SA Venues To Shut Immediately Amid New COVID Restrictions

18 November 2020 | 1:49 pm | Staff Writer

Gigs across the state have been cancelled.

Following yesterday’s news, South Australia has today been hit with further restrictions as concerns grow around a COVID-19 outbreak in the state.

As ABC reports, Premier Steven Marshall has said that “as of midnight tonight we need our community to pause for six days”, meaning that live music venues across the state will be forced to shut as of midnight tonight until next Tuesday at midnight.

The news comes in the middle of Music SA’s GO LIVE campaign, an initiative to get artists back on the stage and punters in venues, with venues all across the state originally scheduled to host gigs over the ‘pause’ period.

Meanwhile, touring bands such as Boy & Bear, Montaigne and more have shows slated at major venues in Adelaide this week.

It’s not clear whether or not any interstate bands might be stranded in SA yet, given that Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has stated: “If you are in a location at the commencement of these restrictions you will be required to stay there."

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Anyone visiting SA needs to immediately find somewhere to stay for six days and people are being asked not to leave the state for 14 days.

Following the lockdown update today, Adelaide Festival Centre issued a statement that it would be cancelling all performances at its venues from 19 November until 25 November, with CEO &Artistic Director Douglas Gautier AM stating:

“It’s disheartening to be in this situation but, more than anything, we want our audiences, artists and staff to stay well. The best way to ensure this is to follow the advice of the State Emergency Controller and health authorities.

“If we all do the right thing now, these measures can help to protect all South Australians. We regret the inconvenience and disappointment to our patrons and performers, and all the people who work so hard to present shows.”