Coldplay fans who camped out for two nights have been snapping up tickets to the first gig by the band in their home town of Exeter since 2000. Fifty people had waited outside the HMV shop since Tuesday for the £50 tickets which which went on sale today at 0900 GMT. Coldplay will perform to an audience of just 500 fans, at Exeter Castle on 19 December, to raise money for Mencap. You can watch a video of the queues online at the BBC website (UK only).
Coldplayers Mary Maguire, 22, and Karen Chalmers, 25, both from St David's, spent two chilly nights in Princesshay to guarantee they would be at the special concert arranged for Saturday, December 19, at Exeter Castle.
Mary said: "There is a nice atmosphere down here. Everyone's getting along, sitting, chatting. Everyone's bringing food — it's not too cold either. It was a little bit cold on our first night, but it wasn't too bad. We weren't alone for long. The security around Princesshay was great and they came and checked on us all the time. It's the only way to guarantee a ticket. A lot of people are saying how great it is down here —they are having a lot of fun."
Karen said: "People are eating and drinking; they're in really good spirits. The community spirit is really good; we have been enjoying ourselves."
Bosses at the HMV store in Princesshay, where 100 of the 500 tickets are being sold from 8am tomorrow, were caught unawares and had to quickly assemble the barrier when the duo arrived at 9am yesterday.
Chris Allen (Jayzo!), who travelled to Exeter from Sheffield to queue, arrived yesterday afternoon. He said: "There is a buzz of activities; there are lots of people around. Everyone's visiting everyone else in the queue; everybody's in a good mood. People are buying coffee and bringing pizza."
Kevin Yelland, 43, who lives in Exeter and works at the Old Fire House, had been camping since 7am yesterday. He said: "I have followed Coldplay since the early days and seeing them in my hometown is just the chance of a lifetime."
His colleague Katie Smith, 25, from Alphington, had been queuing since 2.45am yesterday and was buying tickets for her parents Pam and Rob. She said: "It's been really fun; everyone's been lovely. My brother David has brought a guitar, so we are keeping ourselves amused. Friends who are in Exeter have brought food and drinks to us. It's been incredible really. I feel privileged to be a part of it."
At 9.30am on Friday 11th December, the remaining 300 tickets will be made available for general sale via HMV's official website - but you will have to be quick! Tickets will be limited to 2 per person in all cases. Tickets available to subscribers and via HMV will be in the form of print at home tickets (so you don't have to be UK based to buy these tickets). ID may be required from the named individual on the tickets (the person who buys them). You will be charged £50 per ticket PLUS a £5 booking fee PLUS another 50p for the privilege of printing your own tickets (so that's £55 total per person + 50p per booking. [thanks ebenezer66 for the information]
Latest ticket information taken from the Little Noise Sessions website is as follows: Subscription for Coldplay presale tickets has now closed. If you have not subscribed and would still like to purchase tickets please come back to littlenoisesessions.org.uk from 9.30am on 11 December for your chance to purchase tickets. In 2008, Mencap’s Little Noise Sessions sold out in minutes. Please be aware that subscribing to the LNS Backstage Area does not guarantee you a ticket. There will be a limited number of pre-sale tickets, and they are sold on a first come, first served basis.
The latest discussion on this new show is currently happening at the Coldplay Live forum, where you can read the latest comments here onwards.
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