Concert audiences have changed a lot over the years – and one unwelcome change is the rise in people talking loudly with their friends instead of enjoying the music.

On Lunchtime Live this afternoon, Andrea heard calls for the introduction of ‘talk-free zones’ at gigs and concerts.

Ireland has already welcomed the likes of Bruce Springsteen, P!nk and Pearl Jam so far this summer – with fans looking forward to seeing Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks in the coming weeks.

One thing many fans could do without, however, is the behaviour of some of their fellow concertgoers.

Lawrence said he heavily supports the introduction of ‘talk-free zones’ at concerts – as gig etiquette has gone out the window for a lot of people. 

He recalled getting a ‘spontaneous’ ticket to Neil Diamond in Madison Square Garden while he was in New York City. 

“I’m sitting there, and I can’t remember what song he’s singing, but I’m having an emotional reaction,” he said. 

“Then there’s two people next to me just yapping away and kind of spoiling the moment. 

“I don’t expect people to change what they’re doing to suit my requirements. 

“But what are you doing here - just yapping about what you did on the weekend when you have Neil Diamond here singing? 

“It doesn’t make any sense.” 

'We paid hundreds to be here'

Vicky told the show she often attends concerts with her cousin and the pair typically meet beforehand for dinner or drinks to catch up before the gig. 

Other people, however, don’t have the foresight to chat before the concert. 

“We might be bopping along and singing along – we didn’t come here for a chat,” she said. 

She said in recent years, she has seen more and more young people on their phones during concerts, showing each other photos or other things online. 

“We paid hundreds and hundreds over the years to see various people [in concert],” she said. 

“I didn’t pay this money to hear you guys and see you show each other pictures of each other on phones.” 

Connecting with music at concerts

Vicky said it’s particularly unfair on people like her cousin with young children who need to organise ‘jiggery-pokery’ like childcare. 

Lawrence said he typically just moves when people are ‘yapping’ too much at a concert. 

“It’s interfering with your ability to hear the music and connect with it,” he said. 

One texter said he was at an Ed Sheeran concert some years ago where a man was telling his friend about the “tax implications of his defined contribution pension”. 

It was, however, “more interesting” than Sheeran himself, according to the texter. 

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