Crowd shot at Governors Ball 2019

Crowd shot at Governors Ball 2019

Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

News

Governors Ball 2020 Canceled Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Facebook Twitter Email
The marquee NYC festival, which was to celebrate its 10th annual edition this year, is scheduled to return in June 2021, according to a statement from the festival organizers
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Mar 27, 2020 - 12:56 pm

Governors Ball, New York City's marquee multi-day, all-genre music festival, has canceled its 2020 edition due to the growing coronavirus pandemic.

Festival organizers announced the event's cancellation in a statement shared on the festival's official website and social media accounts Thursday (March 26). The statement also indicates that Governors Ball will return in June 2021 and that festival organizers are already working on next year's edition.

"Simply put – due to current government mandates and the evolving situation in NYC, it is neither safe nor prudent to move forward with our June dates," the statement read. "The well-being of our fans, artists, staff, vendors, partners, and the surrounding NYC community is always our #1 priority.  

"Over the past few weeks, we have gone to great lengths to find a postponement date that works for all parties involved. Due to a myriad of planning and logistical issues, we have come to the conclusion that there are no sufficient options available to us. We are pushing ahead, and are already jumping into plans for 2021.

"These are crazy and unprecedented times, but New Yorkers are no strangers to challenges. As a city and a community, we will all get through this. New York always does. Now is the time to be smart, look out for one another, and do our part to help the city and the world. We encourage everyone to listen to health officials, be safe, and be excited for the future when we are all on the other side of this."

Governors Ball 2019: Recording Academy On The Road

The festival is offering refunds for festival tickets and transportation passes to customers who purchased them through the Governors Ball ticketing page. They are also offering purchasers the option to transfer their ticket(s) to next year's festival. More information about ticket transfers and refunds is available on the festival website.

Originally scheduled to take place June 5-7 at Randall's Island Park in New York City, the festival, which was to celebrate its 10th annual installment this year, had recently announced its 2020 lineup, which featured headliners Tame Impala, Missy Elliott, Flume and Vampire Weekend, among many other acts.

Read: Recording Academy And MusiCares Establish COVID-19 Relief Fund

Governors Ball is the latest festival to be canceled or postponed this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. This month alone, Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, New Orleans Jazz Fest, BottleRock Napa Valley, the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Coachella and Stagecoach, Ultra Music Festival, SXSW, Lollapalooza Argentina, Something In The Water, Treefort Music Fest, Afro Nation Puerto Rico, Brussels' Listen! Festival, Record Store Day and several other major events and festivals around the world were called off or rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

How Music Is Uniting People During The Coronavirus Quarantine 

Crowd shot at WOMAD Festival 2017

Crowd shot at WOMAD Festival 2017

Photo: C Brandon/Redferns

News

Peter Gabriel's WOMAD Festival 2020 Canceled Due To Coronavirus Pandemic

Facebook Twitter Email
In a statement, Gabriel said many of the artists originally confirmed for this year's festival "have already offered, or agreed," to return for 2021
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Apr 8, 2020 - 9:35 am

WOMAD (World Of Music, Arts And Dance) festival, the international music and arts festival from Genesis founding member Peter Gabriel and others, has canceled its 2020 edition in the U.K. due to the growing coronavirus pandemic. Originally scheduled to take place July 23-26 at Charlton Park in Wiltshire, England, the festival, which featured headliners The Flaming Lips, Angélique Kidjo, Kate Tempest and Fatoumata Diawara, among many others, is confirmed to return next year (July 22-25), according to the updated dates on the event's official website. 

Festival organizers announced the event's cancellation via statements from Gabriel and the WOMAD team, both shared on the festival's official website and social media accounts today (April 8). In his statement, Gabriel said many of the artists originally confirmed for this year's festival "have already offered, or agreed," to return for 2021.

"Like many others, we have been hoping, waiting and watching the Coronavirus situation," Gabriel wrote. "Finally, we have been told that we will not be allowed to hold WOMAD this year at Charlton Park.

"Safety for all of our festivalgoers, artists and our own staff surpasses everything.

All of us involved with WOMAD have already been really touched by the help and generous offers of many of those we depend on to make the festival come to life. Many of the artists have already offered, or agreed, to play for us next year and we will now put our energies into making a great WOMAD 2021."

"We hope to see you all at Charlton Park next year for a big celebration, when we've put this meanie back in the bottle," he continued, alluding to the festival's return in 2021. "Your love and support for the dream that is WOMAD, has always meant a lot to us, but especially now."

Read: Recording Academy And MusiCares Establish COVID-19 Relief Fund

"Following a meeting with the Licensing authority, the combined emergency services and taking fully into account the government advice on halting the spread of the virus, it is clear, that in order to meet our goal of protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of the whole community there is no way we can go ahead with WOMAD 2020," a statement from the wider WOMAD team read. "We are devastated but confident that this is the right and responsible decision and that we have to play our part in helping the country stay safe and to recover."

For ticket holders for its canceled 2020 U.K. edition, WOMAD is offering a transfer of tickets for the 2021 edition or full refunds. For those who paid for their tickets in installments, the festival is allowing a temporary pause on payments to be picked up again next year for WOMAD 2021 or refunds for the face value of the tickets. More information about ticket transfers and refunds is available on the festival website.

The festival, which originally announced its initial lineup this past February, posted an update about the event's U.K. edition last month (March 19). "At WOMAD we are examining the advice of the government, other authorities and of course the healthcare professionals before making a final decision on what actions we should be taking to lead by example and help to keep everyone in the WOMAD community safe and well," the statement read. 

In February, WOMAD postponed what was to be its first-ever edition in Mexico, originally scheduled for March 27–29, "due to events outside of our control," according to a post shared on the festival's website. While no new dates have been announced, WOMAD Mexico will return "later in the year," the post reads. 

WOMAD has already completed three international festivals in 2020, including installments in Chile in February and in Australia and New Zealand in March. 

WOMAD is the latest festival to be canceled or postponed this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since March, Governors Ball, Glastonbury, Isle Of Wight, Download, All Points East, Lovebox and Parklife, Bonnaroo, New Orleans Jazz Fest, BottleRock Napa Valley, the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Coachella and Stagecoach, Ultra Music Festival, SXSW, Lollapalooza Argentina, Something In The Water, Treefort Music Fest, Afro Nation Puerto Rico, Brussels' Listen! Festival, Record Store Day and several other major events and festivals around the world were called off or rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MusiCares COVID-19 Fund: MCR's Frank Iero, Rita Wilson & Naughty By Nature, Ellie & Drew Holcomb & More Support With Livestreams & Beyond

Crowd shot at BottleRock Napa Valley 2019

Crowd shot at BottleRock Napa Valley 2019

Photo: Jim Bennett/Getty Images

News

BottleRock Napa Valley 2020 Postponed To Fall Due To Coronavirus Pandemic

Facebook Twitter Email
The rescheduled event, which will now take place in early October, will feature all the originally confirmed headliners and several other acts, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Nicks, Dave Matthews Band, Miley Cyrus and more
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Mar 19, 2020 - 10:35 am

BottleRock Napa Valley, the North Californian music, wine, food and beer festival, has postponed its 2020 edition to the fall due to the growing coronavirus global pandemic. Originally scheduled for this spring (May 22-24), the event has been rescheduled for the weekend of Oct. 2-4.

In a statement shared on the festival's official social media accounts Wednesday (March 18), festival organizers announced the event postponement came "after careful consideration an in coordination with our local and state authorities."

"We made this decision with the safety and best interests of our fans, musicians, partners, employees, and community being paramount," the statement read. "We are committed to putting on the festival to not only share great music and the incredible Napa Valley hospitality, but because it's vitally important to the livelihood of all those who make BottleRock Napa Valley the festival it is."

Read: Recording Academy And MusiCares Establish COVID-19 Relief Fund

The festival, which unveiled its 2020 lineup this past January, announced that all the original headliners and several other acts, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Nicks, Dave Matthews Band, Miley Cyrus, Khalid, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Zedd and more, are confirmed to remain for the rescheduled festival dates. Additional lineup updates and potential changes will be announced soon.

All tickets purchased for the original spring dates will be honored for the rescheduled fall dates. Festival organizers will be emailing further details regarding exchanges and returns "within the next few weeks," the statement reads. 

Read: How The Global Coronavirus Pandemic Is Directly Impacting Songwriters, Musicians And Artists

BottleRock Napa Valley is the latest festival to be cancelled or postponed this year due to the global coronavirus pandemic. This month alone, Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, New Orleans Jazz Fest, Coachella and Stagecoach, Ultra Music Festival, SXSW, Lollapalooza Argentina, Something In The Water, Treefort Music Fest, Afro Nation Puerto Rico, Brussels' Listen! Festival, Record Store Day and several other major events and festivals around the world were called off or rescheduled due to the coronavirus.

How Music Is Uniting People During The Coronavirus Quarantine

Crowd shot at Glastonbury Festival 2019

Crowd shot at Glastonbury Festival 2019

Photo: Ki Price/Getty Images

News

Glastonbury 2020 Canceled Due To Coronavirus Pandemic

Facebook Twitter Email
Citing government measures and "unprecedented uncertainty," festival organizers have called off this year's event, which was to be Glastonbury's 50th anniversary: "This is now our only viable option"
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Mar 18, 2020 - 8:40 am

Glastonbury Festival, one of the leading festivals in the U.K. and one of the premier festival brands in the world, has canceled its 2020 edition due to the growing coronavirus global pandemic. 

In a post shared on the festival's official website and social media accounts today (March 18), festival organizers announced the cancellation of this year's event, which was to be Glastonbury's 50th anniversary. 

"Clearly this was not a course of action we hoped to take for our 50th anniversary event, but following the new government measures announced this week – and in times of such unprecedented uncertainty – this is now our only viable option," the statement read. 

"We very much hope that the situation in the UK will have improved enormously by the end of June," the statement continued. "But even if it has, we are no longer able to spend the next three months with thousands of crew here on the farm, helping us with the enormous job of building the infrastructure and attractions needed to welcome more than 200,000 people to a temporary city in these fields."

"We were so looking forward to welcoming you all for our 50th anniversary with a line-up full of fantastic artists and performers that we were incredibly proud to have booked," the statement concluded. "Again, we're so sorry that this decision has been made. It was not through choice. But we look forward to welcoming you back to these fields next year and until then, we send our love and support to all of you."

Read: How The Global Coronavirus Pandemic Is Directly Impacting Songwriters, Musicians And Artists

The statement also alluded to the "severe financial implications" resulting from the festival's cancellation, which comes with an estimated loss of up to 100 million pounds ($117 million), according to The Guardian.

News of Glastonbury's cancellation comes in the wake of "drastic action" and measures enacted and recommended by the U.K. government to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which has already caused the cancellation of the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest, the annual European song and songwriting competition, and the closure of all major British theaters. 

Just last week (March 13), festival organizers announced the first wave of artists confirmed for Glastonbury 2020, which was originally set to take place June 24–28 at Worthy Farm, Somerset, U.K. Headliners and major artists included Kendrick Lamar, Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift and Diana Ross, among many other acts.

The lineup announcement came "after much consideration given the current circumstances, and with the best of intentions," according to a statement posted on the Glastonbury website last week (March 12).

"As things stand we are still working hard to deliver our 50th anniversary Festival in June and we are very proud of the bill that we have put together over the last year or so," read the statement. "No one has a crystal ball to see exactly where we will all be 15 weeks from now, but we are keeping our fingers firmly crossed that it will be here at Worthy Farm for the greatest show on Earth!"

Read: Going Viral: The Music Industry Grapples With The Worldwide Coronavirus Outbreak

Ticket-purchasers who have already paid a deposit for a Glastonbury 2020 ticket will have the option of rolling over their deposit to next year's event with a guaranteed "opportunity to buy a ticket for Glastonbury 2021," according to the festival's website; rollovers will happen automatically for those who prefer that option. The festival is also offering a refund for deposits until this September, with additional news and further information regarding accommodations, single-day tickets and the like coming soon. 

Glastonbury is the latest major festival to be canceled or postponed this year due to the global coronavirus pandemic. This month alone, Coachella and Stagecoach, Ultra Music Festival, SXSW, Lollapalooza Argentina, Something In The Water, Treefort Music Fest, Afro Nation Puerto Rico, Brussels' Listen! Festival, Record Store Day and several other major events and festivals around the world were called off or rescheduled due to the coronavirus. 

Recording Academy And MusiCares Establish COVID-19 Relief Fund

Crowd shot at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2017

Crowd shot at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2017

Photo: Douglas Mason/WireImage

News

New Orleans Jazz Fest 2020 Postponed To Fall Due To Coronavirus Pandemic

Facebook Twitter Email
This marks the first time the festival has ever rescheduled the event outside of its annual springtime slot in its five-decade history
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Mar 18, 2020 - 12:41 pm

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the annual event celebrating the city's and home state's music and culture, has postponed its 2020 edition due to the growing coronavirus global pandemic, organizers announced Tuesday (March 17). Originally scheduled for this spring across two four-day weekends (April 23-26 and April 30-May 3), the event has been postponed until fall. New festival dates and additional details will be announced soon, according to festival organizers. 

In a message posted on the festival's official website and social media accounts, festival organizers announced the postponement of this year's event, noting the decision came "At the direction of City of New Orleans authorities, in response to ongoing COVID-19 health concerns."

"The health and safety of the community, our musicians, Festival fans, participants, sponsors and staff are paramount, and we urge everyone to follow the guidelines and protocols put forth by public health officials," the statement read.

Read: Recording Academy And MusiCares Establish COVID-19 Relief Fund

This past January, the festival announced its 2020 lineup, which originally included Foo Fighters, Lizzo, The Who, Erykah Badu, Stevie Nicks, H.E.R., the Beach Boys, Maggie Rogers, Tank and the Bangas and several others. The festival has not yet announced any potential lineup changes or artist cancellations due to the rescheduled event dates.

All tickets purchased for the original spring dates will be honored for the rescheduled fall dates. No information regarding refunds has been announced yet.

The 2020 postponement marks the first time the festival has ever rescheduled the event outside of its annual springtime slot, according to The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate.

Originally launched in 1970, New Orleans Jazz Fest celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. The fest brings an estimated economic impact of $300 million to the city’s cultural economy, according to The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate.

The cancellation news follows other festivals and major events in the New Orleans area that have been postponed or cancelled due to the coronavirus, including Buku Music + Arts Project and French Quarter Festival. The 2020 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture, set to take place in July in New Orleans, is confirmed to move forward as planned. 

New Orleans Jazz Fest is the latest major festival to be cancelled or postponed this year due to the global coronavirus pandemic. This month alone, Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, Coachella and Stagecoach, Ultra Music Festival, SXSW, Lollapalooza Argentina, Something In The Water, Treefort Music Fest, Afro Nation Puerto Rico, Brussels' Listen! Festival, Record Store Day and several other major events and festivals around the world were called off or rescheduled due to the coronavirus. 

How The Global Coronavirus Pandemic Is Directly Impacting Songwriters, Musicians And Artists