Area musicians and bands were playing, sometimes on tour, with many more dates lined up.
Then everything shut down.
And so did hundreds of local people’s jobs, hobbies, creative outlets and social lives.
Unlike reopening restaurants, museums, art galleries and shops, it’s been nearly impossible to produce or welcome audiences to live theater shows and concerts for the past year beyond small outdoor, drive-in or one-actor/one-musician shows. There are glimmers of hope for live events in coming months, but many people believe large-group entertainment may be the last part of the arts and life to get back to “normal” once the pandemic eases.