| People who like their live music 20:53 - Jul 10 with 3685 views | gtsb1966 |
I usually attend 3 or 4 gigs a year but this year I've only done one. Has anyone else noticed the prices are so high now. Was looking at Muse tickets in London. The cheapest are £86. I saw them just before covid and paid £45 at the same venue. I'm just using them as an example as even the smaller venues which I prefer like Shepherds Bush empire and Hammersmith are charging silly prices. Any regular music goer feel the same. |  | | |  |
| People who like their live music on 21:37 - Jul 10 with 2649 views | WeWereZombies |
I can't remember who posted it on the forum many years ago but the phrase 'small venues rock, big venues suck' struck a chord with me after seeing a couple of bands at Wembley Arena. There has been a hike in prices though, went to a village hall gig on Saturday that last year would have been fifteen quid but this year it's eighteen, a great night and three World class Scots traditional musicians (one of whom I have seen at the Royal Albert Hall) but when you add in the cost of a seventy seven mile round trip and a meal out makes for an expensive Saturday night.
One solution is to catch the bands you really want to see at a festival and get more value for money (so long as you can find a festival with five or six bands on your must see list) even though these are getting pricier each year. The upside is that it seems these days a festival appearance is taken seriously by all performers and I think they put in as much, if not more, effort as they do when playing a night when it is just them and a support act. |  |
| |
| People who like their live music on 22:27 - Jul 10 with 2571 views | DinDjarin |
| People who like their live music on 21:37 - Jul 10 by WeWereZombies |
I can't remember who posted it on the forum many years ago but the phrase 'small venues rock, big venues suck' struck a chord with me after seeing a couple of bands at Wembley Arena. There has been a hike in prices though, went to a village hall gig on Saturday that last year would have been fifteen quid but this year it's eighteen, a great night and three World class Scots traditional musicians (one of whom I have seen at the Royal Albert Hall) but when you add in the cost of a seventy seven mile round trip and a meal out makes for an expensive Saturday night.
One solution is to catch the bands you really want to see at a festival and get more value for money (so long as you can find a festival with five or six bands on your must see list) even though these are getting pricier each year. The upside is that it seems these days a festival appearance is taken seriously by all performers and I think they put in as much, if not more, effort as they do when playing a night when it is just them and a support act. |
Totally agree with this, give me a small venue over a stadium any day of the week.
Watched Orbital at Cambridge Corn Exchange and Leftfield at Norwich UEA in last few months and both blinding nights. Prodigy at Brixton Academy last yr was off the scale.
Off to see 808 State @ Dingwalls, Camden later this yr, gonna be messy.
You just get the more personal touch at smaller venues. |  | | |
| People who like their live music on 22:36 - Jul 10 with 2553 views | Basuco |
| People who like their live music on 22:27 - Jul 10 by DinDjarin |
Totally agree with this, give me a small venue over a stadium any day of the week.
Watched Orbital at Cambridge Corn Exchange and Leftfield at Norwich UEA in last few months and both blinding nights. Prodigy at Brixton Academy last yr was off the scale.
Off to see 808 State @ Dingwalls, Camden later this yr, gonna be messy.
You just get the more personal touch at smaller venues. |
Agree, I love small venues, saw The Big Moon at Camden Roundhouse recently and Blossoms at Kentish Town both brilliant gigs. I did not like Alexandra Palace at all. I loved Brixton Academy and hope it opens again soon. |  | | |
| People who like their live music on 22:55 - Jul 10 with 2484 views | Freddies_Ears |
I am really glad that my music preferences are niche!
My classical /orchestral buzz comes from a dozen or so Proms at the RAH. My folk music itch is scratched at Folk East (and other smaller gigs). My prog rock love is kept going by old bands who are still playing, plus a few bands that no-one cares about, even though they should. Big Big Train, for example.
So, I happily avoid the big events... |  | | |
| People who like their live music on 22:56 - Jul 10 with 2484 views | BlueNomad |
I agree with all the above.
Enormous domes and stadiums aren’t really built for music, the acoustics are often awful. Strangely, outdoor events at places like Hyde Park are often better.
Best of all are small venues, better acoustics, more intimate interaction with the band and, because the bands aren’t major league, tickets are cheaper.
Back in the 70’s a tour by the biggest bands would be in nothing bigger than Hammersmith (Odeon). Not expensive, even by the standards of the day, and great gigs where you didn’t need to watch a screen. [Post edited 11 Jul 2023 7:20]
|  | | |
| People who like their live music on 23:11 - Jul 10 with 2466 views | WeWereZombies |
| People who like their live music on 22:55 - Jul 10 by Freddies_Ears |
I am really glad that my music preferences are niche!
My classical /orchestral buzz comes from a dozen or so Proms at the RAH. My folk music itch is scratched at Folk East (and other smaller gigs). My prog rock love is kept going by old bands who are still playing, plus a few bands that no-one cares about, even though they should. Big Big Train, for example.
So, I happily avoid the big events... |
The musician who I have seen at the Royal Albert Hall and in a village hall last Saturday is Michael McGoldrick and I am hoping he will be with Capercaille when they headline FolkEast this year. Kathryn Tickell is not to be missed either. | |
| |
| People who like their live music on 06:35 - Jul 11 with 2323 views | RIPbobby |
It is the only way artists make money now as nobody buys records.
In the 90s I loved a good concert. But not anymore. All concert goers want to do is sing along to the songs so it is not worth going as you don't hear the artists.
The sensible way forward is for fans of certain bands to hire a hall for dirt cheap prices and get someone to play the record and all just sing along. Sad but true I feel |  | | |
| People who like their live music on 07:20 - Jul 11 with 2275 views | WeWereZombies |
| People who like their live music on 06:35 - Jul 11 by RIPbobby |
It is the only way artists make money now as nobody buys records.
In the 90s I loved a good concert. But not anymore. All concert goers want to do is sing along to the songs so it is not worth going as you don't hear the artists.
The sensible way forward is for fans of certain bands to hire a hall for dirt cheap prices and get someone to play the record and all just sing along. Sad but true I feel |
That's far from true of every gig. If you go and see a band that have only been around a few years then there are not many who know the words to the songs so no one sings along. I have to admit to singing along to 'Cars' and 'Are Friends Electric' (as well as joining in all the daft arm movements too) when I saw Gary Numan but he plays his show for effect to a large extent and you should expect it and join in. And the most beautiful thing I have seen in the last couple of months was looking to my left during Echo and the Bunnymen's set and seeing everyone just soundlessly singing along...and realising that was what I was doing too. We all knew all the words to 'Ocean Rain' but were not going to try and compete with Ian McCullough. | |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| People who like their live music on 07:30 - Jul 11 with 2253 views | andytown |
Would love to see Depeche Mode again, but their only uk ‘gig’ in the current tour was at Twickenham a few weeks back. Cheapest seat £120 ish. Miles from the stage and you can’t see anything. I don’t understand how they sell out at these prices. | | | |
| People who like their live music on 07:37 - Jul 11 with 2241 views | WeWereZombies |
| People who like their live music on 07:30 - Jul 11 by andytown |
Would love to see Depeche Mode again, but their only uk ‘gig’ in the current tour was at Twickenham a few weeks back. Cheapest seat £120 ish. Miles from the stage and you can’t see anything. I don’t understand how they sell out at these prices. |
I'm surprised you could only find a ticket for £120 as I looked at prices that weekend when another poster complained about the cost of going to the gridiron that was on in London and I had a quick Google to find something cheaper and, in my opinion, better so suggested Depeche Mode at Twickenham and I think around fifty quid. Wherever possible I avoid ticketing agencies because they do like to play games with us. | |
| |
| People who like their live music on 07:40 - Jul 11 with 2236 views | Dubtractor |
I go to about 2 gigs a month on average, but most of my gigs tend to be in the £10 to £30 a ticket range in venues of about 200 to 500 people, and ticket prices haven't really been hiked much.
What has gone up in price, a lot, is the merchandise. Not unusual to see t shirts for £30 now. I guess it's understandable though, as bands have to cover their costs somehow.
If you like live music, and want to spend less, check out what Brighten the Corners are putting on in Ipswich. Ipswich is finally getting the live music scene it has been missing for years.
https://www.brightenthecorners.co.uk/whats-on |  |
| |
| People who like their live music on 08:07 - Jul 11 with 2207 views | Meadowlark |
Interesting use of the word "their" there.
Why not just. "People who like live music?"
Not a criticism, just curious.
It's like "Oh little Johnny loves his football," rather than "Oh little Johnny loves football."
They both mean the same thing I guess, but the possessive adjective makes it more personal.
(Don't mind me, I know such comments are of little interest...) |  | | |
| People who like their live music on 08:11 - Jul 11 with 2204 views | Steve_M |
It depends on the venue and the band I think, I saw Interpol last night at Somerset House which was really good but about £42 including fees which I think is reasonable.
I don't mind paying more for the right band, Pulp (plus Wet Leg and Baxter Dury) at Finsbury Park last weekend was definitely worth it , The Who for £100 at the O2 tomorrow is definitely too much.
There's still some much cheaper tickets for artists on the way up, Dry Cleaning and Billy No Mates were both around £25 earlier this year.
So, to your original point, prices are definitely creeping up but not completely across the board so maybe it's just some bands and venues pushing it because they can do. |  |
| |
| People who like their live music on 08:19 - Jul 11 with 2188 views | GlasgowBlue |
Ticketmaster have introduced a Dynamic Pricing system. Basically, the more demand there is for a concert, Ticketmaster increase the price. So there isn’t always a set price. The more people want a ticket, the higher that ticket price will go. |  |
| |
| People who like their live music on 08:22 - Jul 11 with 2184 views | Dubtractor |
| People who like their live music on 08:19 - Jul 11 by GlasgowBlue |
Ticketmaster have introduced a Dynamic Pricing system. Basically, the more demand there is for a concert, Ticketmaster increase the price. So there isn’t always a set price. The more people want a ticket, the higher that ticket price will go. |
That sounds like a horrible idea.
Poor and like popular music? Tough sh1t. | |
| |
| People who like their live music on 08:28 - Jul 11 with 2170 views | GlasgowBlue |
| People who like their live music on 08:22 - Jul 11 by Dubtractor |
That sounds like a horrible idea.
Poor and like popular music? Tough sh1t. |
Ticketmaster said that it is being used in order to try to stop touts, and to give more money back to artists. Their logic being that an artist only gets a percentage of a £60 ticket even if it then goes on viagogo or suchlike for £150. I’m not convinced. | |
| |
| People who like their live music on 08:38 - Jul 11 with 2148 views | andytown |
| People who like their live music on 07:37 - Jul 11 by WeWereZombies |
I'm surprised you could only find a ticket for £120 as I looked at prices that weekend when another poster complained about the cost of going to the gridiron that was on in London and I had a quick Google to find something cheaper and, in my opinion, better so suggested Depeche Mode at Twickenham and I think around fifty quid. Wherever possible I avoid ticketing agencies because they do like to play games with us. |
The £120 was on Ticketmaster, who were the official sellers of the tickets I think. If I’d seen one for £50 I would’ve snapped it up! | | | |
| People who like their live music on 08:45 - Jul 11 with 2122 views | Bluefields |
Paid £100 to see Blur Saturday night which was just was worth it on the night as they were so so good. Sam Fender £50 a few weeks, also an excellent night. | | | |
| People who like their live music on 08:56 - Jul 11 with 2082 views | WeWereZombies |
| People who like their live music on 08:11 - Jul 11 by Steve_M |
It depends on the venue and the band I think, I saw Interpol last night at Somerset House which was really good but about £42 including fees which I think is reasonable.
I don't mind paying more for the right band, Pulp (plus Wet Leg and Baxter Dury) at Finsbury Park last weekend was definitely worth it , The Who for £100 at the O2 tomorrow is definitely too much.
There's still some much cheaper tickets for artists on the way up, Dry Cleaning and Billy No Mates were both around £25 earlier this year.
So, to your original point, prices are definitely creeping up but not completely across the board so maybe it's just some bands and venues pushing it because they can do. |
Interesting that you don't mind paying forty quid to see Interpol, they were the band I walked away from on the main stage after a couple of numbers so that I could catch all of Echo and the Bunnymen in a tent. I am glad I did but I was getting sucked into Interpol despite not finding anything unique about them from watching a few YouTube videos. Bit intense live, aren't they ?
Trying to figure out what you are paying to see a band at a festival is something of an artform, what with the cost of camping and showers usually thrown in to the basic price. Parking often extra, a Thursday night having much less on than the rest of the weekend. But my back of an envelope calculation reckons that a headline act i.e. Interpol, Gogol Bordello and Primal Scream were there for me at twenty quid each but in the case of the first two I chose to spend my twenty notes on Viagra Boys as well as Echo and the Bunnymen (and slightly regretted not breaking away from Primal Scream mid-set when I could have gotten a much better viewpoint and all of Public Service Broadcasting.) Drawing the calculation down I guess that means I saw Gary Numan, Pretenders, Billy Bragg, Anna Calvi, The Men They Couldn't Hang, The Hot Eight Brass Band and The Beths for a tenner each, The Undertones, Opus Kink, Dea Matrona and about seven other acts in whole or in part for a fiver. And paid a tenner a night for accommodation. It's a great life if you can keep your attention span up... | |
| |
| People who like their live music on 09:00 - Jul 11 with 2065 views | artsbossbeard |
The absolutely wonderful Personal Trainer (Marc Riley is a massive fan) are playing St Stephen's Church, Ipswich later this year.
Tickets are £13.60 inc booking fee.
Get involved! |  |
| Please note: prior to hitting the post button, I've double checked for anything that could be construed as "Anti Semitic" and to the best of my knowledge it isn't. Anything deemed to be of a Xenophobic nature is therefore purely accidental or down to your own misconstruing. | | Poll: | Raining in IP8 - shall I get the washing in? |
| |
| People who like their live music on 09:03 - Jul 11 with 2038 views | JakeITFC |
Yeah, a couple of gigs have been through the £100 barrier this year for me which seems quite insane for just a ticket. Most recently Lana del Rey on Sunday at Hyde Park, and whilst the BST days there are a good day out, £100+ really doesn't seem on.
Have seen a real increase (above inflationary rises) in general entertainment things - gig and sports tickets, eating out and especially hotel rooms seem to have been massively bumped up this year, with these companies looking to claw back revenue lost in covid it would seem. |  | | |
| People who like their live music on 09:08 - Jul 11 with 2032 views | baxterbasics |
| People who like their live music on 22:27 - Jul 10 by DinDjarin |
Totally agree with this, give me a small venue over a stadium any day of the week.
Watched Orbital at Cambridge Corn Exchange and Leftfield at Norwich UEA in last few months and both blinding nights. Prodigy at Brixton Academy last yr was off the scale.
Off to see 808 State @ Dingwalls, Camden later this yr, gonna be messy.
You just get the more personal touch at smaller venues. |
Oh the Prodigy comeback shows last year were something else and put the question of 'will it work without Keith?' to bed for good. I got my ticket to Ally Pally in November which is obviously at the larger end but like Wembley Arena can still allow for some of that intimacy compared to a stadium or outdoor festival. Unfortunately Brixton is still not back in business after that crush incident. Really hope the place survives.
On the subject of prices though - my AP ticket cost around £65. I imagine inflation has hit events like this just as it has everyone else, I doubt the bands are making much more per ticket than they were ten years ago. It doesn't feel that long ago that I went to the entire three day Reading Festival for less than £100 though. (Ok it was 25 years ago but still...) |  |
| |
| People who like their live music on 09:13 - Jul 11 with 2016 views | Dubtractor |
| People who like their live music on 09:03 - Jul 11 by JakeITFC |
Yeah, a couple of gigs have been through the £100 barrier this year for me which seems quite insane for just a ticket. Most recently Lana del Rey on Sunday at Hyde Park, and whilst the BST days there are a good day out, £100+ really doesn't seem on.
Have seen a real increase (above inflationary rises) in general entertainment things - gig and sports tickets, eating out and especially hotel rooms seem to have been massively bumped up this year, with these companies looking to claw back revenue lost in covid it would seem. |
Hotels have gone crazy with prices haven't they? Especially in London.
Used to quite often stay over after London gigs to make it a bit more relaxing, but really hard to justify the cost now. | |
| |
| People who like their live music on 09:14 - Jul 11 with 2012 views | vilanovablue |
| People who like their live music on 22:27 - Jul 10 by DinDjarin |
Totally agree with this, give me a small venue over a stadium any day of the week.
Watched Orbital at Cambridge Corn Exchange and Leftfield at Norwich UEA in last few months and both blinding nights. Prodigy at Brixton Academy last yr was off the scale.
Off to see 808 State @ Dingwalls, Camden later this yr, gonna be messy.
You just get the more personal touch at smaller venues. |
Saw The Orb at a tiny venue in Brighton late last year, absolutely superb. |  | | |
| People who like their live music on 09:28 - Jul 11 with 1975 views | WeWereZombies |
| People who like their live music on 09:13 - Jul 11 by Dubtractor |
Hotels have gone crazy with prices haven't they? Especially in London.
Used to quite often stay over after London gigs to make it a bit more relaxing, but really hard to justify the cost now. |
This is another feather in the cap for festivals, providing you don't mind camping and spending ten minutes throwing up a tent you have a cheap night's stay. And there is an ease to getting to a tent at a medium sized festival that you don't always find with a city hotel, I timed my walk back at Bearded Theory at just under ten minutes, about the right amount of time to let the exhilaration of the last performance die away, have a pee (at the urinals) and crawl into a sleeping bag.
WOMAD in a couple of weeks is going to be interesting for me, not been since 2018, some trepidation about how far the parking is going to be from the camping and how far the camping is going to be from the arena. | |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
