Icelandic post-rock and ambient outfit Sigur Ros have apologised to their fans for what they describe as a ‘miserable’ pre-headline performance at Bestival on Sunday night, slamming festival organisers for a ‘perfect storm of production issues and technical problems’.
The band, who had scheduled the performance as their only UK date for the rest of the year, were extremely unhappy at their request of performing during night-time in the darkness being overruled by Stevie Wonder - the festival’s headliner. They also refused to have their set streamed live, making them the only act whose performance was unable to be watched online.
Explaining themselves in a statement on their website, the band said: “Sigur Rós would like to apologise to anyone disappointed not to see the band's Bestival performance live online last night. Early in the day a decision had been made to delay broadcast till after the show to give the band a chance to review the footage ahead of webcast, since they were dismayed that their guaranteed 'darkness' slot had been pushed into daylight by the expansive demands of the headliner.
“The band's only UK show of the year, this would-be highlight of the 2012 calendar, would have to be conducted without proper lights or visuals. Sadly then, a perfect storm of production issues and technical problems conspired to mean that the band went on to have a thoroughly miserable experience onstage too. And to spare everyone’s blushes a decision was made to draw a discreet veil over proceedings.”
But, despite their statement and apparent despair at their set, there weren’t really any complaints from the crowd, and many have still stated that Sigur Ros were their favourite act of the weekend.
One user, Jack Rogers, wrote: “Well if that was them on a bad day I'm definitely getting tickets to that tour. Best act of the weekend,” while Harry Atkinson simply said: “:( but they were one of the best bands I saw there.”
Were you at Bestival? What did you think of Sigur Ros? Let us know in the comments section below.
If, like Rogers, you’re a fan and can’t wait for their UK tour, you can find your tickets through Stereoboard. Simply check the dates and links below.
Sat March 2nd 2013 - SECC, Glasgow
Sun March 3rd 2013 - Apollo Manchester, Manchester
Tue March 5th 2013 - Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
Thu March 7th 2013 - Brixton Academy, London
Fri March 8th 2013 - Brixton Academy, London
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