Ten thousand rock fans are expected to descend on Donnington Park this weekend, as Download festival participates in a Covid trial.
The live rock festival is another of the experiments to gather data surrounding how live events affect the spread of Coronavirus. Ticket holders will be made to prove they are negative, and have taken a test, before being let on the grounds. However, once inside, they will not need to socially distance or wear masks.
Festival Booker Andy Copping says the festival will run as normal as possible. Moshing will return as “a true celebration of festival spirit”. The festival will see a full line up with fourty bands set to play to the festival goers. Mr Copping believes this is something “only the Download brand can uniquely do”.
Welsh metal reggae band Skindred is performing this year. Lead singer Benji Webbe is excited to be returning, saying “there is nothing that beats the experience of a live rock and roll show”.
The festival is running with a serious reduction this year. Managing Director of Festival Republic Melvin Benn hopes the data collected from Download will help give life to live events. Talking to Sky News, he hopes the data builds on that “collected in the Liverpool events”. The Government Events Research Programme has so far shown large events like this, if managed properly, do not spread the Coronavirus disease.
Is Download the first move towards normal live events?
With more live events being held as part of the Events Research Programme, are things finally returning to normal? Events such as Download, Ascot and select Euro matches are amongst a host of events finally open to the public.
Following the announcement that the ease of lockdown would be delayed by four weeks, the music industry leaders are begging for a review. The music industry, along with hospitality, is suffering with the continued ban of live events.
CEO Greg Parmley says the Government need to offer “transparency” in its actions. The delay to the music industries reopening is “devastating” the industry. For every month that the concerts and live events are not allowed to move forward, the damages and loss runs into “hundreds of millions of pounds”
Countries such as Belguim, America and the Netherlands are already open and announcing full capacity events this summer. Mr Parmley adds that three months of live pilot events have already given plenty of data to the Event Research Programme. He urges the Government to release the full report that conclusively proves “they can open safely”.
The Night Time Industry Association are preparing to launch legal action against the Government. They are telling the Government they must reopen the shuttered nightclubs on July 19th when the restrictions lift.
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