JAKARTA (INDONESIA) – Pop ensemble Kahitna took to the stage recently for a drive-in concert that lasted for early two hours and attracted the listeners, who were in rows of parked cars.
The eight performers played an array of tunes, that tapped on nostalgia for the group’s 1990s heyday. The band also performed its hit tune, “Cerita Cinta” or “Love Story”, as listeners honked and flashed their lights.
Chaeruddin Syah, one of the concert organisers, said, “Our economy has declined for four to five months, we have not worked at all and have not made any money.”
“We hope this concert can provide solutions and inspiration to the entertainment industry.”
The organisers of Saturday’s event said safety comes first, as they had asked listeners to provide negative test results and wear masks so as to attend the concert.
While each car tuned into an FM radio channel to listen to the concert, it was sprayed with disinfectant on arrival. There was also a carbon dioxide detector that alerted occupants to open their windows if levels of the dangerous gas was too high.
One listener, a 45-year-old who gave her name only as Emilia, said, “This concert is an extraordinary initiative. This is really good, especially when we don’t know when the pandemic will end.”
Adib Hidayat, who tracks music trends for the Indonesian industry, said, “If the (drive-in) concept could have a strict protocol and a tight discipline from the audience, it could be one of the new breakthroughs.”
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.