Rock concert ‘no problem’

Press, 14 February 1986, Page 5

Rock concert ‘no problem’

The Dire Straits concert at Lancaster Park on March 7 will cause no real problems for local residents, said the concert promoter, Mr lan Magan, yesterday.

Noise levels would be well within the limits laid down by the Christchurch City Council, and the concert would be over by 10.45 p.m., he said. Mr Magan also said that Dire Straits was not a loud band, and the emphasis of the concert was on the quality of sound, not the quantity.

“Of course there will be complaints. There always are, but these usually relate to the age of the

complainants. They often don’t like to see young people out enjoying themselves or wandering past their front gate. It’s impossible to please everybody.” About 100 security guards would be on hand to make sure no alcohol or glass was taken into the concert. Security advisers would inspect the park to finalise arrangements for handling the 65,000 people expected, he said. Mr Magan said that the age of the crowd would contribute to oan orderly concert.

"Their single "Money For Nothing,” will attract

those aged 13 and 14, but the majority of the audience will be over 21. We had no crowd problems in 1983 when Dire Straits played to 65,000 people in Auckland,” he said. Mr Magan also rejected pitch with a temporary fence round them. Security guards would also ensure that the pitch, would not be affected, he Said. Dire Straits will spend two days in Queenstown before the concert, and will fly to Australia on March 8. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. with the Auckland band, Satellite Spies. Mr Klaus Prusas, supervising health inspector

for the Christchurch City Council, said yesterday that he had not been notified of the changed venue. Once an application to use Lancaster Park had been received, discussions would be held between the concert promoters, the council, the venue management, and the any suggestion that the change of venue would mean that ticket-holders would not get their money’s worth.

Lancaster Park was a better venue than the Addington Show Grounds. The park’s circular shape would lead to better acoustics and also mean

the crowd was closer to the band than they would be at the oval-shaped show grounds, he said. The promoters have an agreement with the Lancaster Park management that the cricket pitch area will be protected for the one-day cricket match against Australia on March 22. Either the park’s big mechanical covers would be used, or tarpaulins would be laid oyer .the police.

Conditions for the concert would be laid down, and these would certainly include a sound check before the concert started, he said.