How do UK audiences compare to the rest of the world?
Posted by Rough-Foundation9208@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 214 comments
[removed]
Posted by Rough-Foundation9208@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 214 comments
[removed]
Master-Parsnip-7758@reddit
Nice photo. Barrowlands is one of my favourite venues and I have been to a LOT.
I don't think the country matters too much, but the genre usually does. Older rock and metal crowds are probably the nicest people I have shared a room with.
AirlineSevere7456@reddit
As a metalhead, the UK tends to sing along, headbang, mosh pit etc. But it's all friendly.
Went to a US concert once and got violent fairly quickly in random pockets.
Also went to a concert in Paris and the French were very subdued in comparison to us.
HalikusZion@reddit
SO very friendly in a metal pit. Took a buddy of mine to his first ever proper gig to see Korn and he was genuinely afraid seeing all the big scary metalheads going in. This lasted until during a big circle pit during freak on a leash some guys glasses fell of and the entire pit stopped almost instanlty so we could all search for the glasses hahahaha.
GetInYourBasket@reddit
I had a similar thing happen at a gig once. I found the guys glasses, and there were shouts going round saying "we've found them!" eventually it got round to the guy who'd lost them and people put their hands up to make a chain connecting me to the guy that lost them so we could pass them through the crowd.
newbracelet@reddit
One of my first rock gigs I watched someone put his hand in the air and yell 'i've lost my shoe' and the circle pit he was in just stopped dead and everyone sprang into help mode, couple of people holding out an arm for him to lean on while he put the shoe back on, someone picked the shoe up for him etc. He put the shoe on and tied his laces and stuck his hand back up and said all good and the pit instantly restarted. It was like there was this hive mind that everyone was subscribed to.
I've also lost my glasses at a gig (same band actually but years later, Funeral for a Friend for the record) and so many people helped me. It's fucking terrifying when you're really blind but people were so good.
AceStrawberryWolf@reddit
Was at download last year, literally a fat hairy guy in a too too twirling around in the moses so fun and freeing haha
dog-yodelling@reddit
Can confirm. Broke my hand in a circle pit once may years ago Literally everyone stopped and some massive guys parted the sea of the crowd to get me to first aid.
HalikusZion@reddit
If someone goes down we pick them up!!! Metal for life!
ollyprice87@reddit
Yep relatable, someone falls down, everyone immediately pushing arms out “hang on let them up”
kendoddsdadsdeaddog@reddit
The Mosh Pit looks after its own!
BFA-9000@reddit
I'm a big guy so I was aware going into my first one to not get too carried away and proper clean someone out. My cardio also wasnt the best so I got out of breath after a while and stopped for a second to catch it, at this point a young woman went flat out into my shoulder and nocked herself down. Was going to pick her up check she's ok etc and didn't even get the chance to bend over before a group of people in the pit had helped her, good vibes. We did also use the motions of pit to escape someone who was very much out of their mind and stuff In flip flops a backpack and no shirt.
owningxylophone@reddit
Donnington Monsters of Rock 1996, I had the exact same experience. The entire pit stopped around me to help find them and make sure they weren’t trampled. Sweaty, hairy, drunken British metalheads are the kindest fucking people in the world.
Mikey463@reddit
Haha I fucking love this and I can just imagine it happening. Favourite reddit comment of the week.
HalikusZion@reddit
OMG thank you so much for the award!!
Doobalicious69@reddit
It's such a weird but great thing to witness the first time you go to one of these gigs. I would rather spend the night with huge metal heads who all look like they could fuck me up, than a bunch of small chavs who look just like me.
They're always the nicest people who want everyone to have a good time.
sleepyprojectionist@reddit
LET’S OPEN THIS FUCKING PIT UP!
To make room for afternoon tea.
I love the sense of camaraderie at UK metal gigs. People don’t suffer dickheads gladly.
merryman1@reddit
Kublai Khan turned most of the main stage at Bloodstock last year into a giant pit. Honestly one of the best gigs I've been to in the last 10 years, absolutely incredible energy.
filbert94@reddit
Was it a stagedive friendly gig?
Hardcore is an interesting one because it's either one big circle pit with stagediving or it's crowd killers spinkicking their way through.
I think there's two safe zones from the latter - too few people and the spin kickers keep to themselves while too many and there's no room for them to do it
merryman1@reddit
No its a big open air festival so there's a decent gap between the stage and the floor.
Here's how it started. Here's how it ended.
Never really listened to them before, solid feature on the gym playlist now!
eternalrecluse@reddit
Yes! Had never heard them before, the crowd control was immense.
Metrobolist3@reddit
Used to go to our local metal/alternative club as a teen and remember bouncing around in an impromptu pit on the dance floor bashing into big guys then shaking hands when the song ended. Funny stuff
NateDMP@reddit
Been to countless gigs through the years, never had trouble at a single one. I also love going to shows on my own if I have to because you'll always meet a cool bunch of people with loads in common and just have a good time.
Solo-me@reddit
For a foraging country I d say depends on what language the concert is. I went to Spain to see an American band and a few were singing, more joined in for chorus etc. The language barrier.
ActualBawbag@reddit
When I (UK) went to see Trivium as a teenager, the entire floor was one massive circle pit on the last song. It was soaking wet with all the spilled water and beer and me and my friend literally couldn't stay on our feet.
We both got hauled up off the floor by two massive metaleads and they DRAGGED around the circle pit.
Good times.
snapper1971@reddit
I accidentally smashed someone's nose across their face in the mosh pit at a Joe Strummer gig. I was horrified and expected a kicking, he was fine about it. I wonder how he's doing these days.
BertytheSnowman@reddit
The bigger and scarier looking the people in the pit are, the safer you are.
Illustrious-Baker775@reddit
Maybe i need to experience a UK show, but all the US shows ive been to have been very friendly. If someone falls down in the moshpit, everyone in a 10ft radius is helping them get back up, or guarding them from being stepped on. Someone found a phone on the ground at the last one we went to, and the pit came to a halt to find the owner. I can link arms and headbang with just about any stranger, and no one has ever treated me poorly due to in.
Joshouken@reddit
I recently saw Jinjer in Copenhagen, I don’t know whether it was the country, subgenre or size of venue but the crowd was way too chill
I’m seeing them again in Glasgow later this year so will get a proper comparison!
quatrevingtdixsept@reddit
In my experience, concerts in France have a similar energy to the U.K. if it’s a French speaking artists vs an international artist
sgst@reddit
Yeah the biggest and roughest pits I've ever been in were Gojira and, weirdly, Korn in Hellfest, France.
Most violent I've experienced was Machine Head and Skindred in Cardiff, largely because there were a bunch of skinheads there trying to cause trouble and get into fights.
drdivw@reddit
Machine head tonight in Glasgow!!
guerrios45@reddit
Don’t know to what concert you’ve been but I’d say UK/French metal crowd are quite similar. I mostly go to hardcore shows though but event for more mainstream / older stuff it has been comparable. For festivals, Hellfest crowd is 10x better than Download.
US tends to be shitter than European crowds because they are stoned. Meanwhile people in Europe drink more and tend to use more class A drugs… which makes them less sleepy than the Americans, quite the opposite :D
Phil_Mike-Huntin@reddit
Go see Gojira in France if you like them, I've made a habit of trying to see bands in hometown/countries. Slipknot in Iowa is the dream
rmajor86@reddit
We sing along. We are trained from an early age to sing along - school assemblies etc
AlucardVTep3s@reddit
He’s got the whole world, in His hands!
Chiccada@reddit
If I had a hammer
Evil_Sponge_666@reddit
I'd hammer in my brother... I'd hammer in my sister...
Davski88@reddit
Give me oil in my lamp, keep it burning
Infamous_Tough_7320@reddit
Wow that’s a throwback 😂😂
neegs@reddit
Jesus bangers
Story from a random. When at gigs and bored I start singing jesus bangers at the top of my voice. So fucking funny waiting for Prodigy to come out and a crowd of random stranger start singing
"Give me Joy in my heart keep my praying give me joy in my heart I pray"
Those songs are etched into my brain.
washismypilotnow@reddit
Give me oil in my lamp, I pray
Emergency-Agency-254@reddit
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning burning burning
CompetitiveAnxiety@reddit
‘TIL the break of daaay
JTallented@reddit
Siiiing hosannah!
TheMadHistorian1@reddit
SINGGG HOSANNAHHHHH!!!
RedQuirk@reddit
zzzzsssssssSSSSSSSSIIIIIIInnnnnnngggg HoziAhhhh til the end of days
cheesewindow@reddit
No surrender, no surrender…….
make_lemonade21@reddit
As a non-native, it might be that you sing along not solely because you're trained to do so, but also because you're native English speakers. It'd probably be a bit harder for Brits to sing along to songs in German or French, for example, generally speaking
RedQuirk@reddit
Gang aft aglee, we weren't always all native english. But over centuries that's the dominant language.
Doobalicious69@reddit
ToshPott@reddit
My son keeps singing this to me, and I always want to sing "sweet Caroline"
leonjetski@reddit
Fucking tune
Responsible_Task_401@reddit
All things bright and beautiful
Mercator77@reddit
All creatures grunt and smell
Abaqueues@reddit
Cauliflowers fluffy, and cabbages green
Ok_Rough5764@reddit
Banger
ben_uk@reddit
Conkers, lots of lovely conkers
No_Atmosphere8146@reddit
Shout it from the mountain tops, WOAH OH
Jabberminor@reddit
I was cold, I was hungry, were you there? Were you there?
CharlesWafflesx@reddit
Cold (🥶) naked (🤭)
Professional_Meal885@reddit
I AM THE LORD OF THE DANCE SAID HE
WishfulStinking2@reddit
Very proud of UK audiences for the gigs I go to for the most part. Seeing American festivals either be completely dead or just people assaulting each other makes me smile to have the crowds we do
Street-Mobile-7723@reddit
within the uk itself, having been to concerts all over the shop, southern crowds have nothing on the north. seeing the same band on the same tour in both leeds and london while it was an amazing energy at both shows the leeds crowd just went for it with everything they had
maersyl@reddit
Dave Grohl, Leeds Festival back in 2000-something said it best, for me, “the further north you go, the more fucked up the crowd is”
Probably find the Reading crowd the night before was wank in comparison.
smushs88@reddit
“Artist says something popular to pump up the local crowd that night”
More at 10.
maersyl@reddit
Whilst you’re probably right around the crowd hype edge, Rage Against the Machine had to stop the show so people with broken bones could be fished out of the festival crowd. (Again at Leeds)
Northerners are just mental, and I say this as someone not originally from around the north!
Glasgow was just mental for Muse at Barrowlands as well, best Muse crowd I’ve been in.
TheocraticAtheist@reddit
I went to Leeds that year and it was insane. Went to Reading the next year and it's so different.
OmmadonRising@reddit
Was that like 08? Was there and it was HEAVING!!! One of the best gigs ever.
maersyl@reddit
Sounds about right, it was insane!
OmmadonRising@reddit
Aye it was. My arm was killing from standing for 2 hours with a raised fist 😆
smushs88@reddit
Fair play, that rage story is pretty gnarly.
lottesometimes@reddit
also because they're all about 16
whosUtred@reddit
Reading is always wank tbf
capcrunch217@reddit
Agreed, having worked festivals for a decade the northern crowds energy is night and day compared to the south. Leeds festival is still my favourite festival, followed by Download. Worst crowd had to be Electric Daisy at Milton Keynes followed by Wireless Finsbury Park.
thefooby@reddit
Best gig I’ve ever been to was the Talisk 10th anniversary gig at Glasgow 02 last year. I went for the support act and didn’t expect Scottish folk music to be more lively than hardcore.
Phil_Mike-Huntin@reddit
Do you scream Yawksheer everywhere you go
Street-Mobile-7723@reddit
i'm not from yorkshire, and that is one of the few downsides to gigs up there is that chant going up every 5 minutes
Kim-Jong-Long-Dong@reddit
Ehhhh most gigs ive been at where it has been chanted, ive only really seen it once or twice, three times was the most. After the first it does get annoying tho.
pinpoint321@reddit
I’m from “Yawkshu” “Yawkshu” and it pisses me off as well.
Phil_Mike-Huntin@reddit
I can't stand it, it's a bloody pain aswell as my fave bands are from that area. I'm sick of " here we,here we fucking go" in Scotland too
Sattaman6@reddit
You’re right and I say it as a Londoner.
kipperfish@reddit
The London is not "the south'" it's London. It's its own thing.
BoratsNutsack@reddit
But it's in the south, is it not?
Miserable_Copy2789@reddit
Definitely no bias I’m sure
Street-Mobile-7723@reddit
not at all, i'm born and bred in london and the best gig ive ever been too was at brixton academy. i've just seen a better crowd reaction at the shows ive been too up north. maybe it's the music im into, i like heavy metal punk etc and a lot of heavier bands emerged from up north
OmmadonRising@reddit
I'm a northerner and I generally agree. However, I think the most consistently outgoing crowds, over multiple gigs of really varied genres, was Rock City in Nottingham. Always the best crowds, whoever is playing.
ICantSpayk@reddit
Brixton academy is great for gigs because it's a good sized venue that still feels intimate and it's mostly all standing too.
CurmudgeonlyBargee@reddit
I remember a Stiff Little Fingers gig there. For some reason the police tried moving in to shut the place down., 3 rows deep around the back of the room. Once the power was pulled the police got ejected by the crowd, the band carried on playing even though there was no electric. Normalcy was eventually restored & a good night was had by all except the police! This was in the late 80s or early 90s
anojanoo92@reddit
This also applies to raves and live DJ sets
I__am__Wilson@reddit
I’m just here to appreciate that the picture used is of the Barrowlands… amazing venue and atmosphere
swampman23512@reddit
Saw Death Grips here. It was fucking class.
Squire1998@reddit
Stag and Dagger?
swampman23512@reddit
Nah at the Barrowland Ballroom in 2023.
Squire1998@reddit
Had no idea they performed so recently here. I had a ticket to see them back when TMS came out but could make it. Devastated.
swampman23512@reddit
They did two nights. Only went to one but it was so fucking good. My girlfriend is only semi into them and so stood to the side and kept hold of my shirt but inadvertently stood next to the big massive amps and was deaf for the next 12 hours
Rough-Foundation9208@reddit (OP)
Nowhere better.
everybodyctfd@reddit
Nowhere comes even close for me.
betterman74@reddit
It sure is
Dennyisthepisslord@reddit
Honestly it feels to me crowds in general aren't as wild as pre smartphone.
Nice_Income_2607@reddit
Had been looking for this comment. Maybe it's getting slightly older and going to different gigs (I'm in my 30s) but this is completely noticeable for me. Used to leave gigs drenched in sweat after bouncing around with the whole crowd. Can't remember the last time that happened.
Dennyisthepisslord@reddit
Yeah even at younger acts it's pretty tame so I think it's not just an age thing!
Successful_Banana901@reddit
Fuck the UK! Scotland is the best place for gigs!
Evieveevee@reddit
Lived on 3 continents. Europe, Asia and Australasia. UK and Australia very similar at gigs. Really into it and up and dancing, incredible atmosphere.
Asia, very subdued and too polite. No real atmosphere.
Senior1292@reddit
Dutch crowds are tall and talk a lot through the concerts. Both are very annoying.
No_Atmosphere8146@reddit
Tall people should be banned from the front half of the standing area. There should be a horizontal bar set at 5 foot 6 and if can walk under it without stooping, you can go to the front.
Yours sincerely,
5ft5 me
newbracelet@reddit
I'm just shy of 5 foot and recently started using a wheelchair and it's hilarious to see people panic and worry that I wont see anything when they realise there's a crowd standing in front of a wheelchair. I have seen so much more of gigs since using the wheelchair (mainly from elevated platforms, but also because people do try not to block my view) than I ever did standing up.
liseusester@reddit
Co-signing with every bit of my 5'3"!
BuddyLegsBailey@reddit
Since covid, the talking through concerts has become really bad in this country as well. I can't understand choosing to go to a gig to have a catch up with a friend. Surely you'd choose somewhere cheaper and quieter?!?!
maersyl@reddit
I had this at a Cure gig in Manchester. Two blokes behind me and my wife just chatting about football and shit. I had to ask them to go elsewhere as I was trying to watch the gig, got answered with a shove. Like, guys… we paid good money to be here. Pub is around the corner if you want to chat.
Other people started to chime in and the two blokes were duly made to bugger off.
clitorasClive@reddit
Seen the cure in Manchester aswell and it just felt so flat, not the bands fault just the audience seemed like they couldn't be bothered. Then seen them a couple of years later in Glasgow and it was completely different, crowd were really up for it and really great atmosphere
Kholdula@reddit
I've found English crowds to be quite odd in all honesty. Was last down for Deftones and it was flat like you say. Very strange.
charmstrong70@reddit
Don’t say that, got tickets for Wythenshawe in August
maersyl@reddit
I wonder if we were at the same shows as I’ve seen them in the same two places!
DRUGEND1@reddit
UK is as bad for that now. Literally had people behind chatting about the route they took to the venue, whilst a band were playing one of their biggest hits.
Mossgrrrrl@reddit
Yes!! I used to live in NL and it baffled me how people would stand still and chat through concerts. I finally lost my shit at a Bloc Party festival slot (during Helicopter I think) and shouted at people to dance… to no avail haha. It had been like that all weekend when we found a secret dance stage- all bass and minimal lyrics- and suddenly the Dutch had energy. Enough for fist pumping and two stepping, anyway.
rainbow84uk@reddit
Came here to say the same. Super quiet when it comes to cheering/singing, loud as fuck when it comes to talking through the whole thing. And very, very tall.
Senior1292@reddit
Went to see a show with a couple of dutch friends I hadn't seen for 6 months or so and one of them said "I know we're in the middle of a song, but we haven't even talked about F1 yet!". That was the first and last concert I will go to with them.
shanloulie@reddit
cant speak for the uk overall but a welsh gig will elevate you spiritually, dunno if its all the welsh hymns in school or just the sound of the valleys echoing but every artists i've seen is shocked by how the welsh turn up
asjonesy99@reddit
nah i live in cardiff and have always been disappointed by the crowds (generally punk shows). Same goes for when I travel to Bristol.
Manchester always looks to be where it’s at
Celestial_Elixir3@reddit
If you ask me, I've been to many a punk show in Newport and it's been better than Cardiff! (for punk and stuff anyway ofc)
filbert94@reddit
Le Pub?
Celestial_Elixir3@reddit
Yes and also the cab :)
Victori_nox@reddit
Honestly Glasgow is the one. Their crowds are often feral but in a good way. Plus if a band is doing the classic, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham and 2 nights in London it's always easier to get tickets to go up to Glasgow I find.
Tall-Display-8219@reddit
We also have "that" chant
chemo92@reddit
I saw Public Service Broadcasting play their entire album about the valleys and miners strike (every valley) at Green Man festival in Wales.
They brought on the Beaufort Male Voice choir to sing a hymn at the end.
Everyone was shushing all the people talking. Within 10 seconds you could hear a pin drop. Then the started singing and I think we all had a religious experience.
The applause after was tumultuous. Not sure that choir had ever had such a reception.
It was an absolutely magical experience.
rfc667@reddit
I was there too - it was completely unforgettable. I still get goosebumps thinking about it
chemo92@reddit
Remarkable wasn't it 😃
I'd pay silly money to experience that again
rfc667@reddit
Absolutely!
Doric-cat-wifie@reddit
PSB! They did that at Royal Albert hall too. Was a really good and unusual ending to the gig.
Needs_a_shit@reddit
I’m from England but drove to Cardiff for one gig and it was the absolute worst crowd I’ve ever seen. Nobody gave a shit about Paolo Nutini singing on the stage, just everyone getting pissed and chatting as though it was a club with some bloke on a stage in the corner. Very strange. Here’s a review of the show to prove it wasn’t just me, at one point he even said “thank you to those of you that listened”: https://foryourconsideration.co.uk/articles/paolo-nutini-cardiff-international-arena
karamazovmybrother@reddit
The crowd would have been 50% English
GORGEzilla@reddit
also had two instances of people chatting through gigs in Cardiff rather than watching the acts. A friend said Stevie Wonder last year was the worst crowd he had ever been in
OmmadonRising@reddit
Been to loads of gigs in Cardiff and always been a good experience.
Benjajinj@reddit
Yeah, same. Haim said it was one of the best gigs they'd played, which I wouldn't normally believe but the fact they were crying while they said it lent it some credence.
filbert94@reddit
Germany is great. It's safer and friendlier compared to the UK. I jumped off stage, got carried to the back, then reversed and ended up back on stage. Minimal to no violence.
Spain was pretty rubbish. Some bouncing but not a lot more than that.
We're a real mix but we're way more active.
ThrowRAMomVsGF@reddit
Many indoor standing concerts I've been to in the UK have annoyingly sticky floors. I had never had that in the US or Greece. But otherwise the actual vibe depends on the genre/concert and it's usually good.
Phil_Mike-Huntin@reddit
If you like to see thousands of chairs I'd recommend download festival
mimic@reddit
lol they’ve had to take a stand (sorry) about that at bloodstock & now have “no chair zones” by the stages. Tbf they were lethal in the dark
Phil_Mike-Huntin@reddit
It's absolutely brutal, I don't wanna trample on anyone, but it's beyond a joke.
carcrash12@reddit
I've travelled internationally for a couple concerts - am into rock/metal and the crowds in both Spain + Japan have been just as great as the best crowds I've been in here in London.
Meanwhile I found the crowds in Sweden, Denmark and ESPECIALLY the US to be pretty flat
patheticgirl63@reddit
To my surprise the subdued nature of the Finnish really came out in the gigs i've seen over there, but I know that's just because once alcohol is involved they 180 haha.
essjay2009@reddit
I went to a gig in the US last year and it was a really weird vibe. Almost like it was just a day out rather than going to a gig to listen to music. People seemed to care more about getting merch than the actual music. It was like being with a bunch of tourists or something.
samsaBEAR@reddit
I've seen videos of shows on Japan where they're going ape shit during songs but in between they're deathly silent, I guess to show respect to the band. It's such a tonal whiplash
FabianTIR@reddit
Well I just got out of a Karnivool gig in London and it was awesome. Everyone sang, lots of (respectful and polite) moaning, good vibes all round. The majority of gigs I've been to have had good crowds
shutyerfizzace@reddit
Good crowd and pit for Revocation in Belgjum, still uk can go bigger, was in Meshuggah pit 6 beers deep at Manchester lol carnage
redmamoth@reddit
Kings of Leon wrote Fans about us, just ask them.
DeepStatic@reddit
I went to a Sisters of Mercy gig in the states once and people were cross because I danced. it was a miserable affair.
Competitive_Ice5661@reddit
I went to a Sisters of Mercy gig in New York a couple years ago and the crowd was so shit compared to here in UK. Nobody near me was dancing or singing along (apart from me and my friend)—it was bizarre how quiet it was haha.
ttimoth279@reddit
I'm enjoying the random Sisters chat while the photo shows The Mish playing. Great stuff!
dermsUK@reddit
You can go to literally any type of gig any genre and there will be a bloke with a belly and a bicep tattoo with his shirt off
Peg_leg_J@reddit
I will die on this hill.
UK Moshpits are the best moshpits in the world
RipCurl69Reddit@reddit
Dubstep and metal shows have the best pits out of anything, and ESPECIALLY in the UK.
They go absolutely berserk, but also will check to make sure everyone is doing okay. I had like...three guys lightly tap me during a single mosh and then immediately go "you good?!?!" because I'm short, and they (I assume) think they're being harder than they are. It just takes being situationally aware
Fudball1@reddit
Brostep surely
RipCurl69Reddit@reddit
If we're calling it brostep in 2026 then I'm fine with it, just means brostep is making a return lmao
But no, you get plenty of the regular dubstep in there, a bit of the brostep, a bit of the riddim, all falls under the same banner to me
QuizzicalSquid7@reddit
Moshing at dubstep? Are you having a laugh? What dubstep nights have you been to where you’ve seen this? Artist and location please
RipCurl69Reddit@reddit
Syn LDN events will fuck you up lol, nearly got wiped out last week but they go crazy
QuizzicalSquid7@reddit
What sort of dubstep is this? Brostep? I genuinely have no idea how you would mosh to dubstep…
itchybeats@reddit
Probably brostep shit but I'm not here to take us back to 2012 arguing about semantics
eeedeat@reddit
Dubstep moshpits? Ew
RipCurl69Reddit@reddit
Wouldn't see it for anything techno
eeedeat@reddit
Or dubstep, never seen anything like a moshpit at a dubstep dance
RipCurl69Reddit@reddit
You been recently? Plenty of dubstep shows up in London with full on moshpits, usually the Syn LDN guys lol
eeedeat@reddit
Never heard of it but just checked out the insta. I think we have very different perceptions of what a dubstep night is
Peg_leg_J@reddit
The best friends you will ever make will be in pits
HotPotatoWithCheese@reddit
UK, Germany and Brazil are the top tier for music audiences IMO, especially when it comes to heavy metal. Very lively people.
Spieluhr616@reddit
Maybe cos iron maiden audience is now a bit old, but I was so disappointed when most people in the arena sat still sitting beer during The Trooper, towards the end of the concert. I've been to their gigs in other European countries and people was jumping and screaming. So yeah.. tame.
LesserShambler@reddit
Been to a couple of country gigs in Texas and the crowds there make UK rock crowds look like a bunch of Sunday school teachers. So fucking drunken and rowdy, but not in a friendly way.
unfit-calligraphy@reddit
I’ve been to gigs in Scotland England Wales Ireland France USA Denmark Spain and Greece. Full disclosure, I’m from Edinburgh and my favorite venue is the barrowlands so I’m biased. USA was strange cos it was Bruce Springsteen and I thought it would be fucking mental, but it was like going to a gig with your elderly family.
Carefreealex@reddit
I've been to 998 gigs (I document them, not autistic I swear). About 1/4th of them were in London, 1/2 in Sweden and the rest in different UK cities, the US, Canada and France. It really depends on the genre tbf. UK crowds are definitely rowdier and I've seen way more fistfights than anywhere else, even a Father John Misty concert was interrupted for a fight ffs. Also only place I've experienced people randomly throwing pints over the audience.
Opening-Tea-257@reddit
I’ve been to a few gigs in Italy (I’m British) and I felt like I was the only one dancing/jumping around. As opposed to UK gigs where most people seem up for it.
not-much@reddit
In Italian and can confirm. Maybe we are more self conscious?
Revolutionary-Tie-77@reddit
As a Brit in Australia I can tell you the Aussies (at least in Sydney) are very subdued which is surprising.
Acceptable_Plant_102@reddit
been to gigs in several countries, Australia is by far the worst I've experienced. No community vibe, very little singing or dancing, "just stand still and take in the show" vibes....shit. people give you dirty looks if you move around or sing along. really strange.
been to a few gigs in Australia that break that trend, but 90% of those were punk shows....punks know how to gig.
nothing beats the good ol' barras 🙌🏼
Fingertoes1905@reddit
My favourite band of the moment is Australian and they are always over here. Their gigs in Australia always look so dire compared to here.
Phil_Mike-Huntin@reddit
Polaris?
thecrapinabox@reddit
Rolf Harris Marching Band
BritishGent_mlady@reddit
Amyl & The Sniffers
Acceptable_Plant_102@reddit
yea I bet. it's very strange going to gigs in aus when you're used to more lively crowds (I've been to more lively funerals)
sucks. feel bad for touring bands who don't expect it. flat as fuck every fucking night, through no fault of the band/artist.
pharmer25@reddit
I’m surprised to hear that about Australia, but then again one of my favourite bands in my teens was Parkway Drive who have always been known for having insane shows
X-V-W@reddit
To be honest, Australia concerts seem like my dream then.
I don’t like live music because I don’t like the screaming, dancing, or singing along to the songs. Completely understand that I’m the weird one, but none of it is for me.
I’d love to go to some gigs where I can just stand there and take in the music without worrying about what’s going on around me.
Acceptable_Plant_102@reddit
yea fair enough dude, if that's what suits your disposition I reckon the Aussie gigs would be a good place to start enjoying gigs. Unfortunately it's pretty out the way if you're not all ready there (like most places I suppose).
Also, if you happen to like folk music, a lot of folk music gigs are low key and pretty quiet crowd wise. Might be worth exploring. Probably some other genres I'm not as familiar with that have similar vibes.
5c0ttgreen@reddit
Yeah fully agree with this. It’s strange because there are so many freaking awesome bands coming out of Aus right now, way better than the current state of British music, but I did find their crowds to be a lot less rowdy than the UK.
The_39th_Step@reddit
Music isn’t just bands to be fair lad
MarmiteTheBlackCat@reddit
As someone who lives in Aus, my groups theory is that so little comes here a load of people go just to have a night out. Couldn’t care less about the act/show.
Some of the best gigs I’ve ever seen are artists that come last minute or are so unknown that no one books ‘just because’.
Low_Sodiium@reddit
Totally agree with this!
Uk > Germany > pretty much everywhere else > Australia
cbren88@reddit
Not as good as Irish.
Immediate-Escalator@reddit
Can confirm. I went to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers at Lansdowne Road stadium in Dublin in about 2002 and it was a great atmosphere. I also got to witness 30,000 people calling Peter Hook a wanker.
Pristine_Speech4719@reddit
They tend to be a lot more British, I've noticed
Dubliner344@reddit
Can’t believe I’m typing this. I saw Crowded House a few years back in Birmingham and the worst fight I’ve ever seen was kicking off on the floor.
tonnerrrrr@reddit
i've seen paramore in barcelona spain and the crowd was looking at me like shit for singing along. so when i was going to see enter shikari years later in barcelona i was scared, but hollllyyyyy fuck it was the best crowd ever, the whole venue was doing a circle pit, it was incredible
jar_jar_LYNX@reddit
I really miss UK concerts. I moved to Vancouver and everyone is so reserved here, like they are scared to look like they are having fun
pog_in_baby@reddit
Every single crowd I've been in has been infinitely better than any coachella footage I have ever seen
cornyleone@reddit
They are considerable more British.
MrJustMartin@reddit
I’ll die on the hill that UK crowds are among the best in the world.
Look at a headline act crowd at Glastonbury and compare it another, non-UK, festival from the same act. We properly get involved.
eventworker@reddit
I've been to - and worked - many gigs in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Crowds are fairly similar, although UK authorities are a lot more restrictive in what they allow concert goers to do.
mimic@reddit
Really?! Like what?
EddieOfDoom@reddit
I’m a metal head and have been attending gigs in the UK for 20 years, can’t beat the atmosphere and almost always cordial and friendly, even in the pit.
Haven’t had bad experiences abroad, but it was unnerving watching Metallica in Helsinki where the only response from the crowd was gentle applause and no movement despite the band being amazing
oldbutterface@reddit
Theres a reason why when American bands do a North America tour its about 40 dates for the entire continent but then they somehow squeeze in 12 dates just in the tiny old UK & Ireland when they cross the pond.
Particular-Doctor888@reddit
I'm sure we are a good crowd but don't want to get carried away with the self praise. I've always been impressed by the Argentine and Brazilian crowds on live albums I've heard. Seems they stand out as some of the liveliest in the world.
gscalise@reddit
Argentinean (living in the UK) here. This is true, but you brits are still pretty engaged, which is great to see when I go to a concert here.
matherto@reddit
My only real references are the UK and the US
I went to a gig in the UK three days after gigs and festivals in the US and the first thing that struck me was just how helpful and easy going we are in the UK.
You wanna squeeze through to wherever you need to be going into or coming out of the crowd? Go for it, quick polite apology and you get a no worries back
Do it in the US and you get a ‘you’re not getting through dude’ and a complete refusal to even slightly budge to let you through.
TremorThief12@reddit
I went to a Metallica concert in South Africa and they did 5 encores. Only because the crowd went mental asking for more. In the UK encores are expected and quite frankly fall short of the experience of thousands of people chanting for more.
vladgluhov@reddit
Often depends on the demographic and if people are only there for the headliner or not 😁
0rachael0@reddit
was actually pleasantly surprised with a new york crowd, didn’t seem much different other than the hwfg chant! berlin was good as expected, amsterdam was quiet and awkward tbh
ukstonerdude@reddit
Brits do love a good mosh.
I’ve seen videos of American crowds and they always look either dead as fuck or uncontrollable.
Everyone goes home having had a good time after a gig in the UK, and no matter the venue size, there is always love in the crowd.
Evening-Tomatillo-47@reddit
Every band I've said we were the best crowd
darcsend_eu@reddit
As someone who did both Scottish and English events. Even the crowds between them were different.
I met A LOT of anti Scottish sentiment at gigs for the way we behaved. Though that was always in London events and never in Liverpool or Manchester.
ResidentAdvisor@reddit
In dance music, it's quite mixed but Brits definitely drink a lot in clubs compared to some other countries
MahatmaAndhi@reddit
I've been to hundreds of gigs, mostly in the UK but a decent amount outside the UK too. There seems to be a correlation where the heavier the music, the nicer the crowd.
Rammstein in Prague was great. Everyone was having a good time and really chill. Slipknot in Nimes was quite similar.
But Stereophonics in Cardiff - full of bellends and a fight broke out quite close by. Supertramp in Nottingham - wall to wall with bellends.
I'd like to go see Alec Empire for a bit of R&R. Conversely, I imagine a Singsong with Mr Tumble would be a bloodbath.
jolittletime@reddit
I went to a few indie gigs in France. Everyone was sitting down and the only people standing/ dancing were british/ aussie/ kiwi/ american/ Scandinavian.
wg_wgwgwg@reddit
I went to a metal gig in Japan recently and the most noticeable thing was that you could hear a pin drop between songs. Everyone was into it but the lack of cheering/shouting was v noticeable.
Also went to a gig in Copenhagen and noticed way less phones out than on the London date of the same tour.
Significant_Work509@reddit
In my experience, varies regionally in the UK but we are definitely more lively than the cerebral European types.
Best crowds for me with genuine connection, shared enjoyment and inclusivity is Glasgow and Liverpool where the crowd is in sync and has better free flowing banter. If I was to compare that to cities within a couple of hours of those such as Manchester and Edinburgh the energy is a bit more stiff, guarded and territorial despite being lively to an extent.
I found crowds in the South have a boogie but are less engaging with others outside of their immediate group, floaty but pretentious energy.
Phil_Mike-Huntin@reddit
Have been to the US,Germany,France,Poland,Malta,Italy,Czeck Republic and Sweden for metal gigs. The worst was probably Germany or US, both very rude. People digging others in ribs, looking to hurt people in pits and just not following etiquette.
However it's sad to say the UK is getting to that point, people standing around pit areas expecting to stand perfectly still when there's waves of people going into the back of them or flying over them.
Bands like BMTH have a huge reach from your pit lovers to your maybe younger audience who like the more pop tunes and there's always a horrific clash.
Possibly the worst was Sleep Token, I'm not a mega fan by any means but the crowd is absolutely god awful anywhere, ( I've seen them in multiple countries due to wife being obsessed) it's filled with dudes being overly protective of people thinking they're a white knight.
Generally I think the UK used to be regarded as top tier for crowds but due to various factors I think that's died, for me Eastern European countries are the best.
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