What Leeds Festival could look like in 2021 under Covid restrictions - according to UK Music report

Leeds Festival is currently still going ahead as planned with dates set for Thursday August 26 to Sunday August 29 at Bramham Park, where it has been held since 2003.

Headlining the festival is Manchester native Liam Gallagher, Londoner Stormzy, rock band Catfish and the Bottle Men and American rapper Post Malone.

The festival, which launched in 1999, is important economically to the region.

Live music and festivals in Yorkshire and the Humber account for £264 million in the local economy each year, supporting almost 3,000 jobs.

In a statement, Leeds Festival organisers said: “At this time, Leeds Festival is still going ahead as planned. Please be assured that the safety and health of all staff and visitors, is our main priority and we are implementing recommendations and instructions appropriately.

"We are closely monitoring official guidance from the World Health Organisation, Public Health England, UK Government, local public health authorities and are working with event promoters and organisers as information evolves.”

UK Music, a campaigning and lobbying group representing the music and events industry, is calling for the Government to create official guidance for how to hold events safely this year.

According to the report, the best way to support and protect the live music sector is to get it back on its feet and enable it to start generating income again.

But until vaccines are fully rolled out, measures must be taken to reduce the risk of transmission.

Chief executive for UK Music, Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, said: “We argue that the music industry will have a key role to play in the post-pandemic economic and cultural recovery, and therefore it is in the national interest for the sector to be supported and helped back to normal.”