huge surges in the crowd. So much so, that the Barclaycard Theatre stage was closed, before Swim Deep and Graham Coxon were due to play. At one point, we were queuing for a drink and the charge and crush towards the bar was like that at the front of a moshpit - with many queues left unpoliced by security.
Swim Deep took to Twitter to voice their disappointment:
Sorry to everyone who couldn't see us perform at hyde park tonight, they had to close the tent for "health and safety" reasons..
— SWIM DEEP ≈ (@SWIM_DEEP) July 5, 2014
..we played a show next door but couldnt get everyone in because it was so small and the organisers wouldn't let anyone else in :(
— SWIM DEEP ≈ (@SWIM_DEEP) July 5, 2014
BST then took to Twitter to announce:
Due to a venue technical fault at the Barclaycard Theatre, Graham Coxon will not be appearing as scheduled. We apologise to Graham & fans
— BST Hyde Park (@BSTHydePark) July 5, 2014
Festival-goers were also less than pleased:
Sad I didn't get to see Graham Coxon yesterday cause of the stage being closed! piss take
— Owen Hackett (@Owen_Hackett) July 6, 2014
so annoyed/disappointed that swim deep (n graham coxon) got cancelled though )-:<<
— Louise Stansfield (@Luweeees) July 6, 2014
Still angry at the Graham Coxon cxled show. 8hr flt from US, straight to Bst Hyde Park,5hr wait in barclay, wet from beer, bruised by mosh.
— EStyle (@estyle_1000) July 6, 2014
Graham Coxon and Swim Deep got cancelled last night cos the floor broke during reverend and the makers set 😂
— Emma Campbell (@EmmaCampbell96) July 6, 2014
As for the event itself, #BSTHydePark was pretty disastrous. A stage was closed due to a technical fault. Graham Coxon's set was cancelled.
— Luke Edwards (@IAmLukeEdwards) July 5, 2014
Awful toilets, awful bars and now no Graham Coxon. @BSTHydePark showing how not to put on a gig. And I bet we won't get our money back.
— David McGlashan (@DaveMcGlashan) July 5, 2014
It wasn't long into The Libertines' headline show before the band were forced to halt their set, stopping after second song 'Boys In The Band' when Doherty told the crowd "We can't carry on until you calm down a bit". So strong was the crowd crush that a 10 minute wait followed while an injured audience member was lifted out, the crowd stepped back a bit to allow for space, and we all started singing 'Seven Nation Army' by The White Stripes for some reason. The set was again halted later after 'Time For Heroes'.
We also remember Doherty introducing 'Music When The Lights Go Out' by chanting "Albion-ey, Albion-ey, ole, ole, ole" - and things again being paused when one rowdy crowd member climbed up one of the speaker towers, with Barat saying: "If you don’t stop climbing the towers, Pigman [Doherty] can't do his solo."
Haha the libertines were amazing last night, British Summertime Festival just wasn't ready for them! pic.twitter.com/53vZO7PijD #thelibertines
— ✌️ (@martin123_emma) July 6, 2014
Prior to taking to the stage, the band thrilled fans by announcing two huge shows at London's Alexandra Palace on the big screen, taking place on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September . For more information visit Gigwise Tickets.
Below: 15 exclusive photos of The Libertines' reunion gig at Hyde Park
