Belfast concert 'Foo loud' for some

Published Wednesday, 22 August 2012
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Belfast City Council has received 120 calls - half of them formal complaints - about noise levels at the Foo Fighters concert on Tuesday night.

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The American rockers were the headline act on the opening night of T Vital at the Boucher Road playing fields.

But it wasn't just the 30,000 festival goers who heard them, with users of the social website Twitter reporting that the concert was audible right across the greater Belfast area.

Some even said they heard the Foo Fighters as far away as parts of Comber, Ballynahinch and Carryduff - even with their windows shut.

The PSNI also took around 20 complaint calls.

"Oh, the noise was absolutely deafening - it just came through the whole house, it was horrendous," one woman told UTV.

"It was very annoying, I couldn't sleep. This morning I was really tired and cross."

Another person said: "I live in Cranmore and you could hear it, as if you were at the concert."

And another added: "I was whinging and it made me feel like an old woman - there was a time when I would have enjoyed going down to the concert myself and then just listening, I was thinking please shut up!"

While many complained about the noise levels, others took the chance to listen to the concert for free from the comfort of their own back gardens.

They said they could make out the songs and even hear frontman Dave Grohl talking to the crowd during the three-hour set, which was the band's first Northern Ireland gig.

Others still heard the music but were not annoyed.

Yes, it was very loud - but the other thing I observed was that the Lisburn Road was buzzing.

Claire Hanna, SDLP

"I heard it but it never affected me in the slightest," a man told UTV.

A woman said: "We opened the windows at a point and yeah, you could hear it if you opened the windows - we have two small children and we wondered how they were going to sleep, but there were no problems."

Another said: "I didn't mind it at all - I don't like that kind of music, but it didn't bother me."

Concert promoter MCD said it worked with Belfast City Council and the PSNI in an effort to limit any disruption to local people.

Justin Green from the company said: "In bringing such a popular attraction to the city, there will always be some level of disruption - but, all in all, it was a fantastic night.

"We have worked closely with both Belfast City Council and PSNI to ensure that Tennent's Vital causes limited disruption to local residents, who we have also liaised closely with in the run-up to the event."

A Belfast City Council spokesperson said that there is no legislation around music levels at concerts, so agreements between them and the promoters are for guidance only.

"Upper and lower guidance music levels for the Tennent's Vital Concert were agreed with the aim of striking a balance between the success of the event and minimising significant disturbance from it."

Climate, topography and the nature of the music are likely to have contributed to the sound from the event being heard at locations situated a considerable distance from it, the council spokesperson explained.

"Upon receiving complaints, we noted that the upper limit had been exceeded and, at the request of council officers, this was reduced by event organisers to within agreed limits. There is nothing unusual in this - a breach of guideline levels often happens at such events and are dealt with in the same manner.

"In light of the complaints, we are working with event organise to establish guideline levels for tonight's event."

SDLP councillor Claire Hanna said: "It sounds like it worked as a huge amphitheatre and part of that was due to it being a really still, quiet night and the noise was definitely travelling far further than you'd expect.

"Gone are the days when you have to travel to London or Dublin to see a world-class band and I think that is to be welcomed.

"But we have to find a way to balance that with the rights of residents to enjoy a peaceful night at home and it was very, very loud - but I do think there has to be a middle ground."

The Tennent's Vital concert continues on Wednesday evening with bands including the Stone Roses and Florence and the Machine.

© UTV News
Comments Comments
71 Comments
JOHN O'CONNOR in Leicester wrote (267 days ago):
I totally agree with this senseless noise. Furthermore, I would like to complain about my local healthclub's water which (coincidentally on the same evening) was far too wet.
RJ in Kilrea wrote (268 days ago):
hope all the people who attended enjoyed it, rock is not my sort of music but as long as people enjoyed it anyway.
carnmoney in guess where!! wrote (268 days ago):
It beats hearing choppers overhead in Carnmoney…. spotlights on….on Tuesday morning at 1.15a.m.!!!! still waiting to hear what it was about…………..this concert is once a year so GET a life and enjoy if it was up to a few people over here “there would be NOTHING left to do” but sit at home & watch the sad soaps……………………………….roll on next year LOUDER AND BETTER
JD in Belfast wrote (268 days ago):
I think for once there are more non-moaners than moaners! Hooray! Bring on the music, good times and positive attitude that we so desperately need in this country. Moaners - focus your anger on the real issues (healthcare, education, economy)
petra in belfast wrote (268 days ago):
@BILLY in belfast think you'll find thats 1.5mil a lot of money,agree with your comment it can only be good for n.ireland
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