After last year’s desert in terms of live music, some UK festivals are more than positive that their multiple days’ event will take place in 2021. It is true that Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that music festivals will be able to go ahead this summer, with the UK going under a massive vaccination programme, and that nightclubs are supposed to be reopening on the 21st of June 2021, but festivals include massive gatherings, shared sleeping accommodation and common food and beverage areas – for multiple days.
Some big festivals – such as Glastonbury and Download – have already had to cancel for insurance purposes, whereas other events (All Points East, Isle of Wight) decided to move their fun weekends later on in summer 2021. Less known gatherings can easily apply social-distancing measures whilst keeping their line-up and dates on: for instance, Just So in Cheshire, with a 5,000 capacity festival in 100 acres’ sites, can easily respect COVID regulations, as festival organiser Rowan Cannon explains for BBC News here.
As the big concern is for events that attract larger crowds, Johnson added that rapid COVID testing – in combination with vaccinations – is the only solution to unlock nightlife. This clearly has pros and cons: the queues will be harder to control as everyone needs to wait 15 minutes to get their test results, and if someone does test positive, what happens to the people next to them on the line? However, it is true that festivals and gigs might be safer, as this strategy has already been implemented by the organisers of Primavera Sound in Barcelona earlier this year, producing zero Covid-19 infections.
So, will UK festivals be going ahead this year? It is unclear, but highly unlikely. Even if only smaller events will take place and COVID rapid testing will be implemented, performers will still need to make it in the country. And with most of the Western countries entering endless lockdowns (Germany, France, Italy to name a few), bringing acts from abroad is very close to impossible. However, this could be the chance to highlight the many talents that the UK has to offer, bringing the onstage UK based only performers and making space for smaller acts. As in everything, only time will tell.
