Snow Patrol Ward Park - Transport, tickets, weather and timings

The stage is set and final preparations are underway ahead of Snow Patrol's ultimate homecoming gig.

The band, fronted by Bangor man Gary Lightbody, are bringing a mini Northern Irish music festival to the town's Ward Park for the third time.

Previous Ward Park gigs, in 2007 and 2010, attracted thousands of music fans who have been asking the band ever since when the next one will be.

Now on Saturday, May 25, to mark the band's 25th anniversary, they will be completing the trilogy of Ward Park gigs with just over 35,000 people expected to attend.

So we headed down on Thursday for a sneak peek at the set-up and to give you a guide of everything you need to know ahead of the show.

Paul Scott, MCD Event Control, said: "Planning for this event started just after Christmas, we are fortunate we have done shows before, albeit 10-12 years ago, on this site but we have to engage with emergency services, the council, Translink etc because there's a lot more than just what happens on the event site here.

"We have to figure out how are we going to get 35,000 people plus to the area, we have to figure out how to get them in, how we look after them when they are in and how we get rid of them at the end of the night. But also if something untoward were to happen, we need to ensure the safety of the patrons.

"We develop a management plan and that would be presented to the council and emergency services in February then there would be periodic meetings and the plan would be refined and refined right up to the morning of the event.

"The big concern is the safety of the patrons, then to make sure they enjoy themselves and minimise disruption to the neighbours because we don't bring 35,000 people to a provincial town and not create difficulties."

On site there is 76m of bars, 500 portaloos, a stage the height of an eight storey building and wider than half of the straight on an Olympic running track.

There are also enough generators to power a small town, and organisers have built two bridges over the stream in Ward Park to accommodate all the people who will be coming from the Hamilton Road direction.

Who is on the line-up?

Well Snow Patrol will be closing the night, but you also have NI artists and with gates opening at 2pm, music is expected to start at 3pm:

-Two Door Cinema Club

-Foy Vance

-ASH

-SOAK

-Jealous Of The Birds

-Brand New Friend

-JC Stewart

-The Wood Burning Savages

-Kitt Philippa

-ROE

Davy Matchett put together the Third Bar stage line-up with Gary Lightbody and the rest of Snow Patrol. It is made up of  JC Stewart, The Wood Burning Savages, Kitt Philippa and ROE.

He told Belfast Live: "Picking those bands was incredibly difficult because there are so many we could have had. We picked the ones we did based really on profile, of where they are right now.

"We could have had so many that we have another night on Friday in Bangor, 19 bands will play eight bars, all established working musicians, all great bands and performing artists. Because there were so many we decided to do something the night before as well.

"There is music on in Bangor on Friday night until 1am and then gates open here about 2pm and I imagine there will be music from 3pm. There will never be two bands on each stage at the same time, you will not have to chose who you will go and hear. When there is one on the main stage, we will be setting up the Third Bar stage and vice versa."

He added: "These are all bands that we believe in, absolutely love what they are doing and we want to support them the way others supported Snow Patrol back in the day. The boys just want to use the profile they have to raise the profile of the artists who are awesome.

"Saturday is going to be so special because it's Bangor, it is home for Gary, it is home for Jonny, it is their hometown, they learnt how to ride bikes in this park, we have been here twice before and this is the third one. When we are out people will always ask Gary when is the next Ward Park so to be able to do it is an absolute joy.

Is there an age restriction?

This concert is an over-16 event however a parent/guardian aged 25 or over can take up to two under 16s to the show. Parents/guardians will be required to show age ID and sign a consent form for the under 16s in their care. A marquee will be located at Gate No3 to facilitate these arrangements.    

Any parent/guardian accompanying someone under 16 will be responsible for them for the duration of the concert and should remain with them throughout the event. As bar facilities are available at the concert, there will be a designated ‘no drinking’ area for those under 18.

What are the stage times?

Draft timings are as follows:

Brand New Friend: 3pm

Jealous of the Birds: 3.45pm

SOAK: 4.30pm

Roe (Stage 2) : 5pm

Ash: 5.30pm

Kit Phillippa (Stage 2): 6.10pm

Foy Vance: 6.40pm

The Wood Burning Savages (Stage 2): 7.20pm

Two Door Cinema Club: 7.50pm

JC Stewart (Stage 2): 8.30pm

Snow Patrol: 9.15pm

Will there be alcohol sold on site?

Bar facilities will be available on site. Photo ID may be required to purchase alcohol at the event.  This is a ‘Challenge under 25’ event; so, if you are lucky enough to look under 25 you will be asked to prove that you are aged 18 or over when you buy alcohol. 

Acceptable proof of age documents are:

• Official passport
• Photo driving licence
• Government approved Proof of Age card
• National Union of Students Card (NUS Card) 

You are not permitted to bring alcohol onto the concert site; there will be robust searches in place.

The promoter reserves the right to refuse admission/ remove from the site anyone deemed to be intoxicated or engaging in antisocial behaviour.

Can we bring bags and buggies in with us?

Large bags, backpacks and waist bags will not be allowed on site and there are no cloakroom/locker facilities.  If you need to bring a bag, it should be 4.5in/11.4cm x 6.5in/16.51cm or smaller. No buggies or strollers will be permitted onto the site.

Is there anywhere to park?

There will be no parking in the immediate area of the concert site (there is some accessible car parking at Broadway – please contact MCD on  access@mcd.ie  to apply for a pass).  No waiting cones will be placed on roads around the site to prevent illegal parking.  This will be rigorously enforced.    

Car parking is available at Bloomfield Playing Fields (entrance via South Circular Road) and Valentine's Playing Fields (entrance via Abbey Hill Drive) and in the town centre.

As traffic and parking delays are inevitable, people are strongly advised to used public concert to attend this event. See  www.translink.co.uk/snowpatrol/  for more information on special train and coach services.

What are the special Train, Coach and Bus times?

Late-night shuttle train services will run from Bangor Station to Belfast Lanyon Place, from approximately 10.45pm – 11.45pm. Onward late-night special services will be in operation from Belfast Lanyon Place to Portadown, Carrickfergus and Coleraine.

Special regional coach services will operate from Derry/Londonderry (picking up at Dungiven Express Stop, Maghera Flyover, Castledawson Park and Ride and Toome Park and Ride), Newry (picking up at Banbridge) and Strabane (picking up at Omagh Bus Centre, Crevenagh Park and Ride and Ballygawley Park and Ride) subject to demand. Bookings must be made online in advance. (online sales close 11 am on day of event)

A bus shuttle service will also run from Bangor to Newtownards.

It is a short walk (less than 10 minutes) from the bus and rail station to Ward Park.

Full travel details are available online at  www.translink.co.uk/wardpark3/  or from the Translink Contact Centre: 028 9066 6630.

Will there be a police presence at the event?

Yes there will, Chief Inspector Gerry McGrath said: "I want everyone to enjoy themselves, I want them to get here safely, I want them to enjoy the facilities and have a good day out in Bangor and get home safely.

"35,000 plus people coming to Bangor on the A2 carriageway is going to be slow so we encourage people to use Translink, bus providers as well as the railway system and they have a really good system in place around that and we will be able to monitor and support with the traffic management plan we have developed with parkers. So moving of people is a real big issue around coming to what is a beautiful part of Bangor, a residential area with a lovely green space which will now host a wonderful concert.

"The challenges around that will be car parks are available, they will be signposted when you come in either from the Newtownards carriageway or the A2 from Belfast, we will advise through signing how to get you to two designated car parks where a local church is taking a charge for parking to give to charity. We can park cars close enough to the venue to allow you to walk, but the rail network is right in the heart of Bangor and you can walk here from the train station.

"We would encourage people to use public transport where possible and I believe they are also doing a special deal to make the flow of people as safe and quick as possible. We are really looking forward to it, really excited and we are focused on keeping it safe."

He added: "Listen to the EventSec and stewarding that's available, they are here for everyone's safety, I will have police officers throughout the town, close to Ward Park and around the area to ensure that parking irresponsibly will have a consequence. There are cones out for a reason and there will be police officers there to advise people where to park should someone not be able to find the signs for parkers.

"On the way home from the venue and sometimes on the way there, toilets are available throughout, additional portaloos are available, pay respect to the residential area you are going through and on the way home people will be living there so that is the issue for us, try an get people to use the facilities available and not someone's garden."

He also said the policing footprint was smaller than the previous Ward Park gigs due to a change in legislation which means the promoters look after aspects that the police would have before but the tone and style of policing would be the same.

He added: "I have a large number (of police) immediately deployable and people will see them as soon as they arrive, I also have additional ready to me should I need to change my plan or adapt to changing circumstances. I believe I have sufficient for this and they are all looking forward to it, in fact there are a number who have blocked this day off so they will be in the venue enjoying themselves."

"We want to keep people safe, we want them to get here safely, to enjoy it, we don't want to arrest anyone but offences can be committed and we advise people not to in relation to matters mentioned earlier, we want people to get home after enjoying this Bank Holiday weekend in Bangor."

Will there be a drop-off or collection point?

There will be no drop off/ collections in the immediate area of the concert site. This will be rigorously enforced and traffic delays are inevitable on roads around the concert site. Coaches will drop off and pick up on Castle Park Lane. The only designated taxi drop-off and pick up point is on Abbey Street.

When do gates open and how do I get to them?

There are 2 entrance points for use by patrons with general tickets. Gates will open at 2pm.

Gate No 1 is located off Gransha Road and available to persons approaching the site via Castle Park Road from Bloomfield Road and from the ‘Groomsport side’ of Bangor.

Gate No 2: VIP access off Gransha Road

Gate No 3: U16’s sign in access is located to the rear of the site off Broadway

Gate No 4: Special assistance / wheelchair. Located to the rear of the ‘Town Centre side’ via the lower section of Ward Park.  

Patrons will have their tickets scanned on entering the site. Patrons may be searched on arrival to prevent unauthorised items: alcohol, glassware, items that could be used as weapons etc, or illegal substances being brought onto the site. Receptacles will be provided for discarded items.

Patrons will not normally be re-admitted to the site should they leave prior to the end of the show.

Are there any road closures for the event?

In order to limit a build-up of traffic, full road closures will be kept to a minimum.  There will be restricted access around the concert site from 12noon on the day of the concert.  No waiting cones will be placed on roads around the site to prevent illegal parking.  This will be rigorously enforced.        

The following roads will be closed between 10pm and midnight to allow concert patrons to leave the concert safely: Bloomfield Road, Broadway, Castle Park Road and Gransha Road. 

Will there be lots of toilets?

Blocks of portable WCs and urinals will be positioned at the rear of the site. ‘Portaloos’ will also be provided at ‘satellite’ locations such as transport hubs, and to the queuing areas at the entrances to the Site.

What is the weather due to be like on Saturday?

According to the Met Office, it will be cloudy all day with heavy rain expected later this morning, so be prepared. Organisers have asked people to dress for the weather, but said umbrellas will not be allowed on site.

Can I still buy a ticket?

Why yes you can, tickets are still available via Ticketmaster, so check out their website.

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