Irish rock group, Kodaline have high hopes of touring again in early 2021, after a horrid year for the music industry. There will be a host of new measures brought in for the industry to cope with COVID and the lads see this as a glimmer of hope for the new year.
Temperature checks at gigs, air conditioning units that destroy coronavirus inside venues, and the roll-out of the vaccine were all cited by the band members as way to help events return next year.
Kodaline previously planned to be gigging again in September, although COVID has set everything back. The band had to cancel so many gigs during 2020, drummer Vinny May said they lost count.
“We had a seven-week European tour we had to cancel, an American tour and an Asian tour for next year which is also cancelled. We had well over 100 shows that we’ve had to postpone or reschedule, so it’s had a massive impact on us.
“Live musicians make the majority of our income and money to survive from playing shows so to have the rug completely pulled from under you, it was pretty scary at the start.”
It was not all bad for May, as the cancelled gigs allowed him more time to spend with his wife Carina and their new baby Vincent. However, he admits he found it very difficult to deal without the income made from touring.
“I suppose it’s a good thing that there’s the four of us and we’re each other’s support system because I know I had a few wobbles at the start of it where I was freaking out at the fact that we weren’t on the road,” said May.
“Having the rest of the lads to talk to about it means a problem shared is a problem halved. It’s hit the whole industry globally, it’s the only thing that has universally hit everybody. No matter who you are, you’ve been hit by this. It’s a tough one.”
Frontman Steve Garrigan said they had “booked a lot of shows” for 2021 with the hopes of them going ahead.
“I think the promoters around the world are kind of running blind. They’re just going, ‘Let’s just put the concerts out there, put them on and just hope for the best’. So, that’s kind of the attitude we have as well.”
Kodaline are also scheduled to headline at the Sea Sessions in Donegal, taking place on June 18th. The band released their fourth studio album last month. May added going to live gigs again would be an emotional experience for many.
“To go from spending an entire year alone in your house to going to a field full of people, it’s going to be incredible when it all comes back, fingers crossed.”
Kodaline will feature on RTÉ One tonight on Soundtrack To My Life (9.45pm). The band will perform some of their greatest hits accompanied by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
