Live music set to return on June 21
Executive Ministers could give the green light for live entertainment to resume at bars, concerts, venues, and restaurants
Stormont Ministers could agree to further Covid-19 easements which would see the return of live music on June 21.
Speaking to Downtown and Cool FM ahead of tomorrow’s Executive meeting Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey, said she will be putting the indicative date to colleagues for their approval and will ask for the 500-person cap to be scrapped on outdoor gatherings.
Under current regulations live music is not allowed in bars or restaurants and organisers are required to complete a risk assessment to determine capacity for venues like funerals and weddings.
Outdoor gatherings of 30 people or fewer do not need a risk assessment.
Ms Hargey said the decision to go ahead with the indicative date will be dependent on the health advice, but she hopes to have live entertainment back as soon as possible.
She said: “looking at live music inside, bars restaurants and venues and also then to allow live music then at larger events outside.
“Albeit the virus is still with us so adhering to social distancing, washing your hands and where venue organisers will have to carry out risk assessments pertaining to the events they’re going to run.
“It’s removing that limit and inserting a risk assessment. Organisers of events outdoors would then have to ensure that they’re doing those risk assessments, still adhering to the guidance around Covid.
“All that has to be measured out to ensure distancing can still be maintained.
“Depending on the venue will depend on the capacity which can be held.
“So, that will be part of the duty placed of event organisers as part of these discussions that are taking place in the Cultural Recovery Task Force and they will know then what that looks like in practice.”
Minister Hargey said NI’s Coronavirus restrictions would be kept under constant review and intends to bring forward more relaxation, health advice permitting.
She added: “I think it will be a good news story to them and the individual freelancers who can now start working again if Executive give approval for these proposals on Thursday.
“As we approach the summer, we enjoy our festivals our concerts, our outdoor events and they tend to ramp up over the summer months in the good weather.
“I am hopefully with the further easing of these restrictions and relaxations that more within the community can enjoy the culture and arts and festival offers that we have here.
“Albeit that will be done in a graduated way, but I do think with the brighter nights and sunnier nights as well that people will welcome this change.”
Hannah Richardson from the band Cherym said she cannot wait to get back to performing after 15 months of no shows or gigs.
She said: “It’s really exciting actually, we miss it so much.
“I feel like playing in a band and making music is something that you don’t really know how much it means to you until it’s taken away from you.
“How much you miss it and how exciting it’ll just be to be back on a stage with each other again because just the feeling that nothing can compare to.
"I think that’s really exciting; the live music industry seems to be the last one back.
"It’s definitely going to be better for all of us financially because I mean like the year has been super weird not having an income.
"Fingers crossed that this goes ahead, we ourselves have a tour booked in October, so we are just taking every day as it comes and just trying to get vaccinated and do our parts as well.
"That would just be such a wee lift if things were able to open up again and go ahead."
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