Many events around the world have been cancelled, and millions of people are forced to stay home as a result of COVID-19.
A group of Canadian musicians, who’s tours have been cancelled, have come up with an event to try and keep the music going, regardless of social distancing.
The event dubbed ‘The Diesel Bird Digital Music Fest’, will see several artists take to Instagram live to perform their own virtual concerts to fans stuck at home.
Saskatchewan’s Jess Moskaluke, one of the artists taking part in the two-day event, says that the artists involved feel they can help do their part to ‘flatten the curve’ by delivering music right to people’s couches.
Moskaluke was in the middle of the ‘#Rednek Music Fest Tour’ with Gord Bamford when the cancellations started happening, resulting in the tour coming to a temporary halt in Moose Jaw on March 13th.
Moskaluke says that the feeling heading into that last concert was a weird one.
“That whole tour was a little bit tough because we kind of knew that it was coming, but we didn’t know when,” said Moskaluke. “It was kind of a lose- lose situation.”
She adds that COVID-19’s effect on the music industry, as well as many others, has been astronomical.
“I no longer, really, have a job for the foreseeable future,” said Moskaluke. “The hardest part is that we don’t know when we can get back on the road.”
Moskaluke says that the Diesel Bird Music Fest is setting a new normal going forward, and she hopes that people watching can get their music fix and continue to support their favourite artists.
She adds that she also is hoping for people to realize that COVID-19 is affecting everyone, regardless of differences, including their favourite country music artists.
There are many ways to support your favourite artists through the pandemic including online merch sales, streaming and buying their music, or buying tickets for events further down the road.
The Diesel Bird Digital Music Fest will feature performances by Terri Clark, Aaron Pritchett, The Hunter Brothers, The Reklaws, Corb Lund, Meghan Patrick, and many more.
The Fest will also feature interviews with Moskaluke and Dallas Smith.
The Diesel Bird Digital Music Fest is happening March 28th and 29th starting at 2 pm eastern both days.
