After a year of canceled concerts and theater performances, Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Friday, April 2, 2021, because the rate of people testing positive for the coronavirus has reached a record low, Indoor Concerts, Theatre Performances, and Conventions can resume starting April 15.
Testing or proof of vaccination for some of the events won’t be required; however, limits on the number of people admitted will be enforced.
Events requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test or vaccination can increase capacity limits compared to events that don’t.
Private indoor gatherings such as weddings, meetings, and conferences are only allowed if guests present proof of a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the event or show proof of full vaccination.
Photo Credit: Jared Murray on Unsplash
Here are the new regulations on indoor live events beginning April 15 based on tiers. (These apply to venues with a capacity of up to 1,500 people)
Purple Tier: Indoor live events or performances are not allowed
Red Tier: Capacity is limited to 10% or 100 people; however, if guests present a negative COVID test or show proof of full vaccination, capacity increases to 25%.
Orange Tier: 15% capacity or 200 people max; if guests present a negative COVID test or show proof of full vaccination, capacity increases to 35%.
Yellow tier: 25% or 300 people; however, if guests present a negative COVID test or show proof of full vaccination, capacity increases to 50%.
Here are the regulations for larger venues based on tiers:
Red Tier: Proof of a negative COVID test or full vaccination is required, and capacity is restricted to 20%
Orange Tier: 10% or 2,000 people capacity; however, capacity will increase to 50% if all guests present proof of a negative COVID test or proof of full vaccination.
Yellow tier: 10% or 2,000 people capacity; however, capacity will increase to 50% if all guests either show proof of a negative COVID test or proof of full vaccination.
Photo Credit: Screenshot of California Tier map from covid19.ca.gov
Verify your county tier here to see what restrictions are currently in effect.
Governor Newsom wants Californians to continue wearing masks and practicing social distance even with the easing of restrictions.
Will you be hitting up live performances or wait it out a bit longer? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram.
Hold off on getting out your Coachella and Stagecoach outfits because two of the most popular music festivals have been canceled again.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach Festival will not occur this year. According to the latest public health order released on January 29, 2021, from the California Riverside County.
The health order states both music festivals are “music concerts and gatherings of an international scope, attracting hundreds of thousands of attendees from many countries, including several disproportionately afflicted by the worldwide COVID-19 epidemic.”
The order continued, “If COVID-19 were detected at these festivals, the scope and number of attendees and the nature of the venue would make it infeasible, if not impossible, to track those who may be placed at risk.”
Last week, California Governor Gavin Newsome lifted the statewide, regional stay-at-home order; that had been in effect since the middle of December. In a virtual news conference on Monday, January 25, 2021, Governor Newsome stated the “hospitalization rate was down nearly 20% in the past two weeks.”; He continued, “Everything that should be up is up, and everything that should be down is down; case rates, positivity rates, hospitalizations, ICUs.”
Photo Credit: Escape Velocity at Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival by Andrew Ruiz on Unsplash
2021 marks the second year in a row where both of the popular music festivals are canceled.
Both festivals were scheduled for April 2020; Then postponed to October 2020 due to COVID-19.
In June 2020, the county canceled both festivals. Coachella and Stagecoach festival operator; Goldenvoice did not provide a statement as of January 30, 2021, regarding the festivals for 2021, and neither did official festival organizers.
Last year, Coachella headliners included Travis Scott, Frank Ocean, and Rage Against the Machine. While stagecoach headliners included Thomas Rhett, Carrier Underwood, and Eric Church.
Which festival are you missing more right now? Coachella, Stagecoach, or both? Sound off by hitting me up on socials @MikeStarkCA on Twitter and Instagram.
Looking for one weekend to see a ton of great artists? Let’s analyze some 2020 music festival lineups. Most of these are in California, with a few exceptions in case you want to travel a bit.
There’s nothing like Coachella, surrounded by desert mountains and endless palm trees. On the lineup is Rage Against the Machine, Travis Scott, Frank Ocean, Calvin Harris, Rex Orange County, Brockhampton, Flume, Disclosure, DaBaby, Lana Del Rey, and more!
Downtown Miami with some great performers, what could be better? On the lineup is ASAP Rocky, Travis Scott, Post Malone, Playboi Carti, DaBaby, Sheck Wes, Blueface, Lil Baby, Lil Uzi Vert, Tyga, YG, and more!
New festival “Lovers and Friends” in downtown LA is a great way to see some amazing artists in some sunny weather! On the lineup is Ms. Lauryn Hill, Usher, TLC, Jhene Aiko, Summer Walker, Megan Thee Stallion, Nelly, Sean Paul, and more!
Get groovy in the desert and camp with your friends this Memorial Day weekend! On the lineup is Kaytranada, Sylvan Esso, Griz, Big Wild. Doja Cat, James Blake, Bob Moses, Justin Martin and more!
Ready to drink some wine, look at some art and jam out to some classics? If so, this one is for you. On the lineup is The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Nicks, Miley Cyrus, Anderson.Paak, Khalid, Zedd, Janelle Monae, Of Monsters and Men, Empire of the Sun, and more!
If you’re looking to get away, this is the place to be. On the lineup is Tame Impala, Missy Elliott, Flume, Vampire Weekend, Stevie Nicks, Solange, Miley Cyrus, Ellie Goulding, Rufus Du Sol, H.E.R., Summer Walker and more!
Again, a bit of traveling, but the artists are well worth it. On the lineup is Tool, Miley Cyrus, The 1975, Glass Animals, Lizzo, Flume, Oysterhead, Tame Impala, Lana Del Rey, Vampire Weekend, Leon Bridges, and many more!
Clairo played a sold-out show at the House of Blues San Diego on October 18th and certainly did not leave her fans disappointed.
The 21-year-old lo-fi bedroom pop singer, Claire Cottrill, has recently blown up after the release of her debut full-length album, Immunity, gaining positive feedback from fans and critics alike. It was only about two years ago since Clairo released “Pretty Girl” on YouTube and took the world by storm.
Being a huge Clairo fan myself, I was excited to see what type of crowd she would attract to her sold-old show. I have only seen Clairo perform once and it was at Coachella 2019, where the crowd was small and her set was short. While it was clear that the show was all ages, there was a large representation from Clairo’s young fanbase. At first, I was surprised to see so many young teens in baggy pants and oversized graphic-tees, but I realized they matched Clairo’s aesthetic almost perfectly. Regardless of age, the crowd had high energy that radiated throughout the venue. There were smiles all around, and I could tell that everyone in the room wholeheartedly loves Clairo and that they were ready for a memorable night.
Hello Yello at HOB SD, 10/18/19
Photos by: Brittany Roache
First to take the stage was Oakland-based band, Hello Yello. This punk-alternative-rock band came on stage with high energy and even got the crowd moshing at some points. The band recently released their first EP, Love Wins, and played a few tracks before getting the audience ready for what’s to come.
Bea Kristi, HOB 10/18/19
The next opener was Beabadoobee, staring Filipino-British indie singer Bea Kristi. It was no surprise that she is touring with Clairo because they both have a soft 90’s-alternative sound in their music. The crowd roared as Bea took the stage with her two bandmates, playing hits like “Dance with Me,” “If You Want To,” and “She Plays Bass.” Since the band produces soft and somewhat-emo music, their stage presence relayed accurately as they kept a calm demeanor throughout their set.
Clairo, House of Blues San Diego 10/18/19 Photo by: Brittany Roache
Finally, it was Clairo’s turn to take the stage and you could literally feel the energy of the crowd buzzing from wall to wall. When she finally graced us with her presence on stage, the venue shook and the screams seemed to never end. My heart was racing as I stood in the photo-pit, staring directly at one of my favorite female artists of all time.
This is the first (unedited) picture I took of Clario at the House of Blues San Diego. I find this picture special because it captures the raw essence of her beauty and the angelic glow that she constantly resonates.
Opening with her lead song “Alewife” off her debut-album, Clairo draws the crowd in and keeps their attention focused on the music. Some artists like to open their show with a bang, but Clairo needed to start off the night with something emotional and real – and it was perfect.
Throughout the show, Clairo kept the crowd engaged, frequently taking a knee to get face-to-face with her fans in the front. Playing a mix of songs both old and new, it seemed as if the crowd knew the words to everyone. If her fans weren’t dancing, they were in a trance hearing the melodic tones of the young singer’s voice.
Halfway through the show, Clairo paused and did something that left me speechless. Since Cottrill’s rise-to-fame started on the internet, it is only fitting that she made a joke that recently went viral on Twitter. On the count of three, she made the entire crowd sing Kylie Jenner‘s “Rise and Shine” meme. Even if you were unfamiliar with the meme, it left everyone laughing after hearing the audience sing the words “Rise and Shine” in a high-pitch tone.
This interaction was only the beginning of how Clairo chose to engage with the crowd that night. After singing hits like “Flaming Hot Cheeto’s,” “Bags,” and “Sofia,” she asked her band to leave as she brought out a stool and guitar to switch up the mood. Clairo told the crowd that she has only recently started doing this, but she wanted to end her shows by playing an unreleased song that she wrote on tour in Brooklyn. The song was charming and vulnerable, with lyrics stating “if timing was everything, I’d make some more time.”
As she began to close the concert out with the final song off her album “I Wouldn’t Ask You,” the crowd sang peacefully in unison, getting ready to say goodbye to the beloved singer.
After saying goodbye, it only took about a minute of cheering from her fans until Clairo and her band came back on stage for a three-song encore. She started with her hit “4EVER,” which effortlessly got the crowd dancing.
Before singing her biggest hit “Pretty Girl,” Clairo decided to do something different. She asked the crowd if she could bring a few audience members on stage to host a dance party with her, and it didn’t take long for everyone’s eager hands to shoot up in the air. It was a really special moment to watch as Clairo brought five fans on stage, greeted them with a big hug, and danced their hearts out on stage together.
Clairo and fans on stage during “Pretty Girl” – House of Blues San Diego
Clairo officially ended the concert with her song with Mura Masa, “I Don’t Think I Can Do This Again,” and allowed fans to get one final dance in before ending the night. This may have been Clairo’s second time headlining a show in San Diego, but it definitely won’t be her last.
Written by: Brittany Roache
Photos by: Brittany Roache
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KCR is an internet based radio station run by students at the San Diego State University that provides music, sports, and talk programs to the SDSU community.
