The May Bank Holiday weekend in Liverpool was filled with music and emotional scenes as music fans gathered at a legal rave and a live music festival, gladly forgetting any social distancing measures or face coverings, as part of the national Events Research Programme (ERP)
BBC News reports that 3,000 people attended an all-day rave, First Dance on Friday 30 April, kicking off a weekend of events in the Liverpool region, culminating with local band Blossoms headlining an open-air festival in Sefton Park on Sunday 1 May, marking the first live music gig in the UK for over a year.
It proved to be an emotional night for many of the 5,000 music fans at Sefton Park, who first had to produce a negative COVID test to gain entry to the mini-festival, gleefully ditching face masks and social distancing.
The ERP will be used to provide key scientific data into how events for a range of audiences could be permitted to safely reopen as part of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.
The line-up also included The Lathums and Liverpool singer-songwriter Zuzu.
First Dance, the warehouse rave that was held over two days on Friday and Saturday, has the same negative COVID test requirements, and all the events were only open to those living in the Liverpool region.
The line-up featured house, disco and techno DJs from across the globe, including Jayda G from Canada and the Blessed Madonna from the US.
Researchers will accumulate data from these events to see how approaches to social distancing and ventilation affect the spread of the virus.
Nightclubs and live music venues, which are integral to Liverpool’s nighttime economy, will some of the last hospitality businesses to reopen post-pandemic.
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