I’ve been to both the new Wembley Stadium and the old Wembley Stadium in my lifetime. There is a pretty big difference, believe me. I’ve seen football there, charity footy too, and concerts, although I’ve only seen music concerts at the new stadium.
I first visited Wembley Stadium back in my youth as a (roughly speaking) 10 year old whippersnapper. I had just won an art competition so me and the family travelled down from Manchester to London for the day and had a guided tour. Since then I’ve seen the old Wembley host many special events. Back in the ’80s there was Live Aid. Then in the ’90s some of the biggest bands in the world have performed beneath its twin towers.
It was a bit of a shame when the new version replaced the old. I feel that there was something of an atmosphere, a buzz, a legend inside the old place which has yet to be replaced. Maybe the national football team of England can put something into the new place with or maybe it needs some big music acts to step up and replace those images of the past that still currently stand out in everyone’s mind when you think of Wembley Stadium.
New Wembley or Old Wembley – I know which one I think is best – what do you think?
New Wembley Stadium vs Old Wembley Stadium?
The Old Wembley Stadium was Legendary
The Manchester Apollo is one of my all time favourite venues for live music. I’ve been to gigs indoors and out before including the Manchester Apollo, Matt And Phreds, The Boardwalk, MEN Arena, Finsbury Park, Sheffield Arena, Nottingham, Barcelona, Alexandra Palace, and Eastlands, Bolton’s Reebok Stadium and Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
For me though there’s something about the darkly lit Apollo. Something about the place’s two tier structure (I’ve only sat up there once however) and it’s anything goes stalls or standing area for most gigs. I personally think the venue was even better for gigs when smoking was aloud – it simply added to the atmosphere. And many of the bands I’ve seen live continue to light up on stage without anyone batting an eye lid.
I’ve seen Oasis, The Charlatans, Kings of Leon, Paul Weller, The Bootleg Beatles, Cast and many many other bands perform there over the years. The place rocks and will always be one of my all time favourites for intimate gigs where the sound sounds much better that at outdoor.
Manchester's Apollo Theatre is just the ticket for live shows and gigs
The Kings of Leon, and possibly the kings of modern rock and roll are arguably the biggest band in the world right now. Their glorious mix of music has seen them rise in popularity over recent years with Sex on Fire being tipped by many as the song of the decade.
I’ve been lucky enough to see them play in numerous venues, as close as the Manchester Apollo, and as far as Summercase music festival in Barcelona last year. They’re my favourite band of the moment for their raw approach to music, and they’re awesome stage presence.
Their style and fashionable look also makes them a big hit for guys and girls. They really have put a foot into the life long music hall of fame now and will go down in history as a truly great band.
I’m a Mancunian, and you’ve guessed it, I’m an Oasis fan. A massive fan. I’ve followed them through the ’90s Brit-Pop era, and into the new millenium. I’ve got all the albums, all the T-Shirts from gigs, and have seen them in small venues to the largest. Oasis will live forever.
I think Liam Gallagher has one of the most recognisable voices in world music and the split of the two brothers from Burnage, Manchester is a loss to rock n roll.
I think one of the best gigs they ever did were the Wembley Stadium gigs back in the late 1990s. As well as Finsbury Park in London, and Old Trafford Cricket Ground, plus the now infamous Knebworth gig which broke records for attendance. They love the fans, and the fans love them – that’s what truly great bands are all about.
Oasis Will Live Forever
Leicester rock n roll band Kasabian have been around for a few years now, already on their third album, but they are now classed very much as a headline act. I remember seeing the boys from the midlands in their early days at a very small gig in Manchester, at the Academy 3 (one of the smaller rooms at the University of Manchester). At the time, Tom reminded me of Mick Jagger, the way he strutted round the stage, clapping his hands. He has probably the best stage presence since Liam Gallagher graced the stage for Oasis, and a recent gig I went to not so long ago at the MEN Arena in Manchester showed that Kasabian have definitely arrived. I’ve also seen them at Oxygen festival in Dublin at the time their first album was out.
They openly admit to having dreamed of following bands like Oasis who were their childhood heroes (and have supported them on tour). With Tom and Serge as the forefront of the band, I think they’ll go from strength to strength over the next decade.
Leicester lads Tom, Serge and clan will dominate with Kasabian over the next decade!
After a year out, The Magic Lounge about is set to return in 2010 at a brand new venue. Broughton Hall in Skipton, Yorkshire will house the festival, which will also extend to two days. The full weekend will now include a speaker’s tent featuring literary stars, travellers and foodies along with a cinema, restaurant, old school games room and more. Speaking about the festival’s return, organiser Simon Adamson said: “We took 2009 as a sabbatical, to distil everything we gleaned from last year’s festival. For us the key element is listening to the people who attended in 2008 and we had plenty of great feedback.
“There are going to be lots of exciting developments announced in the coming weeks, but already we have added a speaker’s tent, a cosy cinema, a restaurant, a tea shop and an old school games room.
Hannah Holland is among the names confirmed for London’s first winter techno festival, Rabid.The event, which is taking place at the SEone Club will also feature performances from Umek, Paul Ritch, Matthias Tanzmann, Ambivalent, Fabrizio Maurizi, Peter Van Hoesen, Mike Dehnert, Andre Kraml and Silversufer.
Mikki Most and FB Julian will also appear at Raid which boasts five rooms of music from some of London’s best underground promoters including Wet Yourself, Lost Souls Ketoloco, Trailer Trash and DJ MAG.Rabid Festival 2010 will take place on 7 November and run from 8pm until 8am.Tickets are on sale now priced at £25 for the event and the after party.
Early bird tickets for WOMAD, The Wickerman Festival and The Magic Lounge about have go on sale today (Friday).
The price of passes for WOMAD 2010 remain unchanged for a third year running and festival-goers can pick up early bird tickets for just £110. Passes for The Wickerman Festival in Scotland are also available from 9am priced at £85 for an adult weekend ticket, with other prices available. Tickets will also be available for MAGIC ROUNDABOUT SHOW, which is set to return after a year out in 2008. Passes for the festival, which will now take place in Yorkshire, are priced at £76.80 for early birds.
Festival Annual and the UK Festival Awards have teamed up to find the winner of the Festival Fan Photo Award for 2009 and here you can see the shortlist…
Throughout the summer thousands of people have been submitting photos to Festival Annual for inclusion in Festival Annual 09 (a glossy 312 page coffee table book which is out now and features iconic photography from 21 festivals including Glastonbury, T in the Park, Reading, Leeds, The Big Chill and Bestival).
After days of careful scrutiny of each and every photo, the Fan Photo Award judging panel, which consists of picture editors from all leading UK newspapers, has narrowed down the selection and 30 photos have now been short listed.
The winning photo will be announced at the UK Festival Awards 2009 on the 19 November at Indigo2, 02 Dome, London and you and a friend could win tickets to the legendary UK Festival Awards ceremony.
Green Day have announced two large outdoor shows in the UK next summer. The pop-punk trio will play Manchester Lancashire County Cricket Ground (June 16) and Wembley Stadium (19) next June, fuelling rumours that they’re for a festival return in 2010 as well. Download Festival 2010 looks to be the most likely destination for the ‘Dookie’ band, but following Foo Fighters’ appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival a few years ago, Green Day could also be a target for John Giddings and Co as well. Speaking to NME, front man Billie Joe Armstrong said, “It’s going to be great because Wembley has a long tradition of rock concerts with the likes of U2, Foo Fighters and Muse playing here in the past and we’re just happy to be part of that.