Boardmasters 2024

[PoloMum]

Any other parents with teens at Boardmasters worried about safety following last night’s problems with overcrowding?

https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2024-08-10/injuries-after-crowd-surge-at-boardmasters-music-festival

Not currently worried. If my teen had been hurt, I’d have heard about it by now. Though my sympathies to anyone whose teens have been hurt - I expect I’d feel very differently if that were me.

The organisers seem to have taken action and I’d expect they will continue to monitor the situation, perhaps more thoroughly now.

IME at festivals the things that hit the headlines are affecting a relatively small proportion of festivalgoers in practice.

Sounds like the organisers are on it. Dd has been twice though not this year from what she has said think they have a good team dealing with issues quickly.

Here’s a local paper’s live blog. https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/24510006.incident-boardmasters-newquay-cornwall-stage-closed/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEkEgNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdENI98ZqfVvF6kS4VHlSap7V0R9Y2YZGhvHsiu9wAET2vGAODmk9l7_Ig_aem_MthCemj8vDtwW1vk8ondYA

Sounds like it was very stressful if you were at that particular stage, but probably not beyond that. Looks very busy!

My DD was caught up in the crowd surge and mentioned fights, people with broken bones, people trampled on etc. My worry is that they've increased the capacity (from 53k last year to 58k this year) to a level that is not really appropriate for the site. Fingers crossed they'll be able to manage the crowds for Sam Fender and Stormzy better.

Must have been scary for those who were there, esp since the crowd tends to be fairly young.

I’ve not had any contact from DS since yesterday morning but going with the no news is good news option! Boardmasters seem to be keeping pretty quiet about it all.

i hope those involved aren’t too badly injured

Friends have also said that there are a lot of incidents with girls in particular getting needled.

I can’t wait to have him home!

Yes, my DD also mentioned reports of spiking, and a feeling that it's druggier than in previous years. I'm not sure if she's hearing exaggerated rumours from other festival goers, or if the organisers are downplaying things. Probably a bit of both!

@Muchtoomuchtodo I'm sure you would have heard by now if DS had been involved - I agree no news is good news, means they're too busy enjoying themselves to keep you updated!

My dc is there at their first festival. They were in the crush yesterday and had to climb out of the side barriers but doesn't seem at all fazed and says they are very happy and enjoying themselves. I would hope that the organisers and police are all over it today and have a plan to prevent any further crushes on site for the rest of the festival.

My ds was there last year so I feel your pain if you're worried.

We heard very little from ds but he told us when he got home that phone reception is really poor so if you haven't heard from your dc that's probably why.

No news is good news is generally a good way of thinking!

I would be more concerned that my child was at Boardmasters per se. It's well known round here as an over commercialised shit hole. It's THE festival for teenagers to get shitfaced at and behave badly. Was it last year or the year before that it was really hot? Anyhow, they ran out of water (had worryingly few water points to start with). Lots of reports of sexual harassment of girls and women too.

There are far, far nicer festivals.

Needed? Actual needles???

I'm feeling a bit out of touch. My daughter is desperate to go next year after gcses...

She knows about spiking drinks and staying with friends.

But overcrowding. And needles??

I thought reading was the one to avoid 🤔

DS went last year and had a great time. Will be interested to see if he also wants to go next year.

My teen is there and rang this morning to say she was coming home tomorrow morning. She got a bit freaked out I think and doesn't want to risk it with Stormzy as that has the potential to be extremely busy.
She's been to Boardmasters before but said this year feels much busier and more frantic. Also a lot of drugs.

My DD is at boardmasters. She was in the crush but thankfully got out with her friends. I am staying nearby incase the girls need me as they are camping since Thursday. They are all ok but I am bringing them home tomorrow morning. They don't want to stay for stormzy's. Hardly any phone signal but I have driven to the green carpark drop/collection points this morning to see them and make arrangements with times etc incase I can't get hold of them. They all seem to be enjoying them selves.

As my lovely friend commented “60000
unsuoervised teenagers what could
possibly go wrong?!”

Boardmasters are massively downplaying the situation. They have stated that 7 people have been taken to hospital with minor injuries and released but there’s a lot more than 7, some with bones broken and other injuries. Medical tent couldn’t cope with the amount of people and sent some festival goers away despite being injured. There’s a lot of attendees getting checked out in local hospitals today after being told to go away from the medical tent last night.

it’s got far too big! They want to increase the capacity again next year, let’s hope that after this it won’t happen.

I have also heard there’s a massive ketamine spiking issue.

I live not far from Newquay. My son has been twice (but at 21 has grown out of Boardmasters). There is usually something..running out of water, kids too close to cliffs, and now a crush. Increased capacity is the problem and I think large numbers of 16 year olds.

That's interesting about the ketamine spiking, my friend's daughter had to go home after some supposedly spiked ket. Tbh I thought she had probably just taken too much.

My 16 year old daughter and her 3 friends are there and are having a great time. It's their first festival. They have been fully supported by staff when needed and other festival goers have been friendly and helpful. I am looking forward to having her home on Monday but so far so good. 🤞

Does everyone take drugs...?

I don't think so. I'm fairly sure it's only a minority.

My DS2 and GF were caught in the crowd surge yesterday
Luckily he was stood near a barrier on the edge and his GF held on to him
I read earlier they plan to increase the crowd capacity next year and year after that
I do hope they make other changes to accommodate them
Terrifying.

I sincerely hope not. Hopefully the 4 cans of cider that our DS took was as far as it went for him.

I heard from DS yesterday afternoon, he said the stage was just really busy so they left. Not sure if that was before or after the surge incident but he said they’re all having fun.

@crackofdoom which other festivals would you suggest might be better?

Glad your DS is okay. I did know it wasn't literally everyone but my daughters keen to go next year and if most people are u do realise how hard it is to resist peer pressure and would encourage her not to go if there are lots of drugs. I'm aware there's drugs at a festival... But if it's everywhere that normalise it and she's easily led...

Jesus, 16 year olds doing ketamine. I'm obviously getting old as the most we did was weed, speed and the occasional bit of mdma if we were feeling adventurous.