Reading & Leeds coordinators have shared plans to test all attendees for COVID-19 at the festival’s upcoming 2021 return, slated for August 27 – 29 at Reading’s Richfield Avenue and Leeds’ Bramham Park. Hosts of the UK twin festival recently announced the event’s first wave of performers, with headliners Stormzy, Disclosure, and Post Malone, among others, topping the bill. MK, 100 Gecs, Sofi Tukker, and Doja Cat are also set to appear at the Festival Republic-organized event, which will feature the first-ever incorporation of two main stages.
In an interview with NME, Reading & Leeds boss Melvin Benn unveiled his team’s strategy for ensuring safety in the midst of coronavirus spread. Benn expressed confidence in widespread testing and contact tracing becoming the new standard by summer 2021, stating, “the innovation for next year is testing—everybody will be tested.”
The Festival Republic Managing Director also explained his efforts to realize his “Full Capacity Plan,” which aims to reopen the live entertainment scene through integrating technological automation through phones. Benn said,
“We don’t need a vaccination because we can work through the problem with a really good testing regime. We’ll be able to do this by next year. If there is a vaccine, there will be sufficient for the old and the vulnerable. Young people can resist it. The government know that now. In March and April, they didn’t know that. Everybody was shit-scared and that’s inevitable, but as we’ve learned more, we know the strong and healthy are able to survive it.”
#RANDL21 is going to be BIGGER and BETTER than ever 🤘 Here are your SIX HEADLINERS across TWO main stages 🎪 NO MAIN STAGE CLASHES 🎟️ General on sale Thursday 3rd September at 9:00am 👍
Reading ❤️: https://t.co/2JiEh36rfi
Leeds💛: https://t.co/iG8BIzlOxD pic.twitter.com/n5yeQVvPY8— Reading & Leeds Fest (@OfficialRandL) August 31, 2020
Featured image: Luke Dyson
