I remember the sheer delight I felt when, many months ago, I snagged two tickets to see Noah Kahan at Belfast Vital last Saturday. I was looking forward to belting out Stick Season and looking on teary eyed as he played the chorus of Call Your Mom but alas, it was not to be.

As you get older you start to realise that some nights out are less about the thrill and more about the will. As I pictured the night ahead, I was consumed by the logistics and what I could possibly wear which would cover all eventualities.

This, coupled with the fact it was both a standing and outdoor concert boasting a crowd of some 40,000 (almost four times the maximum capacity of the SSE arena), was enough to convince me that staying at home with a pre-mixed cocktail catching up on episodes of The Supervet might be a more appealing way to spend my Saturday night.

Even if you’re not a rampant raver who revels in a mosh pit it’s very difficult to leave a concert unscathed. The lingering sound of ringing in your ears coupled with a hoarse throat are usual takeaways. As are inflated prices for both drinks and merchandise, a noticeable lack of attendee and staff etiquette, endless waiting, limited access to essential facilities like the bar and toilets and disappointing views of the artist(s) on........

© The Irish News