Thousands of music fans flooded Liverpool’s Sefton Park to attend the UK’s first post-lockdown gig headlined by indie band Blossoms.
In total 5,000 fans have been permitted to attend the gig and are not required to wear masks or socially distance during the event.
The line-up includes Blossoms, The Lathums and Liverpool singer-songwriter Zuzu and the event forms part of the national Events Research Programme (ERP).
Ticketholders had to take a Lateral Flow Test at a community testing site 24 hours before the event and had to produce a negative result to gain entry.
Attendees will then have to take another test five days after the event as part of the ERP’s research.
Ahead of the event, Festival Republic Managing Director Melvin Benn said: ‘This event is not about pushing vaccines or passports, we do not want to limit attendance to our events in any way.
Revellers arriving for a trial music festival in Sefton Park in Liverpool which will be headlined by the indie band Blossoms as part of the national Events Research Programme (ERP)
In total 5,000 fans have been permitted to attend the gig and are not required to wear masks
Attendees at the gig will not have to socially distanced inside but must have taken a Covid test
‘Working with the government we want to create a universal blueprint for reopening and demonstrate we can do it safely. Live music is a vital part of so many people’s lives.
‘This event is the first step in getting festivals back on track this year. It’s about demonstrating our absolute commitment that we can and will open on June 21st.
‘We want to get festival fans back at events safely this year. We all need a summer of live music.’
People involved in the trial do not need to socially distance from strangers nor wear a mask, but must be over 18, live in the Liverpool City region and registered to a GP, and must be showing no signs of Covid-19 symptoms.
The trial events are designed to advance the reopening roadmap’s plan to scrap social distancing on June 21.
Crowds of revellers raise their drinks as they dance to the music at a music festival in Sefton Park
Thousands of party-goers arrive to the music festival in Sefton Park in Liverpool today
Revellers enjoy themselves at a music festival in Sefton Park in Liverpool as Covid measures begin to ease
A group of revellers arrive for the music festival in Liverpool’s Sefton Park today
Those attending the outdoor concert will not have to socially distance from strangers nor wear a mask
Concert-goers arrive to the venue for the latest event in the government’s Events Research programme
A group of friends sanitise their hands as they arrive to the outdoor venue in Liverpool today
Bar staff wear masks and face visors as they serve revellers at the music festival in Liverpool today
Members of the public arrive for the outdoor festival in Liverpool as coronavirus measures begin to ease
A concert-goers shows a negative Covid-19 result on their phone as well as their driving licence as they arrive
Data from the event will be collected by officials as part of the ERP.
A board of advisers, made up of independent scientists and public health experts, will assess the data and present results to Ministers at the end of May.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: ‘We’re one step closer to a summer of live events now our science-led programme is underway.
‘Testing different settings and looking at different mitigations is key to getting crowds back safely and the Sefton Park pilot is an important addition to the programme.
‘After many months without live audiences, Festival Republic are bringing live music back to fans with this very special event and I hope it won’t be too much longer until gigs are back for good.’
Revellers usE hand sanitisers as they arrive for the music festival in Sefton Park in Liverpool
The festival is among a number of trial events that are designed to advance the reopening roadmap’s plan
Signage being put up at a music festival in Sefton Park as part of Events Research Programme
The scenes come just a day after thousands of revellers were seen dancing shoulder-to-shoulder at Britain’s second post-lockdown rave at a Liverpool nightclub.
Nightlife promoter Circus hosted The First Dance in Liverpool – where revellers did not have to wear face coverings or social distance for the first time since before lockdown began last night.
Inside the venue, footage showed ravers dancing mask-free, inches away from each other as headliner Fat Boy Slim played his set.
Ravers had to take a lateral flow test 24 hours before the event in order to release their e-ticket, and will also have to produce a negative result to gain entry.
