#SOSFEST is a three-day music festival which will benefit independent music venues who are at risk of closing due to COVID-19 closures and restrictions.
Back in July, we chatted with Audrey Fix Schaefer of NIVA (National Independent Venue Association) about the plight of music venues across the US. Audrey told us that without financial help from the government, a devastating 90% will have to shutter their doors for good. The impact will be catastrophic to both the music industry as well as the surrounding businesses.
#SOSFEST will be streaming this weekend, October 16-18, in an effort to raise money and awareness for the struggling industry. The online festival marks seven months since most independent venues, concert halls, comedy clubs, theatres, and festivals had to close indefinitely. They were one of the first to close, and will be among the last able to reopen. They need your help now!
Today, the Save Our Stages event announced the schedule for this weekend. It starts at 5pm PT/8pm ET Friday and will be hosted by Reggie Watts. You can tune in to watch on the NIVA YouTube Channel. The line up is impressive, including Foo Fighters, Miley Cyrus, The Lumineers, Nathaniel Ratcliff, Dave Matthews, and many, many more. There’s something for everyone. Check out the full lineup and schedule here:
As you tune in to watch the online festival, if you can, please donate to the emergency relief fund. You can also buy your NIVA merchandise here. If these venues don’t receive so financial aid fast, they won’t be there for us to visit after the restrictions have been lifted, and the thought of that is unbearable.
So far, over 2 million messages have already been sent to Congress, and the Save Our Stages Act has been included in the updated HEROES Act. Now, we need Congress to get to work and pass this legislation. Please contact your local representatives and let them know you support this bill.
If you want to hear more information about what NIVA are doing to help, and just how serious the situation is, check out our interview with Audrey Fix Schaefer of NIVA from July:
