Italian DJ and producer Benny Benassi is the latest in a list of artists who will miss Miami Music Week due to the coronavirus threat. Benassi told fans on Tuesday that he is subject to Italy’s lockdown and had to cancel all his North America shows for March.
The ‘Cinema’ and ‘Satisfaction’ producer was booked for the Axtone pool party at Shore Club on March 18, the Dim Mak pool party at Nautilus hotel on March 19, and headlining at Wall Lounge on March 22. He was not scheduled to play Ultra Music Festival, which Miami city officials last week postponed until March 2021.
Benny Benassi Explains
Benassi addressed his fans worldwide in a Facebook post with his signature.
“As some of you may already know, my country Italy has been hit hard by Coronavirus. Now the whole nation is in quarantine and, like everyone else, I have to stay at home and reduce social contact to an absolute minimum,” Benassi wrote. “It’s very tough but it’s necessary. The only way to defeat this disease is to contain it. Everyone has to help, no exceptions, if we want to get through this.”
Italy has experienced the largest COVID-19 outbreak—more than 600 deaths and 10,000 infections—outside of China where the virus originated. The Italian government put the whole country on lockdown on Monday to try to contain the novel coronavirus.
Benassi wrote that he is “legally and morally obliged not to travel,” and, “I hope everyone understands.” He then reassured fans, “Don’t worry about me, I am fine!” and gave some advice.
“I hope you are all fine too and if you live in an area that’s affected by the virus, please follow my example and do what the Authorities ask you to do,” Benassi wrote. “We’re all in this together. Together we will win.”
Coronavirus Impacts Other DJs
Meanwhile, Benassi is not the only DJ who has been affected by the situation in Italy.
Damian Lazarus canceled a show last week after Israel restricted entrance to anyone in Italy in the previous 14 days. “I played a party in Milan 13 days ago, one day before the 14 day quarantine agreement,” the British DJ wrote on Facebook on March 3.
Lazarus on Monday announced his Get Lost Miami event is postponed because Hialeah city officials banned public gatherings over coronavirus.
