Pandemonium Rocks has come under fire after photographs emerged allegedly showing the festival’s “embarrassing” “accessible viewing area”.
The new rock festival kicked off in Melbourne last weekend after being plagued with problems, including having to scale it down to a single stage event and make line-up changes.
The Sydney leg of the festival took place at Cathy Freeman Park on Anzac Day, and large crowds turned out to see the likes of Alice Cooper, Blondie and Wheatus perform.
However, the packed concert came under fire after photographs circulated on social media claiming to show the festival’s “accessible viewing area.”
The images showed a cordoned-off grass area with an “accessible” sign attached to a metal barrier, but there was no level floor or raised platform.
Pandemonium Rocks has come under fire after photographs emerged allegedly showing the festival’s “embarrassing” “accessible viewing area”. In the photo
The area also appeared to be situated relatively far from the stage, with large crowds of concertgoers standing in front and “obstructing” the view.
Outraged social media users were quick to condemn the “poor effort” and criticized the festival for allegedly failing to provide an elevated platform for fans.
They were enraged: ‘Extremely poor effort!; ‘Uneven land and grass, what a shit effort’; ‘That’s really disgusting’; “The appearance of this area seems embarrassing and a real joke.”
Others said: ‘How is this different from being anywhere else?!’; ‘This is shameful. This is NOT how accessibility is done. Signed: a disabled person.
The images showed a cordoned-off grass area with an “accessible” sign attached to a metal barrier, but there was no level floor or raised platform.
‘This is heartbreaking. Just a wedged fence that is at eye level for anyone sitting in a wheelchair,” said one more.
‘As a wheelchair user who likes to be in the middle of everything, I always find disabled viewing areas at festivals very boring and insulting. Every single one of them and I have been doing festivals since ’09,’ someone else wrote.
The Pandemonium Rocks website says: ‘We will have accessible viewing areas at each event, as well as accessible toilet facilities and more.
“Pandemonium festival will do its best to accommodate all requirements, we may be limited by venue, compliance and capacity restrictions.”
The area also appeared to be located relatively far from the stage, with large crowds of concertgoers standing in front and “obstructing” the view, causing people to be outraged.
Pandemonium Rocks provided accessibility information on its website and said it would “do its best to satisfy all requirements.”
WhatsNew2Day Australia has contacted Pandemonium Rocks for comment.
Elsewhere at their Sydney show, Pandemonium Rocks shared a tribute to the Australian Defense Force after coming under fire for scheduling the music event at the same time and location as the Anzac Day March in Sydney.
The day-long festival was due to take place at Sydney’s Domain on April 25, but was later postponed due to concerns about clashing with the Anzac Day March.
On that day, event organizers placed a banner honoring the men and women who have served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
Alice Cooper (pictured) and Blondie’s Debbie Harry were among the big names taking to the stage at Pandemonium Rocks in Sydney on Thursday night.
“Pandemonium Rocks thanks all of our service men and women,” the message read.
“Thank you to Wounded Heroes who also provide crisis support to ADF veterans and their families.”
The message added that representatives from Wounded Heroes were at the festival and urged attendees to show their support by “buying a pin” from the charity.
Originally, the festival was due to take place less than a kilometer away from where thousands of Australians were due to gather for the traditional Anzac Day March, involving up to 10,000 active service members and veterans.
Pandemonium Rocks have shared a tribute to the Australian Defense Force after coming under fire for scheduling the music event at the same time and location as the Anzac Day March.
After concerns were raised about the parade overlapping with the festival, the New South Wales government intervened in January and revealed the concert would be moved.
Prime Minister Chris Minns said at the time: ‘There will be no rock concert in the city center on Anzac Day.
“That part of the city should be and will be a place for diggers to commemorate with their friends and family and for fellow Australians to commemorate the service of those who have given their lives in the service of our country.”
Blondie’s Alice Cooper and Debbie Harry were among the big names taking to the stage at Pandemonium Rocks in Sydney on Thursday night.
Pandemonium Rocks defied the odds and went ahead after many Australian festivals were canceled this year amid financial problems and poor ticket sales (pictured: Debbie Harry on stage).
The festival also featured performances by Wheatus, Wolfmother and Cosmic Psychos, and is still scheduled to tour the Gold Coast and Brisbane this weekend.
Previously, six artists were eliminated from the festival, including international headliners Placebo and Deep Purple, as well as American band Dead Kennedys.
The original multi-stage design was also condensed into a single stage and ticket prices were drastically reduced as the festival was forced to make a number of major changes.
But Pandemonium Rocks defied the odds and forged ahead after many Australian festivals, including Groovin The Moo and Splendor In The Grass, were canceled this year amid financial problems and poor ticket sales.