Live music a step closer
The Welsh government has allowed performances again but the change did not apply to nightclubs.
As you would expect, venues will carry out risk assessments in line with the present hospitality and performing guidance.
Similar to pubs, the limit is groups to a maximum of six people from six households and they must have a oneway system in operation and follow ventilation guidelines.
The change brings music performances in line with restaurants and theatres, which were able to open earlier in May.
The new lowering of restrictions means that music venues, bars, pubs, cafes, restaurants and licensed premises can operate, although capacity for some may be an issue.
With restricted numbers it may be that some will find it difficult to operate
– particularly small, intimate venues.
The Welsh government will be reexamine events and festival soon and will be considered in the next review.
Anticipating the lifting of restrictions for big events, festival goers clambered for tickets for the Green Man festival and they sold out in 18 minutes when they went on sale earlier this month.
This was despite organisers making it clear it may not go ahead.
Director Fiona Stewart said: “The demand is definitely there.
“I have 5,000 people who rely on the festival for work who want it to go ahead.
“It will be an amazing moment if Green Man goes ahead in Wales – a fist in the air triumph for when we have had to give things up.”
Green Man is due to take place in the Brecon Beacons in August.
One big problem for large events is that covid insurance is not available for big events and social distancing rules would not work at a festival.
Some event organisers are looking at a seated audience would, which would be able to socially distance people. This would be very difficult to manage and the extra cost could be prohibitive.
One Welsh venue owner said: “Managing social distancing for many small venues will simply be impossible for us to operate.
“We do need to see the rest of the roadmap to see where we are all going.
“Until we get that final bit of the jigsaw – the social distancing lifted – we will not be able to allow these businesses to return to profitability.”
MVT issued a statement welcoming what is happening in Wales.
It says: “The Music Venue Trust warmly welcomes the announcement by Welsh Government that live music can resume in Wales.
“This is a huge step for our Music Venues Alliance Wales members, for artists and audiences. There’s still a lot of work to do, but we can now start the campaign to #ReviveLive in Wales.
“Because hundreds of you chose to share our open letter, hundreds of thousands of people got to read it.
“Conversations restarted, positions were re-examined, and this change is the result. Every single one of you has power to make people hear and listen.
“When we decide to use that power and act collectively we can make a positive difference.
“Music Venue Trust isn’t some huge corporation with lobbyists and a fat cheque book.
“We are a small team of people who came together because we believe that our grassroots music community is a vital, central, irreplaceable part of our culture and our society.
“We work hard to create the evidence that supports that position, but we don’t have the Prime Minister’s mobile number. What we do have is you – people who think our community matters just as much as we do. When you take action to support the work we have done, positive change happens.”
“‘Without people, you’re nothing” - Joe Strummer”.
I know we all have to be patient but it is very difficult when we compare what is happening in the music scene in Wales and England and what we are going through here in Scotland.
However, I am pretty confident an announcement will be made soon and stages will begin to fill once more.