Although it seemed like we were back to normal for a little while when it came to large gatherings such as sporting events, concerts, and festivals, things have taken a turn for the worst with the emerging Delta variant and lately, there’s been a lot of cancellations once again. Just in the past few days, dozens of concerts have been canceled across the nation. In Colorado alone, Saint Motel, Purity Ring, 070 Shake, Stevie Nicks, and Watsky have canceled concerts due to COVID complications.   

While many artists are canceling concerts completely in order to stop the spread of COVID-19 and keep their fans and themselves safe, others are implementing strict protocols and proceeding with their concerts under strong guidelines that are helping to decrease the risk of an outbreak. Certain venues, such as the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, are requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test result before allowing fans entrance into the arena. These rules allow fans to feel safe and limit the spread of the virus.  

Concertgoers at the AJR concert commented about the protocol in place.  

“It instills a lot of confidence in both of us and in our friends coming and just knowing that everyone there has received a negative test or has their vaccine is something that makes it a lot more comfortable to go to,” said Mark Reiter, who attended the AJR concert at Wells Fargo.  

Just like the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Red Hat Amphitheatre in Raleigh, North Carolina has similar protocols in place such as requiring a negative test or proof of full vaccination status before entry. In addition, they also offered rapid COVID-19 tests for fans in case they were unable to provide either a negative test or a vaccination card.  

It’s encouraging to see how artists and venues are adapting to COVID-19 since the Delta variant has proved that the virus may be around for a little while longer. The music industry was severely affected by the pandemic last year, with shutdowns and cancellations all year. While the return to normal has proven challenging amidst ever-changing guidelines and rules, it is a positive sign that artists are able to perform once again under safe circumstances. However, another challenge that artists face when trying to implement guidelines at their shows are the varying mandates and rules across various states in the nation. For example, some states like Florida and Texas have been banning mask and vaccine mandates at businesses, making it harder for artists to ensure safety by establishing protocols. This issue has caused some artists to cancel their concerts in states that won’t allow artists to implement their own guidelines.  

Alt-country singer Jason Isbell requires vaccinations or negative test results at his concerts and stated that “if the venue won’t allow that, we won’t play.”  

He went on to cancel a festival in Houston, TX that wouldn’t follow those guidelines.  

COVID-19 has impacted all aspects of our lives and it is interesting to observe this return to normalcy, particularly in the music industry. Personally, I am excited about concerts coming back, but only under guidelines that make it a safe and comfortable experience for both the artists and the fans.