If you’ve been following Ascribe for a while, you may know that TJ wrote a piece in 2019 on the lack of accessibility in the music industry and what some people are doing to change that. Though there is just as much of a need now as there was back then, COVID-19 has presented yet another challenge for disabled people and concerts as a whole. It has also allowed for a bigger conversation about concert accessibility to take place, which means that more people are finally thinking about this issue. There is still so much that we need to change in order for live music to be accessible, but we are taking small steps in the right direction.
You may know of American band The Wonder Years. Since they formed in 2005, they’ve released six albums. Two of these are Suburbia, I’ve Given You All and Now I’m Nothing (2011) and The Upsides (2010). To commemorate these albums becoming over a decade old, the band announced a tour that will begin on February 5, 2021. The tour consists of thirty-nine dates across the United States and Ontario, Canada.
The Wonder Years announced the tour via social media on November 30. Even though I had never listened to them before, I was rejoicing alongside fellow disabled fans at the sheer effort that seemed to be put into the tour’s planning.
As you can expect, The Wonder Years are employing COVID-19 precautions on the tour. They will be requiring proof of full vaccination or testing within 48 hours of the show. In addition to that, they are encouraging mask wearing regardless of mask policies at venues.
But they didn’t stop there. The band went on to confirm that they had requested gender neutral bathrooms from every single venue. They also asked for accessibility information and worked with Half Access to ensure it was in their database for fans’ use. L.E.A.D. DIY, another accessibility organization that was also mentioned in TJ’s piece, will approve the light show and provide proper warnings.
Let’s not underestimate the power of these actions. Without these tools, fans are left having to buy tickets not knowing if they will be able to attend. And as you can imagine, such a situation can be devastating. When they have information ahead of time, people can actually make an informed decision about buying tickets and attending the concert.
This is something that non-disabled fans usually do not have to think about. They are able to wake up the day of the show, get ready and go. This is a privilege. For disabled fans, going to a gig can require weeks of preparation. This can include contacting carers, packing medications, and much, much more – all before the big event.
So why is what The Wonder Years did so important? Although it is just the beginning, The Wonder Years have shown that they are genuinely thinking of their fans in marginalized communities. They know that barriers exist and are doing what they can to rid their shows of them. Most of the time, disabled fans such as myself will hear that artists have “no control” over venue choices or accesibility.
However, The Wonder Years have shown that it is very much possible for artists to take responsibility for their shows being a safe, comfortable and affirming place. The band clearly did their research; they did not just wait for venues to release information on their own accord (which cannot be guaranteed). They also involved those directly affected by inaccessibility and partnered with organizations that have worked tirelessly to make a difference. Half Access and L.E.A.D. DIY built themselves from the ground up, and that is what has to happen with the artist side of things, too. We must start somewhere in order to get anywhere.
Caring about disabled fans is much more than simply saying that you do; The Wonder Years have proved that they know actions speak louder than words. Rather than hoping their fans trust them, they have shown why they should. That says a lot about who The Wonder Years are. They put their profit and their personal feelings to the side and listened to the voices that matter the most. They know the power that they have and decided to use it for good.
Hopefully we will see more artists follow in the footsteps of The Wonder Years. Accessibility should not simply be an afterthought. If music is for everyone, live music should be, too.
