‘No jabs, no show’ for major concerts

Concertgoers could soon be forced to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test as a leading tour promoter prepares to reboot live gigs.

Concertgoers could soon be required to show proof of vaccination to attend major gigs.

Live music fans are set to face new rules including proof of full Covid-19 vaccination, or a negative Covid-19 test, or rapid antigen testing when major concerts reboot in 2022.

With vaccination targets providing a timeline for a concert industry still in lockdown after 18 months, Australian promoters are working through Covid-safe options for future shows.

The options reflect measures happening at concerts and festivals in the US, UK and Europe, and include:

• Patrons showing proof of being fully vaccinated against coronavirus.

• Patrons showing a negative test for coronavirus.

• Patrons doing a rapid antigen test.

“It’s all of the above, it’s everything. Nothing is off the table,” Live Nation Asia-Pacific president, Roger Field, told the Herald Sun.

“Everyone acknowledges we are in uncharted waters, and we’ll take advice. Locally, we’ll look overseas at what’s happening, and we will continue to work with all the authorities to bring whatever we need to into play, to help us get back to live. I certainly wouldn’t rule anything in or out.”

Live Nation is the world’s leading music promoter.

Live Nation Asia-Pacific president Roger Field.

In the US, Live Nation will require all artists, crew and attendees to show proof of full vaccination or a negative test at their venues, shows and festivals from October.

Patrons at the recent Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago had to comply with the full vax or negative test rule.

Those who were not fully vaccinated had to show a negative Covid-19 test 72 hours before the event.

After the four-day festival, which attracted 385,000 people, health authorities said there was “no sign” of it being a “superspreader event.”

The same officials reported 203 cases of Covid-19 connected to the festival, with no deaths, and none needing hospitalisation.

Mr Field said: “The Lollapalooza case study is really important to illustrate you can have a process or a mandate, but for those who choose to take another path, there’s a facility for them to come to the event as well.

“It’s good to be getting some hard evidence and data proving we can back to what we do, with some sort of protocol in place to keep everyone safe.”

Mr Field said promoters have a common goal when concerts resume after vax targets have been reached.

“We want them to be as normal as possible,” he said.

“We want to get back to conducting ourselves in the same responsible and safe manner as we always do.”

Mr Field said the “no jab, no entry” debate is an “industry discussion” adding: “We haven’t taken a position, locally, on that.”

He said the 70 per cent and 80 per cent vaccination targets for September and November, respectively, gives the industry hope.

Live Nation is part of a national campaign called Vax The Nation, which is backed by leaders from the live entertainment industry, and 400 musicians.

The campaign calls for eligible Australians to get vaccinated against coronavirus.

“It’s a statement of what might be considered obvious, but it’s intended to be a reminder of the things we don’t have at the moment,” Mr Field said.

“We’re at a real crunch time now. We’ve got a pathway, we’ve got some targets, and it’s giving people a sense of optimism.”

Meanwhile, Australia’s peak live performance industry body says all options are on the table to make events safe.

Live Performance Australia chief executive Evelyn Richardson said industry leaders are discussing proof of vaccination and no jab-no entry issues for theatre shows and music gigs.

“We’re talking about that with state governments, particularly in NSW and Victoria, The discussion is how that would work, and what tool would be used,” Ms Richardson said.

On the no jab-no entry talks, she said: “Those discussions are very live at the moment. But I don’t know that you can have a hard and fast, one size fits all rule.”

Major concerts scheduled for later this year and early 2022 include Tame Impala, Guns N Roses and Kiss.