Socially distanced live performances can take place in indoor music venues in the U.K. beginning Saturday. The new conditions, however, have industry leaders raising concerns over the financial viability of venues to operate.
The Music Venues Trust has said that even with the go-ahead, it’s unlikely that the majority of venues will be able to open this weekend and deliver events that are financially viable. Only 100 out of the 900 currently closed venues will be able to reopen, they say.
“Unfortunately, it remains the case that the vast majority of grassroots music venue are not financially able, or even have the physical premises layout, to deliver these newly permitted events,” the group said in a statement. “Those that can make social distancing work will be unlikely to be able to stage government compliant events tomorrow with this much notice.”
