Covid-19: Ministers back live music resuming on 5 July

Stendhal music festival will be held for the first time since 2019

Live music in Northern Ireland can resume from 5 July, as part of further relaxations of Covid-19 rules.

Music performed indoors will be restricted to an ambient sound level only, with screens placed in front of musicians, the executive has confirmed.

No volume restrictions will apply to live music at outdoor events.

From 17:00 BST on Friday, the cap on outdoor gatherings will be removed, and from Monday, more households will be able to gather in a private garden.

The Northern Ireland Executive said it had decided to push ahead with relaxations despite the increase in coronavirus cases linked to the Delta variant.

On Thursday, the executive was told the variant now accounts for three-quarters of the cases here.

"We will continue to monitor the situation closely," they said.

"We will have a particular focus on the hospitalisations resulting from the increase in cases and the potential pressure on our health service."

• No major outbreaks found at mass pilot events

• Great hopes and worries for summer of live music

From Monday, the number of households allowed to gather in a private garden increases to five from three, but the maximum number of people is still 15.

Also from 5 July, all gatherings - indoors and outdoors (excluding those in domestic settings) - will now only be subject to a risk assessment if they have more than 15 people for indoors or more than 30 for outdoors.

Overnight residential stays for children and young people can also resume.

'Ease burden'

The decision has been welcomed by Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey.

"I have been advocating for a relaxation of these restrictions as soon as is safely possible," she said.

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey and Alan Simms at a Belfast live music venue on Thursday

"The hospitality and arts sectors have been severely impacted by the effects of this pandemic and these relaxations in the regulations will ease some of that burden in a measured, safe and sustainable way."

Ms Hargey had been urged by a Department for Communities taskforce to allow for the return of live music and reopening of entertainment venues

In a letter obtained by BBC NI, the Culture, Arts and Heritage Taskforce wrote that "continuing delays" in reopening were putting venues at risk and "imposing huge stresses" on people's incomes and wellbeing.

Buzzing to be back

The first music festival to be held in Northern Ireland since the pandemic began is to go ahead next weekend, its organisers have confirmed.

Stendhal festival, held on a farm near Limavady, County Londonderry, would normally host crowds of 10,000.

Director Ross Parkhill said the confirmation was an "incredible relief" and the first step on the "ladder back to normality".

Stendhal's attendance will be cut to a quarter of its usual 10,000-strong crowd

He said the biggest change would be capacity - with a quarter of visitors expected compared to 2019 crowds.

"We are buzzing to finally, finally be able to say we are 100% on.

"We could run for more people in July, but we want to ease ourselves back into things because there are a number of new protocols around social distancing that we have to implement and manage, and we want to ensure that we get that spot on.

"Social distancing will be required, masks outdoors are optional but recommended, while masks in any indoor spaces will remain mandatory.

"We must ensure that campers remain in their bubbles in the campsites at all times and that people do not enter other bubble's tents."

A number of musicians protested at Stormont earlier on Thursday against the restrictions on live music

The executive is yet to make a decision on theatres.

BBC News NI understands further relaxations will be discussed at the executive meeting next week, and will be depend on data.

Live music, plays, performances and exhibitions have been allowed to resume in England, Scotland and Wales - albeit with limited audience numbers due to social distancing measures.

Live music is not currently permitted in Northern Ireland, whether in venues, hospitality or at weddings.