The long road back for major concerts

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Roger Waters at The Hydro two years ago
Summer used to be momentous for big outdoor gigs and festivals.

June 30, 2013: Bruce Springsteen delivering the whole of his 'Born In The USA' album as a mid-set treat on a sun-scorched day at the Olympic Stadium in London.

 June 29, 2018: Roger Waters on stage at the Hydro delivering a live show that was simply breath-taking.

 June 29, 2020; On the cusp of 100 days in lockdown, the same venue, which is built to hold crowds of up to 13,000, warns it may take until 2022 before it can present shows on such a scale again if social distancing remains in force.

 A world without live music - from the biggest festivals and stadium gigs to the smallest, most intimate venues - is one without joy.

 Social distancing makes that a worrying reality. It has already decimated the arts industry, as theatres remain dark, comedy clubs stand silent, and buildings which once packed fans into gigs stare at empty calendars.

 My next two gigs are car based - drive-in events at Ingliston.

 Part of me wants to weep with despair at the sterility of the set-up. Part of me cheers at the thought of seeing a band play live once more.

We're booked in for the Lightning Seeds and then Classic Ibiza tunes.

We've got a dedicated parking space, socially distant from all others, and we can bring along a chair and sit next to our vehicle. Nothing says rock 'n' roll more than perching on the bonnet of a Vauxhall Insignia...
Bruce Springsteen at Wembley
It feels alien, awkward, and wrong, but it's all we have right now.

 The romance of the drive-in is part of American culture. Over here, it hasn't really taken off and for good reason. This is Scotland. Heaving rain is as much part of any outdoor gig as someone hurtling a plastic glass of beer into the air.
Worst case scenario, we'll get the wipers going in time with the music. Best case? A balmy summer's night and we can chill in the open air.

 But this can't be the future. Can it?

 My hope is drive-in gigs and movies, and socially distanced theatre is simply the bridge we need to get over in order to see a return to something more familiar.

 I get the caution of political leaders - for some it's their default setting - but as lockdown restrictions lift and the population pretty much abandons 2m social distancing (let's be honest, it never even happened in supermarkets), they also have to come up with a clear plan and support for the arts industry which sustains tens of thousands of jobs across a network of venues that no town or city can afford to lose.

 The creative industry is perfectly placed to come up with innovative ideas and solutions, making full use - different use - of existing venues to produce incredible, memorable experiences.

Getting there will be bumpy. We may need to adjust our perception of what is normal...

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