Why Buying Concert Tickets Now Feels Like Booking a Ryanair Flight

It’s peak gig and festival season - and if you’ve just stumbled out of All Together Now or you’re counting down to Electric Picnic or Oasis at Croke Park, you’re not alone. But why does buying a concert ticket in 2025 feel more like booking a Ryanair flight than a night out with your mates? Ciara Doherty and Jess Kelly dive into the murky world of dynamic pricing, non-transferable tickets, and the tech behind your next night at Croke Park. From Oasis and Ed Sheeran to Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and Kate Bush, they share their own gig memories and ticket-buying experiences while asking why some fans are being charged €400+ for standing tickets... and others are locked out altogether. Are bots to blame? Why are artists like Neil Young, The Cure and Robbie Williams taking a stand against it? Is there a fairer way forward — or are we stuck in the algorithm? From shady resale sites to new laws and secret pricing tools, this podcast unpacks how the ticketing game changed — and whether fans still stand a chance. 🎧 Want more on the tech shaping your world? Catch Jess Kelly on Tech Talk, Saturdays at 5pm on Newstalk — or anytime on the GoLoud app. 📩 Have your own ticket-buying horror story — or a tip to beat the bots? Ciara wants to hear from you! Email [email protected] and share your experience.