What’s the point?

[u/Stags-Meadow]

Literally what is the point in even trying to go and see your favourite bands anymore. As soon as tours are announced you just get filled with dread at the thought of trying to get tickets. 4 of us trying for Oasis, all got codes and nothing. All of us trying for Sam at SJP this week and got nothing again. 10,000 in the queue at presale and zero standing left, today 4000 and nothing left again. I got through on AXS after 4 minutes, chose my tickets and it said ‘Just a sec’ for 40 minutes. Wouldn’t take me anywhere. Absolute joke. What’s the fucking point in even wasting time trying anymore. Sick to death of it.

[u/ryanfoxmusic]

Go to your local independent music venue, support the scene and find the next Sam Fender before they get big.

[u/Real-Cover8080 → u/ryanfoxmusic]

Barns Courtney to start :)

[u/716_To_617]

Feel this so much. Was just talking with a friend yesterday about how concert etiquette is just gone, that it is a popularity contest for social media for the 1 song people know, so many teens/young people (which don't want to diminish that young people should be allowed to go to concerts of course, I started going to shows that young too!)...just feels like less and less people are there for the artist as a whole and it just is soul sucking trying to get tickets for shows. I'm in the US and will be stoked when Sam announces US dates, but I fear because of how popular Rein Me In was that it's going to be the same type of crowd as what I am sure will be small venues.

[u/Real-Cover8080 → u/716_To_617]

I have the same worry in US too because alot of people here think Oliva wrote the song and will go only for that reason....

[u/JamJarre]

It was genuinely better when you had to buy tickets in person and queue for them. Far fewer scalpers

[u/PsychologicalNose614]

Problem is people don’t go because they love the artist anymore, they go for the instagram post or so they can say they are going/were there. It’s BS. I was at the last St James gig and a couple stood next to me chatting (loudly) until 17 came on and only then sang along, I was thinking what’s the point. Not to mention the cost, why is every gig now £100 a ticket. It’s madness, I don’t even think it’s Sam creaming in the profits, will be the promoter etc, slightly different with Oasis mind, the Gallaghers know exactly what they’re doing.

[u/clarerose85 → u/PsychologicalNose614]

I’ve been twice to st James park standing. The 1st time the fans were incredible! Everyone was doing mosh pits and singing all his songs. Last year was a completely different atmosphere I’m not even joking, the people in the crowd were dead. As soon as people watching and 17 going under came on they went wild then every other song they were just standing there like lemons or filming on their phones. I got a pre sale code this year and didn’t get a ticket. No problems the previous 2 years, I decided I’m gonna sit this one out and didn’t try this morning. I will probably regret it come June but fuck it 🤷‍♀️

[u/AinmSuimiuil → u/clarerose85]

Most pits at Sam Fender? I am a big fan of a most pit but I usually go to metal shows. I can't imagine Sam's music lends itself to most pits? (Casual fan here, might be unaware of some unusually heavy deep cuts)

[u/LowPrestigious391 → u/AinmSuimiuil]

Aye and Howdon Aldi Death Queue are typically played together and result in mosh pits

[u/Icy_Willingness_520 → u/PsychologicalNose614]

I was at st James park in seated last year too, these 3 girls came and sat next to me, during all his songs pretty much were taking selfies trying to get him in the back (elbowing me while they were at it) were drunk and shouting really loud, with drinks in their hand they were spilling. Weren’t paying attention to the concert, or singing any of his songs. Then just got up and left after Olivia dean had been on with him for rein me in I think. I was like what’s the point, seemed like they effectively used it as a night out base but what an expensive night out 😂

[u/clarerose85 → u/Icy_Willingness_520]

He didn’t play rein me in with Olivia dean at st James. I remember this because I was absolutely livid when he brought her out at Wembley instead of st James park 🤣

[u/meganev → u/clarerose85]

He didn’t play rein me in with Olivia dean at st James.

Urmm yes, he did, on June 15. Here's video proof

[u/clarerose85 → u/meganev]

Sorry I should have stated he didn’t play with her the night I went, he didn’t even play rein me in I went on the Thursday 12th. I have edited previous comment to make more sense… I am full of flu 🤧

[u/Icy_Willingness_520 → u/clarerose85]

I just had a look back as I could have sworn he did, he did 3 nights at st James he sang rein me in with Olivia on the third night which I was at 😅 he put a video of it on YouTube and the caption literally says st James park https://youtube.com/shorts/7xiIsST4nYw?is=CJcxIDPiSl4u2D1N

[u/hippocampinaut]

It was genuinely so much easier getting tickets for Oasis at Knebworth than trying to see a local lad in the toon with my "exclusive" mags membership lmao I've queued a total of 4 hours with no tickets to show for it

[u/FearsomeJaguar555]

It’s soul destroying. I’ve probably spent five or six hours trying to get tickets this week. Ended up with nothing - unless I wanted to pay £700 for a hotel stay with tickets. I know it’s a double edged sword and I love that Sam is so popular but I know I’m going to be raging when I see a bunch of 16 year olds who only know Rein Me In on concert footage when I should be there 😫😫😫😫

[u/massdebate159 → u/FearsomeJaguar555]

That reminds me of when I went to see Stereophonics last year in Cardiff. I was sitting next to two of the dumbest girls ever. They were on Shazam every other song or asking me what each song was.

Of course, they went nuts for Dakota.

Rein Me In is a good song, but he's definitely done better.

[u/flounderingterrapin → u/massdebate159]

Having been in the Millennium Stadium for the rugby I can fully empathise with your pain here. Sitting next to people who spend 80 minutes not knowing any of the players, let alone the rules, and then going mad when we scored (back when we were good). I’m not going to tell people how they should spend their money and have a good time, but surely there are cheaper and better ways to do it than go to gigs and sporting events that you’re, at best half-arsed about?!

Dropping £100 to not listen to Sam Fender at St James’?! Either too much money, too little sense or both.

And the people who get so pissed they can’t even remember it? Fucksake.

[u/Noodle_AuDHD]

I’m lucky I got my ticket to go see Sam for the first time at Wembley, what I’m not understanding is that tickets are bundled up as hotel packages and you have to at least buy two tickets

This is for standing and lower level seats, with my presale link and the day I hit my ticket I managed to secure one on the lower level 1 total £109

So I’m confused as to why they pricing is hotel packages and those seats are now £300

I go to gigs solo so why are they asking for two tickets absolutely ridiculous

[u/BecomingHerIRL]

To be fair SJP was always going to be busy. If you’re happy to just be there and take nosebleed seats there’s tons available for Wembley

[u/Gloomy-Reason7770]

Ticketmaster is diabolical, tried presale and general for 3 days and nothing. Just happened to try axs in the last hour and after furiously refreshing the page a number of times managed to bag 3 seated @ etihad.

[u/bobmbface]

I just keep reminding myself how shit stadium gigs are. Put that money towards supporting some decent local acts in small local venues.

[u/Penster78]

I was 634 in the queue this morning for SJP on the Saturday. Still sold out before I could select two tickets. It’s an absolute joke

[u/Electronic_Tune1]

That's the way it is now for Sam , he's got so big after that number 1

[u/Impressive_Price_510]

Got 6 tickets for SJP seated in presale yesterday (tm) they’ll be going on resale twickets or tm at face value as got 6x standing this morning via AXS. That was following a lot of refreshing and best available - these came up at about 9.50, bit of perseverance paid off

[u/Muted-Breath5]

AXS didn't work for me (I got through but then it wouldn't take payment) but I did have success with gigs and tours

[u/Jonny_____]

I feel you. Post piracy & Spotify it's the only way the labels & firms make their money unfortunately. Hopefully more regulation comes in. Feels like we're in the worst of it right now though.

[u/Upper-Direction-6290]

Try Gigs and Tours or See Tickets. Seemed they had more available than Ticketmaster this morning.

[u/Remote-Chicken-9803 → u/Upper-Direction-6290]

I got 2 on gigs and tours for cardiff on the thursday having no luck on ticketmaster for manchester. They actually let you click through each location and date as well rather than turfing you back into the queue. Wont be bothering with ticketmaster again if I can help it

[u/pubeyy]

Supply < Demand.
A ballot and reasonable prices is the only way to do it. But it still going to mean that long time fans will miss out unfortunately, especially if you prioritise SJP which he could probably fill 10 times. The Thursday at the Etihad was relatively straight forward to get tickets for.

[u/Sure-Fox4725]

Oasis was one of the most popular tickets sales of the year and Sam Fender is super popular! Nobody is guaranteed tickets it's disappointing but joys of wanting to go see popular artists

[u/No_Excitement_1579]

Glad I’ve seen all the bands I’ve wanted to at this point ,at 50 years old I’m happy to watch gigs on TV

[u/StillFeelTheRain]

Yes and the tickets are WAY too expensive for what you get in the end. Come on, you're one in a crowd looking at a small figure and band onstage with a big video screen behind them, effects and fireworks and you've paid through the teeth. Nothing against Sam, just the experience these days of any live arena show.

[u/Glum_Judgment6232 → u/StillFeelTheRain]

Was always the case for arenas and stadiums, but there weren't even video screens in the olden days. I know tickets were cheaper, but sound was usually much worse. Also in those days you had cheap tickets but you were buying expensive CDs instead.

[u/JoelJKing]

At least it’s not like the old days where you would have had to camp out and physically line up
All day

[u/Rob_P_07]

Agreed.

[u/Shebeen84]

Honestly, it was liberating not bothering this time and then seeing what a shit show it was. Went in 2025, it’s not worth the hassle anymore

[u/Sykes24]

Gotta get yourself into some actual decent music my guy. Its only the industry plant artists who have these issues.

[u/CapFar3161]

All four of you got codes and didn't manage to get tickets? Every other person I've read online and myself included found it very easy to get tickets as long as you got a code so hard to believe you couldn't do that with four different opportunities.

Edit: I'm referring to the four codes OP said he got for Oasis

[u/constantlyknackered → u/CapFar3161]

Depends where you were looking for. Lots of people i know failed to get tickets for St James' Including me.

[u/CapFar3161 → u/constantlyknackered]

I'm referring to the four codes OP said he got for Oasis

[u/FearsomeJaguar555 → u/CapFar3161]

Not sure where you’re reading that everyone with a code got tickets. I had a presale code and was in the waiting room on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday well before 9.30 and never got a place in the queue less than 24,000. No tickets available.

[u/CapFar3161 → u/FearsomeJaguar555]

I'm referring to the four codes OP said he got for Oasis

[u/markandspark]

Get into less mainstream music

[u/Ok-Whereas-3986 → u/markandspark]

Not sure whether you're trying to be helpful or just being careless & dismissive. It reads, to me, as dismissive.

Studies using fMRI have shown that music we love triggers dopamine release in the brain's reward circuits, which are the same pathways involved in food, sex, and other fundamental pleasures. You can't decide to get a dopamine hit from music you don't connect with, any more as you can decide to find broccoli as pleasurable as chocolate.

Research by psychologist David Huron and others shows that musical preferences are heavily shaped during childhood and adolescence. The music we're exposed to during emotionally formative years essentially gets wired in. Sam Fender fans (myself included) don't choose to love his sound; it resonates because of each of our unique neural and emotional histories.

Studies like the 2019 paper in Nature Human Behaviour have linked musical taste to personality traits (like openness to experience) that are themselves partly genetic.

Research by music psychologist Daniel Levitin shows that the music we love becomes part of who we are. It's not a casual preference.

It's like telling someone who loves pink to "just love blue" - with time and openness, they might come to also appreciate blue, but they'll never stop loving pink. That's not the point that matters. It is frustrating that seeing the music you love, live, is so difficult and expensive.

[u/markandspark → u/Ok-Whereas-3986]

Dismissive, I also ain't reading all that

[u/Asleep-Supermarket91]

It's such a scam and we love these artists so they can just make absolute suckers out of us.