Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, Relentless Beats successfully brought live music back with their pod concert series at the Rawhide Events Center in Phoenix, AZ. With five consecutive weekends of shows, these events welcomed 16,000 total guests featuring over forty artists. Adhering to State, Federal, and CDC Guidelines, fans were able to enjoy a safe and socially distanced pod concert experience with shows from artists such as Kayzo, Adventure Club, NGHTMRE, and Green Velvet. We were able to dive in deeper with Thomas Turner, founder of Relentless Beats, to bring you an exclusive interview about their event series.
How was Relentless Beats born? What was your vision?
It was primarily born out of my love for European house music. Relentless Beats started as a name I simply used to identify myself with when I started throwing various house parties and other parties, which eventually evolved into booking for venues here in Phoenix, Las Vegas, and many other cities. My love for the culture I had experienced in various cities across the world is what I wanted to bring here. What started as DJing and producing some club shows has grown into numbers of over 500 artists booked and 10+ festivals throughout the year (pre-COVID).
How have you maintained your vision through the pod concerts?
I initially had reservations with the pod concerts wanting to focus on the safety of our fans, staff, and artists. Given the positive feedback following our drive-in series and having confidence in everyone at Relentless Beats & Rawhide that we could do this safely and to our standards- we moved forward. Maintaining the vision of Relentless Beats was probably the easiest part, given that we are continually looking for new ways to stay fresh and keep our fans engaged. This was a unique experience for all of us, but also an extension of our brand’s ability to be inventive.
Walk us through the pod concert experience and what you could expect as an attendee.
We worked with Rawhide to ensure we followed State, Federal, and CDC guidelines for outdoor gatherings. This included health checks, facemask requirements, hand-wash and sanitation stations, and social distancing. Each 10-foot by 8-foot pod allowed five to eight people from the same group to enjoy the concert and was distanced 6 feet from the next pod on all sides. We also implemented a concession and merchandise system that fans could utilize from their phones to deliver orders directly to the pods.
How do pod concerts differ from the typical drive-in concert experience?
The main difference is that we do not allow cars on the festival grounds during a pod concert experience. They park before entering. With that said, there is less space being consumed by vehicles, therefore the atmosphere of the pod shows feels much more electrifying. It’s the closest thing to a real concert we’ve had since COVID-19 began.
What do you think were the most key protocols enacted to ensure a safe and responsible event?
We looked to the experts on how to make the pod concerts a safe and responsible event. The folks at Rawhide Event Center worked in conjunction with all local health and safety officials, including Healthy Verify, to create a safe, sanitized, and energized environment. This allowed our attendees to feel comfortable returning to a Relentless Beats event.
EDM shows have always been known for their incredible production. How important was the lighting and production value at your shows? Do you have an in-house team that handled this or did you hire another company?
We always make sure the lighting, production, and sound are top-notch at all of our shows with the help of Hardwired Productions and Gestalt Theory. The drive-in shows and pod concert experiences were no different. Our fans come for more than just the music. They expect the full experience and the community that comes with it. The response to what we were able to safely produce in 2020 has been amazing and, in a way, therapeutic to those looking to release the pent up urge to dance.
What are your thoughts on whether being an independent company has given you the edge and the freedom to produce events like this during the pandemic compared to industry powerhouses?
Being independent certainly allows us to be more agile with our events, but we also partner with other event producers on certain events. That being said, regardless of our categorization as a company we would only ever produce an event if we were positive we could do so safely.
Suggestions for what independent venues, promoters, and artists can do during this time to stay afloat and what we can do as fans to help?
The #SaveOurStages campaign has been an excellent way to shine greater light on promoters’ challenges, indie venues, and all music industry workers affected. The stages were the first to shutter and, in all reality, will be the last to return, so it is essential everyone pays mind and does what they can to support. Hopefully, this relief aid will get to those who need it most, and we will not lose these historic venues and annual festivals.
What are some hot tips for others looking to produce COVID-conscious live events?
Be mindful of those protocols that have been set forth to protect. No event is worth having at the expense of someone’s health.
How do you envision the future of shows as we continue navigating the COVID-19 pandemic?
I would not even want to wager a guess here. Will shows return on a more regular basis- Yes. What will that look like- that I cannot say.
What can we expect from Relentless Beats in the spring?
Expect more pod shows in 2021 as early as spring. We also recently announced WAVES, a Relentless Beats Destination event in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, May 27- 31. Details will be coming together pretty fast on that one, but we are excited and looking forward to curating a great fan experience with our partners at Pollen. Outside of that, you will have to wait and see. 2021 should be an exciting year.
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