Large live music events will be cancelled in Berlin until mid-April at the earliest
As of today (March 11), live music events in Berlin – along with those taking place in concert houses, theatres and operas – will be cancelled to halt the spread of coronavirus throughout the German capital.
Berlin's culture senator Klaus Lederer confirmed that the prevention measure will last until April 19, but could continue further.
The new rule will also affect upcoming shows at the Berlin Philharmonic, which Lederer described as “regrettable but one must assume the responsibility”.
Promoters and organisers of shows holding up to 500 people have to decide if their events will go ahead, in alignment with the The Robert Koch Institute's guidance.
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The news comes less than 24 hours after Coachella festival in California was forced to postpone until October.
“At the direction of the County of Riverside and local health authorities, we must sadly confirm the rescheduling of Coachella and Stagecoach due to COVID-19 concerns," announced Goldenvoice, the AEG subsidiary that organize the festival, in a statement. "While this decision comes at a time of universal uncertainty, we take the safety and health of our guests, staff and community very seriously. We urge everyone to follow the guidelines and protocols put forth by public health officials.”
Elsewhere, Green Day, Slipknot, Pearl Jam and Marilyn Manson have all postponed upcoming tours due to the coronavirus outbreak. Last weekend, SXSW festival in Texas was forced to cancel for the first time in 34 years.
In a statement, SXSW said: "As recently as Wednesday [March 4], Austin Public Health stated that ‘there’s no evidence that closing SXSW or any other gatherings will make this community safer.’ However, this situation evolved rapidly, and we honor and respect the City of Austin’s decision. We are committed to do our part to help protect our staff, attendees, and fellow Austinites.”
Expect more shows to be cancelled in the near future. Keep an eye on Kerrang! for the latest updates.
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