Touring music artists expected to return in 2022 but industry remains uneasy

While Edmonton musicians and live music venue operators are optimisticfor touring in the new year,they are less certainaboutthe next three orfour months.

Inthe past 20 months, Lauren Gillis, who goes by the stage name Lucette, has only performed 20 to 30 times. She's played inbackyards andparks,on live streams and behind plastic barriersat indoor venues.

Justover two weeks ago Gillis, whose music is described as country-infused dream-pop, played at the King Eddy in Calgary,the closest thing she's played to a normal show in awhile.

"I think it is coming back," Gillis said. "There is this glimmer of hope, and yeah, it's been two years, so it's not the end of the world. I think we'll come back stronger and more appreciative of live music."

Concert listings point to international artists, from Celine Dion to Dierks Bentley, returning to Edmonton in 2022. Smaller venues like The Starlite Room and Union Hall have booked shows in the new year with the majority of the artists Canadian.

Tyson Boyd, owner and operator of The Starlite Room, says the venue is currently hosting only two shows a week, with many of the artists from the city or elsewhere in Alberta.

Even though the Canadian border opened to international visitors, and the province adopted arestriction exemption program in the fall, many acts have not resumed touring.

Boyd says he's expecting some touring artists willhit the road in the second quarter of 2022, stoppingin Edmonton along the way.

But he worries aboutthe emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, highway closures in British Columbiaand inconsistencies between provinces onrestrictions aroundgeneral admission indoor events.

"With these provincial issues and everyone being on different pages, it really affects the very broad picture of what touring across Canada looks like," Boyd said. "We're optimistic that we can still continue to do shows, but we're definitely not out of the woods yet."

Union Hallowners arebanking on a slow couple of months as they close for renovations, relocating thestage and adapting the buildingfrom anight club to a music venue. It's expected to reopen before artists begin rolling throughin the spring.

"This is the most ideal time to shut it down for a little bit, take advantage of that time and make the renovations that we need to move forward toput us above the edge of most of the venues in the city," said Greg Bechard, owner, operator and talent buyer.

Dates in March arealready filling up,with concerts booked through to June. Bechard is expecting a good year for live music, and cites the restriction exemption program as one of the reasons why the industry is bouncing back.

"Things are picking up as long as vaccinations keep rising and people get used to the idea of going back in big crowds. I have faith in our industry," he said.

Local artists see positive side

The pandemic hasn't affected all music artistsand venues equally.

Local DJs have had success in filling spots atlocal venues wary ofcrowded stages.

Joses Martin, general manager of the Grindstone Theatre and a DJ/promoter, heldoutdoor DJ shows over the summer before hosting weekly dance partiesat the venue with multiple DJs on the bill.

It offered local independent DJs an opportunity to headline those shows instead of opening for international artist.

"We've really been able to actually support local in that way and celebrate some of the great talent that we have around here by putting on shows and dance parties," Martin said.

He's looking forward to hosting DJs from New York andLos Angeles,and lining up headliners for the upcoming Disco In The Park festival in the summer.

Some artists have usedthe pandemic as a much-needed break from touring and the busy lifestyle of a musician.

"I've written more songs in the last two years than I have, probably in the last 10," Gillis said. "So there is something to take away from it, just being able to take advantage of the downtime."

The pandemic has also given hermore time to experience other local artists in the city as there's fewercompeting shows in the same night.

"It's just reminded me that we have such a rich and vibrant arts community, and it's a really good place to live."