The coronavirus pandemic may have stalled its progress, but live music is making a comeback in time for Europe Day.
The membership organization Liveurope and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have joined forces to boost support for the European live music scene. Fifteen young European artists will record music at 15 venues across Europe in an initiative that will culminate in a series of live performances on May 9, otherwise known as Europe Day. The collection of musical performances will be made available to public radio stations worldwide starting May 2.
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The live music sector took a significant hit from the COVID-19 pandemic as venues around the world shut their doors more than a year ago. In response, Liveurope, EBU and a handful of creative and cultural organizations joined forces to highlight the important role that concert halls play in shaping the European music industry. Organizers say this is an opportunity to underline the importance of live music to see a way out of the crisis.
“In our everyday work, we see how music has the power to bring people together and to build bridges between cultures and territories from all over the continent,” said Elise Phamgia, Liveurope’s coordinator. “At a time when the pandemic has pushed forward social isolation, we believe culture can be a vehicle to regenerate enthusiasm for the future, especially among new generations. And this initiative is a prime example of that.”
As part of the initiative, each artist’s showcase will consist of one or two songs for broadcast by EBU public radio stations. Broadcasters have the option to use the content anytime from May 2 through the culmination of the campaign on May 9, a date that traditionally promotes cross-border cooperation and collaboration across the European continent.
Some of the 15 artists include the Grammy nominated Turkish-Dutch band Altın Gün, the Spanish musician Stay Homas, the Hungarian electro-duo Belau and the Norwegian act Pom Poko.
Some of the 15 participating Liveurope venues include Melkweg, a concert and cultural center in Amsterdam, the Village Underground in Shoreditch, London, and the A38 ship in Budapest, located on the River Danube.
A full listing of artists and venues is available.
