During a time where neighbours are spying on each other and keeping tabs on how many times you’ve popped to the shops to get “essentials” (a.k.a. another six-pack of beer and a tub of humous), you can’t help but regret all the occasions when you yearned so desperately to rush back home, pre-lockdown. 

​

Faye, an under-partied uni student, has recently revealed to PolyFizz that, since all nightlife venues were advised to close, she repents the various times she chose a bottle of wine and a Netflix binge in the comfort of her cosy bed over Jaeger bombs and dancing to cheesy pop music in a sticky club full of strangers — we know, a very tough choice indeed. Especially since, on the rare occasion when she would choose the latter, the uni student would always be the first friend begging to go home to take her heels and bra off — obviously stopping at the local chippy en route. But in the wise words of the Pussycat Dolls, Faye should have been careful with what she wished for, because she just might get it. 

 

With the uncertain prospect of this lockdown lasting anywhere between 3 weeks and 6 months, partygoers are beginning to worry about how this will affect their ability to blow off some steam on weekends (and weekdays too, because who are we kidding?) 

This is where the power of the internet comes in: we would like to introduce Houseparty, the app that lets you and seven other friends and strangers video chat, whilst you sit at home in the same pyjamas you’ve worn for the last week.

But don’t let the name fool you into thinking you’re back to being 16 years old, drinking bottles of questionable alcopops in your friend’s kitchen whilst their parents have gone on a romantic weekend away; this app means serious business. Not only can you play games provided on the app such as Chips & Guac and Trivia, but members are taking things into their own hands and using this opportunity to continue their favourite drinking games that they would usually have played together in person. 

 

While this app could also be appealing to people who enjoy sipping gin at intimate bars and exchanging deep thoughts with friends, it may clash with the needs of those who prefer to go to ear-deafening raves and clubs and avoid all kind of human conversation (apart from ordering drinks at the bar, of course). 

Which is where live DJ sets from the likes of Diplo and The Prototypes come in handy: they provide the perfect opportunity to enjoy ‘live music’ on your own and two-step your worries away, while the issue of over-the-top interaction with anyone dissolves (apart from your mum as you attempt to explain that liquid music isn’t actually just “very very loud noise”). 

 

However it’s not only DJs that are taking to social media to get crowds going: along with Global Citizen’s Together at Home campaign to celebrate and support frontline health workers, artists ranging from Hozier to Miguel to Jennifer Hudson are streaming live concerts, in an attempt to provide fans of all genres with their regular fix of live music. Not only are they helping to promote the essential message of everyone doing their bit and staying home, but it also provides an opportunity for fans and musicians to bond during isolation — silver linings and all that?

 

In the meantime, music festivals such as Glastonbury, Coachella and LoveBox are slowly but painfully being postponed, leaving us anxiously wondering whether the much-anticipated summer festival season will consist of us grooving with our family members to a virtual DJ set in our living room, whilst wearing all our new festival outfits.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

What do you think? Is there still hope for festivals such as Reading & Leeds, Boomtown and Lost Village? Let us know in the comments below.