A ‘pop-up’ event in Manchester for popular Dutch DJ duo ANOTR came to a sudden halt after fans unable to get inside the makeshift venue began climbing fences
Gig-goers were left devastated after a “pop-up” event in Manchester for popular Dutch DJ duo ANOTR came to a sudden halt, with would-be partygoers urged to leave.
ANOTR, who have enjoyed UK chart success this spring with the track Talk To You, were due to perform at a secret location in the city on Friday (May 29).
Fans snapped up free tickets online before the location was revealed as Projekts MCR Skatepark, underneath Mancunian Way on London Road.
But halfway through ANOTR’s set on Friday, the performance was brought to a sudden stop as fans who were unable to get inside the makeshift venue began climbing fences in an attempt to gain entry, the Manchester Evening News reports.
It is believed that more tickets were given out than the venue could accommodate, with the DJs saying the event was always intended to be “first come, first served”. Footage circulating on TikTok shows people attempting to scale the fence before pleas were made for those outside the venue to move away.
Student Peter Gallagher, from Eccles, arrived around 40 minutes before the event was due to begin and was allowed entry. The 20-year-old told the Manchester Evening News that the venue quickly filled up before gates were closed, leaving ticket holders still outside.
Those outside the skatepark began “getting rowdy” and climbing over the fences, prompting the event to come to a halt. “They were meant to be on for three hours but were only for 30 minutes,” Peter said.
“Even though it’s a free event, it was pretty annoying. They have had free events in other cities around the world like Milan and Rio and they have gone ahead fine.”
Peter said there was a 30-minute period without music during which gig-goers hoped ANOTR would resume the set. He described people climbing onto toilet cubicle roofs in an attempt to scale the fences, while those who went outside to use the toilet were reportedly refused re-entry and became “angry”.
After a half-hour wait, people began unplugging equipment from the DJ booth and an announcement confirmed the event had been cancelled. In footage shared online, Jesse van der Heijden, one half of ANOTR, could be heard urging the crowd outside the fence to move away “otherwise this party is gonna be shut down”.
One gig-goer told the Manchester Evening News: “It was a great event, just a few who ruined it for everyone. Police shut it down as people were jumping in over the fence.”
Others raised concerns about the number of tickets issued, although one TikTok user commented: “[It] could’ve easily fit hundreds more into the venue, it wasn’t oversold at all.”
ANOTR addressed claims that tickets had been oversold, saying: “We didn’t send tickets to that many people and it was a free event. it’s always first comes first serve [sic] (as communicated on the tickets), some people couldn’t take that.”
