WOMAD Festival confirms return this summer

with the UK government aiming to lift all coronavirus-enforced restrictions on social contact by June 21 at the earliest.With festivals such as Reading & Leeds, TRNSMT and All Points East all hoping to take place this year as planned and an array of gigs already announced for autumn and winter 2021, many UK music fans have been able to buy live music tickets with growing confidence.Festicket have today (April 1) published the results of a study they recently conducted investigating the general

Reading & Leeds Festival will “almost certainly” have a COVID-vaccine passport system in place for this year’s festivals, according to organiser Melvin Benn.The twin festivals are currently due to go ahead as planned from August 27-29, with the likes of Stormzy, Post Malone and Liam Gallagher all set to play.Speaking to the BBC earlier today (March 30), Benn said that he was still confident that both Reading and Leeds would take place this summer with the UK currently on course to lift

COVID-19 infection rates in Europe could pose “challenges”, but explained that ministers were at an early stage of considering the traffic light system that could open up international travel, for people travelling to the UK and UK nationals returning from trips as potential holidaymakers, festival-goers or performing artists.Reports from The Telegraph over the weekend claimed that Heathrow Airport had recommended a system with four levels – green, yellow, amber and red.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIn the wake of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement last month that mass-gatherings can begin a cautious return this summer, the London music festival All Points East has announced more performers for its 2021 edition — scheduled for August 27-30 in Victoria Park — and the country’s largest festival, Glastonbury, is moving ahead with plans for a scaled-down event in September.Joining previously announced All Points East headliners Jamie xx, Kano, and

A lovely coincidence! Prince William and Duchess Kate revisited the place where they married nearly 10 years ago.

have told NME in recent weeks that they are reluctant to designate huge sums of cash towards planning events this year because they face financial ruin if events are cancelled without insurance.Appearing at the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee inquiry into  challenges faced by the festival sector today (March 24), Ms Dinenage told MPs she is not prepared to announce an insurance scheme while uncertainty still remains around live events this summer.She said: “The fact is,

Sally Hawkins Boards Stephen Frears’ ‘The Lost King’ Oscar-nominated The Shape of Water star Sally Hawkins has joined the cast of UK comedy-drama The Lost King, inspired by the remarkable 2012 true story of finding Brit monarch King Richard III’s remains under a Leicester car park. Steve Coogan has co-written the script with his Stan & Ollie and Philomena collaborator Jeff Pope. Philomena director and two-time Oscar nominee Stephen Frears is aboard to direct the Baby Cow-produced feature.

Dave, Megan Thee Stallion and Disclosure have been announced for this year’s Parklife Festival.The Manchester event will return once more to Heaton Park between September 11 and 12, after coronavirus forced the event’s 2020 cancellation.Dave’s Parklife performance will be a UK exclusive headline set, while Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby, Burna Boy, Young Thug and many more will jet in from across the globe for the event.Skepta, Jamie xx, AJ Tracey, Four Tet, Little Simz, Celeste and Pa Salieu are

But organisers say it's no longer about marking BrexitThe first major attractions for the government’s £120m “Festival of Brexit” have been announced – including a “celebration of the British weather”.The 2022 event, which was first touted under Theresa May’s government, was previously described as a showcase for “the UK’s unique strengths in creativity and innovation” after leaving the European Union – with comparisons to the 1951 Festival of Britain.However, organisers now say that the event

Home Team, the UK indie production house founded by Dominic Buchanan and Bennett McGhee, has hired Jessica Hill as Senior Development Executive.

‘The future of UK music festivals’ inquiry began back in January and was first announced back in November following a devastating year for the music festival sector in the UK as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.The inquiry is taking place as uncertainty continues to prevail over the fate of the UK’s festival season in 2021 due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic, and an opening hearing back in January saw talks from the organisers of Parklife and Boomtown.A press release for this week’s

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