A local musician is speaking out and demanding for a ‘proper answer’ regarding playing gigs and abiding by COVID-19 regulations. Kersten Graham shared a post on socials, describing a situation he is currently in where MTA are saying one thing while the police are saying another.

The restaurant owner he is might play at tonight has set up everything according to regulations. He spots police patrolling the area and approaches them and upon mentioning that he will have live music there tonight police say he cannot. The restaurant, according to the Facebook post, has everything in line with current MTA regulations pertaining to COVID-19. “Then call the MTA, but if I pass by tonight and I see live music, I will fine you,” was the police’s response.

“This is not right!!” Kerstem exclaims. “Can we have the proper answers re gigs at this stage? This was my main source of income, for the past year, as many of you might know. I already had to swallow the brutal reality that I couldn’t cope, and found a new job (office related, once again). There’s nothing wrong with this except the fact that all my hard work is now abolished and if I ever wish to work as a full time musician again, it will take years,” he laments.

“No one cares, what the musician, artist, is feeling and going through at the moment, and this is just purely UNFAIR.  Who is right? Is it the MTA? Is it the Policeman? Why is OUR sector, an uncertain one?” Kersten has also noted that they are in discussion as to what is best for tonight.

But this seems to be a recurring problem as many musicians are also being faced by the same brick wall. “Same happened to me last weekend. MTA says yes live music is still allowed but police says no it’s not! EVERYBODY is lost!” said one musician. Other locals are emphasising that as long as the establishment enforces social distancing and maximum number of people, there is Perspex in the entertainment area, and closes by 11pm, live music shouldn’t be an issue.

What do you think?