COVID 19, officially classified as a Pandemic, has already caused countries around the globe to close their borders and impose mandatory self-quarantines since the virus was first discovered less than 3 months ago in Wuhan, China.
What does this mean for the spring and summer 2020 tours, and festival season?
The Italian government forced the cancellation of STARSET, and 3TEETH February shows in Milan over fear of spreading the virus even more. Both bands are scheduled for U.S. tours. 3TEETH’s METAWAR X Tour kicks off Friday, March 13th, just a few weeks after the bands’ European tour wrapped.
3TEETH’s publicist, Selena Fragassi of FR-PR, responded to my paranoia about if there were talks about cancelling the band’s U.S. concerts. “I will let anyone know if any shows I’m working are canceled but no changes so far. Thanks for checking!”
Dates for 3TEETH’s upcoming META X Tour can be found HERE.
Starset are currently touring Russia, then head back to the U.S. to continue touring in support of their 2019 “DIVISIONS” release.
I asked Dustin Bates, Starset’s vocalist and founder, if he was at all concerned about the international travel. “I’m not concerned for myself, no. Understand the concern for the elderly and those with medical issues. It’s already everywhere. International travel is moot. Airplanes in general, however, increase the risk, sure.”
Starset’s upcoming tour dates can be found HERE.
Washington state just issued a ban on public gatherings in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus in the hardest hit state in the U.S.A. just two days after TOOL kicked off the 2020 leg of their North American “FEAR INOCULUM” tour in Spokane, Washington.
One TOOL concert goer in Auckland, New Zealand was the 4th citizen of the country to test positive for the virus just six days after the band’s February 28th and 29th concerts. This lead the New Zealand Ministry of Health to issue a warning to anyone who was at the show in the general admission area to get tested if they showed symptoms.
Pearl Jam, Madonna, Miley Cyrus, and Neil Young have all either postponed or cancelled their upcoming tours out of safety concerns for their fans. This would be Pearl Jam’s first U.S. tour since 2018 and would have supported their upcoming “Gigaton” release, the highly anticipated followup to the band’s 2013 “Lightning Bolt”.
SXSW and Coachella, for the first time in each of their histories, postponed or cancelled their events as have several other smaller festivals throughout the U.S. and Canada.
The Coronavirus has the potential to force the spring and summer concerts and festivals to a grinding halt. Without a doubt, more individual dates and entire tours will either be postponed or cancelled entirely out of safety concerns.
Please keep yourself updated on the symptoms and what can be done to help prevent the spread of COVID 19 by checking the CDC’s website HERE and the World Health Organization HERE.
If we all do our best to stop the spread of this virus, we’re sure to have some amazing concert experiences this summer. Stay vigilant, my friends, and make sure you WASH YOUR HANDS.
