BARCELONA – The first concert with no social distancing took place on Saturday. The Love of Lesbian group performed in Barcelona in front of 5,000 people.
Spain has the scoop of the first “old-fashioned” concert since the corona pandemic started. The Spanish indie rock band Love of Lesbian performed last Saturday in the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona in front of a 5,000 audience.
Free access after negative test
Each member of the audience had a quick antigen test at the entrance gate. Only those with a negative result gained access to the arena. Sources said six of the five thousand people tested positive and therefore refused entry.
Physical distancing was not necessary and it almost seemed as if Covid-19 did not exist. Almost, because all the audience received an FFP2 mask and alcoholic hand gel. They were also sections, each with its own bar and facilities such as toilet areas.
Could the cultural sector now safely reopen in Spain?
Several politicians were present at the event. Generalitat Chairman Marc Ramentol said the event is the kick-off for the safe reopening and restoration of the cultural sector. Festival por la Cultura Segura and Primavera Sound organised the pilot concert.
Lead singer Santi Balmes from Love of Lesbian opened the concert with the words: “Welcome to the most emotional concert of our lives! The world is watching us and this concert is a small victory in this war!”
First large-scale concert in Europe
The next fourteen days will show whether those present will still be negative for Covid-19. The Germans Trias i Pujol hospital in Badalona is involved in this experiment. The Love of Lesbian concert in Barcelona is the first large-scale concert organised in Europe since the corona pandemic.
Trials are currently underway in various countries to safely organise events again. In the Netherlands, Fieldlab is one of the organisations taking the lead in this.
