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16 Nov 2020
Where in the world can people still party?
by mike.lee | News, Festivals, Nightclub Events
Coronavirus measures have come in many shapes and sizes. Masks, travel restrictions, and hand sanitizer are the holy trinity of pandemic prevention, according to the World Health Organisation¹ and, when executed properly, these measures definitely work. One nearly universal factor is a complete or partial ban on live music, club events, and other party-adjacent entertainment. Obviously, these measures are necessary for public health and the greater good, (though certain governments²; could definitely be doing a better job at supporting the affected industries), but necessary or no, it’s fair to say that no matter where you are, the current culling of live music is a massive buzzkill. However, of the 195 countries on our troubled planet, there are still a handful of sovereign states where people can go and enjoy music the way it was supposed to be experienced - loud and in-person. These sonic oases, while few and far between, represent the light at the end of the tunnel for the rest of us - a reminder to hang on in there, as we will all be front left again soon enough.
China
As a rule, the countries that are currently allowing music events to go ahead are the ones that got their pandemic control spot on. China was one of the earliest countries affected by COVID-19 but as a result has been one of the quickest to regain some level of normality. Nothing sums this up better than the brain-wrinkling image of a Wuhan pool party3 that took place in August. For most of us, this sort of scene is so far removed from current daily life that it doesn’t seem real - there is not as much as a mask in sight. But Wuhan, which went into lockdown on January 23rd and came out on April 8th, has not recorded a domestically transmitted case of COVID-19 since mid-May 4 . Wuhan’s strict lockdown was unprecedented, with only one resident from each household allowed to leave their residential compound for no longer than two hours per day, but due to its success, it is now being used as a model by the World Health Organisation. Beijing, Shenzhen, and Shanghai have also all returned to hosting nightlife events with responsible measures in place as China emerges from the pandemic as one of the world’s leading nightlife destinations.
Taiwan
As Taiwan is a small nation geographically it may come as a surprise to hear that it has a relatively large population of 23 million people.To put it in context that’s a mind-boggling 649 people per square kilometer. Naturally you may assume that such a densely-populated country must've been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic… you’d be wrong. Like many other countries in East Asia, Taiwan opted for no-nonsense, short, sharp, tough, early intervention measures, and as a result they came away relatively unscathed. In May, whilst countries such as the UK, France and Spain were still spending their Friday nights partying on Zoom, residents of Taiwan were back out on the streets of Taipei heading to nightclubs such as B1, FINAL and Triangle to enjoy the real thing. Having implemented the successful “real contact system”, where trust was put in the hands of club owners to reach out to potentially infected club-goers, the lights only went out on Taiwan’s nightlife scene for a brief few weeks and they’ve been partying hard ever since
Switzerland
On the other side of the planet, Switzerland reopened its nightclubs in June 5 with a new maximum capacity of 300 persons for all venues. Clubs in the country’s leading nightlife cities Basel, Zurich, and Bern have all reopened to the public - supposedly with strict two-metre social distancing measures, albeit without mandatory allocated seating, so the effectiveness of this will remain to be seen.
Georgia
There are plenty of countries that could be added to this list if the likes of seated parties, drive-in parties and other quasi-shindigs are included. However, in an attempt to maintain the integrity of the list, the only technicality we’re going to allow is in Georgia. Georgia was another country that played it hard and fast with lockdown - nobody has been allowed in out of the country since March, and strict local measures were enacted (and then lifted in May6 ). While there is still no return date on the horizon for the city’s legendary nightclubs, what residents of the capital city of Tbilisi have done is turned their attention to semi-outdoor terrace parties and open-air events in the city’s central Rike Park, all of which are perfectly legal. So if you’re a music lover, being stuck in Georgia is one of the best places you could hope to be right now.
Your bedroom
Okay, we admit it, partying in your bedroom isn’t quite the same and technically it isn’t what this blog was meant to be about, but there are currently some great virtual options out there for frequent club-goers who can’t go clubbing in their country of residence. From DJ-led livestreams, to virtual club events, to downloading an artist’s latest EP on a music streaming platform; there are a number of ways you can access the music you would normally hear live. It’s then down to you to sit in darkness, switch on your newly purchased strobe light and put your headphones in to replicate your favourite club’s aesthetic. And that… is pretty much it. With all of these countries erring on the side of stricter lockdowns, the moral of the story is clear: there are no exceptions to COVID-19. Wash your hands, wear a mask, the dancefloor comes to those who wait.