News / Arts
‘Let us run yearly gigs on Downs’ – promoters
Annual gigs on the scale of Massive Attack’s memorable homecoming should take place on the Downs, according to organisers who have hailed the gig as an “overwhelming success”.
Close to 30,000 people attended the all-day festival headlined by arguably Bristol’s biggest ever cultural export on Saturday at one of the largest live music events of its kind in the city since Ashton Court Festival.
Co-promoters Team Love and Crosstown Concerts said despite fears of disruption and noise – and despite the rain and complaints of queues – the event had gone smoothly, justifying a regular return to the site.
is needed now More than ever
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Review: Massive Attack, The Downs
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“We would definitely be keen to hold future events and make this an annual occurrence in Bristol’s calendar,” Conal Dodds, from Crosstown Concerts, said.
“Obviously, our next step is to have a full debrief with all parties involved, including local residents, gather feedback and assess the appetite for future music events in this location.”
Tom Paine, from Team Love, which also runs Love Saves the Day in Eastville Park, added: “We hope that the fact we showed we can get 30,000 people safely to a gig like that on the Downs will demonstrate that the site works.
“We think the Downs is a great location for a massive concert so we would love to have another crack at it.”
In typical fashion, Massive Attack posted a somewhat reserved comment following their first gig in the city for 13 years:
Thank you Bristol https://t.co/MLp9JZMOiZ
— Massive Attack (@MassiveAttackUK) September 4, 2016
The Downs Committee, which received about £50,000 for the gig, will have the last say on any more live gigs of that size on the parkland. Bristol24/7 has asked the council for a response.
A small handful of local residents had complained that the event would cause two weeks of disruption on a protected site.
“I’m not prepared to put pounds before the sanctity of the Downs,” said local councillor and former lord mayor Peter Abraham after the gig. Watch a full moan of his here:
Read more: Massive Attack promoters respond to crowd complaints