April 27th, 2009
Propagandhi in Sheffield 17/04/09
The official ‘word’ is in about the ‘fire‘:
I think that the initial point would be to clarify the reason for the evacuation of the building.
There was a small but intense fire on the main stage half way through Propagandhi’s set. (They were scheduled to finish their main set just before 10.00pm).
The fire was centred stage right in one of six linked dimmer racks; equipment used to power the stage lights. Our Assistant Technical Manager extinguished the fire very promptly and it seemed that that was that. However, the heat around the equipment remained very intense and it was feared that there might be a more deep seated fire within the equipment, or that it might reignite. Consequently from a Health and Safety point of view the decision was taken to temporarily stop the concert and evacuate the building whilst the Fire and Rescue Services were called.
Once the band’s crew carried out the show stop and asked everyone to leave, a trouble free evacuation was initiated. The Fire and Rescue Services arrived and examined the seat of the extinguished fire and declared that they thought that it was safe and that we could proceed. The Smiths Indeed, who were playing in the second venue upstairs, had only 3 songs of their set to go when their show was also stopped and they and their audience were also evacuated.
This is the point at which things took an unfortunate turn. Whilst appreciating that everyone was growing increasingly frustrated having been outside for a good half an hour and didn’t know whether they would be re admitted or not, we also did not know the outcome until we’d been given the OK by the Fire Service. A small minority of the audience had also been causing issues by not moving round to the muster point when asked by Security, thus hampering the Fire Services access to the building. This minority became increasingly abusive to staff, which is why the Police stepped in to assist the Security. It was at this moment that some bright spark, in a blue checked shirt [Liam from Scunthorpe - I hereby out you], decided to karate kick and destroy one of the glass panels in the front door.
A few others then turned on members of the Security firm we hire and the Police. It was unfortunate that this incident occurred, as at about the same time it was happening, we had just finalised a plan to readmit and continue the show.
- The Band had agreed to carry on and were just coming off the tour bus to re enter the building
- We as a venue were prepared to continue.
- The Promoter who had hired the Academy to put on his show with Propagandhi had also already agreed to proceed with the show.
So the plan was to re admit and continue till the end of both bands scheduled sets and then prepare for the following club night which as a venue we had accepted would have to start later. Unfortunately, following the vandalism and disturbance outside the building, the Police refused to allow us to re admit, but to be perfectly honest whilst it was proportionally only a small amount of people that were causing the problem, it also made us think twice about re admitting.
The Venue’s stance is, however, to a certain degree, irrelevant because as soon as that guy put his foot through the front door he effectively put the decision in the Police’s hands.
Whilst I believe announcements were made by the Police and some Security concerning refunds, they weren’t authorised to announce this and it was never considered as an option on the night. This is because until the trouble kicked off we were going to allow re-entry and the band were willing to carry on.
The Promoter had to pay the band because they had / were willing to honour their contract. Consequently, there will not be any refunds in the traditional sense. However, as I realise that it was only a minority of people, as usual, who ’spoilt it for everybody else’, as a gesture of goodwill on the part of the O2 Academy Sheffield, I’d like to offer you the chance to go to one event of your choice, for free at the O2 Academy Sheffield . Obviously if you bought two tickets that would be two places etc. This offer is subject to providing proof of your booking details. I realise that a handful of people paid cash on the door and that will be taken into account. But to ensure that your are eligible I will need as much information re your booking details, although most people have already furnished this information.
- Everyone who contacts me before 23.59 Monday 27th April will be covered.
- This gesture of goodwill will expire on 30th April 2010.
- It will be subject to availability as there are only a limited number of free spaces I can offer for each event.
- Consequently this offer will be operated on a first come first served basis per event. But I hope that over a year there would more than one event that you would want to attend.
It sticks in my throat that some of the people who actually caused this situation will probably benefit from this gesture of goodwill. But this seems the fairest conclusion given the circumstances.
For anyone not in the know Propagandhi played Sheffield’s O2 Academy on April 17th and about two thirds in we all got kicked out due to a fire. fair enough. As for all the play-acting anarchists and their ridiculous behaviour which followed good god grow up. Thanks for ruining it for everyone you jerks.












