Through the use of social media, well-known musicians including Neil Young, Jann Arden and The Arkells are making the best of not being able to hold in-person concerts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They've been performing live on social media, or, in the case of The Arkells, offering free online music lessons.
Sudbury area musicians are following this trend, holding live social media concerts to raise people's spirits, as well as a little money.
Father-and-daughter musicians Rod Bazinet and Kass Bazinet of Sudbury streamed a live concert on Facebook from Rod's home on St. Patrick's Day. You can watch the concert below.
Because bars and restaurants are closed to dine-in customers due to the state of emergency, Bazinet said they wanted to do something to help the venues where they often perform.
They encouraged people to purchase gift cards for these venues, which include Overtime, Social House, First Round, Lot 88, Alibi Room, Respect is Burning and MIC, providing the businesses with a money source.
Kass Bazinet — a university student and school bus driver who supplements her income with gig money — also received a few online tips from viewers.
“It definitely took off,” said Rod of the concert, which has now been viewed 1,900 times. “It was probably one of the best-attended house concerts we've ever done.”
This Saturday, March 21, local musician Scott Mitchell will be streaming live to Facebook at 6 p.m. The Bazinets will then be streaming at 7 p.m., again raising funds for local venues.
Local band JoPo and the RiZe also held a live Facebook concert on St. Patrick's Day, asking for online tips to be divided among the performers. That concert, which you can view below, so far has 4,300 views.
JoPo, a.k.a. Sudbury's Joanne Polack, said she plans to hold a second live concert in her “JoPo's Red Velvet Couch Series” Friday, March 20 at 8 p.m. on her personal Facebook page, featuring Johnny Williams.
She said she'd love to do a new concert every four days or so.
“With everybody's feedback, and how many people tuned in, I think it's very important,” she said, adding she had people from all over the world tuning in. “Everyone said they're stomping their feet.
“I think it's great if all the musicians do it if they can, from wherever they are,” JoPo added.
“It's like different channels of music. You can pick whichever show you want to watch.”
She asks local musicians who wish to be featured on her live concert series to message her on Facebook.
