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Save Our Venues
UPDATE (17.02.21]
The Music Venue Trust (MVT) has backed the Prime Minister’s suggestion that rapid coronavirus testing could be the key to reopening music venues, and says the necessary plans are in place for it to be rolled out nationwide.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference on Monday (February 15), the Prime Minister said “rapid” lateral flow tests could be used by “those parts of the economy” that were unable to reopen their doors last year.
The lateral flow tests can provide results within half an hour, which could potentially allow music fans to return to venues once they can provide a negative result.
Says MVT CEO Mark Davyd “Rapid testing and other forms of health passporting, including vaccination certification, represent one of a range of opportunities to deliver events safely, which we have been discussing with the government since July 2020.
The latest suggestion comes after it was confirmed that UK music venues are set to trial a new system of digital “health passports” in a bid to reopen live gigs safely allowing music fans to prove that they do not have the virus to secure entry.
ANALYSIS:
Two possibilites are being touted as a way back to normality for music venues. Although the Government has denied the mandated introduction of “vaccine passports” venues could still insist on gig-goers showing evidence of vaccination.
However there is still insufficient data about the transmission effect of the virus, even once vaccinated. Experts warn that social distancing/wearing of masks may still be the norm in public spaces until at least the end of the year.
In respect of rapid testing, the turn-round for results would be at least 15-30 minutes. This would inevitably lead to queues and delayed entry to venues and, presumably, with social distancing and mask wearing once inside.
The lateral flow tests themselves can also provide a ‘false positive’ – where someone receives a positive test result even though they do not have the virus (or a ‘false negative’ when the person receives a negative result when they have the virus). The cost of these tests – if not borne by the Government – would likely add to ticket prices.
The use and benefit of any initiative that facilitates venue entry will be determined by the pace of vaccine roll-out, with younger gig-goers unlikely to receive a first jab until August at the earliest which means that – for some – early summer festivals might still be a no-go.
What about bands? They would have to think carefully – at least initially – about their target demographic. Fine if it’s over 50 but less so if 18-34 and even then audiences are likely to be distanced and therefore attendance levels not maximised. Until air travel restrictions are lifted, bands outside the UK will be prevented from touring and similarly – even without virus implications – Brexit has made European touring potentially unviable.
(Updated 22.02.21)
The Government announced a four-step plan to release England from lockdown.
Step three, scheduled for 17 May at the earliest, is the first point where live events could return however limited capacities and social distancing may still be required.
If government tests are met on May 17, big events and sports stadiums will be able to reopen with capacity limits – for example, up to 10,000 attendees at festivals or up to 4,000 people, or 50 per cent capacity in stadiums; smaller events will be allowed up to 1,000 people or 50 per cent capacity (whichever is smaller for both outdoors and indoors).
Mark Davyd, chief executive of the Music Venue Trust, welcomed the timeline for the return of socially distanced events, but said he now hoped to see “sector-specific financial support to mitigate the damage being done to businesses and people’s lives, careers and families right across the live music industry”.
Coronavirus
Readers are advised to check out the artist and venue websites for latest information. Many tours/dates are being rearranged for 2022.
We will update our gig listings on a regular basis.
Check out rearranged dates for key 2020 UK tours
Check out our full gig listings! (Updated to reflect COVID-19 cancellations)
Check out forthcoming album/DVD releases here!
Top 10 albums
We’ve introduced a weekly listing based on website views, social media activity and radio airplay.
From Sunday 10 January the Top 10 chart will be announced on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio (Assume The Position, 22:00 GMT) and then published via our radio Facebook page.
Compiled by Jason Ritchie.
Rammstein (pictured) have been working on a new studio album during the current lockdown. No news as yet on a release date, title, etc.
Alice Cooper has already announced plans for his next album. It will be recorded by his current band and recorded on the road, with the album’s concept about stories from being on the road.
Angel are preparing to enter the studio to begin recording their latest album, to be released on Cleopatra Records.
Frost* release their new album ‘Day and Age’ on May 14.
James release their latest album ‘All The Colours Of You’ on June 4.
The Reasoning will release a new live album, ‘Battles Fought And Conquests Won’, on March 5 through the band’s official Bandcamp page.
Sabaton have released a new single ‘Livgardet’, which celebrates the 500th anniversary of the Swedish Royal Guard.
The Who release a deluxe version of ‘The Who Sell Out’ on April 23.
Steven Wilson will be working on a 5.1 & new stereo mix of XTC’s ‘Apple Venus Vol.1′ album for release later this year.
Rescheduled UK & Ireland tour dates:
Ash (Apr 2021 to Sep 2021), Funeral For A Friend (Apr 2021 to Jan/Feb 2022), the Mission (Apr 2021 to Apr 2022), Saxon (May 2021 to Jan 2022), Suede (Apr 2021 to Sep 2021)
Upcoming (Gigs – UK)
Rescheduled US & European tour dates:
Upcoming (USA/ROW)
Download festival has been cancelled for this year but will return next year between 10-12 June 2022, with headliners KISS, Iron Maiden and Biffy Clyro.
Isle of Wight festival has been moved from Jume to September 16-19. The organisers aim to have the same line-up with an announcement on this due soon.
With live music in lockdown and the return of tours still uncertain, Queen have come up with a safe alternative – ‘Queen: Rock Tour’, the band’s first ever official game for Android and iOS devices.
Former Montrose vocalist Bob James
More News
Popular
RAINBREAKERS Ashes
The new single from the band that was voted Breakthrough Act in our end of year poll in 2019.
The four-piece, based in the English Midlands, have been building their audience in recent years in venues such as the 100 Club and the Borderline in London and throughout the UK and Europe.
The band’s debut EP was released in 2015 (Blood Not Brass) followed by ‘Rise Up’ in 2017 and their debut album a year later, Face To Face.
VOODOO RAMBLE Sally
A track originally rerleased in 2018 on the album ‘That’s Why’.
The band was founded in 2010 by guitarist, songwriter and producer Boris Zamba. GRTR!’s very own Pete Feenstra supplied lyrics for the track ‘Midnight Train’.
The album is being given a new lease of life via Thoroughbred Music.
Throughout September 2018 Get Ready to ROCK! Radio celebrated the station’s 10th anniversary and a two-hour special reflected a decade of broadcasting. “10 years in the making” features archive interviews with Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Todd Rundgren, Graham Bonnet, David Coverdale, John Wetton and Bob Catley.
Listen in to Get Ready to ROCK! Radio… Click the appropriate icons at the top of the page.
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