Newcastle City Council has refuted claims of overcrowding at Lewis Capaldi's outdoor concert at Exhibition Park on Wednesday, which kicked off the In the Park festival. The 'Forget Me' singer was forced to halt his set twice due to "situations" in the crowd, prompting complaints from attendees. However, a council spokesperson told ChronicleLive that authorities were satisfied there was no overcrowding issue, though a meeting was held with event organisers to discuss "lessons learned" and ensure smooth operations for the rest of the festival.
Crowd Issues and Show Stoppages
Temperatures soared to nearly 30 degrees Celsius as thousands gathered at the festival site, which appeared packed well before Lewis Capaldi took the stage. Fans on the right-hand side reported blocked views due to trees and inability to approach the stage. The singer opened with 'Hollywood' but stopped the show shortly after, leaving the stage with his band, citing an issue that "needed sorting." He returned about 20 minutes later, urging the crowd to "look after each other," but had to stop again for another barrier-side incident. He eventually completed his set, but concerns arose over bottlenecks at the single exit point.
Council Response and Safety Measures
Cllr Rob Austin, Newcastle City Council’s Cabinet member for culture, communities and youth services, stated: "We are pleased to see thousands of people are enjoying music in Exhibition Park this summer, but are aware of comments and concerns raised by a small number of people who attended the Lewis Capaldi concert." He added: "With three more events this weekend as part of In The Park Festival, we have met with organisers to discuss Wednesday evening and what can be learned from it. We are confident that – based on both aerial photography and what our officers saw on the ground – it was not overcrowded, however it was a hot night and it may have been slow getting out at the end."
Organiser Commitments and Future Precautions
Cllr Austin confirmed that organisers have agreed to implement extra stewarding at key locations, improved signage for exiting, and ongoing monitoring of customer flow to ensure safe egress. He noted: "Consideration will also be given to when a second exit from the park may be used, though that must be balanced against the needs of local residents." The council will continue regular meetings and debriefs with organisers to maintain safety. ChronicleLive has repeatedly sought comment from In the Park organisers Cream Global but has not received a response.
Background and Festival Continuation
The Lewis Capaldi gig was initially scheduled as a two-night event due to high demand, but the second night was quietly cancelled weeks prior, for which the Chronicle is still seeking an explanation. The In the Park festival continues on Friday with Paul Weller, and the council expressed confidence that lessons from Wednesday will ensure smooth operations.
