Usually, around this time of year we come together to announce the SpringFest artist and get ready for an amazing festival. We would be less than three weeks out from our favorite day of the year. Sadly, due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, it is with a heavy heart that we announce SpringFest 2020 will not be taking place.
While we are disappointed that we won’t be able to put on our annual festival, the priority of MUSIC Matters is the safety and health of the Ann Arbor community. Our leadership team is determined to take the hard work everyone has put into this year and fuel it into an incredible SpringFest 2021. Until then, we are at home, taking care of each other, listening to music, and dreaming of springtime in Ann Arbor.
We may not physically be together to appreciate the unifying power of music, but we can still find ways to stay sane, connect with each other, and spread positivity through music. Below are some ways we can still enjoy concerts and good tunes from the comfort of our homes.
Sometimes the best concerts come from a Tiny Desk
NPR has been cultivating intimate performances by hosting an ongoing live music series: Tiny Desk Concerts. Artists and bands get to perform their hit songs in an intimate, stripped down office setting. No artist is too big or small to perform these shows, so there is a unique catalog of concerts. Check out popular artists like Chance the Rapper, Mac Miller, and Harry Styles, or explore others and find your new favorite artist.
Host a Zoom Karaoke Night or Virtual Choir
Video messaging platforms like Zoom have been a means for continuing class lectures, but they can also be used as a way for you and your friends to sing along together. Self-isolation has not stopped choirs and orchestras across the country from gathering to perform songs together, and we can follow suit. Get your friends together, sing some songs, and pretend like it’s a Tuesday night at Good Time Charley’s.
Watch artists make the most of staying home by performing music in their rooms.
Rolling Stone is starting an “In My Room” video series of artists recording mini concerts in their homes. 3 “concerts” are posted a week, and so far artists like Elton John, Graham Nash, and Yola have put on shows to digital audiences. Follow Rolling Stone on Instagram and enjoy artists try to navigate life at home just like the rest of us.
Find and make new playlists
We all have certain songs that immediately transport us back to a vivid memory or remind us of a specific person. Spend the day curating a playlist of nostalgic classics for yourself or vibey tunes for your friends. Or, take time to listen to playlists that are Made For You on Spotify and discover new jams. There are millions of songs at your fingertips; use this time to find and share your favorites.
While we adjust to a new way of living from home, feeling lost, anxious, and upset are all normal, and valid, feelings. It’s important to understand that social distancing is only physical; we can still connect with one another and share positivity in other ways. The world will fall back in order eventually, and it will make going to concerts, sharing headphones, and karaoking with friends a little more special. For now, MUSIC Matters sends out a virtual hug to the Ann Arbor community, and we cannot wait to dance and sing together when we are all back on campus.