Feature Image: Dan Billinghurst
The music and nightlife industries have undoubtedly been some of the hardest hit businesses due to the Covid-19 pandemic this year; while governments have provided basic stimulus packages in parts of the globe, the financial impact rages on.
Beginning in March across the majority of the world, strict lockdowns and restrictions have been put in place in order to curb the spread of the virus. Considering the nature of live shows and clubbing, unfortunately the majority of venues have had their doors shut in many nations for almost 9 months.
With this development, and the constant coverage of such; it’s been made clear that those working within the industries are doing more to help one another survive than those in power are.
Tomorrow (December 2nd) the Save Our Scene UK protest movement – founded by George Fleming – are going to be holding two protests in both London and Bristol: on two wheels, as cyclists from across the industry aim to raise awareness of the plight of musicians due to lack of intervention from the government.
Cyclists hit the streets of London last month, and are returning this week to call on the government (once again) for serious action on behalf of the music industry.
In London, the first cycling protest is set to begin at 7PM GMT, following a route from Speakers Corner in Hyde Park, to Parliament Square. There will also be DJs taking part, such as Jess Bays b2b Josh Parkinson following the #SaveOurScene event in London.
The next event will be taking place in Bristol on December 3rd, also beginning at 7pm GMT, with cyclists hitting the streets from Clifton Downs on route to St. Andrew’s Park.
Those working in the UK have perhaps received one of the hardest financial blows than those across the globe (which says a lot) especially when it comes to the country’s tragically poor-handling of the pandemic, as well as the looming future of the disastrous post-brexit deals, which will make it even more difficult for artists in the United Kingdom to continue with their livehoods.
Not long ago, we covered the results of a survey by UK union the Musician’s Union, in which a staggering third of musicians are considering quitting the industry for good following the hardships they have faced this year.
This followed a report by the Musician’s Union in April in which 19% of those belonging to the union stated they would quit the industry due to the lack of support from the UK government during lockdown.
