Black Fret Hosts Live Stream Concert Series Austin Love & Lightstream
Austin Love & Lightstream is an ongoing live streaming concert series
Following the cancelation of SXSW due to the Coronavirus outbreak, Austin’s thriving creative community and its supporters scrambled to reschedule events and find other ways to support artists, promoters and staff. But as COVID-19 spread, more and more performances were axed. Then on Tuesday, Austin Mayor Steve Adler – along with Travis County authorities – banned gatherings of more than 10 people, effectively shutting the music and entertainment industry down.
Well, not quite. Black Fret, a local charity whose mission is to support the players who make Austin the Live Music Capital of the World, kicked off the Austin Love & Lightstream this week.
Austin Love & Lightstream performer Sir Woman was also announced as a 2020 Black Fret nominee.The live-streaming concert series began an initial five days of performances on Tuesday (continuing through Saturday). Each day at 4 p.m., favorite Austin artists will perform live from Scholz Garten‘s outdoor sound stage until 10 p.m. Funk band Tomar & the FC’s, Sam Houston & the Black Odyssey, The Belle Sounds and more perform Wednesday, allowing Austinites an opportunity to enjoy their concerts from the comfort and safety of their homes. Watch live here.
RELATED: Stream Workouts from Camp Gladiator — For Free
Black Fret will also announce their 2020 grant nominees during the show. The program helps local artists take their careers to the next level by supporting creativity and talent through funding of musical pursuits.
Tomar & the FC’s were nominated for Black Fret in 2018. Photograph by Arius Holifield.Fans are encouraged to make a tax-deductible donation to Black Fret, which will go directly towards helping and maintaining the resources available to Austin musicians. Since their inception in 2013, the non-profit has provided over $1.7 million in grants and payments to local bands and solo acts.
Help keep the dream alive in these tough times for Austin’s music community by tuning into blackfret.org to watch performances and donate. Missed yesterday’s performance? No worries, replays of past shows are available on Black Fret’s site as well.
RELATED: Austin Restaurants Offer Take-Out & Delivery Amid Closures
