Live music - but not as we once knew it - set to return to Falkirk next month

The Scottish Government has decreed live music and entertainment will be allowed to return to pubs and clubs next month but people should not expect to be dancing in the aisles.
Remember those pre-COVID-19 days when we used to sit or stand shoulder to shoulder and watch a band blast out some live musicRemember those pre-COVID-19 days when we used to sit or stand shoulder to shoulder and watch a band blast out some live music
Remember those pre-COVID-19 days when we used to sit or stand shoulder to shoulder and watch a band blast out some live music

Following month upon month and evening upon evening of lockdown a lot of us would be forgiven for thinking that live entertainment consists of Liam McGrandles strumming and singing up a storm on a laptop or mobile phone screen.

However, think back to a time before COVID-19 and remember what it was like to actually venture outside to your local pub or club, or travel further afield to a big city to see some people on a stage or in a corner of a premises, playing instruments and rocking out for your viewing and listening pleasure.

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Even the mighty Mr McGrandles – the undisputed king of online musical entertainment – would be the first to tell you his natural habitat is performing in front of a flesh and blood live audience and not staring into a laptop in his kitchen or living room.

The mighty Liam McGrandles is the undisputed king of the online concert but he would obviously prefer to playing in front of the crowds once againThe mighty Liam McGrandles is the undisputed king of the online concert but he would obviously prefer to playing in front of the crowds once again
The mighty Liam McGrandles is the undisputed king of the online concert but he would obviously prefer to playing in front of the crowds once again

According to the current Scottish Government phase three guidance, live indoor events “with physical distancing and restricted numbers” will be able to be held –conditional of a review of the national situation on September 10 – from Monday, September 14 onward.

Sadly this does not include nightclubs, so City and the newly renamed Maniqui will have to wait a little longer to open their doors.

The live music, while it will be permitted to go ahead at venues, will not be the same experience we used to take for granted pre-COVID-19, however.

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Melville Street’s musical mecca Behind the Wall has been the location for some great nights of live entertainment in the past.

Owner Brian Flynn said: “Music has always been a significant part of Behind the Wall over the years and it does make a positive difference to the atmosphere. We will look to continue live music, but the problem will be the guidance we have to adhere to.

"You can’t really keep people sitting at their tables and stop them mingling with others if there is a band playing amplified music – we want a party atmosphere when music is playing. Now you can’t have anyone dancing or jumping around.”

Anyone who runs a music venue worth its salt does not want to go up to a customer and tell them to refrain from dancing to the music.

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"We’ll need to wait and see how the guidance changes – we will probably have to wait almost until all social distancing is completely gone if we are going to see live music return to the way they once were.”

Other live music venues in Falkirk are obviously looking forward to September 14 – Temple, in Burnbank Road, is advertising two live events on its website, a dance night on September 25 and a live band on October 10.

Temple was one of the premises featured in the #SaveOurScottishVenues series of online concerts earlier in June with Scottish stars like KT Tunstall, Hue and Cry and Wet Wet Wet performing to help these businesses stay afloat during lockdown.

While they wait for September 14 to roll around, Behind the Wall, Temple and other venues in the town might be able to tap into the Scottish Government’s performing arts venues relief fund which now stands at £12.5 million.

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Creative Scotland states allocation of the funds is split into £7.5 million for performing arts venues in Scotland currently in receipt of regular funding through Creative Scotland

And £5 million is allocated to performing arts venues not currently in receipt of regular funding.

The performing arts venues relief fund is looking to help performing arts venues which cannot yet reopen to their audiences due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19.

Scottish culture secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Our world-class performing arts venues have suffered immensely from the impacts of coronavirus. They were among some of the first businesses to close and sadly, will be among the last to reopen.

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“We worked hard to get much-needed funding out as quickly as possible to the culture sector to help organisations cope with the immediate effects of the pandemic, and this new fund recognises the particular difficulties which continue to be felt by performing arts venues.

“I’m pleased to announce we have increased the fund to £12.5 million, which will ensure even more venues can get financial support to help them through this challenging time.”

Iain Munro, Creative Scotland CEO, added: “We very much welcome this funding from Scottish Government which provides some much needed relief for performing arts venues in Scotland – venues which are facing significant financial challenges due to their continued closure in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have worked at pace to open this fund for application as quickly as possible. Beyond this fund, we are also working closely with the Scottish Government on further measures to provide emergency support for the culture sector and further details will be announced as soon as possible.”