Chinese social media shocked as huge concerts go ahead in UK amid coronavirus pandemic

(SCMP) – Chinese social media users have been left stunned after seeing images of large-scale concerts held by Welsh band the Stereophonics that went ahead in the UK despite the country’s escalating coronavirus crisis.

Although concerts have been cancelled throughout China and the rest of Asia for months, and large festivals such as Coachella and South by Southwest called off in the United States, the Stereophonics performed in Manchester last Friday, and in Cardiff last Saturday and Sunday, packing tens of thousands of people into the shows.

Internet users in China expressed shock when a clip from one of the Cardiff shows was posted to Weibo, leaving comments such as “I have no words, I wish them well”, “The UK is going to catch up to Italy in no time” and “Don’t ask for China’s help when things start to get bad. You got yourself into this mess.”

Even many fans of the band were surprised that the shows went ahead as Britain’s confirmed coronavirus cases were approaching 2,000 and 60 people had died in the country.

An image from the Manchester show posted on the band’s official Facebook page, with the caption “Thank you Manchester”, attracted comments such as “I love Stereophonics but this is just irresponsible” and “These progressive countries can’t believe a crisis can happen to them”.

The Welsh band defended their decision to go ahead with the concerts in a statement to British music magazine the NME.