Bangor prepares for Snow Patrol's acoustic concert this week
Celebrating Gary Lightbody's Freedom of the Borough Award
When Gary Lightbody takes to the stage for the Snow Patrol acoustic concert on Bangor Seafront on Wednesday 31st August, he will officially hold the Freedom of the Borough for Ards and North Down, having received the award the previous evening at a private ceremony in Bangor Castle.
The concert, to take place at the McKee Clock Arena, sold out in record time last month as fans raced to secure one of the 5,000 tickets for the gig, which is being organised by Open House Festival and Ards and North Down Borough Council.
It is a public celebration of the Freedom of the Borough Award, the highest accolade a Council can bestow, which is being granted to Gary in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the local area as a musician of international standing, a philanthropist, and a champion of local charitable causes.
The concert also marks the end of the annual August Open House Festival in Bangor, and profits from the gig will go to the organisation’s re-development of the old Bangor Court House into a non-profit music venue, which the next step in its mission to regenerate the city through arts and culture.
Support acts on the night have been specially selected by Gary and include up-and-coming Bangor band, The Florentinas. The other acts performing before Snow Patrol take to the stage are Lucy Gaffney and David C Clements.
Although Snow Patrol has played to mass audiences in Bangor’s Ward Park three times in the past fifteen years, as an acoustic gig, this concert will have a much more intimate feel.
“We’re delighted to be hosting Gary and Snow Patrol on Bangor Seafront, just opposite the Court House, for this very special one-off acoustic performance,” says Open House Director, Kieran Gilmore. “Obviously as the band is so popular, and Gary is much loved in his home town, we could have sold the concert three times over. But this event will be very different to the previous Ward Park concerts, and it really had to happen on the seafront, in the heart of the city.”
Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Karen Douglas, who originally nominated Gary for the award, said: “I am delighted that we recognise the outstanding contributions made by Gary Lightbody OBE, to our Borough and beyond. His humanitarian spirit and his desire to give back continue to have such a significant impact on others. The endless generosity with his time and the support he gives to so many causes and otherwise marginalised groups is truly deserving of this highest honour.”
Organisers have been advising the public that tickets will not be available at the gate, and that opportunities to view and listen to the concert outside the venue will be extremely limited.
“Only people with tickets should travel to attend the gig as you won’t get inside without one, and you won’t see anything from outside either,” said Kieran. “We’d also like to warn people about counterfeit tickets that are circling and urge folk not to purchase tickets from a third party unless they are a very trusted source.”
It is anticipated there will be minimum disruption to local residents and businesses, with no advance road closures ahead of the event. However, the PSNI will be active at the concert site and may instigate temporary road closures with immediate effect if the area becomes very busy. Concert goers are being urged to walk to the event if possible (or get dropped off on the perimeter of the city and walk from there) or take public transport. Translink are operating a late train back to Belfast at 11pm and tickets can be pre-booked through a link on the Open House website.
People driving to the concert can park at Dufferin Avenue, The Flagship Centre, or Aurora Leisure Centre car parks. The car parks on Queen’s Parade and Quay Street will be closed to the public on the morning of the concert, with the exception of blue badge holders attending the concert, who must pre-apply for a pass. Details are on the Open House website.
“We want everyone attending the event to have a great evening, but we want them to do it safely while respecting the local area, including residents and businesses,” said Kieran. “We’ve been working closely with everyone involved to make that happen, including Ards and North Down Borough Council, the local PSNI, Translink and of course Snow Patrol too, so we’re confident that ticket holders and the general public will play their part.”
This week's acoustic concert with Snow Patrol kicks off Wednesday 31st August from 5pm.
Full details of timings and admission requirements for ticket holders can be found at openhousefestival.com/snow-patrol
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