Coldplay concert fans feature story
Coldplay concert fans feature story
Coldplay concert fans feature story
By Rebekah Teo
KUALA LUMPUR — The Bukit Jalil National Stadium was packed with fervent Coldplay fans for the much-anticipated Coldplay concert expected to begin at 8:30pm onwards.
The sold-out show at the 85,000-seat stadium had excited concertgoers lining up as early as 12am.
At 3.50pm, the queue had grown from the stadium’s entrance all the way to its nearest Light Rail Transit (LRT) station.
Passionate Coldplay fans waiting in the heavy rain outside shared their personal experiences being at the long-awaited event.
Among the lively crowds was first-time concertgoer Nadia Farzana, who has been a Coldplay fan for 11 years now.
The 22-year-old said that she flew all the way from Kuching, Sarawak to experience her very first Coldplay concert.
“I’ve been a fan since 2012, so it feels really surreal that I’m here at their concert for the first time. It feels like I’m living one of my childhood dreams,” she said.
She said that she agrees with the event’s rules and regulations which ban political and LGBT banners.
She added that it’s better to avoid involving controversial topics so that everyone can enjoy the concert, especially if it’s their first time experiencing it.
A pair of close friends named Syarmine Afiqah, 28, and Ainin Sofea, 25, have been Coldplay fans for a decade now, and were both restlessly waiting for gates to open since 2pm.
The duo had arrived from Puchong and said it took them about two hours to book tickets online using both their phones and laptops.
They said they had to compete with people from around Asia, particularly Indonesians and Singaporeans who were equally passionate about getting tickets for the show here.
For context, the duo mentioned that they knew of people from Indonesia and Singapore buying tickets from X (formerly Twitter).
Another fan who is attending her fourth Coldplay concert now is Alisya Affandi, 27, who said she had been at the venue since 6am.
She said that the last three concerts she attended were in Paris, France – Jakarta, Indonesia and Cardiff, United Kingdom.
She said that she does not completely agree with the organisers prohibiting controversial banners, as she believes that everyone should be allowed to express themselves.
“I’ve queued for tickets online together with my friends on our phones, laptops and computers,” she said, adding that she managed to get a ticket instantly.
A fan lining up for Standing Zone tickets, 29-year-old digital marketer Azelia, has been a Coldplay fan for 10 years since middle school and said that she was okay with rules prohibiting water bottles and umbrellas.
“We already have a lot of drinks (sold in stalls at the venue). I think a lot of normal concerts don’t allow drinks (to be in Standing Zone),” she said.
She said that she feels lucky to get a ticket in the Standing Zone, as many of her friends couldn’t get one.
She added that she waited for about one to two hours to get tickets from the official GoLive website.
She mentioned that people shouldn’t worry too much about supporting Coldplay right now, as the band supports Palestine during the current Israel-Palestine conflict.
– November 22, 2023
