The Libertines and The Smashing Pumpkins shine at Gunnersbury Park

Image: Pete Doherty of The Libertines performing at Gunnersbury Park. Credit: Mike Massaro/Hello Content

Two iconic bands showcase the park’s potential as a major venue

This past weekend, Gunnersbury Park  hosted two major shows, bringing a lot of familiar songs and a good mix of ages into the park. The Libertines played on Saturday, August 9, and The Smashing Pumpkins followed on Sunday, August 10.

British band The Libertines, led by Pete Doherty and Carl Barât, helped define early 2000s indie. The American alternative rock group Smashing Pumpkins formed in the early nineties fronted by Billy Corgan, and became instantly recognisable to a wider public when their song Where Is My Mind was used in the film Fight Club in 1999.

The Libertines delivered a straightforward and energetic performance.

A review from The Upcoming described the show as “a spectacle of rock’n’roll nostalgia,” with the band’s “charismatic pioneers…igniting the long-lost beloved flame of indie sleaze.”

The set leaned toward the hits most people know, with a couple of newer tracks from their 2024 album All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade blended in. It was the sort of night that works well for a mix of dedicated fans and casual listeners, with plenty of singalong moments.

Image Credit: Mike Massaro/Hello Content

On Sunday, The Smashing Pumpkins took a broader sweep through their catalogue.

The band marked the thirtieth anniversary of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness while also adding newer material from recent releases. They included one or two cover versions that regulars expect and kept the tone welcoming.

A report from Vinyl Me, Please highlighted the performance as “a nostalgic journey for longtime fans and an introduction to the band’s evolving sound for newer audiences.” Earlier sets from Skunk Anansie, White Lies, Unpeople, and Rocket helped build the day, creating a concert that felt like good value.

The park itself proved to be a great venue for both events.

Its generous 190-acre size meant that thousands of attendees could enjoy the concerts comfortably. The location’s accessibility and proximity to public transport allowed people to choose a spot with a view and get home quickly and easily. This kind of local access to national and international artists is a key benefit for West London residents.

Ultimately, last weekend’s events demonstrated the upside of hosting large-scale concerts when they are well-managed. However, these concerts are part of a larger ongoing discussion about the park’s future. The Gunnersbury Park CIC, which runs commercial events, relies on income from these shows for the upkeep of the park and museum, as support from Hounslow and Ealing councils has been reduced.

This necessity has led to an increase in events, which has raised concerns among some local residents about issues such as noise, traffic, and the impact on the park’s green spaces, but events successful events such as those of this past week certainly go some to justifying Hounslow Council’s recent decision to grant permission for three one day festival’s to ahead in September.

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