Organisers of the Wild Roots Music, Performing Arts & Adventure Festival – set to take place this August 13-15 – invited key industry stakeholders to their festival site in Co. Sligo today, for a practical demonstration of AI-powered Rapid Antigen technology for live events. It marks the first time that this technology has been used in Ireland, and hopes to provide a way for Irish music festivals to be run safely in the era of Covid-19.

During today's demonstration on the shores of Lough Gill, live bands also played on the festival's Wild Roots Stage, including Soda Blonde, JyellowL and ROE.

Speaking at the event, Niall McDowell from InnovateOut, the festival’s testing partner, discussed how festivalgoers would be tested prior to entry.

“The system that we are using, Look Spot, is the world’s first AI-Powered Covid-19 antigen test," he said. "It scans for the virus using a simple nasal swab and gives us back results within about five minutes and with around 97% accuracy. Festival patrons download an app and a QR code day pass is issued to their phone to gain access to the festival site. Although there is privacy built-in for the user the app is designed to plug straight into the HSE’s reporting system. What we are looking at here is the future of Live events in the era of Covid-19.”

Speaking at today's event, the festival's Director Neil O’Connell said:

“The event today has given us a unique insight into how Live outdoor events can be run in the era of Covid-19. To see bands on stage even without an audience is a very special moment for everyone present. We’re a smaller festival with a limited capacity so we have been able to design the event with Covid-19 in mind. Today represents an important milestone in the reopening of the Live events industry in Ireland, in that we have demonstrated how festivals can operate safely. If rapid antigen testing is employed properly, events like ours will even help to identify cases in the community”.

Wild Roots is a new boutique festival that celebrates music, performing arts and outdoor adventure. The line-up for this summer's festival includes Kaiser Chiefs, Damien Dempsey, James Morrison, King Kong Company, Jenny Greene, Soda Blonde, David Keenan, Dea Matrona, JyellowL and more.

See wildroots.ie for more information.