FLORENCE – On February 20, 2020, the World Well being Group knowledgeable us that a spot outdoors of China is a hotbed for the quickly spreading novel coronavirus.

A tweet from the group mentioned: “Of all instances outdoors #China, greater than half are among the many passengers of the #DiamondPrincess cruise ship.”

Native musicians informed MTN Information about their tales of engaged on cruise ships firstly of the COVID-19 pandemic and the way they’re working to usher within the solar right here in Montana.

“I work on cruise ships and with the present pandemic we’re landlocked so it will take possibly one other yr earlier than I get again to work,” defined Colby Dean, who works as an audio technician for the cruise strains.

“It occurred a couple of month in the past, to the day. It was on March 14 that they ordered to not sail, which signifies that we can not in any case be in American waters,” he mentioned. he added.

Dean mentioned American lockdowns prevented him from catching a flight residence.

“I ended up getting caught there for 2 months off the Mexican coast,” Dean mentioned.

800 workers, together with Dean, could not go residence till everybody had signs. After finishing a 2-month isolation interval at sea, the staff received off the boat.

“I got here again to Montana, and moved right here with my bandmate, and we began a band,” Dean mentioned.

Joseph Baude labored as a DJ on an Australian cruise line, however was on the mainland when the pandemic hit, telling MTN Information that many individuals he knew had misplaced their jobs.

“There are loads of careers which have been, that have been only a bit interrupted,” Baude mentioned. “Not solely was the leisure actually reduce, however the cruise ships specifically, so it was troublesome, and so everyone seems to be adjusting as a lot as they’ll.”

The couple determined to adapt by visiting Montana and presenting some cruise-style leisure.

“So we fought for lots of time, labored a couple of odd jobs, after which we realized that folks needed that trip feeling once more, and that is what we’ll maintain making an attempt to carry,” mentioned Baude.

The band performs their set on the island once they have a live performance, and their onstage props mimic a tropical trip.

“So many individuals have been by way of a lot this yr, personally, financially, mentally. And that is actually what impressed us to carry as a result of on cruise ships our motto was merely: enjoyable, ”mentioned Baude.

Baude mentioned the identify of their group pays homage to anybody who works usually, however they all the time have a tendency to remain awake late to jot down a poem, draw an image, or decide up an instrument.

“The band is named Hippie Dippie and the Hidden Hippies,” Baude defined.

The group’s residence port is Frenchtown, and MTN Information met them in Florence on the Rustic Hut.