U.K. VENUES PLOT A BIG RETURN

U.K. venues are gearing up to open their doors in May with more than 17,000 full-capacity shows booked to take place by the end of September, according to a survey by Music Venue Trust. The Royal Albert Hall has just announced it will reopen on 5/29.

According to the government’s road map out of lockdown, socially distanced shows are allowed to take place beginning 5/17 and venues will be able to operate at full capacity starting 6/21.

Between those dates, more than 2,500 socially distanced shows are on sale for 266 venues, with more than 4,000 shows across more than 400 venues predicted to take place during the month, according to MVT. Beyond the 17k already confirmed, by the end of September nearly 30,000 shows are likely to take place before more than 6.8m audience members.

Beverley Whitrick, Strategic Director of MVT, said the socially distanced gigs “aren’t being offered for financial return. In fact, precisely the opposite," explaining, "The grassroots sector is stepping up and putting its own time and money into answering the demand for live music in our communities.”

London's famed Royal Albert Hall will reopen with a series of limited-capacity shows, including family concerts with the hall’s own band and the Royal Choral Society. Its first full-capacity gig in more than a year will take place on 7/6, headlined by James Blunt.

Due to the pandemic, the venue missed out on celebrating its 150th anniversary last year and will instead celebrate on 7/19 with a performance of a new work by composer David Arnold.