The Managing Director of live music promoters, MCD, Denis Desmond stated that he remains “optimistic” that this year’s Electric Picnic festival will go ahead.
In an interview, Mr Desmond said: “It is five months away. I would be optimistic that Electric Picnic will happen but of course we are in un-chartered waters here.”
MCD, along with head organiser Festival Republic, has expanded to a record capacity of 70,000 for the sold out event and acts due to perform on the first weekend of September at Stradbally, Co Laois, include The Chemical Brothers, Lewis Capaldi, Picture This and Snow Patrol.
Mr Desmond stated: “I’ve no doubt that there will be a relaxation of the restrictions in place but it will probably be some time before we can have 20,000 people in a stadium or in a field.”
Mr Desmond stated that industry colleagues in China are anticipating a return of major events there in June.
He stated: “We are two months behind them and we are not as badly hit with Covid-19. If we are back to normality by July, we would be doing well.”
Mr Desmond admitted it will be September before The Gaiety Theatre in Dublin will re-open.
He stated: “Riverdance won’t happen there this summer as there is now not enough time to rehearse for a June start.”
However, Mr Desmond hopes that the Olympia will re-open in July once an easing of restrictions allows that to happen.
He stated that MCD has already rescheduled a lot of live music shows, adding a lot of the bigger tours have pushed back into 2021 including The Who, Harry Styles, Dua Lipa and David Gray.
He stated: “The Government is doing a good job in ‘flattening the curve’ and we are waiting direction from them. We can only act on Government advice.”
Trade industry journal Pollstar estimates that in 2019 MCD generated $159.29m (€146m) in ticket sales from 2.3m music fans.
To date this year, Mr Desmond stated that MCD has lost “a huge amount of shows” due to Covid-19.
Mr Desmond stated that “live music has come to a halt across the world” but stated that live artists “have really stepped up in doing their bit to support front line workers and those in need”.
Mr Desmond stated that the likes of Hozier, Dermot Kennedy, Niall Horan, the Coronas “have done incredible work” to raise funds for ISPCC/ Childline.
Mr Desmond also pointed to the free 3Arena show by The Script next February for HSE front line staff; the Gavin James gig for Alone and all artists who are giving their time globally to good causes.
Mr Desmond stated that MCD intends to keep all of its staff on during the pandemic.
He stated: “They are with me with a long time. We will avail of what Government support there is but all staff are being kept on. The Government support to date has been very good - they have done well.”
Mr Desmond stated that if the ‘lockdown’ measures continue to be in force into the Summer “then 2020 events will all happen in 2021."
