READING, WILLING AND ABLE

After Boris Johnson and the U.K. government made the announcement earlier this week that it plans to open venues in mid-May, the British live industry was feeling a bit frisky today, as Reading and Leeds Festival organizers believe that they’ll be able to stage their events in late August.

"Following the government's recent announcement, we can't wait to get back to the fields this summer," read Reading and Leeds' Twitter feed. "Let's go!"

One London-based agent commented, “If our government is saying, 'Fuck it, we can do it.' Well, maybe we actually can. We are telling our managers let’s move ahead as planned until we hear otherwise.”

Under the government's plan, limits on social contact in England could be gone by 6/21, if COVID-19 is under control. Twin festivals Reading and Leeds, due to take place from Aug. 27-29, is widely regarded by many as second only to Glastonbury in the annual UK music calendar, which was just recently cancelled for the second year in a row.

Despite these promising signs, June festivals in the U.K. and Europe are still going away and organizers of the festivals in July are twiddling their thumbs.

Interestingly enough, this move in the U.K. may in fact be the spark that the rest of Europe needs vis-à-vie vaccines. Does mainland Europe really want to be seen as falling behind the U.K. after Brexit?

Stormzy, Liam Gallagher and Queens of the Stone Age have already been announced as headliners for the 8/27-29 fests.

Reading and Leeds 2021 📣 Following the government's recent announcement, we can't wait to get back to the fields this summer 🎉 LET'S GO 🍻 #RandL21https://t.co/se3B02oFyj pic.twitter.com/EzBLKr3S9T

— Reading & Leeds Fest (@OfficialRandL) February 24, 2021