Pictures of ecstatic partygoers enjoying a pilot festival in Liverpool have shown what life could be like once lockdown finally comes to an end.

Around 5,000 people attended the pilot festival in Sefton Park this evening to watch performances from Blossoms, The Lathums and Liverpool singer-songwriter Zuzu.

Everyone present had to produce negative coronavirus tests before they entered the event, and did not have to wear face coverings or follow social distancing rules.

Photos from inside the venue showed people joyfully wrapping their arms around their friends and losing themselves to the music. It is likely the first concert most have attended in more than a year.

Some enthusiastic attendees climbed onto their friends’ shoulders, while others waves their arms in the air while standing in the packed-out field.

The concert is part of the Government’s Events Research Programme (ERP), which will explore the risk of transmission and the effectiveness of measures such as ventilation and testing.

Attendees will also have to provide contact details for NHS Test and Trace to ensure everyone can be traced in the event of a positive test.

Culture minister Caroline Dinenage said of the gig: ‘Today is a momentous occasion to celebrate as fans get their first taste of a music festival for more than a year – and all in the name of science.

‘There is nothing quite like the collective experience of hearing your favourite act live in the atmosphere of a festival and I hope everyone has a fantastic day.

‘We’ve supported the live music sector through the pandemic with £250 million in grants from our Culture Recovery Fund going to more than 2,000 organisations.

‘Now we want to get audiences back to the events they love and see the live music industry rebooted.

‘Today’s event is a milestone with thousands of people coming together to test how we can kickstart things safely through the Government’s Events Research Programme.’

The ERP is looking at a range of settings and events including a business forum in Liverpool, club nights and the World Snooker Championship.

It will explore how different approaches to social distancing, ventilation and test-on-entry protocols could ease opening and maximise participation, the department said.

The ERP events will provide evidence to inform decisions around the removal of social distancing at stage four of the Government’s road map, it added.

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