The UK has been able to wrangle their COVID-19 issues to the point where they currently have cases under 30,000 and according to Consequences of Sound, the country is starting to experiment with socially distant outdoor concerts and entertainment this weekend. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden made the following announcement:

“Of course we won’t see crowds flooding into their venues, but from July 11 our theatres, operas, dance and music shows can start putting on outdoor performances to socially distant audiences. That means theatregoers can experience a live play for the first time in months at places like the stunning Minack Theatre in Cornwall, and music lovers can attend Glyndebourne this summer.”

This is stage three of a “five-stage roadmap” to full-on concerts with indoor venues in England, so this time coming up can be seen as an opportunity to see how the country’s live entertainment industry responds to the new regulations.

This government initiative is ahead of the opening of the first ever concert venue built specifically with social distance in mind. You can see design images of that venue here. 

• 101WKQX and 94.7 WLS is bringing LIVE MUSIC back to Chicagoland with LIVE FROM THE LOT! Get tickets to this socially distant drive-in concert series with Smells Like Nirvana, Hairbanger’s Ball, and Local H from August 6th to August 8th in the parking lot at Schaumburg Boomers.