PNE Forum bans electronic music concerts after noise complaints
For a long time, East Vancouver resident Barry Sharbo has been making a racket about noise from concerts at the PNE Forum, a public venue at Hastings Park.
In a small victory for Sharbo and other Hastings-Sunrise dwellers, the Pacific National Exhibition, the entity that manages the park on behalf of the City of Vancouver, will no longer allow “electronica” concerts at the Forum.
Kate Huffman, manager of community relations for the PNE, brought the news to the neighbourhood in a letter dated April 24.
“The PNE hired an acoustics consultant to perform noise tests in early March to further analyze sound propagation from the Forum during this type of concert,” Huffman wrote. “This comprehensive testing yielded results that led to the PNE’s decision to discontinue electronica concerts in the Forum.”
Wikipedia defines “electronica” as follows:
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities. Unlike electronic dance music, which is sub-genre in the category, all examples of electronica are not necessarily made for dancing. Genres such as techno, drum and bass, downtempo, and ambient are among those encompassed by the umbrella term, entering the American mainstream from “alternative” or “underground” venues during the late 1990s.
However, according to Huffman, there is one more “contracted” electronica concert, scheduled for August 11 at the Forum. That show is a stop on Kaskade’s Freaks of Nature Tour.
But Huffman also informed residents that “efforts are being made to relocate this show to the Pacific Coliseum, a venue that has increased sound insulation”.
The PNE representative added: “Following this, the PNE will no longer book any further electronica concerts into the Forum.”
Comments
51 Comments
cranky mom
Apr 27, 2012 at 11:00am
What I don't understand is you that these people made a choice to live near or close to the PNE. What do you expect? I lived by Trout Lake for years, and vowed never to live near a large park again. Lesson learned.
jimbowarrior
Apr 27, 2012 at 11:02am
the PNE will regret this in a couple years. No one else was using that dump
R2
Apr 27, 2012 at 11:10am
I say hire a few high school students and have them scoot around the 'Hastings Sunrise' hood prior to shows and hand out complimentary earplugs and 2 unlimited PNE passes for the fair for each resident....
If they don't like that then take away their privileges of selling parking spots during events.....Problem Solved!
I mean hell it's only a couple of hours of your life 7 or 8 times a year, live a little.
Ian G62
Apr 27, 2012 at 11:48am
they'll be banning bagpipes and drums from city streets next :-)
Woot
Apr 27, 2012 at 11:53am
Best news I've read all week! The forum is hands down the worst concert venue in Vancouver. Hopefully these shows move to a better location and become 19+.
pissed off
Apr 27, 2012 at 11:59am
Really? If you chose to live next to a concert venue, it's your own damn fault. Why do you think your house was so cheap? Get over yourself, or move somewhere else. This is the biggest BS I have read in a while.
woohoo
Apr 27, 2012 at 12:01pm
Good it was terribad venue for edm shows anyways. Much prefer the commodore... no kids either!
Bone
Apr 27, 2012 at 12:03pm
Well, part of me thinks that these folks chose to live where they live and this is part of the deal of living there.
But then I think, what would happen if the venue was in Point Grey or Shaughnessy? I'm guessing it would've been shut down after the first show.
downfromthePNE
Apr 27, 2012 at 12:09pm
I find it amazing that these whiney little old farts who live around the area feel they have the "right" to sell parking spots, yet complain about what's happening at the PNE itself. Wow.
So rent your bed to the hookers, then complain when they scream too loud.....this is childish and embarassing.
Norm
Apr 27, 2012 at 12:28pm
Nice that the PNE is so quick to act when they really don't need to--this is an area that has had concerts as far back as the 50's and rock shows at least since the 70's. It took us years to get the Croation Center to shut up--and they are in a true residential area.