New socially distant music hall in the UK hosts first concert

08/13/2020 Health


The UK’s new ‘socially distant’ open-air music venue, the Virgin Money Unity Arena, was its first official concert on Tuesday night. Sam Fender played against a sold-out audience in Newcastle, all of whom seemed to abide by the rules and regulations of the space. View footage from the show below.

In total, 2,500 people attended the performance on Tuesday night, reports NME. Concertgoers watched the show from elevated platforms two meters apart, safely pre-ordering food and drinks using the arena’s one-way system, and accessing toilet facilities via a similar one-way road.

Videos of the event show that it was safe and sensible, with the actual show itself going smoothly as planned. Fender played a 16-set setlist on the festival-sized stage, and it seems like could be heard from the hottest seats in the house.

“Big up Newcastle, big up Sam Fender !!!! We are just home, I drove more than 8 hours today and it was all worth it! ” tweeted present Jonathan Morgan. ‘I did not think I would see the big man myself this year after my tickets for Birmingham were sold without my knowledge and then Covid19. Today was just epic !! ”

Other fans, however, remain skeptical, not because it is unsafe, but because it detaches a concert goer from the whole atmosphere of a concert to begin with. In several clips, the people’s neighbors are almost louder than the music, reviving the overall feel of a disconnected music festival. “Love Sam Fender, but if that’s what the future holds, then figure me out,” tweeted Ashley Smith. ‘That’s not what performances are for me. It is the atmosphere of being surrounded by others imprisoned by what happens on the scene loving life. ”

The Virgin Money Unity Arena will continue to organize social distance concerts through the months of August and September. Upcoming artists include The Libertines, Supergrass, Two Door Cinema Club, and Van Morrison.

Meanwhile, here in the US, the CEO of Live Nation is confident that concerts will be in full swing again next summer, even as other music executives believe 2022 is a more likely goal. For now, however, most of the live music industry remains sidelined – with the exception of bands such as Smash Mouth and Trapt, who continue to defy the leadership of health experts by playing shows in the midst of a pandemic.

Editor’s note: Stay safe and choose a custom face mask from Consequence of Sound. Part of the proceeds will go to MusiCares’ COVID-19 Artist Relief Fund.

Designed by Tricksfast Solutions
© Copyright 2024, All Rights Reserved