How To Get Close To The Stage?

[JoShS]

This is my first Leeds. I was wodering how early i will need to get close for acts i want to see?

Arctic Monkeys

Fall Out Boy

Gaslight Anthem

The Courteeners

The Prodigy

The Airborne Toxic Event

there just like main ppl, but how do i get to the front? from your experience what times did you get there to see a headliner? etc.

Edited May 28, 2009 by JoShS

[Explosions_In_The_Sky]

Band before - really.

Few bands which play one after the other have such a similar demographic that the crowd hardly moves. Whenever I want to see someone on the main stage I pretty much always go up there on the band befores last few tracks, and always make it up near the front.

As for right at the front, I wouldn't bother anyway, you just get crushed. You get pretty much the same view from 5/6 rows back, and it's far more enjoyable.

[thomasowen]

Push or get there early.

If you want to be near the front for arctic monkeys you will need to be there for Maximo Park. Acts like The Courteeners and Airbourne toxic event will not be a problam, just get there at the end of the band before's set.

[funkymp]

Airbourne toxic event will not be a problam, just get there at the end of the band before's set.

[JoShS]

think you might be a bit shocked about that, they're going to be pretty massive by the time reading comes around. already got a really really strong following

[frankie boy]

Band before - really.

Few bands which play one after the other have such a similar demographic that the crowd hardly moves. Whenever I want to see someone on the main stage I pretty much always go up there on the band befores last few tracks, and always make it up near the front.

As for right at the front, I wouldn't bother anyway, you just get crushed. You get pretty much the same view from 5/6 rows back, and it's far more enjoyable.

[rexclark]

I find that for the Main Stage at Leeds going down the side of the crowd and cutting in is the easiest especially if tons of people are moving away from the stage.

Down the front for Prodigy? Be ready for the sweaty masses getting passed over your head screaming WATER!

[thomasowen]

think you might be a bit shocked about that, they're going to be pretty massive by the time reading comes around. already got a really really strong following

[pigshair123]

i generally find that walking in the direction of the stage generally works

[Im_in_a_tent]

i generally find that walking in the direction of the stage generally works

[Azzy G]

Go down the sides and cut in. Another effective technique is keep pretending to be sick and everyone will step right out the way

[moz4pm]

i got to the front for klaxons by shouting toot toot beep beep, ambulance coming through, and it worked amazingly, also got to the front by getting in the slipstream of a large 7ft man who had no qualms about pushing people out of his way

[Vacant0]

Go down the sides and cut in.

[Budweiser]

i generally find that walking in the direction of the stage generally works

[Charmer]

Going too close to the stage isn't always the best - Bloc Party '08. Wasn't the best in crowd experience ever.

Edited May 31, 2009 by Charmer

[Azzy G]

Going too close to the stage isn't always the best - Bloc Party '08. Wasn't the best in crowd experience ever.

[thetime]

what are your thoughts about being to close(apart from first couple of rows) is nearly as rubbinsh as being far back?

I mean your far to cramped and squashed to see anything, or am I just shewing my age now.

[Englishdragon]

The new barrier in the middle of the main and NME stage has made it very easy to get to the front now.

The trick is not to get jammed near it. The mid-barrier in the NME tent causes a lot of congestion but (at leeds) if you walk down the right hand side until you get near to the stage then cut in you should get a good spot.

Main stage purely depends on the time of day.

[MJMilz14]

Last year, to my amazement, I got to the very front for Rage. (Been going for 5 years and never got to the front for any of the higher up bands, only ever bands early on with not much of a crowd)

Now I get a bit annoyed with people literally pushing past you, but Ia fully accept that it happens in every crowd at every gig. During QOTSA some massive guy pushed past me, then about 5 of his friends came behind him, just walking through the space he had cleared.

I was quite far back and wanted to get closer so thought "bugger it, il use this to my advantage) and quickly jumped in between a couple of this guys friends, and just followed him almost all the way to the front.

As a result I was only a few rows back for most of the set (the best place to be IMO) but could easily move backwards or forwards, simply by being a bit brave and running through the middle of pits. Got right to the barrier for the encore which was quality, although I generally wouldn't advise watching a whole gig from there... was fun for 2 songs, but many more than that and id have to move back a little.

[JakusMaximus]

All i can say is be careful lol, me being the fool hardy drunkard i was at reading 08 thought it would be a great idea to get right to the front for QOTSA, by the end of QOTSA i was absolutely knackered! But i decided to stick at the front for RATM...

I just remember moments during RATM where i actually felt like i could die. IMO the best place to watch a band if you're in it for the music is perhaps 5-10 rows back... The sound is crystal clear and you can see everything + you don't feel like you've been put through a lino factory line.

[freehugs!]

i normally scout out for someone large moving to the front then follow in their wake. or just push

[markeee]

maybe its just me, but id rather not be at the front..way too crowded, hard to move if you want to - always pushed/shoved..annoys me:)

[RKO]

I personally prefer being a few rows back from the front, where its not overly congested but you can hear everything well, there's still some movement and I can happily drink beer and enjoy myself.

I was fairly far back from Rage Against The Machine last year but still felt very cramped, I can't imagine what it was like for the people down the front!

[JakeH]

Being at the front for RATM was so bad. As soon as they came on, I got so crushed, there was no way I could've enjoyed it if I'd stayed there. I moved quite a bit back, and it was amazinggg, obviously.

[darth haggis]

there was absolutely tonnes of movement from second half of qotsa onwards. (this is about 10-15 rows back)

then it quietened down a bit in the gap.

then as rage were coming on me and my tall mate decided to get a bit closer... big mistake ahha.

absolute mega crush. complete anarchy!! decided to surf out after about half an hour.

then went back in round the back to a more 'stable' area, and enjoyed myself much much more!

this was a complete contrast to metallica, had all the room to breathe!