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Jason Isbell, Dead & Co. will require proof of vaccination or negative test for tour
"We care so much about everyone involved in making this tour happen & all of you attending."
As the COVID-19 Delta variant surge continues, some big names in music are requiring concertgoers to prove their vaccination status, or present evidence of a recent negative COVID test.
CONCERTS, VENUES, & COVID
This week, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Dead & Company, and Maroon 5 announced new restrictions for their upcoming tours.
Isbell announced Monday that upcoming shows on his tour will require ticket holders to present proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test result from the last 48-hours.
“We’re now requiring proof of vaccination or a current negative test to attend all our shows, indoors or out,” he tweeted. “If the venue won’t allow that, we won’t play.”
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Isbell has a show in Boston on Sept. 18 at the Wang Theatre. According to Rolling Stone, he’s already had to cancel a show in Houston after the venue refused to comply with the band’s “health and safety standards.”
Dead & Co., with two shows coming up in Mansfield, Mass. Labor Day weekend, said ticket holders must provide proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48-hours of entry. Children under 12-years-old can just provide a negative test result. No one who isn’t fully vaccinated is allowed in the pit.
“We care so much about everyone involved in making this tour happen & all of you attending,” the band wrote on Twitter. “Stay safe, get vaccinated if you can, and we’ll see you soon!”
Though Maroon 5’s tour has already begun, the band announced on Aug. 11 that beginning Aug. 16 attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test taken within 48 hours. Maroon 5 is playing in Saratoga Springs, New York on Sept. 13.
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“We want you to know that our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of our fans as well as that of the hardworking men and women who make these events possible,” the band wrote. “To that end we want to show our support of recent news around shows starting to require additional protocols for entry.”
Live Nation, the world’s largest live entertainment company, is supporting artists that want to set these restrictions for their shows. According to Variety, Live Nation has issued a “best practices” document, which permits artists to require proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test result.
Live Nation is also requiring all employees — in offices, venues, and any events — to be fully vaccinated beginning Oct. 4. Live Nation’s Boston venues include the House of Blues, Paradise Rock Club, Orpheum Theatre, and more.
“We’ve seen great vaccination enthusiasm among our staff so far, and we want to ensure we’re taking every step possible to keep you all safe,” Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino wrote in the document shared by Variety. “Our business and our industry is about uniting people and vaccines are one of the greatest tools for making sure that everyone can continue to enjoy live music together. We’ve gone through a lot this past year and it’s remarkable to see how far we’ve come.”
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AEG Presents, the world’s second-largest promoter, announced Thursday that as of Oct. 1, anyone entering one of their venues will have to show proof of vaccination. Up until Oct. 1, concertgoers will be required to present proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test taken within the last 72 hours. AEG’s only Boston-area venue is The Sinclair in Cambridge.
Venues around the country are taking similar steps. At home in Boston, smaller venues like City Winery and the Middle East in Cambridge are requiring proof of vaccination.
Not everyone supports the current trend, though. In July, Eric Clapton said he would not perform at any venue that required patrons to be vaccinated, according to NPR.
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