Whilst reading the epic “Guardian” local newspaper, I spied a topic that was unusual and somewhat baffling. It seems that the Harlow music venue “The Square” has adopted an age restriction policy to bands who are booked to perform there. Now this venue has seen the likes of Blur and Oasis as well as many other famous (and not so famous) groups playing there, but the age restriction is literally going to kill off any kind of music scene. You see, those who make the rules have decided that the maximum age of band members booked at “The Square” is to be 19 years old. Yes, that’s right…nineteen, n-n-n-n-nineteen (oblique Paul Hardcastle reference permitting).
Now I’m scanning my brain for famous bands that had made it by the age of 19 and I came up with a couple – I think Ash and Supergrass were both quite young when they broke, but this rule is just stupid. We are supposedly to be living in an age of political correctness and tolerance to all races, sexes, creeds and religions but this is just pure age discrimination. I know it is just a music venue, but I wonder what the bosses there are actually trying to achieve with this new age policy. Of course, they could give preference to younger bands and still have slots open to those groups who have entered their twenties, but this is so stupid it’s gone off the Foolish-o-meter. Oh well, I am glad I’m an old fart and not some twenty-year-old whose hopes have been dashed trying to get a gig at “The Square”.
Mind you, there’s a lot of ageism when it comes to rock. A lot of venues refuse to allow entry to music fans who are under 16 – even if they are accompanied by an adult and I think that kind of thing sucks. The venues say it is because they are a licensed premises and they sell booze, but you don’t see children being refused entries to theatres that also sell alcohol, do you? It’s a real shame this age policy because when you are that age, music is the fuel that feeds the heart in some youngsters. Stupid rules…
Also in the local “Guardian”, I read that Tre from “The Apprentice” is in fact a local Loughton boy. Awwww crap….

« »