Search icon

News

31st Aug 2020

Government considering possibility of alcohol-free concerts

Sarah Finnan

Government ministers will meet with arts campaigners later today to discuss the future of live concerts and musical events.

This year has thrown a major spanner in the works, with the world pretty much coming to a standstill in the midst of a global pandemic. Affecting several different jobs and sectors, the entertainment industry has arguably been one of the hardest hit. Forced to cancel countless gigs and festivals this summer, the future of the live music industry is still very much up in the air with a huge question mark over when such events will be allowed to resume.

However, there could be good news on the horizon as The Irish Times reports that Minister for Arts Catherine Martin is due to meet with arts campaigners later today to discuss the possibility of live concerts and musical events resuming. Hoping to establish what is feasible under the current restrictions, it’s thought that alcohol-free concerts could be the answer going forward with the hope being that they could go ahead so long as social distancing is maintained and public health advice is adhered to.

Meanwhile, music lovers over in the UK attended the country’s first socially distanced concert earlier this month. Proving to be a huge success, the gig saw Sam Fender play in front of 2,500 people in his hometown of Newcastle. Taking place at Gosforth Park, groups of fans watched Fender take to the stage from their own private platform complete with their own tables and chairs.

Header image via Shutterstock/Empty concert stage

READ NEXT: Ronan Keating’s Concert4Cancer raises over €450k

Topics: