The alternative, then, would be to make sure Covid-19 safety measures are in place by the time fans arrive at festivals this summer. Zach Sabban, CEO of event-discovery site Festicket, recently told
The Guardian he was confident that this was achievable. “As we know, the evidence shows that being outdoors massively reduces any risk of transmission, so when it comes to live music, it follows that outdoor festivals will be in a good position to return,” he said.
“It’s highly likely,” he continued, “that we will see requests for negative Covid tests and/or proof that you have received a vaccine before access to some events, and we’ve been working closely with our partners in evaluating potential methods for observing that,” later adding: “the more we collectively have things under control in the coming weeks and months, the easier things will be further down the line.”
More than a dozen MPs and over 100 event industry executives have signed a letter to the chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak, copying in prime minister Boris Johnson, calling for him to implement a Government-backed insurance scheme for festival, live music and events or face them disappearing from our fields and cities for good.
The letter, written by DCMS Committee chair Julian Knight MP, follows the 5 January opening hearing of the Committee’s inquiry into the future of UK music festivals, during which festival operators emphasised the urgent need for Government support.
At a crucial point in festival planning schedules, MPs warn that organisers and investors are unable to risk repeating losses sustained in 2020 unless events can be insured against cancellation.