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Rockhal Luxembourg Hosts Pilot Events With Tested & Masked Audience
Claude Piscite – Serge Tonnar performed in front of 600 on May 21.
The audience was tested before and after the concert and had to wear masks on site.
Rockhal Luxembourg has completed phase two of its pilot events series, Because Music Matters, with a concert by Remo Cavallini, June 4.
It concludes a series of 100-cap event in February, followed by a 600-capacity show by local artist Serge Tonnar, May 21, and Cavallini’s concert last Friday, which sold some 350 tickets.
Audiences had to maintain distance between groups of four and wear masks at all times on site.
Rockhal – Audience members at the February Glass Museum concert at Rockhal.
The February concerts had a capacity of 100.
By purchasing a ticket for these concerts, visitors agreed to undergo a PCR or a free antigen test prior to the concert, as well as a second (PCR) test a few days later, to provide the local health authorities with the data necessary to allow the “step-by-step return of concerts,” according to a press release from Rockhal.
Olivier Toth, CEO of the Rockhal, commented: “After more than a year without higher capacity live events, pilot concerts like our Because Music Matters series and other pilot and test events that have been taking place across Europe, are an important and positive step forward in showcasing the safety measures we can employ to support our back to business strategies.
“Building confidence amongst all our stakeholders that live events are a safe environment is so important. It felt great to have our main hall vibrate with the sound of live music and a cheerful crowd. We are grateful for the enthusiasm and participation of both artists and audience, which is a real show of support for our sector.
“As the name of the project suggests, music really does play an essential role in people’s well-being. I am hopeful that events like this, together with other pilot concerts that are taking place throughout Europe, will help building towards a model that can be further scaled as our industry works towards a safe and sustainable return of live events.”
Like other test events across Europe, the heavily reduced capacities in combination with increased costs for additional health measures, make such events economically unviable.
The organizers at Rockhal told Pollstar, they view these efforts as “investments into our efforts of reviving cultural activities.”
The Because Music Matters pilot concerts initiative was realized by Rockhal, which has a maximum capacity of 6,500 during normal times, in collaboration with Luxembourg’s department for Health Inspection, which Toth thanked in a statement.
“Our warmest thanks go to the Ministries of Culture and Health, the Health Inspectorate, the artists and our audience, our collaborators and our partners and providers who made this event a success,” he said.