Features
Drive-In Shows: D.Live Moves On, Live Nation Scraps UK Plans
After realizing 90 events with some 100,000 visitors at the drive-in theater Autokino Du¨sseldorf in Germany over the past three-and-a-half months, D.LIVE moves on to new live endeavors.
D.LIVE’s event series at the drive-in theater concluded with the Local Hero Festival, July 19, headlined by local band The Buggs.
D.LIVE – D.LIVE promoted a great variety of events at the drive-in
The list included an opera gala (pictured), weddings and religious ceremonies.
D.LIVE managing director Michael Brill summed the past three-and-a-half months: “The response to and feedback about the Autokino Du¨sseldorf were overwhelming. Working with brave artists, event organizers and partners, we have managed to produce something unique in this difficult time. We were able to stage live concerts, shows, an opera gala, pole vaulting, boxing and DJ sessions and screen films, while still observing the current rules of conduct. We were even able to hold religious services and weddings.
“The fact that around 100,000 people came to the Autokino is a brilliant result. My thanks to the entire D.LIVE team for their passionate commitment to this project, to the event organizers and artists for their bravery, our service providers who all put up a great performance at such short notice, the local authorities for their trust in us and Messe Du¨sseldorf for providing the space.”
Of the 90 events that took place at the drive-in theater, more than 20 were concerts and shows. Performers included German artists Alligatoah, Sido, who played four shows in Toal, SSIO, Brings, Tim Bendzko, Max Giesinger, Nico Santos, Hämatom, Sondaschule, Schiller, Tom Beck and Pietro Lombardi.
Lombardi grossed the most in one show, according to Pollstar‘s box office reports, selling all of the available 1,050 tickets generating $64,253.
Alligatoah, who opened the series of concerts, April 23-24, sold out 1,000 tickets on both nights, grossing $86,500. Sido achieved the same feat, April 25-26, grossing $97,313. When the German rap star returned for two more shows, June 6-7, he didn’t achieve a sell out, but still grossed $93,478.
Promoters working with D.LIVE also commented. Karsten Jahnke Konzertdirektion MD Ben Mitha said: “The two evenings with Max Giesinger at the Autokino Du¨sseldorf were truly special shows for everybody involved. We thank D.LIVE for their fantastic assistance on-site and for the chance to stage live shows despite the current situation.”
Fabian Schulte-Terboven of THINK BIG Event-und Veranstaltungs-GmbH, said: “D.LIVE was the first to seize this opportunity and offered us a chance to perform at a time when concerts were off the agenda. As one would expect, the Gottfried Schultz Autokino was also organized in an absolutely professional way and proved to be a marvelously atmospheric venue during these unusual times. The fans enjoyed it which is why we can look back at a total of 5 sell-out shows with our artists Sido & Tim Bendzko.”
Brill said the time to move on to new things has come, seeing that Germany is gradually allowing events back on and venues to open back up at limited capacities.
Meanwhile, in the UK, Live Nation scrapped its Utilita Live From The Drive-In concert series announced in June.
“The Live From The Drive-In concert series will no longer proceed as planned this summer. We received huge support from artists, the live music production contractors, our headline sponsor Utilita and of course you, the fans. However the latest developments regarding localized lockdowns means it has become impossible for us to continue with the series with any confidence,” a statement reads.
Full refunds will be issued directly to all ticket holders within the next 7 days.