YouTube Music and NIVA (National Independent Venue Association) announced the Save Our Stages Festival, a three-day virtual music festival featuring all original content. The festival will start on Friday, October 16th and run through Sunday, October 18th.
The event will be hosted by Reggie Watts and feature performances from 35 artists recorded live from more than 25 independent concert venues across the United States, including sets from Foo Fighters and Rise Against. The artists are joining together with YouTube and NIVA to amplify the message of NIVA’s Save Our Stages advocacy efforts and raise funds for its nationwide, need-based grant program to provide relief to these important members of the independent music, comedy, and arts community. The festival will be livestreamed on NIVA’s Official YouTube Channel with some segments simultaneously airing on performer’s Official Artist YouTube Channels.
Lyor Cohen, Global Head of Music at YouTube said live concerts are the heart and soul of the music industry so it’s critical that they do everything they can to save independent music venues.
“We are honored to partner with NIVA and create #SOSFEST which gives fans an opportunity to virtually connect with their favorite artists and venues, while doing their part to save these cherished stages. YouTube is in it for the long-haul and we hope you are too.”
Stephen Sternschein, NIVA’s board treasurer and executive producer of #SOSFEST added:
“Our nation’s most-loved venues are fighting to hold on because they’ve had no revenue since they’ve been shuttered by the pandemic in March. It’s been brutal to watch as scores of them go under through no fault of their own while we continue to push for the Save Our Stages Act to pass. #SOSFEST will help save many of our nation’s most vulnerable and treasured venues by providing a lifeline to make it through this devastating time. We’re beyond grateful for the support from the artists, venues, and production professionals, YouTube, Anheuser-Busch, and the countless volunteers who are all making this possible. Now the public has the ability to make a difference, too, by donating to the NIVA Emergency Relief Fund. It’ll be fantastic to see the #SOSFEST artists back in our rooms, and I can’t wait to see their performances.”
The goal for #SOSFEST is to help shape a path forward for independent venues, touring artists, and the live concert industry. The festival is just NIVA’s first public fundraiser for the NIVA Emergency Relief Fund, with more to come. Ideas for additional fundraisers or donation components on events already in motion would be welcome.
