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CHANGE CITY :
Good Vibrations speak out on Melbourne noise complaints
Created On February 15th, 2008 by i_have_ADD
In the wake of controversy surrounding last weekend’s Melbourne leg of the Good Vibrations festival tour, which saw many punters not impressed with wavering sound levels at the event during headline performances, the tour’s organisers Jam were prompted to release an official statement on Thursday, explaining the situation from their perspective.
If you were at Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Saturday February 9th and wondered why the sound seemed so erratic at points during the day, have a read of the below to find out just how serious the situation could have been. The Environmental Protection Authority’s threat to ‘pull the plug’ on the entire event was, understandably, enough to have organisers compromise sound quality at the festival.
Media reports indicate that Jam were forced to turn down the sound 25 times throughout the day, with the Melbourne Age running a story today that voiced the opinion of incensed local residents. One even went so far as to suggest that festivals should no longer take place at the Bowl. “It’s OK for something like Carols by Candlelight, but with these concerts, there are so many people living in the inner city now, maybe they should move bigger concerts out to Flemington.”
With many of Melbourne’s most favoured summer events happening at the Myer Music Bowl, including Summadayze, Future Music Festival and Good Vibrations, the latest round of noise complaints is certainly a serious issue for festival organisers.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT – Thursday, 14 February, 2008
In response to reports in the media over the past few days, Jam Music (the promoter of the Good Vibrations Festivals) wants it to be known that the sound levels at Saturday’s Good Vibrations Festival held at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl were under the direction of the venue, not the promoter. Sound levels are monitored and policed by an independent contractor hired by the venue who in turn instructs the promoter. The venue’s licence to hold amplified music events is regulated by the Environmental Protection Authority.
During the event, Jam received two noise level warnings from the venue and was put on notice that any further exceedance of the prescribed sound level would result in the power being cut and the Festival stopped. In addition to these formal warnings, Jam was told on over 25 separate occasions to turn the system levels down. On each occasion Jam complied with these instructions.
The sound system used at the Good Vibrations Festival in Melbourne on Saturday was identical to that used at the Festival last year, but the levels permitted by the venue were significantly lower than previous years.
Jam Music acted upon each of these instructions and warnings and was conscious of the venue’s threat to cut the power, especially when the final threat to “pull the plug” was made in the middle of Kanye West’s tribute song to his recently deceased mother. Jam believed the only way to ensure that the Festival continued until its scheduled finish time was to reduce the level of the speakers that fed sound to the top of the hill.
The Good Vibrations Festival’s ethos is always to give their audience a great time and the best possible experience. Unfortunately, due to the heavy handed interpretation of the EPA rules by the venue, Jam did not have the unfettered ability & control to do this in Melbourne last Saturday.
KEEK says...
pffft..
Kat_in_Japan says...
“....maybe they should move bigger concerts out to Flemington.” Classic NIMB (Not In My Backyard) syndrome. So they are happy for Flemington residents to have noise but not them. Meh! You choose to live in the city, then you have to deal with noise. Cmon, it's not that hard to figure out. Get double glazing then if it bothers you! It's not like it's every weekend. When High Contrast was playing, the sound was so low, everyone around me was yelling "Turn it up!". Very frustrating for the promoters, the punters and the artists.
winston_r says...
isnt sidney meyer music bowl in the middle of a massive park?, at least thats what i remembered from daft punk. I noticed sound levels were pretty low during cut copy and the presets sets at daft punk aswell....
westerndog says...
Stupid whinging residents... You live in the god damn city! If you want peace and quite you shouldn't live there...
Kitty99 says...
Guess things like this happen...but why make an issue about dance events. people should be happen its in a safe area and can be control easier....what about other events with noise levels peaking over limits...such as the grand prix....
bobmoog says...
i saw this on the age website this morning, the picture of the lady complaining looked like some stupid doctors wife with her head up her ass.....get over it d***head its not like it happens all day every day.
coxdigweed says...
Fuck Carols by candelight
jibber says...
the desires of how many residents vs how many punters? if people live near a music venue they sohuld have ZERO right to complain about noise. Its like people moving to lucas heights in sydney then complaining about the nuclear rector and the tip.
trashberry says...
I'd be happy to see this venue never host a "festival" again. too many day parties without a night party either side of them for my liking
joey_2323 says...
will this affect FMF Sound?
queen_vee says...
As people have said - it's utter bullshit for inner city residents to complain about such noise. You move to the area, you deal with the sound and the crowds that come with public venues holding concerts and festivals. In this instance, it was a day event, not an all night 'I cannot sleep with that sound' situation. I'm sure the residents would be more thrilled if festivals, events, concerts became a thing of the past resulting in young adults turning their attention elsewhere to relieve boredom; drinking and dispersing to various areas to cause mayhem. When did society become so f***king precious?
TJAY says...
I just don't understand why residents have any right whatsoever to complain about noise when they move into the city, especially when they choose to move opposite a long standing, outdoor music venue. What exactly were they expecting? As for the sound on the day, given the wind there's no wonder they got noise complaints, even if they were running at standard levels, it was playing havoc with the stages when we were only metres away.
rew22 says...
Interesting press release... I'd hate for the facts to get in the way of a good story -- Summadayze and KMG didn't have the same issues.. I wonder what the difference between these events *really* is ? Oh,
adzieinthahouse says...
whats worse smooth bass lines or some cow with the crappiest voice singing the shittiest song all those concerts keep me awake like they happen every day or even every month try a few times in a whole year sounds like these complains are coming from people that should be living in a nursing home ,not a home in the city
Bob Arfenhaus says...
Seems fair enough. It shouldn't be that big a deal to relocate when you consider the alternative.
EeGee says...
I live in saint kilda and its not like I'm about to complain about the music levels from saint kilda fest and mardi gras etc (not that I would - its half the reason I moved there) but the point is when you move to any area adjacent to entertainment precincts you need to expect music and people on event days. My neighbour can't stand st kilda fest day, he understands its part and parcel of living just of acland street tho and arranges to be elsewhere for the day. Those people that are precious enough to complain about noise from the bowl should do the same. Its all over by about ten pm. 20,000 punters having a good time VS a couple of residents having a whinge the EPA need to get a grip. Bring on FMF
luckysevenstar says...
I second that pfft.. What is Jam's excuse for the shitefull sound on the Roots Stage? It was certainly no 'noise complaint issue' just crap production. I was disgraced to see Pharoahe Monch's first Australian set played on that poor excuse for a sound system. Promoters: go O/S to a real festival like Rock the Bells and take note of what a real sound system sounds like. Resident's shut up: - if you move to the city and start making noise complaints you really are a moron.
Cosmica says...
Residents should have no say when the event closes at 11.00 pm.
albiea says...
i do agree with the people who have mentioned in the comments to why these complainers move to areas where they know well and truly there will be noise. It's like what happened to the espy. I remember they had live music till around the early hours of the morning till a bunch of wingey moles complained that they couldn't sleep. I say move house... or get some ear plugs (and yes i drive a noisy car!)
Downlow says...
There's two solutions to this; 1. Don't hold it there; or 2. Advertise it as 'the best in home stereo sound' and charge us $20 Weak buck-passing pricks.
aBeatPlease says...
not good enough... thats is a complete insult to the artists that played there... absolutely disgraceful... whoever was in charge should no longer be working there, as a punter i was embarrassed to be there after hearing that excuse, that is fukn weak.
MoRpH says...
Yuppie whingers that pay top dollar for realestate around established entertainment venues should have ZERO recourse at times like this. Unfortuantely as with most of the corp clone yuppie scum around these days, NO ONE MATTERS but THEM! Oh and BTW what I see in the younger generation... its only going to get worse, just look @ tools like Corey, kids like him grow up into the sort of ppl that complain about stuff like this, well that is once they quit getting fucked up decide they want a Lexus and a huge plasma TV
gc_clubber says...
The Same thing happened at Future music in Bribane last year! its turned us off it this year and we arent going! Its one night of the year ....GET OVER IT!!!
moniquem says...
those whingers seriously need to get a life....