The Last Dinner Party 'appalled' after lone-male gig-goers subjected to 'strange' and 'condescending' treatment

The Last Dinner Party expressed their shock and disappointment after some fans experienced "odd" and "patronizing" treatment when they arrived at their concert in Lincoln over the weekend.

The Engine Shed venue has expressed regret to several male attendees who faced "inappropriate behavior" when they arrived to enjoy the show by themselves.

The club, claiming to be the biggest live music venue in Lincolnshire, shared a message on their official Instagram account explaining that their entry process did not meet their established venue entry standards. They emphasized that all guests should be treated equally and should meet the same requirements to enter.

The performance was set for Saturday night, but it was called off unexpectedly because "someone in the band became ill unexpectedly, which we certainly didn't see coming."

A number of men shared on social media that they were asked about their familiarity with the band before being allowed in.

A fan named Dan shared his experience on X, saying, "I just got to the concert and was directed into a dimly lit area with some other guys. I was accused of possibly being a creep for being alone, and then they took me into a room by myself with a security guard, where I was questioned and searched. It made me feel really uneasy."

He mentioned that the staff had also inquired about his favorite song from the Last Dinner Party.

A guy named Paul posted on X: “I arrived there by myself at 8:45 tonight, and there was no line. They asked me how long I’ve been a fan and what my favorite song is.”

"I found it a little unusual, and it was the first time I felt like I needed to prove myself to get a job. However, after reading this, I now see the reason behind it."

He continued, "I mentioned to him that nothing really matters and shared a line from the song, and he seemed okay after that. It does seem like they were focusing on single guys; I’m curious if there have been issues at other shows before."

"This is an embarrassment."

A man named Kam Zagi posted on X: "I had the same experience—I waited in line for 7 hours just to reach the barrier. Being only 4' 11", I was quickly taken aside, searched, and faced with patronizing questions. In the end, I never made it to the barrier..."

In a follow-up to the Engine Shed's announcement, he expressed his disappointment, stating, "This is unacceptable. I won’t be going to any new dates after how I was treated last night, and I know I'm not the only one."

In response to the reports, the band issued a statement on social media clarifying that they had no involvement in the security measures at the event. They added that these measures would not have been put in place if they had known about them beforehand.

They expressed, "We aim to create shows that feel safe and inviting for everyone, and this is a priority for us. Witnessing our audience embrace inclusivity is one of the highlights of performing live..."

"We invite everyone to join us at our events and truly hope to see you there. It deeply troubles us to learn that anyone felt unwelcome."

'The poor treatment of visitors'

In a detailed announcement released by the Shed Engine, the venue explained that they had quickly conducted an initial investigation. They mentioned that "immediate adjustments" were implemented in their policy based on information given to their security team regarding events that occurred at a previous The Last Dinner Party concert.

The venue stated that the policy was updated with good intentions, but it unfortunately led to some guests being treated poorly.

It expressed sincere regret to anyone impacted and stated that additional training would be provided to employees regarding the door entry policy as a crucial step to prevent this from happening in the future.

The Engine Shed invited anyone who believed they had experienced discrimination to get in touch.

'Sudden illness' leads to 'last-minute' cancellation.

Approximately 30 minutes prior to the scheduled performance at Lincoln, the Mercury-nominated band called off the show because of health issues.

In a separate announcement, the venue expressed regret to attendees for the sudden cancellation, stating: "This choice wasn't made easily, as both the band and the promoter were optimistic that the member would get better and be able to take the stage."

The band, who are on tour across the UK and Ireland, has called off their upcoming concert in Cardiff that was set for Sunday. They informed fans through social media that the show was "cancelled due to sickness" and expressed their "sincere apologies."

The Last Dinner Party is set to take the stage next on Tuesday in Birmingham.

The Last Dinner Party is an indie rock group consisting of Abigail Morris, Lizzie Mayland, Emily Roberts, Georgia Davies, and Aurora Nishevci. They came together in 2020 after connecting at a university in London.

Last year, they received the Brit Rising Star award, and their first album, Prelude To Ecstasy, topped the UK albums chart upon its release in February.

Sky News has reached out to the band for their response.

(c) Sky News 2024: The Last Dinner Party expresses shock after single male concert attendees experience 'strange' situations.