This October's rescheduled Coachella is likely not going to happen at all now, according to reports.
Though it was initially rescheduled from April to October due to the coronavirus pandemic, a new report suggests that 2020's Coachella will now be completely cancelled.
According to Billboard, staff lay-offs and furloughing at AEG (the parent company of Coachella promoter Goldenvoice) mean that what's now being looked at is the possibility of a smaller version of the music and arts festival in April 2021 (which normally hosts a whopping 125,000 attendees per day) – or maybe even a rescheduled event for the autumn next year.
“It is an agonising decision, but sadly, a necessary one,” says AEG CEO Dan Beckerman of the staff furloughs, job losses and pay cuts. “The world is slowly re-opening, and our industry will re-open later and more slowly than most.”
Unsurprisingly, he adds that, “It is clear now that live events with fans will not resume for many months and likely not until sometime in 2021.”
While Coachella is held in California, this is not just a situation that relates only to America; back in May, experts warned that UK gigs and festivals might not happen until next year, either.
“I think this year is basically a write-off, if I’m honest with you,” said Cambridge University lecturer Dr Chris Smith, explaining that social distancing to prevent COVID-19 will not work in a live environment.
“…we know that a very good catalyst for spreading the thing and amplifying cases is getting loads of people together again, and that’s exactly what goes on at concerts, matches, and other kinds of parties,” he explained.
“So I can’t see them saying, ‘You know what, we think everyone needs a party’ – it’s too soon.”
