Police Respond to Merriweather Noise Complaints

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Did you hear the beats coming out of Merriweather Post Pavilion this weekend?

The Howard County Police Department said Monday that “various agencies in Howard County received complaints about the volume of the music at Merriweather Post Pavilion.”

The Sweetlife Festival was in town Saturday and Sunday, dropping 22 hours of music for fans in the Columbia concert venue, with more than 20 performers including Kenrick Lamar, Banks, The Weeknd and Billy Idol.

Some area residents said they could hear the bass as far away as neighborhoods near Centennial Park in Ellicott City, according to posts on the Howard County Police Department Facebook page.

“We live near Main Street in EC and Sunday night I could make out all the words to the songs from inside my house. I thought it was the VFW,” one wrote.

“I just so happened to go to the mall on Sunday,” added another individual, who was “surprised about the amount of [bass] and things literally moving in my car because of it.”

Police said that authorities including the health inspector attended the event to monitor decibel levels using technical equipment.

“Numerous readings were taken throughout the evening from various locations and initial readings were consistent with current standards applicable to Merriweather Post Pavilion,” police reported.

Still, officials said they were investigating what the issue may be, releasing this statement:

“Our partner agencies including the Maryland Department of the Environment, Merriweather Post Pavilion and the county’s departments of Health and Police are examining the causes for the weekend’s noise in communities that have not typically had this problem. It is possible that a new venue set-up, weather conditions and other variable factors may have contributed to this situation.

“Rest assured that the county is proactive about monitoring and maintaining required noise levels. Even when the sound seems louder or more noticeable, decibel levels are typically within the required range and there may not be a citable violation occurring.

“Residents may always call the county’s dispatch center non-emergency number—410-313-2200—for any concerns that arise in the county. With multiple events scheduled at the venue over the next few weeks, all departments involved will continue to work together to follow current State and County regulations.”

Screenshot of The Weeknd performing at Merriweather on May 31, via gnsallman/YouTube.

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• Sweetlife Festival is Coming to Columbia