Live music is set to return to the UK this summer, with musicians announcing a string of gigs – but you’ll need a car to attend them.
Entertainment company Live Nation, which is known for hosting festivals such as Wireless and Reading, is behind the series of gigs, which will allow fans to get their live music fix from the safety of their own designated area, and vehicle.
Live Nation says the Utilita Live From The Drive-In series will give artists the chance to get back on stage. “You know we can do all of these streams, we can do everything on Facebook, which is great. But there is nothing that compares to you seeing your favourite musician or band on that stage,” Live Nation promoter Peter Taylor told Reuters.
Gigs will include performances by artists such as Dizzee Rascal, Kaiser Chiefs and The Streets, while the science show Brainiac Live will be staged at 12 UK venues in cities including London, Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh this summer.
A maximum of 300 cars will be allowed at each show, meaning both organisers and artists will have to make profound changes to their ways of working.
“That’s going to feel very kind of imitate in terms of what we’re used to if you go into an arena or stadium,” Taylor said.
“We have our artists who are working to a very different financial model than what they normally would. A lot of them are doing kind of different versions of their show,” he said.
Many live concerts around the world have had to be cancelled or postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and Taylor says that Utilita Live From The Drive-In will be a good source of employment for the whole industry.
“It’s been about making sure that our ecosystem can be supported as much as possible,” he said.
Live Nation has postponed some of its bigger tours, moving those of singers musician Harry Styles and Dua Lipa to 2021. Tickets for these shows are already on sale.
