In his latest column, Tameside Radio presenter Dave Sweetmore makes a passionate case for the entertainment and hospitality trade after the date for easing restrictions was pushed back.

When writing this column each week my main aim is to spotlight and promote as much music related content as possible, whether that be about one of the biggest bands in the world, or a local unsigned singer. 

I never make it personal, but this week I felt I just had to write about something that affects me personally, as well as every other professional in the music, event, entertainment, or hospitality trade. 

As somebody who has a career based around live music, events, nightclubs and festivals, the government announcement on Monday last week made me feel physically sick. 

The lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has now lasted 16 months, has hit entertainment and hospitality workers harder than anyone. 

Yes, it’s understandable why we have needed lockdowns, but to be promised that on June 21 we could finally allow our diaries to be full again, people to regain their social lives, and hundreds of thousands of bands, musicians, DJs, technicians, crew, bar staff, contractors, security, promoters, merchandise, photographers, and many more, be allowed to get back to work properly, and then have it taken away just seven days before, when so much had been planned to restart, was the hardest blow yet. 

I’m not political in any way, nor do I understand the science of the pandemic, and I don’t pretend to have any interest in these either. But for well over a year, our careers have been forgotten about, first to stop, and last to restart. I could also write about the hospitality sector, and how many couple’s weddings and special days have been cancelled, some several times, but that is something which could easily take up another column.

Music and events are the life and career of many of us, and millions of people rely on our industry, whether that be for people’s livelihoods, the local economy, or people’s escape and down time after a hard week’s work. 

In Tameside, the new Zeros Bar hasn’t been able to show off to its full extent what it was made for, and yet, like many other music venues, it was promised on June 21 it could. 

Hundreds of festivals, such as the Made in Manchester festivals, whose promoters are based in Tameside, have had to cancel, postpone, and yet again rearrange events. 

Yet they were promised from June 21, things would go ahead. 

The difference this extra month’s lockdown will have is frightening. Surely it can’t go on any longer.

Football, tennis, G7 meetings in Cornwall, all seem to be allowed to go ahead, so why not events and functions?

Test events in Liverpool with thousands of people proved successful, yet our industry seems to be the one made to suffer. 

Entertainment and hospitality are the lifeblood of this country, and I hope the millions of other people, who like myself, rely on these sectors, make it through to the other side of this bizarre further lockdown.

We surely can’t have any more lockdowns, or that will be the end for many. 

You can listen to Dave on Tameside Radio 103.6FM on Monday evenings from 7pm to 9pm. Click here to subscribe and catch up on previous shows.

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