Words: Nick Shilton Images: Will Ireland and Kevin Nixon

In the Before Times: Marillion at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

WILL IRELAND

“It will be two years since we played a gig. That’s unheard for us in our 40-year career.”

Mark Kelly, Marillion

When Covid-19 struck in spring 2020, no one could have imagined how much of an impact it would have on musicians and artists all around the world. Although it scuppered tour plans and delayed album releases, it encouraged new ways of interacting through global livestreams and virtual events. More than a year later, the music world is gradually reopening to socially distanced gigs and festival pilots, but where do we go from here?

As part of Future Publishing’s Back To Live campaign, designed to aid and celebrate the responsible return of live music, Prog goes behind the scenes to find out what things might look like over the next 12 months and beyond.

It’s Saturday May 8, 2021 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida. “Good evening and welcome to Kansas!” bassist Billy Greer booms following the evergreen Point Of Know Return.

As the veteran American progressive rockers’ MC, Greer has intoned this welcome hundreds of times. However, it’s momentous and poignant tonight because this is Kansas’ first show for 14 months. “We hope you enjoy the show. We hope we enjoy the show as well. It’s terrifying to be honest,” Greer jests.

A few minutes earlier, Kansas drummer Phil Ehart had taken a deep breath, stepped onto his drum riser and settled behind his kit. Under normal circumstances, a simple ritual dating back to the early 1970s. But after a lengthy Covid-enforced hiatus, this evening it’s less familiar territory.

“There were times when we wondered: would there ever be live shows again?” Ehart says now, recalling the excitement and trepidation as the Clearwater show commenced. With rehearsal halls and other theatres shut, Kansas had been unable to rehearse together. “Everyone had to woodshed at home. So we had some pressure.”

While much of Kansas’ setlist dates back decades, Ehart admits cobwebs needed dusting off. “Everyone was nervous and it wasn’t a normal crowd because they were separated and wearing masks, but we were delighted to be there,” he continues. “Muscle memory was important; it’s amazing how quickly it all came back. We’d done our homework, which paid off big time.”

With social distancing applied, the audience was limited to just over 1,000 – or half its usual capacity. “We’d have been happy playing to five people,” Ehart states. “We’ve never judged our performances on audience size because that’s a rabbit hole you’ll never escape. We deliver 110 per cent every show, regardless how many people are there.” Kansas are back in business.

Live music ground abruptly to a halt in early 2020 as Covid took hold worldwide. Almost 18 months later, some green shoots of recovery are emerging.

Some countries, such as the USA, are further advanced with an apparent return to normality than others. In mid-June the UK postponed the lifting of all lockdown restrictions from June 21 to July 19, inevitably damaging all component parts of the live music scene further, whether bands, crews, booking agents, promoters or venues.

At time of press, a number of major tours are expected to proceed in the UK in the autumn, with Jethro Tull, Genesis and Steve Hackett all scheduled to perform, and Marillion doing so in November. That’s clearly cause for celebration. But what will the live music scene of autumn 2021 and beyond look like?

Live killers Voyager: trapped Down Under for the foreseeable.

KEVIN NIXON

Firstly, musicians express nearuniversal enthusiasm about returning to live performance. “It will be two years since we played a gig. That’s unheard for us in our 40-year career,” Marillion keyboardist Mark Kelly says. “The excitement from the fans will just be amazing.”

But after a long absence from the road, will some musicians, particularly those of more advanced years, have acclimatised to life away from the rigours of touring and be reluctant to resume? For example, Steve Hackett, Yes’ Steve Howe and King Crimson’s Robert Fripp are all over 70. Or will the desire to perform, the surge of adrenaline and the need for adulation prevail?

“I’m excited we’re going to get back to playing live,” states Howe forthrightly. “When this [the pandemic] first went down, I had to console myself that something I’d been doing for over 50 years was no longer possible. That was hard to face up to; I’ve designed my world around playing on stage. To have it back and rebuild the momentum Yes had before would be marvellous.”

While he relishes the prospect of Yes’ UK and European shows in May and June 2022, Howe hasn’t pined for every aspect of touring. “I haven’t missed travelling. I can’t stand tour buses. I tour by car, which gives me more freedom. And I’ve not missed realising I’ve been given the same hotel room as last year. Some of the American hotels are not to give you pleasure, but merely to tolerate!”

After 15 intense years touring with Yes and Asia, Howe’s colleague, Geoff Downes, has enjoyed his downtime but is similarly positive about returning to live duties. “I’ve done my time on the road, but I look forward to going out again. It’s always in your blood,” he declares.