The news that surprised the whole EDM scene came from England, we don’t know whether due to an excess of optimism or a truly efficient vaccination plan, but it seems that all activities in the country, including festivals and music events, will be resumed by June 21st.
To make this possible, a list of strict protocols that will be implemented by the organizers.
After this unexpected announcement, Creamfields (26 – 29 August) sold out shortly and other minor festivals confirmed their event including Defected London (24 and 25 July) and Back to Love Festival, with Sonny Fodera and Gorgon City (7 and 8 August).
Now we will just have to wait and see if England will actually be able to achieve all of this and all other countries will follow.
The Netherlands have also taken a step forward with an experiment that took place in Amsterdam inside the Ziggo Dome (the arena home of ADE’s events) which involved 1300 people.
The lucky participants were able to re-live the club experience to the music of Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano and Sam Feldt.
The 1300s had to submit a negative Covid test at the entrance, then they were divided into bubbles groups with specific rules to follow in order to safely enjoy the evening.
Ibiza is also under the spotlight as the island club lover are counting the days that separates them from their return at the isla blanca. Ibiza Rocks Hotel has already confirmed the resumption of activities, and it aims at becoming the first place in Europe to allow visitors in possession of the vaccination passport to be admitted.
In Italy, where the level of infections is still very high, but no one is giving up.
Nameless Music Festival (the most important EDM event in Italy) has decided to postpone this year’s edition to September. A protocol has been planned to deal with four possible scenarios (from the most to the least serious), all include a high number of rapid tests to which all participants will undergo in special drive-throughs located along the main roads leading to the festival.
Within the area it will then be mandatory to wear a mask and consume food or drinks at specific points outside the area where the stages are located.
The announcement has just arrived and Tomorrowland has officially postponed week 1 to 27 – 28 – 29 August and week 2 to 3 – 4 – 5 September!
In the US, if festivals such as Ultra Miami and Coachella have been postponed to 2022, the Encore Beach Club swimming pool (that hosts the most important pool parties in Las Vegas) has re-opened with some rules to respect: mandatory mask, social distancing and limited capacity.
Even Red Rocks (Colorado’s most famous amphitheater) wants to re-start this spring with restrictions on the number of guests to the shows at first, to then reach 80% of its capacity by the summer. Obviously, masks and social distancing between spectators are mandatory.
On the other side of the world, they are definitely back to normal life if we consider that covid-free events have been held in Taiwan since November 2020 (just think of Ultra Taiwan) and that also in Australia (where it is now summer and viral load is definitely reduced), DJs like Will Sparks, Tigerlily or Fisher are making the crowd dance as if the pandemic never existed!
Eleonora Vologni
