ON MONDAY, July 5, restrictions on live music were eased to an extent, with musicians now permitted to perform in licensed and unlicensed hospitality businesses.

However, although this news was welcomed by many as a positive step forward, a local sound engineer is reminding people that the introduction of the ambient sound level rule for indoor venues means only a small section of the music industry can return to work, with bands and backstage crew still at a loss.

It was announced by the Northern Ireland Executive on July 1 that live music will be permitted at licensed and unlicensed hospitality businesses that sell or provide food and/or drink for consumption on the premises, but that this must be at "ambient level only to allow conversation at normal levels and with suitable mitigations in place, such as screens".

Niall Bogue, owner of Bogue Productions, is a sound engineer who has crewed for many bands and musicians over the years across various music genres.

When live music was brought to a halt in March, 2020, like many in the music industry he found himself out of work.

Although he understands why the regulations have been in place, now that the Government is beginning to ease restrictions placed on live music, he believes that the new rules regarding sound levels should be reconsidered to allow for all sections of the music industry to get back to work.

"[Live music] hasn't really returned. Yes, they have allowed some form of entertainment in public in licensed premises, but they are still caveating that with ambient noise levels, which is something that is [such a] grey [area] and so easy to misinterpret or reinterpret.

"The rules are that it's only 'ambient level', but how does a band play in that?" asked Niall.

Although he believes that the easing of restrictions is a positive move, he is concerned that the general consensus now is that "live music is back", which is not the case for many in the music industry.

"[They say] we're all go this weekend, 'live music is back', but how many bands, how many groups of musicians are working this week?

"I can tell you the answer – it's in single figures. There's a couple that have an outdoor gig. So it's not a full return to live music.

"Yes it's a positive step in the right direction, but it is not a full return to live music, and nobody has been saying that.

"Everybody thinks that now musicians, crews, all the thousands of people in my industry are back to work – we're not.

"I'm a sound engineer, and what do I do? Tell certain band members to shush at certain levels?" he said in reference to the new restrictions regarding ambient sound levels.

"My job really is to make things heard, but the point of the regulations is that they don't want music to be heard – all that they gave us this week was 'It's not our fault that you're not working now, so we're not liable'," said Niall.

"Yes, one person with a voice and a guitar can go out and make a few pounds, but that's not 'back to music' [for everyone]," he added.

He highlighted how he is infuriated by the disparity between music events and other types of events which draw large crowds.

"Other cultural events are happening, people are singing, people are making noises at sporting events, so why is music the poor relation?

"We are left out on a limb with no support. At least the Republic gave musicians support, up here we got nothing.

"I'm one of the lucky ones, I've sidestepped, and I worked in the hospital for a year as a porter when this all started, and now I'm working in TV. Most of my colleagues aren't that fortunate."

Reiterating his concerns, Niall added: "One section of music is back, yes, but it's not all back, and that's the bit that I want to get out there. For the average band there's no work.

"I understand why restrictions are in place, and everything else. I worked up in the hospital – I moved Covid bodies, I know it's real, but it's the disparity among other events.

"Why are certain events allowed to take place and the poor relation, music, yet again is left?" he told this newspaper.