LYNN — Concerts made their return to the Lynn Memorial City Hall and Auditorium Friday night after being put on pause for more than a year due to the pandemic.
Get the Led Out — a tribute band to 1960s British rock band Led Zeppelin — kicked off this comeback after being rescheduled twice, and drew in a nearly-sold-out crowd.
As the pandemic continues, Community Development Director James Marsh said everything in City Hall was sanitized prior to the event to make sure the public spaces remain clean.
He also said the city recommends anyone who is not vaccinated, or individuals younger than 12, to wear a mask, but added that masks are not required.
With no COVID-19 restrictions or capacity limits in place, more than 1,700 tickets were sold and the sale of beer, wine and snacks was allowed.
There are 21 events currently scheduled at the auditorium, including concerts, tapings of “Masters of Illusion” and “The Price is Right,” movie screenings and more.
Marsh said that having these events return is great for the city, especially for local restaurants staying open late on the nights of concerts, which tend to be very busy before and after the events.
“It affects economically, in a positive way, businesses in Lynn and all the way into Swampscott and Marblehead,” Marsh said. “Blue Ox, Rosetti’s and other restaurants will be jam-packed after the concerts.”
The live entertainment industry was hit hard by the pandemic, as working remotely isn’t an option for the vendors and employees working the concession stand, performing maintenance, selling tickets, working security, ushering and staffing all other positions associated with performance venues.
“The artistic nature of the business is one great part of it, but the other part that’s so important is the economic spinoff that the businesses enjoy,” Marsh said. “(The employees) are really excited to be back to work and we are all excited that we have almost 30 shows already in the hopper.”
Just as the return of live programming benefits businesses and venue employees, so do the fans benefit.
Marsh mentioned that Administrative Assistant of Special Events Joanna Mills has heard many times while selling tickets how excited people are to be back in the auditorium seats, enjoying live music again.
Get The Led out will return to the Lynn Auditorium on Jan. 7, and Marsh said a lot of tickets for that show have sold already.
Future shows include Ben Folds, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Christopher Cross, a screening of National Lampoon’s Vacation featuring a live appearance by Chevy Chase, Paul Anka, and the Happy Together Tour, which boasts a lineup of ’60s rock and pop stars.
Tickets can be purchased at City Hall prior to the shows, or online at https://tickets-center.com/search/lynn-memorial-auditorium-tickets/.
