Tomorrowland is making a play to save the summer.
The popular electronic music festival recently joined the Belgian Live Circuit; a coalition of Belgian festivals, bookers, artist managers, music clubs and cultural centers. The group is demanding a seat at the table when Belgium’s National Security Council meets next week to decide if summer festival season in the western Europe nation will proceed as planned.
Tomorrowland and the Belgian Live Circuit say that while they respect the scientists and other specialists cautioning against continuing summer festival season during the global coronavirus pandemic, they “want to be able to sit down and develop workable solutions.”
“Let us think together about how we can organize this step by step, with attention to the safety and health of the public, but also to the particularly vulnerable situation of many players in this sector,” reads an open letter to government officials.
Economic Impact of Cancellations
The open letter, released Friday, also asks officials to consider the negative economic impact festival cancellations will have on the country.
“The economic impact of the crisis on the Belgian live circuit is already very great and possible cancellations during festival summer will have disastrous consequences for the music sector,” the letter reads.
“Add to that the damage for the entire complex chain of suppliers (stage builders, light and sound companies, backline rental), freelancers (sound and light technicians, stage hands, roadies, tour managers), catering etc. in the music sector and the total picture rises above the billion euros.”
Tomorrowland’s “Hail Mary” Comes Amid Calls for Cancellation
This move represents a last ditch effort by Tomorrowland and others to keep the party going.
Still, there’s a growing chorus urging Belgian leaders to shut it down. The Mayor of Boom, the town Tomorrowland calls home, recently said, “The time has come to say it stops here.”
Officials like the Belgium Interior Minister Pieter de Creme widely believe Tomorrowland won’t happen in 2020.
However, preparations for the yearly global dance party continue by festival organizers. Hundreds of people are working day in, day out, to create another amazing chapter, reads a statement on Tomorrowland’s website.
“We are following governmental instructions closely during these preparations. We sincerely hope we will be able to celebrate love, unity, and friendship with all of you this summer.”