I don’t want to spoil the party for Rosanne Cash, but the famed country songwriter has postponed her Jan. 29 show at Clearwater’s Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, citing the state’s approach to COVID-19.
“The state of Florida has made it impossible for these venues to require proof of vaccination, and I do not wish to put my audience, my band and crew, myself and the venue staff at risk of becoming infected with Covid-19,” Cash wrote on Twitter. “I am disappointed and I know you are as well. I promise to return as soon as possible.”
The Cap, located in downtown Clearwater, currently encourages the use of face masks in the facility, but masks are optional for those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Currently, venues and festivals have found a loopholes in DeSantis’ anti-vaccine passport laws and rhetoric, with some—including venues as large as MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre—requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72-48 hours of the show (proof of vaccination may also be shown in lieu of a negative test).
A spokesperson for Ruth Eckerd Hall told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay they’d reach out with a response, but after the last postponement from Cash, the venue said it would honor tickets at the new date.
Cash’s concerns are not unfounded, several bands including Bleachers and most recently the Backseat Lovers has postponed local shows after members of the touring party have come in contact with a COVID-19 case.
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