Features
UK: Standon Calling, Tramlines, TRNSMT Go Ahead, Pitchfork Music Festival London Launches
Matt Eachus – The crowd at Standon Calling 2019.
Promoters hope for a similar picture in July, when Standon Calling could become one of the first festivals to take place at full-capacity since the country went into lockdown.
Amidst the bad news that around 50% of the UK’s festival’s have already canceled their 2021 editions, some major and independent events plan to go ahead in summer for a tested or vaccinated audience. There are also a couple of new festivals being announced.
Standon Calling in Herefordshire, England, today announced it would take place at full-capacity, July 22-25. The lineup includes Bastille Reorchestrated, Arlo Parks, Hot Chip, Primal Scream, Mahalia, De La Soul, Jake Bugg, Everything Everything, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and many more.
Standon Calling counted more than 15,000 visitors at its last edition in 2019. This year, all attendees will are asked to provide a negative test in order to enter the festival.
The UK recently moved its target date for lifting all restrictions on social gatherings from June 21 to July 19. Events like Standon Calling are counting on this not happening again. The first results of the country’s Events Research Programme (ERP) showed “no substantial outbreaks” at any of the test events so far. The ERP just went into its third phase and announced new events that will take part in it.
Giles Smith – Scene from Tramlines Festival 2019.
The people are desperate to meet again.
One of them is Tramlines Festival in Sheffield, England, with today announced that it would go ahead at its full 40,000-capacity, July 23-25. The Streets, Royal Blood and Richard Ashcroft will headline a lineup of music and culture.
Tramlines’ participation in the ERP means the festival can go ahead independently of national reopening dates and the audience will be able to enjoy the event without compulsory social distancing or masks.
To enter, proof of either a negative COVID result from a lateral flow test taken within the previous 48 hours, or two vaccination doses, with the second received at least 14 days before, will be required.
Tramlines operations director Timm Cleasby said, “We are absolutely delighted to be able to confirm that Tramlines 2021 is going ahead, having accepted the government’s invitation to join the Events Research Programme.
“This means we have a proven framework to follow, which at previous events has shown that festivals can be enjoyed at no more risk than other activities.”
Anyone who has purchased a ticket but does not wish to take part in the research will be able to roll over their ticket to Tramlines 2022 or receive a refund.
Gaelle Beri – Lewis Capaldi at TRNSMT 2019
Festival director Geoff Ellis criticized politicians for continuing to leave the business in a state of uncertainty.
Scotland’s main event, TRNSMT Festival, announced that it would return to Glasgow Green, Sept. 10-12, moving its usual July date, after the Scottish Government announced August 9 as target date for lifting all coronavirus restrictions.
The festival, which is now sponsored by online car broker Cinch, welcomes Courteeners, Liam Gallagher and The Chemical Brothers as headliners. Also on the bill: Sam Fender, Little Simz, Griff, Dermot Kennedy, Joesef, and many more.
Like their English counterparts, the decision makers emphasized that the Aug. 9 date was only “indicative, and would depend on the impact of the vaccine roll-out and the presence of possible hotspots,” according to a report by The Scotsman.
The doubt cast by the politicians was criticized by TRNSMT festival director Geoff Ellis, who’s quoted by the paper as saying, that this kind of messaging “gave music fans no confidence that they would be able to see their favorite bands this summer and cast doubt that large events and festivals would be allowed at all this year.”
– Summer Of Love.
The bill.
Two new events: Summer Of Love & Pitchfork Music Festival London
The state of uncertainty continues for any events not part of the UK’s Events Research Programme. There are still many promoters moving ahead with confidence, as the announcements of two new city festivals shows: Summer Of Love, promoted by Animal Crossing, and the inaugural edition of Pitchfork Music Festival in London.
The first edition of Summer Of Love is set to take place in Manchester City Center, Aug. 21-22. A fine selection of underground artists will perform on three stages in an abandoned warehouse, including Praslesh (Raresh b2b Praslea), SIT, Priku, Sepp & Nu Zau, Onur Ozer, Evan Baggs, Ethel and more.
The day-time program includes yoga, a wellness area and a record fair supplied by local outlets Basement Wax, Vinyl Pimp, and Wax Material. An artist corner, featuring works of local Manchester painters, designers, photographers & graffiti artists, will be hosted onsite, as well, as will a variety of local street food gurus.
“This is our moment to reunite, rejoice and celebrate the reopening of the world we love and have missed so dearly. The Summer of Love Festival represents our freedom, our connection, our artistic expression in an environment that has been created bespoke for the two-day music, arts & mindful experience. There is always a positive, always a light to shine brighter. It’s all about the love. We can’t wait to see you in August, let’s dance like we mean it,” a promoter statement reads.
Photo by David Wolff – Patrick/Redferns – Abra performing at Pitchfork Music Festival Paris, Oct. 29, 2016 in Paris, France.
The first UK edition of the event will take place in London, Nov. 10-14.
Meanwhile, Pitchfork announced the inaugural edition of Pitchfork Pitchfork Music Festival London, Nov. 10-14. The festival will feature performances from more than 50 new and established artists from different genres around various iconic spaces in the capital, including Fabric, Village Underground, Roundhouse, and the recently refurbished Hackney Church.
Bobby Gillespie & Jenny Beth, Anna Meredith, Mykki Blanco, Charlotte Adigéry, Emma Jean Thackray, Black Midi and many feature on an eclectic bill. The London festival will run back-to-back with Pitchfork Music Festival Paris, Nov. 16-20, now in its 10th year.
Pitchfork’s UK partner is Form Presents. Co-MD Daniel Monsell, commnented: “We at FORM are delighted to be partnering with Pitchfork to bring this inaugural UK edition of the festival to London. Pitchfork is such an important resource for so many music fans in the UK and it feels even more special to do so in its 25th year of existence, being both long-term fans of the site and the amazing event in Paris. We’re so excited about this season of events with such vital artists, and to be able to bring the series into an array of the city’s best venues, at a time when we’ve missed them so much.”
Pitchfork’s editor in chief Puja Patel added, “After an incredibly difficult year for artists, fans, and our music community, we’re excited to celebrate the return of live music with so many legendary venues across two of the most important music cities in the world. That we’re able to host festivals in London and Paris during the publication’s 25th anniversary feels all the more special.”