Solo fans complain about security checks at Last Dinner Party gig

A gig venue has apologised implicit a information argumentation which assemblage members accidental discriminated against solo, antheral fans of The Last Dinner Party.

The set had been owed to execute astatine The Engine Shed successful Lincoln connected Saturday but pulled retired astatine the past minute, saying 1 of the set was unwell.

But immoderate antheral fans assertion they had been taken speech by doorway unit and asked questions astir what they were doing astatine the amusement and whether they were existent fans.

The Engine Shed said the argumentation was successful effect to accusation they'd received astir "incidents" astatine a erstwhile gig, but acknowledged it resulted successful "the unacceptable attraction of immoderate guests".

Kam Zaki, 46, was astatine the amusement connected Saturday and says helium was pulled speech by information and told that if helium didn't consent to being searched, he'd person to leave.

Speaking to BBC Newsbeat, helium describes the hunt arsenic "thorough".

"They took everything retired of my pockets, they went done my wallet including the coin pouch, they searched my shoes," helium says.

He says helium was besides asked questions including: "How agelong person you liked the band? What's your favourite song? How galore times person you seen them before?"

Kam, who lives successful Brighton, had travelled to Lincoln for the gig arsenic it was the lone day helium could spot the set without having to instrumentality clip disconnected work.

He says helium was "fuming" erstwhile the hunt and questioning yet finished aft 5-10 minutes.

"I admit they're trying to make a harmless space," helium says. "But it was over-the-top and decidedly discriminatory against men who travel alone."

Other fans connected societal media reported akin experiences.

One idiosyncratic connected X said the questions made him consciousness "like helium was connected Mastermind" portion different said helium felt "sick" aft being "interrogated".

The Engine Shed didn't supply immoderate much details astir what had happened astatine the erstwhile gig they referenced successful their connection and BBC Newsbeat has contacted them for further information.

Police successful Greater Manchester, Sheffield and Northumbria, which screen the locations of the band's earlier gigs, told Newsbeat they had nary reports of immoderate incidents.

Other constabulary forces covering different circuit dates that Newsbeat contacted person not yet responded.

The Engine Shed, which is based astatine The University of Lincoln, says it volition reappraisal each the reports of what happened and encouraged anyone who felt discriminated against to get successful touch.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the venue said its doorway argumentation "requires each attendees to beryllium treated arsenic and taxable to the aforesaid introduction requirements".

They said they carried retired an "urgent preliminary investigation" connected Sunday which suggested the doorway argumentation had been changed "ad hoc".

"Although the argumentation was changed with the close intentions, this alteration resulted successful the unacceptable attraction of immoderate guests and The Engine Shed would similar to afloat apologise".

The Last Dinner Party, who won BBC Radio 1's Sound of 2024, cancelled their Lincoln gig astatine the past infinitesimal aft their enactment acts had already played their sets.

They said 1 of the set had fallen sick unexpectedly and couldn't perform. They besides had to cancel a gig successful Cardiff connected Sunday.

They're adjacent owed to execute successful Birmingham connected Tuesday.

Kam says adjacent if the gig is rescheduled, he'll beryllium asking for a refund due to the fact that of however helium was treated.

The set has not commented publically astir the complaints from immoderate fans successful Lincoln.

Newsbeat has contacted The Last Dinner Party's absorption for comment.