Gigs, concerts and live music events across the world have been on hold since lockdowns began and, for now at least, there’s no indication when they will start back up again. Cities are quiet and stages are empty but the web has seen a hive of activity on this front.
Musicians have been getting creative, hosting concerts, record release shows, games and other unique isolation performances for virtual audiences everywhere. If you find yourself yearning for something live-and-direct, we’ve compiled a list of sites that’ll hit the spot. Kick back in the comfort of your own home and feel the vibes!
One World: Together At Home
On 18 and 19 April (EST and Southeast Asia respectively), Global Citizen and the World Health Organization are teaming up for this worldwide special that celebrates healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The who’s who of the entertainment business will be part of this virtual benefit concert, including John Legend, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Eddie Vedder, Alicia Keys, Pharrell Williams, Shawn Mendes, Taylor Swift, Usher, Jack Black, and The Killers to name a few.
Curated by Lady Gaga and hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, this historical digital event is calling on all those who can (but especially philanthropists, investors and leaders) to support efforts in the fight against the virus and search for a vaccine.
Tune in on any of these platforms: YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Apple, Facebook, Instagram, TIDAL, Twitch, Twitter and Yahoo. Find out more at globalcitizen.org.
Ben Gibbard
If you’re a fan of indie outfit Death Cab Cutie or electronic act The Postal Service, you’re in luck as frontman Ben Gibbard recently announced his intention to stream daily concerts.
“Be it with DCFC, Postal Service, or solo I have always been grateful for the honour you have bestowed upon us by choosing to congregate en masse around our music. Some of you have travelled great distances and/or shelled out large sums of money to see us play and that has never been lost on me. So in this crazy and unprecedented time, I’d like to return the favour by coming to YOU,” says Gibbard in a message on Facebook.
Head to the DCFC Facebook page to catch him live.
Radiohead
Lose yourself in a Radiohead gig, which is uploading a new archived concert gig every week on its YouTube channel. The series kicked off with the Live From a Tent in Dublin show from 2000, and on it you’ll hear some goose-bump moments as the crowd sings along to tracks like Just, Paranoid Android and a bunch more off Kid A.
Just head to the official Radiohead YouTube channel to catch this musical goodness.
Metallica
In the same vein, a certain iconic metal band is kicking off each week with Metallica Monday, a quarantine series that features some of their best past gigs. The guys have dug up some absolute gems here, a must-watch for any self-respecting metal head. The list so far has included Live in Paris 2017, Live in Denmark in 2009, and most recently 2017’s Live at Outside Lands in San Francisco.
Bang your head to each stream on the band’s YouTube channel here.
Erykah Badu
Neo-soul songstress Erykah Badu launched her Quarantine Concert Series at the start of lockdowns, having performed twice in the last month. Badu has transformed her home into an intimate venue from where she streams her performances which have been dubbed Apocalypse One and New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) so far.
Fans can interact with her and vote songs for to her perform. In the second performance, fans could even vote for where she performed in her house. Each room included different band mates, outfits, and versions of songs. If that’s not thinking out of the box, we don’t know what is!
Don’t miss her bust out her next concert on 19 April. Click here to see it.
Living Room Concerts
The soaring sounds of Broadway can be heard daily on a live stream series called Living Room Concerts. Hosted by Broadway World, the series features some of the theatre world’s biggest performers, coming to you straight from their very own homes.
Special treats over the last few weeks have included choreographer Fabian Aloise laying down moves from Bring It On: The Musical, and actor Fra Free giving a rousing rendition of Not While I’m Around from the Sweeney Todd musical.
See these bright lights do their thing at broadwayworld.com.
Pink Floyd
For a dose of psychedelic and progressive rock, tune into Pink Floyd’s official YouTube channel, where the band is releasing rare and archived full concert footage – including 1994’s famed Pulse which was recorded during The Division Bell Tour. Much of the footage has been restored, re-edited and upscaled to 1080p.