Coronavirus Australia: Stadium gigs return to NSW in COVID-safe way

When more than 6000 socially-distanced fans flocked to Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena for the biggest indoor concert in NSW since March the mood was weird but the energy was live

Northern Beaches psychedelic rockers Ocean Alley headline NSW’s first stadium show since March. Picture: Jess Gleeson

As more than 6000 music fans made their way into Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday for the biggest live indoor concert to be held in the state since March, it marked yet another return to normal-but-not-quite of the sort we’ve come to understand during the pandemic era.

The COVID-safe event, headlined by Northern Beaches psychedelic rockers Ocean Alley, formed part of the Great Southern Nights series, which is bringing nearly 1000 gigs to the city and regional NSW across November.

The series was launched by the state government and promoters TEG Live and Live Nation in an attempt to kickstart recovery to the live music and hospitality industries, which have been dramatically diminished by the pandemic.

The venue, which would typically host up to 21,000 people, was reduced to a capacity of just over 6000 to ensure NSW Health’s coronavirus social distancing measures could be adhered to.

Masks were not mandatory at the gig but each group of people was separated by several chairs. Hand sanitising stations were scattered throughout the venue and mask-wearing ushers showed punters to their seats. Revellers were unable to get up and dance. And if the mood wasn’t odd enough, between sets the screens on either side of the stage flicked through COVID-safety guidelines including “avoid touching your face” and “stay seated”. But despite it all, there was a palpable sense of energy in the crowd — with people bopping and singing along from their chairs in the airconditioned stadium, while the temperature soared to almost 40C outside.

Northern Beaches psychedelic rockers Ocean Alley headlining at the first gig in the Great Southern Nights series. Picture: Jess Gleeson

Support acts — Triple J darlings Ruby Fields and Jack River — expressed to the crowd their joy at returning to performing in front of large crowds.

“I’m sure a lot of you haven’t seen any live music in months and months; what a way for us all to reconnect,” Holly Rankin, who performs as Jack River, said.

Rankin also took aim at the state government, saying: “It’s so weird that we can’t dance. I was thinking we should classify these live music events as football games, then we could do whatever we want” — a reference to the fact that crowds of up to 40,000 are permitted at sports events in NSW. Ruby Fields, 22, said it was “sick that we can do this again” — adding that, while it had been a tough year, the pandemic had helped her make a lot of personal and artistic revelations that she was thankful for. Ocean Alley said they were “absolutely stoked” to be back on stage, having missed “every part of touring” this year.

“Last year we spent every other day in a new city, so it’s exciting to see live music making a comeback in NSW,” the band said.

“The opportunity to headline Qudos Bank Arena in our home town makes this show that extra bit more special for us.”

Another 6000-strong crowd will attend the Qudos venue next Saturday for another Great Southern Nights gig, headlined by former Powderfinger frontman Bernard Fanning and Matt Corby.