Just thinking about this after the weekend's events at Bloc, and I do wonder if a lot of outdoor festivals in the capital are cursed.

Bloc/ LPG were masters of their own downfall, but I'm not sure even if there'd be no extraneous issues that we'd all have been happy with the sound. A Noise Control guy was in every tent and had been told to make sure the volume level was decreased by 11pm a fellow DiSser posted.

SW4 are sending around a petition to get their noise limit increased as a whole 60 locals have lodged complaints. Field Day has often struggled with this too (though I did read positive feedback this year, admittedly for the first time in 6 years of running it), as have the Hyde Park shows in some years.

When I remember how great the sound is at most ATPs due to fixed, controlled set ups, I wonder if I'll ever bother going to an open air concert again. If you're doing it on a scale of Glastonbury or Primavera it seems ok, but is it just not workable if you go smaller than that?

What do you think? Are the benefits to dancing outdoors worth the hassle of crap sound and the mercy of the British weather? And where in London could you get away with having the volume cranked up without some wealthy local causing a stink about it?