NEW NORMAL: Florida Becomes First State to Bring Concerts Back…Sort Of

Things always seem to be just a little off when it comes to The Sunshine State, and this coronavirus pandemic is no different.

Florida holds a special place in American folklore, as a state where the spectrum of possible outcomes for any situation could involve Walt Disney characters, alligators, methamphetamine, pythons, cocaine, iguanas, bath salts, and God knows what else.  We love Florida, don’t get me wrong, but the constant stream of “Florida Man” news that comes out of the deep, deep south is enough to give the state a reputation for being a little off-center.

Now, as tourism-heavy locales from the panhandle to The Keys struggle with virus-thinned crowds, some are looking at unique ways to reinvigorate the economy.  This includes the possibility of drive-in concerts.

Carnage has announced The Road Rave, which he’s calling “North America’s first-ever drive-in festival of the COVID era.” It goes down June 6th at The Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando, and promises “a ​full festival main stage production” featuring live performances from Carnage, Riot Ten, Blunts & Blondes, Nitti Gritti, and Gravedgr​.

Capacity will be limited to 500 cars, with a minimum of two and maximum of six people per vehicle, and concessions will be available onsite via food trucks and roaming golf cart vendors taking orders.

Though attendees will be watching from their vehicles, face masks are “heavily encouraged to be worn at all times” (buy yours here), and “social distancing will be heavily enforced with strict guidelines and restrictions on when attendees are allowed to safely leave their vehicle.”

A portion of the proceeds from the concert will go to COVID-19 relief in Nicaragua, which means that if this is a total flop, at least it flopped for a good cause.