When Emma Furrier went to Fenway Park on June 20 for Lana Del Rey’s first headlining concert in Boston, she didn’t expect to spend half the night seeking shelter under the bleachers.

However, after a scorching heat wave lasting three days, the mayor declared a state of emergency. When lightning struck, staff instructed fans to stay put in the congested concourse, where they sat for two long hours with minimal water and airflow.

The venue’s promised safety measures—like free water, cooling stations, and fans—were missing, leading to many fans feeling unwell and some even passing out, according to Furrier.

“Every 10 minutes, Fenway employees yelled at us to move for a stretcher or wheelchair to get through, but it was packed tight, with each person pressed against the next,” Furrier recalls. “It was frightening because no one knew what was going on.”

The concert began at 10 p.m. and lasted merely 45 minutes, which is about half of what the artist usually performs. By then, Furrier felt so sick and dehydrated that she “couldn’t even enjoy the show, which was really disappointing,” she explains. “I just wanted to head home and rest.”

Although she “made it through” that night, she “never wants to go through that again.”

YSL News has contacted Fenway Park for their comments on this incident.

Furrier’s unsettling experience is not an isolated case this summer, as increasing heat and extreme weather create significant risks for outdoor concerts. In regions where summer storms are rare, venues may not have the proper protocols in place for managing urgent evacuations. As a result, some artists and their teams are now reconsidering outdoor performances in the hottest cities.

Summer and shoulder seasons bring more risks for outdoor concerts

Dr. Gregg M. Garfin, deputy director for science translation and outreach at The University of Arizona Institute for Resilient Environments and Societies, reports that rising temperatures and heat waves are already having repercussions for summer concerts. Furthermore, in hotter areas, the shoulder seasons (spring and fall) are becoming increasingly risky.

Last year, both the band Disturbed and rapper 50 Cent had to cancel shows in Phoenix as temperatures soared above 115 degrees. Disturbed’s equipment reportedly failed in the heat, and 50 Cent tweeted: “I’ll return to Arizona soon! 116 degrees is dangerous for everyone.” Even cities that aren’t typically known for high temperatures have had their incidents, like Ed Sheeran’s concert in Pittsburgh, which resulted in 17 heat-related hospital admissions, as stated by the city.

“We’re already experiencing 100-degree temperatures in April, May, September, and October in places such as Tucson, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Las Cruces. We expect those months to be cooler,” he mentions, stressing that lack of preparation can lead to serious consequences.

Urban centers like New York, Washington D.C., and Chicago face the “heat island effect,” where buildings, roads, and other infrastructure can absorb and re-emit heat more than natural surroundings filled with water and greenery. Consequently, daytime temperatures in urban areas can be 1 to 7 degrees higher and nighttime temperatures can be 2 to 5 degrees higher than surrounding areas, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

“Without access to air conditioning, your body might not cool down properly, and this elevates the risk of severe health issues,” Garfin warns. “Adding air pollution, alcohol and drug use, and dehydration into the mix significantly raises the chances of individuals becoming ill or even facing life-threatening situations.”

‘It was traumatic, and I don’t want to return’

Jeaurdyn Leffel traveled three hours to Southern Wisconsin for Noah Kahan’s sold-out performance at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre on July 13. While waiting for the show to start, an announcement urged everyone to evacuate the lawn due to severe weather. The chaotic return to their car felt perilous as a fierce windstorm swept through.

“We’re aware that Central Wisconsin faces many storms, but Southern Wisconsin usually remains fine. The storm really caught us off guard,” she says. “We were definitely not ready, especially since it was unexpected.”

The venue advised them to tune into a local radio station for updates on the weather, but no new information was shared, and there was no phone service to check for updates from the venue online. Eventually, the concert was rescheduled, but Leffel opted for a refund instead of attending the new date.

“It was a traumatic experience, and I have no interest in returning there,” she admits. “It makes me feel ill. I want to see him perform, but there are many issues they need to address.”

YSL News has reached out to the Alpine Valley Music Theatre for feedback.

Summer bookings may decline for venues

Jones Willingham, director of ticketing and marketing at Avondale Brewing Company in Birmingham, Alabama, notes that the summer concert season has evolved into a major challenge for outdoor venues.

For Willingham, the central question becomes where to delineate the responsibilities of the venue and the personal choices made by fans.

“It’s a shared effort to navigate the summer months between the venue and its audience. For Gen Z artists, fans typically arrive early, waiting all day, pressing against the barricade, which unfortunately leads to some fainting,” he explains. “However, when T-Pain performed on June 30, the hottest day of the year, fans were more diligent about staying hydrated before entering the venue.”

Staff at Avondale prioritize safety by ensuring that fans have enough water available, regardless of the costs.

“We have multiple water stations positioned strategically throughout the venue. We also provide bottled water at the barricade. Regarding the densely attended shows, he mentions, “It’s essential to be ready for anyone who might pass out.” He adds that his main concern is for those loyal fans camping at the barricade who aren’t taking care of themselves, as those are the ones most likely to faint.”

The venue has made minor adjustments to their schedule to help avoid the sweltering afternoon heat. During the summer, they traditionally hold a garden party from 2 to 9 p.m., but this year they’ve changed it to 4 to 10 p.m.

Willingham reflects on his six years at Avondale, noting that summers have been getting hotter, raising concerns about the future of summer concerts.

“I hope it doesn’t discourage artists and their teams from performing at outdoor locations,” he expresses. “Generally, the worry lies with potential rain and lightning causing cancellations, but the increasing heat brings a different challenge.”

He foresees that “summer” concerts might shift into the later months. When he began, Avondale’s final shows were around late October; now, they sometimes extend to mid-November. However, he points out that students on summer break make up a significant part of their audience, and shows in the fall may result in lower ticket sales.

Artist managers face challenges with day-of operations amid extreme weather

Zoe Salvucci, an artist manager and music photographer, shares her concerns about booking outdoor performances next summer, citing cancellation issues due to severe weather.

“It seems like there hasn’t been much planning differently this summer, but I sense that will change next summer considering how unpredictable this year has been,” she states.

In July, she supported the band Trevor Hall at a concert in Charlottesville, North Carolina, where the temperature was 96 degrees. Fortunately, the amphitheater was shaded, but it remained “brutally hot.”

“Usually, heat doesn’t lead to cancellations,” she adds. “So everyone just has to endure a bit more discomfort because the show must go on.”

According to Salvucci, venues are responsible for emergency planning, yet the artist team tends to act as though the show will proceed until the last possible moment.

“One major issue is the late cancellations,” she explains. “They often wait until there’s lightning within five miles to call it off, leading to panic because it’s often too late to evacuate everyone safely and chaos ensues.”

And canceling shows not only affects eager fans but also the artists, as a significant portion of their income derives from ticket sales and merchandise sold at the venue. “Cancellation is a lose-lose; no one benefits, but safety is prioritized,” she adds.

Micah Rubin, a tour manager and drummer for The Brazen Youth, stresses the importance of implementing adequate safety measures to protect the band, crew, and fans during tours. On a tour in May, the air conditioning failed at a venue right before their arrival.

“It became dangerous. As a tour manager, I needed to ensure that the venue provided water for the concert-goers because the crowd was packed tightly and sweating profusely,” he recalls.

Concert attendees can take precautions to stay healthy

Utilizing tools like heat index forecasts and safety protocols can assist concert organizers and attendees in managing heat-related risks. Garfin advises using the National Weather Service’s heat index, which factors in wind and humidity to deliver an accurate real-feel temperature, for timely updates on heat waves.

He also suggests staying hydrated before and during the concert and steering clear of other risk factors like drugs and alcohol that could cloud judgment regarding one’s exposure and dehydration risk.

However, there is responsibility shared between fans and venues.

Furrier feels she “did everything possible” to keep herself safe at the Lana Del Rey concert. She dressed for heat, brought a portable fan, and carried water; nonetheless, without adequate resources from the venue, it fell short.

“I expected Fenway to be ready as they claimed they would be, but they weren’t,” she voiced. “This leaves me quite hesitant to attend outdoor concerts, knowing they may not prioritize fan safety.”