The three day festival, ‘Radio 2 in the park’, has been taking place since 2011, and each year creates quite a stir, with huge acts taking to the stage each year. Until 2023, it was held in London’s Hyde Park, however now takes place in a different location each year as part of the BBC’s Across the UK plan, with last year’s show taking place in Victoria Park in Leicester.

Recently, Zoe Ball announced the exciting weekend’s initial lineup on her show. So far, the organisers are catering for all audiences, with the main stage on the Saturday being graced by a performance of the iconic Sting, alongside performances from nostalgic artists such as: Sugababes, Snow Patrol, Kim Wilde, Travis, and Craig David.  The Sunday does not disappoint either, with Manic Street Preachers, Sister Sledge and Paul Heaton stirring up audiences. The performance from Sting on the Saturday is set to be like no other, as he takes his new dynamic trio to the stage to perform his own songs, alongside Police classics.

The people of Preston are also clearly excited for this event, with Chief Executive at Preston City Council, Adrian Phillips, telling the BBC, “We’re looking forward to welcoming thousands of people to Radio 2 in the Park, as well as our favourite presenters, who we love to listen to day in, day out. It promises to be the biggest live event Lancashire has seen in many years, and everyone can’t wait to enjoy what promises to be a fantastic weekend of live music in the city.”

Tickets will go on sale at 8:15am 4th June, with each festival day ticket sold separately, priced at £59, excluding ticket fees. Tickets for Radio 2’s pre-party, are priced at £30, also excluding ticket fees. All tickets can be accessed here.

Tom said in a recent interview, “ There’s loads of people that actually haven’t been to the venue.” “I Think previous clubbers are to want to return and the young generation are going to come back. Thats why we’ve given it the name New World, so that we can get that new experience again.”

It has been eight years since The Arches has proudly held music events. Due to a number of alleged drug and alcohol-related incidents reported by the police, a new nightclub licencing curfew was introduced in Glasgow. It meant that all clubs were to stop selling alcohol and close at midnight. The previous owner said that it lost up to 50% of its revenue and the business sadly went into administration.

Tom has been in communication with the Scotland Police and shared the Watch Tower group’s zero-tolerance drug policy and has agreed on a new licencing curfew of 2am. He said “Obviously, there’s been tragic news in recent weeks. We’ve worked very closely with Police Scotland on our drug policy. We have a zero tolerance drug policy and our message is clear. You know, drugs are illegal and we do not expect people to bring drugs to the venue.

He continued, “We were training with a pure market leader in harm reduction, and we will be working closely with all of them on this and that the event is to ensure that everyone comes to our events and they have a safe and fun time.”

This historic building, situated below the central railway station, was further used from February 2018 as a food market, called Platform, offering a variety of eateries.

Glasgow city is world famous for its legendary music scene. It is internationally recognised as Scotland’s music capital with over half a million people enjoying gigs in its iconic venues every year. And New World is set to join the party with a show-stopping headline by DJ’s.

Tom added, “This project is of huge cultural significance for music in Glasgow, Scotland and beyond. Seeing the unfortunate closure of numerous venues in recent years has been hard on the industry. The venue’s history is renowned, and it holds a special place in people’s hearts, so we know that today’s news will mean so much to so many.”

No announcements have been made as to who will be performing; however, you can visit the Glasgow New World website and sign up to receive the latest news and updates.

Eight people had to be taken to hospital after a ‘chemical substance’ was released at Pop Works nightclub in Doncaster https://t.co/oLFY7DMTqD

— LBC (@LBC) July 31, 2023

A chemical substance, described by authorities as being closely related to pepper spray, was released inside the Pop Works night club in Doncaster, South Yorkshire on the night of 30th July. People attending the club, reported that individuals were seen coughing, vomiting and struggling to breathe. Eight required hospital treatment, although long lasting injuries are not thought to be a danger.

While some reported that a gas-like substance was set off, the nature of the matter has been unverified. Police and emergency services were called to the scene at around 5am, after a number of people became unwell. A multi-agency investigation revealed that the substance was most likely something resembling a pepper spray, although further investigations will be carried out to confirm the substance and identity of the individual who released it.

UPDATE: Following reports a number of people felt unwell after attending a #Doncaster venue this weekend, an investigation has determined that pepper spray or similar was used.

We continue to appeal for info https://t.co/AOE3wsCr5t pic.twitter.com/yCZZXCXqsA

— South Yorkshire Police (@syptweet) July 31, 2023

A statement given by Superintendent Peter Thorpe of Doncaster said, “while our enquiries into this incident remain ongoing, we want to reassure the wider public that this was thankfully a relatively minor release of something akin to a pepper spray, which didn’t cause any lasting injuries and the majority of people at the venue were unaffected. However, the fact remains that whoever chose to bring that substance to the venue clearly did so to cause harm or injury, and we are working to identify those responsible.”

The police confirmed that all eight individuals taken to hospital had been released without further injury. The authorities have also appealed to potential witnesses or those who may have information, to come forward so that a complete understanding of what occurred at the club can be established.

Pop Works expressed deep regret over the incident and do intend to operate as normal, albeit with heightened security measures to keep the public safe within its venue. A statement by the club on social media read, “we would like to apologise to everyone who was inside at the time and who was involved in the incident. What a world we live in that people would make businesses harder than it is in this trade after Covid. We are deeply sorry. Our main priority is our customer’s safety and well-being after making sure that the care needed for those involved was provided.”

Police have pointed out that any individual who has information but wishes to remain anonymous can do so by contacting the charity Crimestoppers by calling the Contact Centre via freephone at 0800 555 111 or through their website at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

That’s a wrap on 2022, magical weekend #GopuffxWireless pic.twitter.com/wvYHH4PctL

— Wireless Festival (@WirelessFest) July 11, 2022

While I’m definitely not an event organiser, I imagine that – while you may try your best to account for everything – sometimes… things are out of your control. The weather for example, and thus how punters end up reacting to it. The UK are currently dead centre of a pretty significant heatwave, 30+C degree temperatures and give or take 50,000 people in the same place will always bring problems. On Sunday afternoon, the police were called to control crowds after many were reported to jump the park’s fences in order to avoid being trampled. It’s unknown as to whether those that jumped the fence had tickets… but it just makes sense. The Met issued a statement consoling fans by saying ‘As a result of this, security staff put in place a brief hold on people being admitted to the event to ensure the safe flow of people into the site. This caused a large crowd to form in the area around the site.’.

This wasn’t the only bad news, many artists like Burna Boy, Lil Durk, JI and Ruger all announced on very short notice that they wouldn’t be arriving. This, in conjunction with the 40-minute late start of headliner Nicki Minaj left a bit of a bad taste in many fans’ mouths after what was a particularly successful festival in the first 2 days.

Now, that’s all the bad news out of the way. The rest of the girlpower-centric festival was primarily considered to be a massive success. Day 1 headliner Cardi B highlighted the power couple dynamic by bringing out Offset for a brief Migos interlude: “Bad and Boujee”, “Coult”, and “Ric Flair Drip” all made an appearance – then it just seems right for Megan Thee Stallion to also arrive for the bombshell of a track that is ‘WAP’. Visibly Pregnant Summer Walker owned her time in the spotlight and even brought out Bree Runway for “Hot Hot”, and SZA proved she had what it takes to headline a festival with a seamless slot.

All in all, festivals will always come with their negatives. This one is very much proof that the circuit is back into full swing after a few years of doubt.

Avon and Somerset Police are noting an increase in the number of teenagers producing drill music videos over the last year. They have also noted a rise in weapon offences, a rise of 5% from last year. A total of 82 weapons offences have been recorded in their remit, to which they are responding with increased patrols.

Police around the country are making links between drill music and violent crime. Ch Insp Dan Forster, the area commander for south Gloucestershire, says that “over the past six months we saw an increase in teenage boys making drill videos that they were posting on YouTube” and that “we’ve got a particularly challenging situation with young men aligning themselves with gang culture and carrying weapons and knives,” noting that the problem has accelerated in the last several months, as per The BBC.

Darren Alexander, the leader of a music mentoring program for Bristol’s disadvantaged youth, challenges this Police’s narrative on the drill, that drill music itself is to explain behind a rise in crime. Criticising this link as “surface level”, Mr Alexander says that to blame the rise in violent crime on the drill is “putting the cart before the horse”.

On a Bristol Unpacked podcast, he accepts that drill music’s lyrical content is often violent, yet notes that a lot of it is “for show”. In response to the Police, Alexander says: “I’m not surprised that Avon and Somerset police took that stance – they are firefighters, they see what’s happening on the streets, they see the stats, they see what they see and they put one and one together. If you see a young person making drill music or in a drill video, and you see them on the street carrying a knife or hanging round with people who are known to carry knives or have been arrested for similar or related offences, you’re going to assume things.”

“This doesn’t address the root problem. These people have been increasingly marginalised over generations, economically, socially and racially. They shouldn’t be blamed for what we are seeing on the surface. I find it disappointing that we blame young people who are feeling lost and disenfranchised, when really we should be looking at ourselves,” he said on the podcast.

Darren Alexander runs an award-winning organisation, ACE – short for Aspiration, Creation, Elevation, that works with the youth of Bristol’s most deprived areas that, through music, encourages a way out for deprived youngsters.

UK Police have made numerous attempts to clamp down on drill, with the most notable example being in Digga D, whose terms of release included a requirement to have his song lyrics proofread by police before they could be released. This was chronicled in a BBC documentary titled Defending Digga D. 

Somewhat overwhelmed by the extent of the raves’ scale, and the rapidity with which they were organised, Manchester Police Assistant Constable Chris Skykes has said to the Manchester Evening News that the two events “came on us really quickly.” Responding to the ill-fated raves on their official Twitter account, @gmpolice, Greater Manchester Police have shared a link to a Statement in relation to gatherings across Greater Manchester last night. Establishing “these raves were illegal and I condemn them taking place – they were clearly a breach of Coronavirus legislation and guidelines, and have had tragic consequences,” Sykes proceeds to outline the present strain put upon Manchester Police in the current lockdown.

#Statement from Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes in relation to the raves the took place in #Carrington and #Oldham last night…https://t.co/yxqWf2Gjlj pic.twitter.com/pvwQGrUKsv

— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) June 14, 2020

“The gatherings were carefully monitored by officers but, like all forces,” he said, “we needed to balance the present public health emergency and our overall demand with ongoing incidents.” He was disheartened, also, by the violence with which “officers attempting to engage with participants of this gathering were met,” adding that “this is absolutely not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Our officers are working incredibly hard to keep people safe and should never be met with inexcusable violence whilst carrying out their duties.”

The statement ends with the Assistant Constable’s assertion that “our top priority will always be the safety of the public, who we are here to serve and protect,” and that the coronavirus is still a threat.

The videos aims to capture the nerves and anxiety to go with the  lyrics of the song, and how did the Eagulls lads decide to do this? By filming the slow decay of a pig’s brain in the basement of their house!

The boys got into a fair bit of trouble when the gas man came round to read the meter only to find what he thought was a dark, sinister and quite possibly evil video being made in the basement. Unfortunately the do gooder gas man calls the police leading to the Eagulls front door being kicked in and the house searched. Luckily for punk music nobody was hurt and the lads got off free.

The video really is a gory one with plenty of maggots and brain juice to turn even the strongest of stomachs. I would rate it somewhere between the cannibalistic cook  in Queens of the Stone Age’s Sick Sick Sick and the truly disturbing video to Geek Stink Breath by Green Day which feature live dental surgery of teeth being yanked out.

Video aside it’s a great song by the lads and the band are well worth checking out. It leaves plenty of promise for their upcoming album full of heavily distorted guitar riffs and proper UK punk vocals. Catch Eagulls graphic video below.

UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS

Sept 13th Brighton Prince Albert

Sept 14th Southsea fest

Sept 19 – The Scala (W/ Gabriel Bruce, Pale)

Sept 25 – Gent Video bar

Sept 26 – Haldern Pop Bar

Sept 27 – Hamburg Reeperbahn festival

Sept 28th – Berlin

Sept 30th – London Banquet Records Instore

Oct 5th – Nottingham Chameleon

Oct 11th Norwich Sound and vision

Oct 12th – Bristol Simple things