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We Are FSTVL apologises for queues, This Is Tomorrow cancels Foals mid-set
By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 28 May 2019
Organisers of the We Are FSTVL event in Upminster, East London this weekend have apologised after people were stuck queuing in high temperatures for several hours while trying to gain access to the festival on Saturday. The queues were reportedly due to the event running out of wristbands and ultimately led to people breaking through the barriers and forcing their way onto its Damyns Hall Aerodrome site.
After an initial apology on Saturday and promises that things would be improved for the festival’s second day, organisers issued a second statement on Sunday, saying: “We always strive to deliver our customers a great event each year. This year that wasn’t the case for everyone on Saturday and that pains us immensely. Whilst we managed to rectify the issue and finish on a high on Sunday, we accept queuing times on Saturday were unacceptable”.
People who had been queuing reported that others in the crowd had passed out due to dehydration or had been injured in the later stampede. Though in a statement to the BBC, the Metropolitan Police said on Saturday: “Officers are at the location and working alongside organisers and London Ambulance Service. We are not aware of any serious injury”.
Elsewhere in festival health and safety news, at Newcastle’s This Is Tomorrow Festival this weekend, Friday’s headline set by Foals was cut short due to safety concerns.
“Due to safety concerns with the front of stage barrier This Is Tomorrow Festival management made the decision to call an early finish to Foals set”, the event tweeted. “This is entirely to protect the safety of crowds”.
The band also tweeted: “Newcastle, we’re so gutted the show had to be pulled this evening. You were an amazing crowd and we were loving every second but it was deemed unsafe to continue”.
After this, the rest of the Newcastle event went ahead as planned, although many who had attended the first day were left angry at only seeing Foals perform half a show.
