Squeeze have announced that their socially distanced concert at London’s O2 arena has been delayed again, due to the current lockdown in England. The concert, first announced on Oct. 5, was originally set to take place on Dec. 5 and was to be the O2’s first live music event in more than eight months. Last November, the concert was moved to Feb. 27, 2021. However, with the continued lockdown, the British band are now scheduled to play to socially distanced fans on May 22. All tickets remain valid for the new date.
The arena event will be a major step forward in getting the live event industry back up and running after all venues were closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The socially distanced event will see the venue’s capacity reduced from 20,000 to 4700, with tickets being sold in groups of twos, threes and fours only and a seating configuration which is in line with the U.K. government’s one meter-plus guidelines. Seats will remain empty between each group and one-way routes have been installed throughout the arena and concourse.
When the concert was first postponed, Squeeze co-founder Glenn Tilbrook said, “I was really looking forward to the show… to be back on the stage with our wonderful band, but of course safety is paramount. [The delay] allows us even more time to make this a very special evening.”
Co-Founder Chris Difford added, “It gives us all a chance to stay safe and focus on the future, when things I hope will start to open up again.”
To ensure the customer experience is contactless, all ticketing will use AXS Mobile ID via The O2 venue app, which also enables pre-ordering of food and drink as well as merchandise with fast collection lanes.
Tickets are available here.
Visitors will only be allowed to bring a single clear bag into the arena and the wearing of face coverings will be mandatory, except when eating and drinking within the seats. The show will end by 10 p.m. to allow fans to leave the site safely at a distance.
The O2 has purchased electrostatic foggers to deliver a charged anti-bacterial spray across the venue that will envelope all surfaces, providing protection for up to 30 days, with a heightened cleaning regime before, during and after the event.
When the original date was announced, the O2 general manager, Steve Sayer, said: “We have been working incredibly hard to bring back events and put measures in place to ensure our fans will have a safe and COVID-19 secure experience. At the moment, we’re only able to host under a quarter of our capacity in the arena, so this is not a long term solution for us or other venues and we continue to press the government for targeted support and guidance to get the live events industry and its supply chain back on its feet.
“As The O2 returns, it’s really fitting that a band from the local area are the ones to reopen our doors to the public once again. The whole team are excited to see them on our stage for the first time.”
Squeeze hail from South East London and have performed at The O2’s smaller venue, indigo at The O2 multiple times.
The band’s Glenn Tilbrook said, “I am so thrilled to be playing The O2 with Squeeze and to be able to chalk up another first for us on this hallowed ground. We are putting a lot of time and energy into this show to make it one not to forget.”
Tilbrook and Chris Difford founded the group over 40 years ago and earned immediate chart success in the U.K. with such well-crafted songs as “Up the Junction” and “Cool For Cats.”
Squeeze’s North American tour with Hall and Oates has also been rescheduled to 2021. Tickets are available here or here.
Watch Squeeze perform “Black Coffee in Bed” at New York’s Madison Square Garden
Related: Our 2019 review of Squeeze, magnificent and tighter than ever
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