That’s not something you would normally expect to hear at one of your favorite live music venues, but then again, these are not normal times. Since restrictions have been put in place to help bend the curve on COVID-19 infections, many musicians and music lovers have been denied access to live entertainment.
Here in North Carolina we have recently moved to stage 2.5 which still means limited capacity for indoor and outdoor gatherings. The current maximums are 25 for indoor assemblies and 50 for outdoors.
I don’t have any problem with adhering to safety precautions. I wear my mask when I go out and practice social distancing. But I wish more places could be allowed to open if they can take measures to protect the public from viral spread.
Highland Brewing Company in Asheville, NC, has been going out of their way to comply while still offering live music to it customers. On Sunday afternoons they have been hosting the reggae band Chalwa in the meadow, a grassy outdoor area adjacent to the brewery and taproom.
Large hula hoops have been set out at least six feet apart to accommodate picnic tables and delineating spots for sitting on the grass. Masks are required when moving between the circles or ordering and buying beer.
As for the bricks, they are painted red on one side and green on the other. The color codes are used to show from a safe distance whether a table is reserved or open for use. Those tables and other designated area are in high demand as evidenced by the long line of people waiting for a chance to get into the meadow on a recent Sunday afternoon.
Inside the taproom, Highland has also resumed it’s Wednesday evening solo performances by singer-songwriter Aaron ”Woody” Wood. Tables are spaced out to meet distancing requirements and as an added precaution Woody is separated from the audience by a set of plexiglass panels.
I realize that reduced capacity is more than an inconvenience for businesses that rely on paying customers. The current restrictions mean a reduction in sales and building in precautions result in an increase in operating costs.
That’s why I really appreciate a brewery like Highland that is going the extra mile to bring back the music.