Big Day Out Founder Thinks It, America Actions It: US Artist To Play Test Live Music Gig

Big Day Out founder Ken West said he believes live music can make a return through a "test event" and it looks like a US artist is doing just that. 

As NY Times reports, Travis McCready of Mississippi four-piece Bishop Gunn will perform an intimate solo show in Arkansas this Friday where a number of restrictions will be put in place. 

Just 229 people will be allowed into Temple Live's 1,100-seat theatre for the concert, while social distancing must be practised and masks can be purchased "if desired".

The gig is set to go ahead three days before theatres, arenas and stadiums are allowed to reopen in Arkansas (with a maximum capacity of 50 people), as instructed by Governor Asa Hutchinson, who has not approved the Temple Live event. 

“As advertised, this concert does not comply with our Department of Health directives for indoor entertainment venues," Hutchinson said.

“I appreciate the venue owners’ working to enforce social distancing and the wearing of masks to protect the concertgoers, but the concert remains outside of the state’s pandemic directive.”

The news comes after Ken West penned an open letter specifically related to getting Australian music festivals back on track, where he suggested a test event should be considered. 

“It might require everyone entering to be registered, COVID tested and have the app to see if it works on a large scale," West wrote. 

"Governments love tests and PM Scomo openly wants everyone, especially cynical young people, to download the COVID app."

Read the full open letter here.