What should have been an historic event at Victoria Park is tainted by its production.
When the first announcement of Outbreak London happened it saw a motley of feelings from fans and those working in the industry. Myself, it was remarkable to see this hardcore festival continue to grow and able to spread its spirit down south but disappointing to see it fully outdoors and potentially loose that intimate feel that makes the Manchester shows feel unique to the UK.
When it comes to larger scale hardcore shows the UK seems somewhat reluctant – the USA and even European cities have 1000+ capacity venues that accommodate no barrier shows. The UK doesn’t, or doesn’t want to even try. This is where Outbreak quite literally breaks those constraints and has created a unique event that captures hardcore and metal at its purest. Bands and fans get to be intimate, a community, look out for each other – it always feels about purely living in that moment no matter your age.
Unfortunately, Outbreak London has come across a festival that took a move too big too soon, or chose the wrong venue/promoter to partner up with. Clashing with Download Festival didn’t help its ticket sales as at one point O2 were flogging them for under £10 a pop, which to no ones surprise angered those who’d bought full price tickets. Heavy flyering with percentages off tickets, to win tickets, free tote bags with the line up printed on – it all screamed desperate ticket sales marketing. And unfortunately you could tell that as Turnstile headlined to what felt like a moderately filled park that should have been busier given their recently hyped album release.
There’s something ridiculous about going to an event sponsored by a phone provider and having no signal from that provider. The Lido app you’re forced to download barely loads and is the only option to see the set times.
What heavily stood out throughout the event was the awful sound mix across all stages. Whether you stood to the side, front or back, the sound fell flat whilst drums dominated the speakers. Instruments felt badly mic’d up and guitars at points barely clear. It’s poor form for such a professional event to have sound not catered to the genres it’s booked.
The mix of acts and timings split concert goers from getting fully invested in entire sets as main stage feels quite empty in parts but the smallest stage consistently has a queue to get in. Almost at times feels like it hasn’t been fully thought through who fits where. I was surprised to see Knocked Loose in the second stage tent, who probably could have played main stage, and here’s where more issues continue to pile up.
In my time I’ve seen far too many events where security are not trained to deal with heavier shows. I watch as the security look panicked and overwhelmed with crowd surfers. The majority of events at Lido are chilled/pop so today is quite the extreme. Again I watch as two security stand there and supervise as one pulled people over the barrier rather than working together to safely lift them out.
Security having to be asked multiple times to get water as the hot weather made the tent unbearable at parts.
What does overcome all the negatives is the fans willing to throw themselves into every band from doors. Keeping up that energy, delivering that hardcore community spirit, picking up the crowd when security looked on unsure and making every act feel like they deserve their place at this historic site. Everyone we saw gave it their all.
People want no barriers – it’s part of the Outbreak experience – and unfortunately this day felt more like a corporate event not suited to cater for heavier acts and fans.
Every first time has its teething problems and we truly hope they continue the festival down south but combat the issues from today. Metal and hardcore deserve its place at larger conventional events and venues.
