Live Nation are appealing against new noise restrictions forced upon 2019 Wireless Festival.
Local residents had complained about the noise levels at last year’s event and levied for the festival to be moved. The main complaints were of noise levels, drug taking and anti-social behaviour from concert goers.
Last month, it was confirmed that the festival had been granted a licence to remain in London’s Finsbury Park, but the council have asked performers ‘not to swear or wear offensive clothing’. Instead of taking away Wireless completely, Haringey Council decided to change the licence conditions. These changes include a new noise level restriction and an end time 9.30 pm which is 30 minutes earlier than the previous years.
According to the Islington Gazette, Live Nation appealed against the early festival end time: ‘It will be seriously damaging to the commerciality and attractiveness of the event. Headline artists of international repute will not be interested in finishing their performance at 9.30pm before it is even dark enough for an effective light show as part of the climax the act. The audience will complain about early closing and the reputation of the event and the premises license holder will suffer.’
Attendees from this year’s event were already complaining about the low sound volume on the main stage as well as the overcrowding and long lines. Live Nation has also appealed against the council’s new restrictions of lower sound: ‘Wireless festival is unlikely to be commercially viable or practically feasible with such bass levels or with such sound levels on the adjoining Seven Sisters Road. Headline artists will be deterred from appearing and the enjoyment of the audience will be materially diminished, to the extent that extensive audience complaints about low sound levels will be received, there will be an adverse response on social media and the worldwide reputation will be affected.’
Live Nation lawyer, Philip Kolvin had said at the hearing Friends of Finsbury Park, there were demands for the festival captivity to be reduced from 45,000 to 10,000 people although he argued ‘it would put it out of business.’ Mr Kolvin also added: ‘Wireless is the only festival that fully represents the community in which its based. It’s a celebration of grime music, a genre that emerged from London, from the estates, from the inner city. It’s London music – therefore, the festival celebrates the music of the people.’
Last year’s event saw performances from J.Cole, Post Malone, Big Sean, Stormzy, Migos, French Montana DJ Khaled, Rick Ross and Cardi B. These are some of the biggest names in Hip-Hop and electronic grime today. Next year’s festival dates will be from the 5th July until the 7th 2019, with acts still yet to be announced.
Finsbury Park is a 110-acre public park in North London, and is well connected to central London for those still looking to carry on the night, even when the festival finishes. The three-day event attracts 50,000 people and have seen past performances from Drake, Stormzy and J.Cole.
Tickets have yet to be released although you can sign up for the mailing list here.
