The Last Dinner Party respond after male gig-goers face security checks at Lincoln show
Male fans faced issues at their Engine Shed show on Saturday before its eventual cancellation.
By Nick Reilly
The Last Dinner Party have distanced themselves from Lincoln’s The Engine Shed, after male fans faced security checks and alleged discrimination at a sold-out show over the weekend.
Male fans who went to the venue alone claim they were taken to a private room upon arrival to face heavy searches and a series of questions – including naming their favourite song by the band – before being eventually allowed into the show.
“Just arrived at the gig, been funnelled into a dark corner with other men, told I might be a pervert cus I’m alone and then taken into a room alone with a security guard where I was interrogated and searched. Feel sick,” one man claimed on X/Twitter.
The show was eventually cancelled due to a member of the band falling ill shortly before showtime, but the venue and band have both responded to the numerous complaints.
While the Engine Shed have apologised for the actions of their staff and said it was a result of a “policy changed with the right intentions”, the Mercury Prize nominated band said they were “appalled” and had not been consulted beforehand.
“We’ve been made aware of some security policies implemented at our show in Lincoln on Saturday, that have understandably left many of our fans feeling uncomfortable and disrespected,” a statement said.
Their message continued: “We want to make it very clear that those polices were created and enforced by the venue at their own discretion, and were not made in consultation with us. They do not reflect our beliefs and would not have been implemented had we been made aware of them in advance. We understand the venue is currently conducting an urgent investigation into the reports surrounding the conditions of entry.”
The Last Dinner Party went on to say that their “shows are intended to be safe, welcoming spaces for everyone, which is something we deeply care about.”
The Mercury Prize-nominees added: “Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend our shows. We are appalled and disappointed that anyone was made to feel otherwise. We welcome The Engine Shed’s investigation and further staff training to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.”
The Engine Shed has also urged any affected fans to speak out.
The group’s current tour concludes with three sold-out shows at London’s Eventim Apollo Hammersmith next month.
The band’s debut album came out in February, hitting Number One in the UK albums chart with the biggest opening week sales (32,800) for a Number One debut album by a band in nine years, beaten last in 2015 by Years & Years‘ Communion. It was also nominated for the 2024 Mercury Prize.