I never thought I'd miss the joy of being wedged into a stranger's armpit in a moshpit, but here we are. The pandemic has taken a lot from us and, like many others I imagine, I've been mourning the loss of sweaty, heady, deafening music gigs over the last year. However, reading this BBC article on the inventive ways live music is circumventing the traditional stage and crowd setup lifted my spirits a bit.
It also reminded me that I was one of those people who tuned in to watch Dua Lipa's live-streamed concert last year, and it was an absolute hoot. The cinematography was incredible, following Dua around a warehouse, complete with pre-recorded guest segments edited in and a series of choreographed group numbers and nifty costume changes. You could feel the energy and intimacy of the live performance, and it took the whole experience up a level knowing it wasn't pre-recorded.
I also hadn't considered that, even pre-pandemic, artists and creatives were thinking of ways to engage more than just the physical crowd, and the pandemic has actually accelerated innovation in such areas. From venues fitted with state of the art video technology to innovative performance spaces like a barge on the Thames, to quote the article, "without an audience, the nature of a live show can evolve into something totally different".
Obviously, there is no complete substitute for live music, but it does make me hopeful for a future where we can experience music in so many more ways than a traditional gig, and from anywhere in the world with a stable internet connection.
"Dark times often seem to propagate some of the most exciting creative works," he says. "I have no doubt that the current global situation will have a profound and lasting impact on both the music and creative industries, but I believe that creative people, by their nature, are adaptive. "I think the silver lining for me is seeing what incredible and inventive creations will arise from this unfortunate situation we all find ourselves in. "I feel like we are at the start of something very exciting with virtual shows and that the creative journey will go beyond this pandemic."
