George says the band decided early to prioritise outdoor shows to reduce risk of audience transmission, while working with industry leaders such as the talent agency Creative Artists Agency and the promoter Live Nation, which has committed to requiring all concert goers, artists and staff to provide proof of vaccination or negative tests. It was a week of all of them isolating and getting tested every day – with them not being at rehearsals – it was quite a tough thing to work around.” He got Covid while he was in his particular bubble, I wasn’t seeing him day to day. “Our lighting guy got Covid a few weeks ago and he wasn’t able to come, he had to quarantine and missed coming to the shows,” George says. These precautions proved their worth early, when a member of the band’s team – part of a contingent of Australian crew members who also gained exemptions to travel to the States – tested positive. Everyone has a different level of clearance.” “Crew that are near the audience, they have to stay away from us. “We all have different levels of bubbles now,” says the keyboardist, Jon George. A larger touring operation brings more complex safeguards. Rüfüs Du Sol rode out the pandemic in the US before making their live comeback last month – before the release of their new album, Surrender – with two sold-out, 10,000-capacity shows at an open-air amphitheatre in Denver.
Middle Kids are one of many touring acts navigating a new suite of safety protocols. You kind of make your own little bubble.” “We’re not going out to heaps of bars or anything. ” Many staples of touring life – from meeting fans at the merch desk after a show to mixing with friends and fellow musicians backstage – have been jettisoned. Everyone in the show has to be either vaccinated or have proof of a negative test. “You’ve got to do whatever you can to keep going. “It’s definitely not your average touring experience,” Joy says. Playing a mix of clubs, theatres and festivals, the group are one of many touring acts navigating a new suite of safety protocols they hope will ease the risk of a show-stopping test result. Even still, if anyone gets Covid, it’s finished.” “The whole way up until we left, it was always like, ‘Is this going to happen?’ We were just holding everything lightly. Having secured federal government approval to leave Australia in September, her band, Middle Kids, are midway through a 22-date US tour. “It’s kind of hard to believe that we’re even doing it,” says singer and guitarist Hannah Joy from soundcheck in Portland, Oregon. What seemed like a pipe dream 12 months ago has, with widespread vaccination, become a more manageable risk – and offers a glimpse of what a vaccinated touring circuit might look like back home.
While the local industry has launched a #VaxTheNation campaign to speed an end to restrictions, some Australian performers have made a cautious return to the US market.