Liverpool festival testing the water for ‘normal’ return

Stendhal event also ready to Blossom in July

It’s not who’s on the bill (Blossoms) it’s what’s not on the bill (social distancing, masks... the relentless washing of ones hands). One of the most seismic, joyous and triumphant gigs in the history of music will take place next month in Liverpool, whether you rate who’s actually playing or not. On May 2, a 5,000 capacity outdoor venue will host a Covid ‘pilot gig’. Attendees will be required to prove they have had a negative test before receiving a ticket, but upon arrival – organiserrs promise it’ll be like the horrors of the last twelve months didn’t happen. Watching closely will be every gig promoter on the planet, desperate to get back to work.

If the gig passes without drama, it’s a huge step towards normality. While summer 2021 will still be a slog regardless, baby-steps are very welcome.

Meanwhile, the team behind the wonderful Stendhal Festival –which has ben running almost a decade just outside Limavady – put tickets on sale for the first of two festivals they plan to host this summer. The lineup for the

July edition features the likes of Beoga, Ciaran Lavery, General Fiasco and Cherym – while the lineup for a second, August weekender, will follow soon. It’s a bold move to be planning one, let alone two events – but organisers are optimistic Stendhal will be the first music festival on this island for almost two years.

‘The current vaccination programme is well on schedule, the rollout has been brilliant. That puts us in a much stronger position than last year’ explains the festival’s kingpin, John Cartwright (circled).

‘The fact that the easing around the UK all remains on schedule – and event pilot schemes have already started in England – hopefully there will be plenty of data and guidance that comes from that to help summer events take place.

‘If everything continues the way its going we see absolutely no reason why covid/socially distant outdoor events can’t be a thing this summer’

Stendhal has grown year on year - the multistage, miniglasto style site as busy as it was colourful for the duration of it’s triumphant 2019 edition. The question is – how will a Covid friendly event compare? Will it be different? The answer is yes… and no.

‘The biggest thing is capacity’ continues John.

‘We have several different models we can work with – but at the minute we are planning on running at between a 15 and 20 percent over both weekends, so it’ll be a much more intimate affair. There’ll also be a lot of social distancing and covid related protocols that we, the performers and the guests will have to adhere to.’

It sounds like a logistical headache behind the scenes – but one punters won’t need to worry too much about – and we should all be grateful Stendhal have decided to take the plunge and do what it takes to get us all back into a field listening to noisy music and drinking lovely festival pints.

‘The most important thing though – is that it is a start, a means of getting back to normal and back to what Stendhal has grown into over the past 10 years. But we do not underestimate our role in confidence building, for artists and audiences. That is very

TAKE A BOW Soak at the end of their set at Stendhall 2019