Big-name acts like Brittany Howard, the Roots, Demi Lovato and Foo Fighters are taking part in a three-day-long virtual Save Our Stages Fest this weekend.
This event, put on by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), hopes to raise awareness about the plight of independent music venues as economic relief legislation languishes on the U.S. Senate floor.
The whole affair will be livestreamed continuously on NIVA’s YouTube channel, hosted by comedian Reggie Watts, and many of the performers will be coming to you live from legendary—and currently shuttered—spots like the Apollo, Ryman Auditorium and the Troubadour.
Locally, beloved venue and restaurant Skipper’s Smokehouse has already closed and announced a search for new owners, with reps for the 40-year-old institution calling COVID-19 the nail in the coffin. Local venue owners like Crowbar’s Tom DeGeorge—NIVA’s Florida Captain—have long been voicing concern about the lack of federal assistance, too.
Viewers are encouraged to donate to NIVA’s Emergency Relief Fund, or call and email their congressional representatives to urge action on the bipartisan Save Our Stages Act or the Heroes Act. Sadly, the current Republican majority in the Senate has all but plainly stated that there will be no COVID relief passed before the election, preferring instead to concentrate on ramming through the nomination of a Supreme Court justice for Trump.
So … enjoy the show as best you can, donate to NIVA and buy merchandise from your favorite venues. The Save Our Stages Fest airs virtually from Friday-Sunday, Oct. 16-18.
This post originally appeared on our sibling publication Orlando Weekly.
Tampa Bay venues and promoters need you to bug Marco Rubio about saving the live music scene.
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This article appears in Oct 8-15, 2020.
