Live music sector reacts to "hugely important" confirmation of COVID restrictions ending this month

Yesterday (5 July) the UK Prime Minister confirmed their aim to ease the remaining COVID-19 restrictions on 19 July. There will be a final review on 12 July, but the announcement has given the live music sector hope that full capacity events will be able to return in a couple of weeks.

People will not be required to wear masks, and social distancing measures will be lifted, meaning grassroots music venues in England can finally reopen fully after more than a year of uncertainty.

Music Venue Trust, who have been campaigning and fundraising to #SaveOurVenues since April 2020, responded to the announcement last night, writing, "This is obviously extremely welcome news for millions of music fans, for artists, crew, venues and local communities who have been deprived of live music and work for so long."

"This announcement is hugely important and provides the opportunity to Revive Live music," Music Venue Trust continued. "It does not, however, change the central mission or the importance of the word ‘safely’."

Music Venue Trust added, "There is a great deal more work to do to Reopen Every Venue Safely. But sometime soon we can finally imagine that we can announce just one last hashtag to describe this crisis. And because of all of you, because of the incredible support you have given, the letters, the time, the donations, that hashtag will feature just three words: Saved Our Venues."

The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) also responded to the UK government's announcement with a statement from CEO Paul Reed, who reiterated the importance of a government-backed insurance scheme for festivals after it was revealed last month that 51% of UK festivals with a capacity of 5,000 and over have been cancelled in 2021.

Reed wrote, "We welcome the Prime Minister’s statement and that large events including festivals are expected to be able take place from July 19. It is positive for organisers, fans and artists alike that there will be some activity this year, though clearly it is too late for the estimated 56% of UK festivals that have already been forced to cancel and are still awaiting details of emergency funding and the next round of the Culture Recovery Fund."

"We now urge Government to finally act on insurance and announce a Government-backed scheme immediately," Reed continued. "Insurance remains the key obstacle to planning with confidence and there is no rationale for not implementing such a scheme if the Government’s roadmap is truly irreversible."

He added, "We also need to ensure there is clear guidance for organisers and local authorities no later than July 12, so that events don’t unravel at a local level. We ask that Government also explore solutions for staff that will be affected by test and trace and isolation policies working at events this summer."

A statement from AIF CEO Paul Reed on the Government’s announcement around lifting Covid restrictions:https://t.co/vDikuwHqgS pic.twitter.com/OEHoa4HSum

— AIF (@AIF_UK) July 5, 2021

LIVE CEO Greg Parmley also reacted to the announcement with a statement confirming that they're "very pleased with the Prime Minister's statement."

As well as welcoming the announcement, Parmley also highlighted the importance for a government-backed insurance scheme, writing, "To save the rest of the Summer and Autumn schedule we now desperately need a government-backed insurance scheme to provide the security required to invest in events. Government ministers have repeatedly said that a scheme would be announced once the legal barriers to full performances were removed. Well, we are now almost at that point and there must be no further delay if we are to reap the benefits of the superb vaccine roll-out."

Absolutely delighted that we are able to welcome fans back to live music from 19th July - see you on stage! Read our statement pic.twitter.com/t8xynNJnjl

— LIVE (@LiveMusic_UK) July 5, 2021