The first post lockdown mini festival took place last weekend, Sunday the 2nd May and has been a great success. Around five thousand music fans gathered in Sefton Park in Liverpool to be part of the first no mask, no social distancing gig. It’s been over one year since the last time a large number of people have crammed in one space.
#Festival | What a feeling to be able to bring our live events back to Liverpool again! Thank you @FRfestivals + to everyone who came along, hugged, danced and took your tests!
Together we will be able to bring you more live events again sooner #HereForCulture @DCMS pic.twitter.com/Suo0Q2jTRi
— Culture Liverpool (@CultureLPool) May 3, 2021
Liverpool’s Sefton Park usually holds 7,500 people. The only condition of entry this time was a negative lateral flow test and the participants all had to agree to take part in the Government Research Programme studying safety of mass events. As per BBC: “Scientists are also studying other factors like audience movement and interaction, ventilation, duration, catering and alcohol consumption. Mysterious people with clipboards wandered around making notes”. It has to be done before the summer festivals go ahead after 21st June when the UK will enter stage four on the road map.
Headlining last night’s festival was indie band Blossoms performed at a giant tent looking like a circus. The band’s last gig was on 15th March 2020, just before lockdown. Liverpool reporter Jess Flaherty said about their show: “When Blossoms took to the stage, the crowd was united in its joy and excitement”. She added: “After a few songs, lead singer Tom Ogden spoke to the crowd and said: “Good evening, you beautiful, beautiful people. These things are meant to be spontaneous… you’re going to have the best night you’ve had for a very, very long time.”
The moment it all came back. @blossomsband performing at the Sefton Park Pilot, the UK’s first gig without any Covid restrictions. What a beautiful thing pic.twitter.com/bnu5JlzVan
— Radio X (@RadioX) May 2, 2021
The concert also featured The Lathums and Zuzu. Melvin Benn, boss of Festival Republic, a company which organised and promoted this gig said: “The punters will just be able to behave as though COVID had never happened. The whole world will be looking at it. You know how many gigs I’ve been involved in, but this is the most historic. I’m just so excited by it.”
We’ll cherish this moment forever. Thank you Liverpool x pic.twitter.com/SPjV0fcuHo — THE LATHUMS (@TheLathums) May 2, 2021
Footages shared online shows music lovers dancing and singing along. Last Sunday event gave a taste of what life was pre Covid-19 and also what might come this summer.
