Gig attendees were left disappointed when a surprise event featuring popular Dutch DJ duo ANOTR abruptly ended in Manchester, prompting partygoers to vacate the area.
ANOTR, known for their hit single “Talk To You” that achieved success in the UK charts this spring, had been scheduled to perform at a undisclosed location in the city on May 29. Fans eagerly claimed complimentary tickets online before learning that the event was set to take place at Projekts MCR Skatepark under Mancunian Way on London Road.
However, during ANOTR’s performance that evening, the show was unexpectedly halted as fans who couldn’t gain entry to the impromptu venue started scaling fences in an attempt to join the event, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.
Reports suggest that more tickets were distributed than the venue could accommodate, with the DJs asserting that the event operated on a “first come, first served” basis. Videos circulating on TikTok captured individuals trying to climb over fences before calls were made for those outside the venue to disperse.
Peter Gallagher, a student from Eccles, arrived early but witnessed the venue quickly reaching full capacity before doors were closed, leaving ticket holders stranded outside.
The situation escalated as individuals outside the skatepark grew agitated and attempted to breach the barriers, resulting in the event being terminated prematurely. Despite being a free event, attendees expressed frustration over the disruption. ANOTR has successfully held similar free events in other global cities like Milan and Rio without incident.
Peter recounted a period of 30 minutes without music while attendees hoped for ANOTR to resume the performance. The chaos saw people climbing onto restroom roofs to scale the fences, and those who went outside for restroom breaks were allegedly denied re-entry, causing further discontent.
After a prolonged wait, event equipment was disconnected, and an announcement confirmed the cancellation. In online footage, Jesse van der Heijden, one half of ANOTR, was heard urging the crowd outside to disperse to prevent further disruptions.
A concert attendee informed the Manchester Evening News that the event was enjoyable, but a few individuals spoiled it for everyone, leading to police intervention to manage fence-jumping incidents.
While concerns were raised about the ticket allocation, a TikTok user argued that the venue had space for more attendees. ANOTR responded to claims of overselling tickets by clarifying that they did not distribute as many tickets as implied and emphasized the event’s first-come, first-served policy as communicated on the tickets.