h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The Roskilde Festival is of major importance for me. It's one of only two 'events' (the other is Christmas ) that I don't even think about planing for. I just do it. I've been to the festival 10 times through the last 15 years. I've lived in Roskilde for the last 3 years. I love music!

So this entry means something to me!
But I think there is a problem with it.

The problem is, that there has been no updating in the editing process. This entry was originally writen the 4th of July, just two days after the festival ended. Not even the dead of a young australian on the 5th is mentioned in the entry, even though it was mentioned in the forum for the original entry.
I think this article should be edited once more, to include some updates as details from the investigation and so on. (As an example, investigation says that none of the dead was on drugs or had had to much alcohol). I'm willing to help in this process, but can't promise when to do it.

Some helpful links would be:
[url removed by moderator] The official website for the festival
[url removed by moderator] A speech from the leader of the festival, Leif Skov
[url removed by moderator] book of condolences
[url removed by moderator] A page from the danish paper Politiken with articles about the festival and a forum for debate. In danish, but with a few articles in english.

Oops! Forgot a subject.

Ottox

Thanks for this feedback. If you would like to post the updated information in a paragraph or two in this thread I will update the entry straight away.

Cheers for now.

Sorry not to have posted anything yet, but I've been quite busy RL, and as mu grandma died a few weeks ago, I haven't been in the mood for *more* death...
I hope to write something soon (also one on the festival in general - the ones already writen are not very good, I think!), but as I just recieved the festival newsletter, I thought I would forward it.
So this will be a very long post, but nobody has to read all of it


------------------------------
ROSKILDE FESTIVAL
15th November 2000


NEWSLETTER No. 01/2001


ROSKILDE FESTIVAL 2001
- 30 years of happiness - and an accident.

Just a few short moments, yet so deeply tragic, the accident at
this year's Roskilde Festival has made everybody stop and think.
In respect for the deceased and for those who lost them. For the
sake of the beauty and value of the life that not even such a
tragedy can thwart. We knew and know that life is fragile, not
least when it is being lived for excitement or challenges between
dreams and drive. Music culture must learn from what the
accident has shown us. The people behind Roskilde Festival, the
audience, the artists, the media, parents, the authorities, and
others are learning. Thus in Roskilde, where 2001 will bring a
new Roskilde Festival, there is a hard job to be done. Roskilde
wishes to contribute to the securing of the interaction between
free spirits and the music culture - and to make it safer. There
can be no doubt that particularly Roskilde Festival will devote
the greatest attention to this job and handle it with the greatest
thoroughness. In respect of death. For the sake of life. Only that
way the music can be sure to play again.

Over 29 years more than 1,500 bands played Roskilde, played
for one and a half million people. Great attention and
excitement characterise the event, which is updated every year
both musically and practically.

Roskilde Festival - 29th June 2000 late in the evening - Iron
Maiden play in front of approximately 60,000 excited fans. Prior
to the concert Iron Maiden's Security Manager expressed his
appreciation of the security arrangements and security staff at
Roskilde. The staff at the front barrier in front of the stage work
competently and efficiently.

Roskilde Festival - 30th June 2000 late in the evening - Pearl
Jam play in front of approximately 50,000 excited fans. Prior to
the concert, Pearl Jam's Security Manager has inspected the
security measures and found them satisfactory. The staff at the
front barrier in front of the stage work competently and
efficiently. Just before 23:30 some fans have fallen not far from
the front barrier. They cannot get up unaided and the closest
bystanders cannot get them up either - the concert is stopped.
But air and life has been pressed out of the nine young men for
whom music culture meant so much. Such a tragedy must never
occur again. Music must produce great experiences. Must create
something - not destroy life.

In the light of the nine lives lost, it means much less whether or
not Roskilde was more or less focused on security than other
similar events, and it means much less that many concert and
festival promoters have repeated over and over that Roskilde
was one of the last places such an accident was likely to happen.
In the light of the nine lives lost, it means much less whether it
took 15 seconds or 15 minutes before the music stopped.
Roskilde Festival's strong sense of care and responsibility for the
audience over the past 30 years is well known and well
documented by other promoters, the media, the authorities, and
bands. This is all very well but it does not help much now. The
accident happened in Roskilde - regardless of whether it could
or could not happen, regardless of whether it had to happen or
did not have to. Roskilde was where it happened - with the
conditions that were Roskilde's. That is the reality that we all
must face and relate to. That is the reality Roskilde will face and
relate to and learn from. It became the reality for each and every
subsequent festival that was held this summer. A thought-
provoking experience for us all. An entity as complex and
dynamic as a festival for excited people can never quite simply
be declared 'developed to perfection'. When forces
of people, culture, nature, technology, emotions, music, and the
like influence each other
arbitrarily and sometimes involuntarily the details of the
consequences become impossible to predict. Consequently, a
festival promoter must have gone to great lengths to anticipate
and prepare for every possible situation around the stages, the
food stalls, the camping areas, the entrances, in the traffic, etc. -
the "possible" situations are not the hardest to anticipate for the
responsible festival promoter. It is the anticipation of, guarding
against and preparation for the "impossible" situations that
constitute the really difficult task.

Now, of course it is not the case that Roskilde Festival or other
festivals - after decades - have suddenly become dangerous and
lethal. Practically all areas of a festival are very safe and secure.
In extraordinarily unfortunate circumstances in a few areas it
may be different. Henceforward festivals will do everything in
their power to remove or strongly reduce any risks wherever
possible. Information and dialogue with the audience, artists,
staff, authorities, and other relevant parties will focus on the
festivals' roles, joys and risks - precisely as it is done in other
areas of our society. More focus, new experience, new
knowledge, renewed interest from the media and authorities - in
respect for what happened and for better experiences in the
future. Despite the stronger focus and more preventive measures
that have been developed in various parts of society over the
centuries, accidents still happen. All over the world people will
reflect upon the accident in Roskilde - mostly within the festival
and music culture but also in all other places where excited
people get together and share a great experience.


THE BEREAVED

Those who tragically lost their loved ones at Roskilde are
naturally in deep grief. What many people have not known is
that according to Danish legislation Danish police do not release
the names or addresses of the deceased. Therefore Roskilde
Festival has not been able to get in direct contact with the
bereaved except for the few who have themselves released their
names and addresses. In a letter of September to the bereaved,
passed on by Roskilde Police, Roskilde Festival has offered its
support in this difficult situation. In several cases this has
brought about direct contact and meetings with the families.


MEMORIAL GROVE

In the days after the accident the Roskilde audience created a
memorial ground for the deceased. Candles, flowers, T-shirts,
musical instruments, poems, banners, and more decorated the
ground. Most of the lasting items have been collected and will
be kept.

The festival site in Roskilde is owned by Roskilde Municipality
and every summer it is used for a number of different events
(farming shows, markets, and exhibitions). Thus it is not just up
to Roskilde Festival to decide how and where to create a
permanent memorial ground in honour of the deceased.

In Roskilde the plan is to create a small memorial grove in the
shape of a circle of nine beautiful trees. In the middle of the
circle an unhewn stone with a simple inscription will be placed.
Alternating with the trees in the circle sitting stones will be
placed as it is the intention that the memorial grove should be a
place for peaceful contemplation.


THE ROSKILDE 2000 TRAGEDY FUND

is still under construction. The proceeds will be applied for
increased securing of and concern for the audience at youth
cultural events in the future.


THE REPORT OF ROSKILDE POLICE

The police report is going to present and describe the elapse of
the situation prior to and in conjunction with the accident.

For four and a half months Roskilde Police has worked on a
report of the accident. A complex and thorough process of
analysis and elucidation must be carried out - taking the time
that is necessary. As the months have passed with repetitions of
opinions and experiences in the media and among friends, it is
important to ensure that the distinction can still be made
between what was experienced and what has been added later.

A preliminary report was made in July just a few days after the
accident. At no time has the investigations of Roskilde Police
been suspended and thus the present investigation is not a new
investigation. At present it is unknown when the final report can
be expected to be finished.


THE DANISH GOVERNMENT'S WORK GROUP

The Danish Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Justice have
appointed a work group that is to produce a report on "security
at Danish music festivals and similar larger music events that
attract a very large crowd". It is NOT the job of the work group
to analyse conditions at Roskilde Festival - or the accident that
happened in Roskilde.

The work group consists of seven people who have been
appointed by the Minister of Justice, the Danish Emergency
Management Agency (Beredskabstyrelsen), the Danish Music
Council (Statens Musikråd), the National Association of
Municipalities (Kommunernes Landsforening), and the large
Danish music festivals.

The work group must deliver their report to the two ministers no
later than the 15th December 2000.


RESPONSIBILITY

In Denmark permission to arrange a festival is given by the local
police if a number of conditions are met. Once permission has
been obtained it is the responsibility of the festival promoter to
arrange and manage the event in a responsible manner.


WHEN ACCIDENTS HAPPEN

When accidents happen an extreme focus is naturally placed on
the accident in question - and a more general focus is placed on
the whole of the profession. It is the case in matters of traffic
and sports, and it is the case in the music business. Not just in
Roskilde analysis and development is taking place. All over the
world concert and festival promoters are busy up-dating their
events to ensure that they can take place in an optimally caring
and responsible environment.

Numerous work groups and committees have been established
this summer and autumn. New collaborative initiatives and
knowledge banks have been created internally among promoters
and between promoters and relevant authorities. Wherever
people get together to share experiences that excite them and/or
attract large crowds it is necessary to devote great attention to
the facilities and conditions. Events that attract large crowds are
naturally receiving a lot of attention. The continuation of these
events must be secured - in both senses of the word.


DANISH FESTIVALS COLLABORATE

For many years the Danish festivals, Langeland, Midtfyn,
Roskilde, Skagen, Skanderborg, and Tønder have had
formalised collaboration on the handling of practical matters
and other issues of common interest. Representatives of the six
festivals met in July to elect their representative for the
Government's work group on festival security (Leif Skov from
Roskilde was elected). At this meeting it was decided that the
festival representatives would continue to meet on a regular
basis to support and inspire one another - primarily on the
development of security measures.

The last weekend of October the ordinary annual meeting
between the six festivals was held in Skanderborg. At the
meeting experiences and knowledge was exchanged and
subjects of shared interest were debated, among these the
subject of security.


YOUROPE

The European association of festivals congregated in March this
year in London and decided to work to encourage all member
festivals to focus on security and base improvements on the
principles of the British "Event Safety Guide". It was also
decided that this initiative should be dealt with again on
Yourope's next meetings in Milan in July and in Berlin in
October. After the meeting in Milan a newsletter was published,
which stated among other things:

"...among other things, Yourope - the European association of
festivals has decided:

* to encourage more attention on and the use of "The Event
Safety Guide" as the best instructions for managing health,
security, and general care issues for all larger festivals.

* to introduce local authorities to the "The Event Safety Guide"
- in the regions mentioned below - with the purpose of
increasing awareness of the guide's content and use as general
standard for the development of safer and better cultural and
musical festival events. The four main regions are:
a) the Nordic countries, b) Central Europe, c) Southern Europe,
d) Eastern Europe.

* to support training in all relevant areas of health, security, and
general care work in conjunction with outdoor music festivals

* to collect, exchange and distribute expertise and knowledge
from/to all members who can help develop and improve health
and security at outdoor festivals

* to call on the media to support the focus on and coverage of
health, security, care, atmosphere, and general ambience at the
festivals, as well as on the behaviour and number of the
audience and the artists performances...

...Yourope has chosen to call on its members to regulate
themselves their part of the industry and will take the lead in
this process. Through communication and collaboration with all
sectors of the industry Yourope will move forward - the first
steps will be the promoting of the British "Event Safety Guide"
(of health, security, and care for audience at musical and similar
events"...."

Subsequently, on 31st August in Stockholm, the Swedish
Minister of Youth (Ulrica Messing) met with representatives of
Yourope, Swedish music promoters, Danish festival promoters,
and the Danish Ministry of Culture. At that meeting it was
decided to work for best possible co-ordination of the
development of festivals in the Nordic countries based on the
principles of the British "Event Safety Guide".


ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF RISKS

From year to year for many years now risks and security at
Roskilde has been analysed and assessed leading to continual
development and improvement. Every year some things have
been changed and elements have been added as part of the
ongoing process. If we compare the festivals 1980, 1990, and
2000 some very large and clear improvements stand out - also
in the area of security. Risk assessment has been practised at
Roskilde long before it became "in vogue" with the "Event
Safety Guide" in the mid-1990s. Many years ago at Roskilde the
front barrier guards and the audience were separated by a six-
feet tall fence and the guards were unable to assist the audience.
Then Roskilde grew smarter. Ten years ago the grass and soil in
front of the larger stages was removed and replaced with
drainage systems and a cover of coarse sand - a hard surface
which does not turn muddy or slippery in bad weather. Five
years ago, a stand was built at the back of the audience area by
Orange Stage, a large screen was placed at the back of the mixer
tower, and a special audio delay system was introduced. All of
this to make it more attractive for the audience to spread out in
the area in front of Orange Stage. The fences, the coarse sand
surfaces, and the improved distance audio-visual facilities are
just three examples among many of how new knowledge
influence and change a festival.

THE EVENT SAFETY GUIDE - also referred to as "The Pop
Code" - was published in its first edition in England in 1993. A
new, revised edition was published in October 1999 and has
since then been widely acknowledged for its principles of risk
analysis of every detail of an event - and its corresponding
descriptions of how the risks may be removed or minimised.

The accident at Roskilde Festival 2000 naturally led to thorough
analyses of what took place and of all the elements of the
festival. The usual and increased sense of responsibility are the
basis of the work that has been carried out in Roskilde over the
past months - work which will be continued in close dialogue
with many different parties throughout the winter and spring.

Safety and risks at a music festival have not just got to do with
the areas around the stages. For that reason a number of
committees in Roskilde have worked (still work) on issues in
the areas of camping and fire, sanitation, electricity, storage and
transport of valuables, entrances, environment, food
production, traffic, and staff qualifications - in addition to the
stage security work group.

Accidents do not necessarily happen because of irresponsibility.
Often accidents happen because of an unfortunate concurrence
of various factors. Even with thorough analysis and
improvements and the distribution of new knowledge after an
accident has happened somewhere in the world accidents still
happen. It happens in the field of rail traffic, air traffic, car
traffic, concerts, festivals, hospitals, sports, etc. The last
accident will never happen, even though every accident
promotes new interest, new attention, new knowledge which
naturally must be used and turned into responsible actions and
improvements. The audience, the media, the authorities, the
promoters, and others are touched by what happened and they
all contribute to the new and greater interest, to the positive
exploitation of the momentum of the accident, and the positive
result of an accident, which is in itself so tragic and
meaningless, becomes the number of clear improvements.


ROSKILDE FESTIVAL 2001

Not surprisingly event managers, authorities, media
representatives, and others have shown renewed great interest in
the practical arrangements at the festivals. Together, all parties
can contribute to creating better festival experiences in a
positive, responsible and constructive manner.

After the accident this summer, not only the people behind
Roskilde Festival have analysed the situation. Festival
colleagues from Denmark and abroad have also been involved
in the process and have contributed their ideas and assessments
as have representatives of the authorities, crowd management
companies and other individual contributors.

At Roskilde it is also about making safer the search for the
exciting and liberating experience - a balancing act between
two important considerations that many positive forces support.
What brought this about most people know - it clearly takes
more than a few small adjustments to be able to secure the
opportunities to come together and the great experiences that
this free and non-commercial festival has to offer.

Roskilde Festival's plans for Roskilde 2001 are now being
presented so that there will be adequate time to put them into
action before next summer's festival. Should current legislation
change in a manner that affects the plans Roskilde will make the
appropriate adjustments.

Conditions related to Roskilde Festival's general premises and
stage areas have been examined after the accident, and changes
are being made in various respects to improve the overall
experience and the conditions for the audience. For Roskilde
Festival 2001 in general and Orange Stage in particular the
policy can be summarised as follows:


ROSKILDE FESTIVAL'S OVERALL POLICY

Limited number of tickets for sale (70,000 - which is 20,000
less than a few years back) with no cut-backs on site area or the
number of general facilities), charity and non-commercial
status, environmental protection policy, pricing policy,
extensive dialogue with audience and authorities, elimination of
elements of irritation (in terms of quality of food, rubbish
disposal, sanitary arrangements, audience service, festival
worker cordiality, etc.), and no attractions for children.


SPACE ARRANGEMENTS

Site layout without bottleneck areas, many non-musical
attractions (street sports, performances, decorations, etc.),
deposit system on packaging.
ALCOHOL and DRUGS

The festival stalls will not be selling liquor or strong beer. The
rules for serving alcohol will be displayed. There will be no
serving of alcohol to under-18s - also the on-site grocers will
enforce this rule. The policy on drugs at Roskilde Festival will
based on current legislation and the normal administration of it.


INFORMATION CAMPAIGN

During the months preceding the festival an information
campaign directed at the audience will be run. The campaign
will focus on the unique and intriguing atmosphere of Roskilde
Festival, on the practical arrangements and facilities, as well as
on the special potential elements of risk that the audience should
be aware of. In addition to this, the audience will receive
information on the festival's security arrangements in the festival
programme, which is distributed when the audience arrive at the
festival camping and parking areas. Knowledge about audience
issues and the practical arrangements at the festival site is an
important element of preparation for the audience.

PRE-PRODUCTION

Pre-production has been practised at Roskilde for a number of
years. The essence of pre-production is the discussion and
planning of every single concert with every single band in the
months preceding the festival - this includes technical and
practical issues like catering, accommodation, transport, concert
security, special effects, etc. This practice will be continued.
Also the special procedure for checking-in the bands in the
back-stage area will continue to be used and will be refined, and
the festival's rules and national laws will be explained to the
bands. As previously the bands' security manager will check all
security arrangements and procedures. All this, to ensure the
safest possible concert management.

An element of pre-production, which will be expanded and
refined from 2001, is that the festival will visit the bands'
concerts before Roskilde - and an introductory meeting before
the bands reach Roskilde - one of the greatest jobs on their tours
of Europe.


COMMUNICATIONS

Communication between the various units at Roskilde Festival
is an important issue - as is communication to the audience. At
Roskilde communication is not based on telephone or mobile
phone, but on handheld radios, i.e. walkie-talkies, using
dedicated frequencies and a mix of open and closed channels,
which ensures optimal communication between the units. I
noisy areas around stages the newest radio technology will
employed.

Communication to the audience will be improved. Mega screens
and displays be used with pre-produced text to inform the
audience effectively in special situations. Before the festival this
procedure will be described on the festival web site and other
media. Communication for emercency situations will be
demonstrated for the audience before the larger concerts and
will be described in the printed festival programme.


CHAINS OF COMMAND

After Roskilde 2000 a special focus has been placed on chains
of command. Like previously, there will not be a long chain of
command involving many people before a decision-maker is
reached. In
2000 information from the stage area reached the decision-
maker with no intermediate
via a simultaneous radio network (consisting of six key persons
on the same open radio channel).
The fatal time that elapsed in 2000 seems not to have been
caused by the chain of command, but by the difficulty in
assessing the gravity of the situation.

Nevertheless, it has been decided to improve the
communications structures surrounding the stages.
Responsibility for practical and technical production will
continue to rest with a back stage manager and a stage manager.
But as a new feature, there will be a security manager placed,
normally, at the front of every stage who will have no
responsibilities in relation to general practical or technical
matters on the stage. Instead the security manager will be
dedicated to audience and band security and will be responsible
for organising and manning all security measures. The security
manager will communicate directly with his/her key persons "in
the field" and take action if required.


CENTRE OF COMMAND

A festival like Roskilde is a dynamic society of 100.000 people
- constructed specifically for this one-week event. Almost all of
this society's inhabitants focus almost solely on the great thrill.
Almost any kind and variation of imaginable and un-imaginable
situations may arise: flooding, torrential rain, delivery
breakdown, technical breakdown, tumult, fire, traffic
congestion, etc. Until now various management units (police,
fire, physical site, fences, traffic, sanitation, first aid, etc.) have
each had their own office and have been in contact with other
function via radio. For 2001 Roskilde Festival will seek to
establish one common centre for all these functions (except
those related specifically to each stage) which will provide
better conditions for the functions to support each other both in
general management and in decision-making.


STAFF

After 2000 Roskilde Festival also places a special focus on staff.
Approximately 18,000 members of staff work during the
festival, a few hundred in paid jobs, the rest on an unpaid
voluntary basis. It has been suggested that volunteers (i.e.
unpaid staff) are less qualified than paid staff. This is a
generalisation which is not correct. At Roskilde's larger stages
the first aid unit is not merely manned by first aid personnel but
by qualified doctors including anaesthetists and nurses from
hospitals in the Roskilde and Copenhagen area. They work on
an unpaid basis for Roskilde Festival, and suggesting that that
makes them unqualified for the job is simply wrong. Most of the
staff at the front fences at the stages also work on an unpaid
basis. With a few exceptions they have been the same group of
people for several years. Some of these work in paid jobs at
similar events and obviously do not lose their qualifications
changing from one job (paid) to another (unpaid).

Roskilde Festival will focus particularly on the qualifications of
members of staff in key positions. As previously qualifications
will not be assessed on the basis of whether or not staff receives
payment but in terms of actual personal qualifications for
handling the job. For a number of positions training programmes
and instruction will be made compulsory to ensure that staff are
fully competent and informed in terms of the job itself,
technology, practical arrangements, and collaboration. A "job
log" will be kept for each member of staff in which relevant
education, training and previous experience in similar positions
(dates, job description, place, function, and duration) will be
described to provide documentation of experience and
qualifications wherever the holder of the log works.


UNIFORMS

Uniforms will be used by staff at Roskilde Festival to show the
audience where to ask for service ("Camping Service", "Clean
Festival", etc.). The orange vests are well-known and popular.
At festival 2001 the use of uniforms will remain at the same
level but will be more nuanced in terms
of colours used and indication of function. Primarily this will be
done to make it more clear to
the audience what kind of service each member of staff can
provide. However, in the event of an emergency it also serves
the purpose of making it easier to distinguish who is Fence
Guard and who is Fence Guard Manager - or who is Doctor and
who is the Managing Doctor.


THE AUDIENCE AREA

In front of the large stages Roskilde Festival will continue to
employ the appropriate types of fencing - but there will be
changes. It has proved to be effective to lower the music output
level somewhat in the front by the stage and employing "delay"
devices further back in the crowd and this system will continue
to be used. Likewise elevated stands at the back of the audience
areas will be used to a greater extent and large screens will be
erected for the benefit of those choosing to experience the
concerts from a distance in order to limit crowding in front of
the stages. In front of Orange Stage the very large audience area
rises naturally away from the stage, and this too will contribute
to keeping some of the audience away from the front-of-stage
area as they will have a good view of the stage even from the
back.

As previously the ground in front of the larger stages will not be
soil or grass but a special hard surface (fine gravel) to minimise
the risk of the ground turning muddy and slippery. Again this
year, the stages will be positioned so that three sides are open
and provide open and wide exits - there will be no narrow
passages or bottlenecks. For the covered stages, tent sides will
normally be left off to allow for completely unhindered passage.

Rubbish management at Roskilde festival is very effective.
Return systems on packaging mean that a large proportion of all
packaging is returned for proper disposal. The reuse and
compostation service is at the core of the Roskilde Festival
environmental protection campaign, which the majority of the
audience greatly appreciate and actively support. Also in 2001
the area in front of the stages will be thoroughly cleared and
cleaned between each concert to make sure that the audience is
not bothered by rubbish.


CROWD CONTROL

"Crowd control" refers to the special attention that must be paid
to the audience in front of the stages. Not least the first 10-30
metres in front of the stages require special attention from all
involved. At most concerts the audience can move freely up to a
barrier in front of the stage. Between the stage and barrier fence
guards are stationed so that they can assist the audience and
make sure that the audience does not gain access to the stage,
the technical gear, and the artists. At some concerts a second
wide barrier has been added further back (providing a passage
from one side to the other), more small barriers or breakwater-
style fittings, or extra guards at various stations among the
crowd. There are many varieties of solutions - but it is unlike
that one can be pronounced the only best. The terrain, audience
dynamics, the music style, and other parameters should be
analysed before deciding what to use.

At Roskilde the first 35 metres in front of Orange Stage will be
redesigned to provide maximum comfort and security in a
manner that integrates with the other arrangements and facilities
in the audience area. The front fence that has previously been
used in front of Orange Stage will be made a little longer in
each side but will otherwise retain its specifications, which
comply with current construction principles ("the MOJO
barrier"), including the elevated platform for the front fence
guards. The Mojo barrier has been designed primarily for
concert touring and is therefore relatively light, easy to
disassemble and featuring some rather uncomfortable shores.
Roskilde Festival benefits from its permanent location in that
heavier materials can be used and the raking shores avoided
because an underground concrete foundation can be made. The
new and improved barrier will be placed in a soft, wide wedge
shape in front of the stage as the previous one was - 3 metres
from the stage front at the sides, 6 metres at the middle. The
fence will be approximately 120 cm tall and cushioned at the
top with heaving foam rubber. About 10-12 metres in front this
a second similar barrier with a passage will be placed and about
20 meters further out a third barrier, also with a passage, will be
placed. This way, from the middle of the front barrier there will
be a corridor through the second and third barrier from the front-
of-stage area to the back.

An illustration of the design of the area can be seen at:

http://www.roskilde-festival.dk/pict/orange.jpg

A large number of the existing small breakwater-style barriers in
the audience area will be removed (particularly those that have
served to stop the forward pressure) as the two new wide
barriers will take over their function. Particularly in the two
front sections (A and B) the Fence Guards will be close to all
members of the audience in those areas (no more than 5 metres).
Combined with a less compact crowd AND guards among the
audience, this will make the area safer - without ruining the
intense concert experience. Most of all though, the experience
will be improved in the sense that it becomes safer. It is no
longer the audience who decide whether there is room for three
more exited people in the front section. The illustration shows
how the sections A, B, C and D are relatively closed at the sides.
That is how the area will look during the relatively long period
when the area is filling up prior to a concert. When a section has
been filled with the number of people that are the safe
maximum it will be closed for further entry. Most of the fences
on the outer sides of the sections (A, B, C and D) open readily
(outwards) for exit after a concert or in the event of an
emergency. It is planned that in each of the four sections
specially qualified officials are to be stationed among the
audience, primarily to observe that the area is safe and
comfortable. Maybe intense and packed, but not so packed that
it is the crowd that dictates how people move. Not so packed
that it becomes dangerous. Not so packed that people cannot
leave the area or seek backwards if they so choose. Like the
guard managers by the barriers, these officials will be in contact
(eye/signalling/radio contact) with
the stage security manager, who will normally be stationed at
the front edge of the stage (unless
he/she has been called out "in the field") together with the
special observers.

Whether or not to supplement the above with closed circuit TV
monitoring is still being debated. There are pros and cons - and
it is clear that cameras do not provide the important
combination of direct observation and direct conclusion (on the
basis of factors such as weather conditions, sound, sight, feel,
and the complete picture).


FIRST AID FACILITIES

Also this year there will be several First Aid facilities on the
festival site and there will be First Aid stations at the larger
concerts at the larger stages. Additionally there will, like
previously, be some mobile First Aid units. Although Roskilde
2001 introduces some adjustments and changes that remove or
greatly reduce any risks, the festival will try to supplement the
festival ambulance, which is controlled from a First Aid station
on the site, with an additional ambulance which will be on
stand-by at the stage where the largest concert at the time is
taking place. This will serve as an extra measure even though
the ambulance service worked both fast and efficiently at
Roskilde 2000. The organisation and stand-by procedures of
doctors, hospitals, fire brigade, police, etc. and outwards out of
the festival area are not a festival promoter's primary
responsibilities. However, the dialogue between Roskilde
Festival and those groups is good and responsible - and
naturally this is an element that will be continued to ensure
optimal preparedness in all areas.


THE ACCIDENT

The accident that happened at Roskilde 2000 must never happen
again - neither at Roskilde nor anywhere else in the world. At
the festival an improved emergency response and
communications systems is being developed. Also at the stages
preparedness and communications are developed. At Roskilde
the stage's security manager will be the key person in the
communication with staff. At present a "one-button" system is
being worked on that initiates a package of actions including the
turning on of stage lighting and audience area lighting,
appearance pre-produced messages on screens and displays,
alerting the festival central of command, appearance of
messages on the festival information system, etc. Additionally,
an alert will be dispatched to the presenter/stage official who
has to communicate directly to the audience. Part of the
emergency plan for each stage will be an emergency electricity
supply system for the essential functions.


COLLABORATION

The accident happened in Roskilde. It is thought-provoking, that
many honest concert and festival promoters have stated that it
could just as well have happened at their events. All those
responsible wish to learn from the tragedy and will do their
utmost to ensure that nothing like that will ever happen again.
Also in this respect Roskilde would like to take the lead and the
festival has thus suggested that a formal collaboration between
3-4 European festivals and the leading European crowd
management and crowd safety company be initiated. Roskilde
suggests that the participants should provide each other with
support and know-how on practical, security and staff-related
issues as well as work to define the 3-4 processes as prototypes
that other event promoters and authorities may learn from via
the internet and other media. It has also been suggested that this
project and its progress should be presented at various relevant
music and event business seminars, e.g. the ILMC conference
(International Live Music Conference) in London in March.
Finally it is the plan that materials focusing on these issues will
be produced and distributed to event promoters, audiences, and
others.


DIALOGUE PARTNERS

Since the accident, Roskilde Festival has been in contact with
many different parties. A few got involved for the sake of their
own gain, while the majority simply wanted to ensure that the
existence of the festival culture and music culture will be
secured on a safer basis. More than 5,000 individuals have
written to Roskilde Festival by letter, email or fax to contribute
their suggestions and comments. The people behind Roskilde
Festival wish to thank them all for all that interest and support
which was evident in more than 90% of the contributions. Also
thank you to those who wrote critically and helped get the
process going too. Roskilde wish to extent the same respect to
the many media representatives who have covered the issues of
the accident and the future of music, festival and youth culture.
If the debate has helped and supported human, cultural or
practical considerations, then Roskilde Festival is grateful.


HEARING AND ASSESSMENT

In the development of a number of elements of Roskilde's future
a number of individuals and companies, who possess insight,
experience and expert knowledge, have played a central role.
Roskilde Festival 2001 will probably be the one festival in the
world, which has been assessed and checked the most
thoroughly by both internal and external people in a number of
practical and security-related areas. A great thank you to all of
the competent people who have supported and furthered the
process. Responsible people do not issue guarantees. All those
who have helped out and given input have not done so by
approving Roskilde's ideas, but by adding elements and
commenting on the plans. Special thanks to Keith Ferguson
(Production Services Association), Mick Upton, Bert van Horck,
and Gerard van Duykeren (all from International Crowd
Management & Security Group in Holland and England), Paul
Wertheimer (Crowd Management Strategies, USA), EMA
Telstar (Sweden), Hultsfred Festival (Sweden), Lowlands
Festival (Holland), and Paddy Gythfeldt (Zig Zag Productions).


BUT .... THE MUSIC, THE JOY, THE EXCITEMENT?

As it has been said often by the Roskilde spokesman the task
now is to secure the future in more than one sense. That makes
the task doubly hard. The music, atmosphere, joy, experience,
respect, care, ecstasy, service, security, dancing, beauty, etc.
must be secured in an optimal way. The festival will not come
to a standstill, suffer a blackout, turn to concrete. The festival
shall not just make little adjustments, forget, or pretend there are
no issues to be dealt with. The festival shall develop its role as
one of Europe's significant cultural, musical, free, caring,
environmentally sound, loving, and responsible points of
interaction for people and opinions, for music, for tolerance, for
much good between people. That is the best way for us to move
on - the best way to respect the deceased and their relatives. "we
will do everything we can do achieve that" says Leif Skov of the
festival management and adds, in the words of the Norwegian
poet Nordahl Grieg: "we will care for life, beauty and warm, as
if we carried a child, gently on our arm".


At the Roskilde Festival web site www.roskilde-festival.dk
updated information about the planning - artistically and
practically - of Roskilde 2001 can be found. Advance sale of
tickets starts on December 1st.


Best regards

ROSKILDE FESTIVAL 2001