APE overcomes sound issues for successful first weekend
AEG Presents’ All Points East returned to London’s Victoria Park over the weekend, following up on the success of its inaugural edition last year, despite sound issues tainting performances for some.
The first weekend of All Points East took place from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 May in the east London park with headline performances from the Chemical Brothers, the Strokes and Christine and the Queens.
The festival is held over two consecutive weekends, with four days of free, community events held on the site in between. This year marks the second outing of the AEG Presents/ Goldenvoice event, which had a “highly successful” first year in 2018.
The Strokes made their first UK appearance in four years, heading up the bill on the festival’s second day, alongside the Raconteurs, Interpol and Johnny Marr. However, festivalgoers claimed the set was marred by poor sound quality.
Fans also complained about the sound quality during Johnny Marr and Interpol performances.
All Points East organisers released the following statement in response to the complaints:
“The sound quality at our shows has been of a consistently high standard since we started All Points East in 2018”
“Thank you to the Strokes for joining us last night for a truly incredible show. The sound quality at our shows has been of a consistently high standard since we started All Points East in 2018 and we were disappointed to learn that there was a sound issue in some areas of the site during the Strokes’ set.
“The sound engineers worked hard to address the problem as quickly as possible and, whilst it improved, we regret that a section of the audience didn’t have the audio experience that we expect for them. We will be responding to individual customers in the next few days.”
No sound issues were reported the following night. Christine and the Queens closed the first weekend of the festival on Sunday evening with a well-received debut headline performance.
Ten-day All Points East continues throughout the week with four days of free-to-access offerings including outdoor cinema viewings, live music, dance workshops, sporting activities, yoga sessions, children’s theatre and street food and pop-up bars.
Weekend two kicks off on Friday 31 May with headliners Bring me the Horizon, followed by Mumford and Sons and Bon Iver on Saturday and Sunday.
AEG Presents/ Goldenvoice have a five-year contact with Victoria Park owner Tower Hamlets Council, for exclusive use of the park for events.
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Bring Me the Horizon added to APE 2019 line-up
Bring Me the Horizon will play their only UK festival show in 2019 at next summer’s All Points East (APE) event in Victoria Park, London.
In their first headlining festival show, the British metal act will curate and headline APE on Friday 31 May, topping a bill that also includes Run the Jewels, Idles, Yonaka and more.
The APE announcement follows on the back of tragedy for Bring Me the Horizon, who described their horror after a fan died at their Alexandra Palace show last Friday (30 November).
They join previously announced APE headliners/curators Chemical Brothers (24 May) and Christine and the Queens (26 May) and Bon Iver (2 June).
Jim King, senior vice-president of festival promoter AEG Presents, comments: “We are beyond thrilled to be able to welcome Bring Me the Horizon to the East Stage next year for their long overdue first festival headliner set.
“31 May is going to be an unforgettable night for Victoria Park”
“The band and the festival have curated an unbelievable day of music. 31 May is going to be an unforgettable night for Victoria Park.”
All Points East, which has a daily capacity of 40,000, debuted to a “phenomenal” response in 2018, after AEG was awarded a five-year exclusive on the use of the east London park. It follows a similar format to the company’s successful British Summer Time (BST) event in Hyde Park, combining two weekends of music with a BST-style free-to-access midweek offering, All Points East In the Neighbourhood.
All Points East 2019 runs from 24 May to 2 June. Tickets for the Bon Iver and Chemical Brothers shows are on sale now, with GA day passes priced at £71.55.
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