Magnetic World was not worth my $300 ticket

I’ve been to Magnetic World twice now, and both times I left frustrated.

Almost everything about Magnetic World feels held together with popsicle sticks and glue. It’s exciting to see bigger artists perform in Halifax, but the cost of that excitement is becoming more apparent every year.

The smartest people seemed to be the fans who cut their losses and watched from higher up on Citadel Hill to avoid the chaos.

Rowdy crowds

I showed up early on Sept. 28 to get a good spot, but that didn’t save me from the hell that was the crowd. 

Once rumour spread that Travis Scott was a surprise guest — he wasn’t — the agitation made sense. Especially given the reputation of Travis Scott’s concerts. 

While the Astroworld tragedy made people start rethinking concert etiquette, we’ve apparently already forgotten the lessons we learned. 

It was a struggle to even stand upright.

I’ve talked to heavy-metal fans, where mosh pits at concerts are common, but the difference is that when someone falls at those concerts, people help them up. 

That kind of respect was nowhere to be found at Magnetic World.

The crowds were rude and restless. Latecomers shoved their way to the front, and the shoving continued from there. When things got heated, I very much wished I were back with the fans on the hill.

Magnetic World was seriously lacking proper crowd management, and the crowd was seriously lacking common sense.

A situation like this ruins the experience for everyone. 

21-Snoozefest 

The concert scene in Halifax is a rollercoaster. We sometimes get popular artists, but it’s

rare for big names to visit consistently. 

A hip-hop artist as big as 21 Savage performing in Halifax is nearly unheard of — but he didn’t really perform much of anything.

He showed up late, left early, and during his set, he seemed bored, as if he didn’t know where he was or how he got there. 

Then someone threw a phone at him, which surely didn’t raise his opinion of the crowd. 

Unfortunately, an artist as big as 21 Savage probably doesn’t care much about a venue like the Garrison Grounds in comparison to the size of other places where he performs.

The non-headlining artists were the ones who ended up carrying the show. Roy Woods, Killy, the States Twinz and SAINt JHN were all crowd favourites. 

As chaotic as it can be, Magnetic World is one of the few opportunities up-and-coming artists get to play for such large audiences — and they obviously make the most of it.

Hit and a miss

The overcrowded and unorganized festival even released an AI-generated ad this year, revealing just how little effort they put into the event. In a city full of creative talent that would’ve gladly taken that job, it’s a missed opportunity. 

It’s not like they lacked the budget either. General admission for the weekend averaged around $300 or if you had thousands of dollars burning a hole in your pocket, you could get the $29,900 king of the hill VVIP ticket. A ridiculous idea for a festival marketed to students.

Halifax deserves big festivals and live music experiences, but it also deserves events that are well-planned and safe. The city has the audience, the talent and the potential; now it just needs events that can live up to it.

Right now, Magnetic World still feels like a long-winded attempt to keep students off the streets during homecoming. 

But in the end, what’s more dangerous: a disorderly concert crowd or a party on Jennings Street? 

I’m only seeing one with a risk of being crushed to death.