Live and getting a kicking: Brexit bureaucracy may mean this year’s super summer of musicis our last

There have been many other music festivals and events I haven’t, because of limited space, been able to mention and, it’s true, that not all of them have been successful.

But overall, it has been a brilliant summer of music, for all ears and all tastes and long may that continue. But there’s a problem.

With a no-deal Brexit on October 31 seemingly almost a certainty, no one from the UK Government can tell us what the potential effects a post-Brexit world will have on the UK live music industry.

It’s an industry that currently generates more than £1.5 billion for the UK economy, so what impact will our leaving the EU have on musicians, either British going to the continent or Europeans coming to our shores? Will they have the ability to freely travel and tour?

Will the added bureaucracy that will be introduced at our borders, filling out expensive equipment declarations called “carneys”, a nightmare for any large touring band or orchestra, as well as the extra and thorough security checks, make it not viable for many artists to embark on a tour?

Will it put the development of these artistes at risk and in turn reduce the pool of talent that promoters currently have to choose from?

I’m sure it will and, unless some sort of “touring passport” that acts as a waiver and visa, is quickly drawn up and agreed upon by the UK Government and Brussels – something Michael Dugher CEO of UK Music has strongly argued for – then not only the summer festivals, but all live music venues and the fans, could suffer.

The drop in the pound against the dollar and the euro has already made many a promoter think twice about booking an oversees act.

As Europe and UK Government continue to square up to each other across the channel, the lack of urgency, detail, assurances and guarantees that this great industry urgently requires is all too predictably lacking.

It is not alone, of course. Turning a deaf ear to a problem is never the answer, listening and then sorting it out is.

That would be music to our ears. Sadly, I fear our leaders have became tone deaf.