UK music festivals Reading and Leeds are confident that they'll be able to go ahead with their 2021 editions - and have already sold out their respective dates ... Could this be a sign we could see US Festivals happening this summer / fall?
Concert promoter Live Nation seems to think so - on an earnings call on Thursday (2/25), CEO Michael Rapino sounded confident of a midsummer to resume business:
"Every day we seem to have a new state or country talking about when they’ll open up, so we’re feeling more optimistic than we were a month ago...Lots of artists are calling, looking at how we start up in July, August, September. So for right now, we still believe we’ll have enough open in the U.K., Australia, Canada and the U.S. to keep what we have on the books in amphitheaters booked for now. We might have certain states that might not be ready, but we have enough states and enough artists willing to play the open slots if we get to that level in the right markets. So as long as these states open up to the right capacities, we can start in midsummer and in the southern U.S. we can go all the way into November."
Dr. Anthony Fauci predicted that we might see live music return this fall if vaccine distribution and herd immunity are successful.
So far - Boston Calling and Hangout festivals have canceled for 2021, while Firefly, Bonaroo, Governors Ball, Summerfest, and New Orleans Jazzfest, still have their shifted fall dates on the books.