As is usually the case, the many are suffering due to the actions of the few. Today's example is fans of EDM in Scotland losing out on a chance to see Hardwell-the world's top-ranked DJ according to DJ Magazine-because of an incident that happened earlier last week at a show in Northern Ireland. The city of Edinburgh opted to cancel Saturday night's show due to the number of "casualties" that occurred last Thursday night in Belfast at Hardwell's show.
Edinburgh's police force and city council decided that Saturday's show—which was to take place at the Royal Highland Centre—should be cancelled "due to safety concerns."
"We regret to inform you that after a lengthy meeting with the City Chambers in Edinburgh, licensing board and Police Scotland this afternoon, a decision has been made to withdraw the licence for the I Am Hardwell event tomorrow night at The Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh," reported Colours, the company promoting the I Am Hardwell tour.
Plans for a possible reschedule, or refund, will be announced laster this week.
Music Times and other publications reported Friday that 60 fans were treated for "the effects of drinking and drugs" at the Belfast show, and seven were hospitalized as a result. Monday's reports from The Belfast Telegraph upped the official count to more than 100 treated and 18 hospitalized. The onslaught of those requiring treatment was such that the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service declared it a "major incident" last week.
Some fans protested the decision to cancel Edinburgh's show on the venue website, pointing out that the Scottish show was to be 18-and-older versus the 16-and-over Belfast show (the legal drinking age across the pond is 18). It seems EDM fans in the U.K. will be forced to go without for now.
