More venues and festivals are badly affected by the current Coronavirus crisis.
At Pizza Express on the chain's website music manager Ross Dines writes: ''We have had to make the difficult decision to temporarily suspend the next 4 weeks of shows across all 5 venues with immediate effect. In these unprecedented times, we do ask for your patience as our hardworking music team work through refunding all our bookings at our 5 venues. All customers will be contacted in due course. Although tempting, please do not contact the box office.''
At Ronnie Scott's all shows until the 26th are it appears no longer listed on the club's website. Last night on Twitter singer Sarah Jane Morris who was to have performed at Ronnie's tweeted: ''From tonight onwards until further notice @officialronnies has made the very hard decisions to close it's doors until further notice due to the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19! So tonight's & tomorrow shows are now cancelled!''
The 606 is closed and online notes: ''We will be following the advice from Public Health England on a daily basis and as soon as it is considered safe and reasonable for us to re-open we will do so immediately.''
Festivals also continue to be affected. The senior management board of the Cheltenham jazz festival in a statement also deliver bad news: ''It is with deep regret that Cheltenham Festivals has taken the decision to cancel this year’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival and Cheltenham Science Festival, in response to the worst public health crisis in a generation. The safety of our Festival-goers, artists, staff, volunteers, partners and the wider community is our priority, in relation to COVID-19.''
The Sage in Gateshead which was to host the Gateshead Jazz Festival this week is also impacted upon. Abigail Pogson, managing director has posted on the venue website: ''In light of the most recent Government advice, Sage Gateshead will be closed to the public from today until further notice. The health and safety of audiences, musicians and staff at Sage Gateshead is our priority.''
Other closures at home and abroad are many and various and include the Southbank Centre closing the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Hayward Gallery and Purcell Room; and in the United States the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has been postponed and will now take place in the autumn.
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