The FKP Scorpio-promoted Deichbrand festival is one of several major German festivals that have canceled their 2021 editions. (Rainer Keuenhof)
Eventim Live’s ‘Summer of Reunion’ must wait till ’22
German festivals Deichbrand, Hurricane, Southside, Rock am Ring, Rock im Park, SonneMondSterne and Greenfield, all promoted by Eventim Live companies, have announced the cancellation of their 2021 editions, again, due to the ongoing restrictions on gatherings in light of coronavirus as well as the uncertainty of when those restrictions might lift.
All ticket holders will have the opportunity to attend the 2022 editions of the festivals.
Klaus-Peter Schulenberg, CEO of CTS Eventim, said, “We regret these cancellations very much and share the disappointment of everyone involved. But precedence must, of course, be given to safeguarding and protecting the health of fans, performers, festival teams and partners.
“However, it is also clear that this continuing uncertainty is further exacerbating the dramatic financial situation in which the live music industry finds itself. We are working on many levels to ensure that live culture can return to the stage as quickly and safely as possible.”
Eventim Live managing director Dr. Frithjof Pils said, festival organizers have “invested a great deal of time and energy in sanitary and infection control concepts” to make their events possible this summer, which was meant to be “the summer of reunions.”
“But given the persistent epidemiological situation and the associated restrictions in force, we have had to accept with a heavy heart that festivals of this magnitude are not yet feasible at present. We are therefore focusing on the 2022 festival summer and want to make it unforgettable for all of us,” Pils concluded.
It confirms what live professionals in Germany have been saying for weeks. At last week’s ILMC, for instance, FKP Scorpio CEO Stephan Thanscheidt said hardly anybody was buying tickets for the summer. “I don’t see festivals happening in June or July in continental Europe,” he said, and expressed his conviction that more events were going to cancel their 2021 editions in the coming weeks.
FKP Scorpio is part of Eventim Live, and the promoter of twin festivals Hurricane and Soutside, which usually take place in June, as well as Deichhbrand
Continental Europe, where several territories have entered into a new lockdown, is a completely different story to the UK, where major festivals have been going ahead with their respective on-sales, some selling out in no time.
There’s been a surge of optimism in the country, since the UK government announced its roadmap out of lockdown, which aims to lift all restrictions on social gatherings by June 21.
However, the entire industry is aware by now that official announcements hardly hold any water in light of the ever changing coronavirus situation.
This story originally appeared on Pollstar.com.
