NME reports that the UK music festival scene will be getting a boost as the government hopes for a return to normality by easter of next year (2021). It is hoped that there will be a festival season that will last all summer long as this year’s festivals have all be canceled due to the ongoing pandemic that has swept the world. This year has put massive pressure on the music industry as it takes a massive hit on all fronts.
In a recent press release, Uk Health Secretary has made hints that we could be returning to normal life by next easter. This has given a positive boost to everyone who has been hit hard by the global Covid Pandemic, especially the music industry. With the news that we will be able to return back to normal very soon talks of music festivals have already started to speed up with the hopes of a whole summer full of festivals and shows to welcome us back after a long difficult year.
Saying this year has been hard is an understatement. The level of loss that has been experienced across all fronts has been a devastating blow to the world, the pandemic has hit hard and has taken a lot away from us. With the vaccine getting better results and talk of normality on its way the music industry and musicians can start to work again and get back to what it was. Earlier in the year, it was reported that musicians were suffering at the lack of work and money but we can hope that this will become just a bad dream.
Talking to BBC Breakfast Hancock said, “The bulk of the vaccine rollout programme will be in January, February, March, and we hope that some time after Easter things will be able to start to get back to normal.”. This will hopefully mean that festivals like Glastonbury, Reading and leads, which falls on the last weekend of June and the August bank holiday respectfully, can go-ahead. Headliners such as Liam Gallagher, Stormzy, and Queens of The Stone Age have already been announced.
Yesterday (23/11/2020) news outlets reported on a directory called the f.list that showcased just how bad the gender divide at music festivals is. Used to help find and put you in contact with female artists, the directory also showed in research that only 15% of signed female musicians get the headline position at festivals, Little Mix was the only UK female group to be headline before the pandemic hit. Glastonbury wanted to have a more diverse line up on a 50/50 split, here’s to hoping that 2021 will not only be the return to normal but a huge step forwards for gender equality within the industry.
This year would have marked Glastonbury’s 50th year anniversary, many fans and festival goers lost out on the chance to go to the annual spectacle but hopefully, 2021 will help us forget this year and have us back at gigs, concerts, tours, and festivals.
