With Coronavirus sending the world into lockdown, one of the heaviest hit industries were the music and performing arts.
At the beginning of the lockdown period, it seemed quite hopeful that the country would be back up and running after a month or two. Soon the weight of social distancing came heavy as music festivals announced with heavy hearts that they would be cancelling their 2020 events.
The biggest being Glastonbury, who in 2020, were gearing up to celebrate their 50th year.
But what happens to the punters who have festival tickets in hand? We’re here to weigh up your options.
What Happens to Your 2020 Festival Ticket?
This is where things can get a bit difficult and it all comes down to the wording of the festival itself. Generally if the organiser has announced that the festival is “cancelled” then you are entitled to a full refund of your ticket. However, if the promoter as “postponed” the event until 2021, generally your ticket for 2020 will be valid for next year’s event and getting a refund could be trickier, however maybe not impossible.
Current Plans for 2020 Festivals
With the music industry still in lockdown, it’s unlikely that we’re going to see any festivals happen in the UK. This is down to the current social distancing measures in place in the UK.
It’s almost impossible to manage a field of thousands of people to ensure that everyone is abiding by social distancing rules.
As things start to open up, we may see some small outdoor gigs, but that is down to social distancing rules
The Return of the Drive-In
In the wake of social distancing, many European countries have been trying to keep their entertainment venues alive by hosting Drive-In entertainment, such as drive-in gigs, drive-in nightclubs and cinemas.
Having proven to be fairly popular in Europe, we’re now starting to see the arrival of them in UK, with a few drive-in cinemas and concerts popping up around the UK. While it’s not a 100% replica of the festival music experience, if it rains, at least you can shelter in your car and still enjoy the music!
