Wireless and Latitude music festivals are expected to go ahead in the summer following the government’s announcement of the roadmap out of lockdown, with all restrictions planned to be fully lifted by the 21st June. Latitude has some big acts lined up this year with Bastille, First Aid Kit and Lewis Capaldi headlining. More artists will be announced due course. The lineup for Wireless has not been announced yet.
Wireless festival is due to take place from 2nd to 4th July in London and Latitude festival from 22nd to 25th July in Suffolk. Melvin Benn, the festival boss told the BBC’s Radio 4’s PM programme: “The one thing that we can say about the Prime Minister is that in terms of the vaccination rollout, almost unique in the world, he has got it right. And I applaud him for that, and I am going to hold his feet to the fire on it. And I think there’s going to be 200,000 young people holding his feet to the fire on that position as well.”
One thing’s certain, we’re better together.
Planning for Latitude 2021 is well underway and following Monday’s government announcement, we hope to have more news to share with you very soon. We can’t wait to be reunited with you this summer. ❤️#Latitude2021 pic.twitter.com/iwzGxBWqS1
— Latitude Festival (@LatitudeFest) February 24, 2021
Earlier this year, Glastonbury has announced that it would be cancelled for the second year in a row, with a statement on Twitter saying: “In spite of our efforts to move Heaven and Earth, it has become clear that we simply will not be able to make the festival happen this year. We are so sorry to let you all down.”
However, organisers have confirmed that Reading and Leeds festival would still be taking place this summer. Reading and Leeds is to feature headline acts such as Stormzy, Liam Gallagher and Post Malone as well as Yungblud, Doja Cat and AJ Tracey. The organisers have taken it to Twitter, saying: “We can’t wait to get back to the fields this summer, LET’S GO #RandL21″.
Whilst Benn is positive that Wireless and Latitude festival will take place, he has expressed some concerns, saying: “I’ve got events that I’m hoping that I’ll be able to do in Finsbury Park for instance in early July, I’ve got Latitude Festival in the middle of July. And the timing between June 21 and July 3 and 4, the timing between June 21 and Latitude on July 20 – that’s too tight without insurance.”
Although the industry has welcomed the timeline for the lifting of restrictions, the BBC has said that live music has not been a priority and may require financial assistance. There is also the possibility of restrictions still being in place on 21st June as it is dependent on infection rates, vaccinations going to plan and the effect of various Covid-19 variants.
