NIVA Announces #SOSFest to Save Independent Venues Across the Nation
This week rings in good news, as NIVA (National Independent Venue Alliance) and YouTube have teamed up to announce Save Our Stages Fest, powered by Bud Light Seltzer earlier this week. This is the first public campaign from NIVA, and was produced to raise funds to protect independent venues across the US. This three day online music festival streams via YouTube, Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 18.
Reggie Watts will be hosting the festival, with 35 artists recorded live from independent music venues across the nation. These artists have joined with NIVA and YouTube to advocate the need to #SaveOurStages. This virtual festival acts as a fundraiser with a live embedded donation button, that allows viewers to donate directly to NIVA’s Emergency Relief Fund. This fund was created to help the independent venues across the United States that are on the brink of closing without financial assistance.
The fund will be administered by The Giving Back Fund; a separate non-profit that will oversee the application process for venues to receive grants from the NIVA Emergency Relief Fund. NIVA has previously reported that roughly 90% of its members would be forced to close forever if the shutdown lasted six months or longer without federal support.
Fans are already able to access NIVA’s YouTube channel to subscribe to notifications for the festival and donate directly through YouTube’s platform.
YouTube’s Global Head of Music, Lyor Cohen stated, “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.”
Performances include Foo Fighters, Little Big Town, G-Eazy, The Lumineers, Black Pumas, Marshmello, Demi Lovato, Dave Matthews, and Brittany Howard, just to name a few. Their live recorded performances will be from stages of Whisky A Go Go, Boulder Theater, 9:30 Club, Mercy Lounge, Exit/In, First Ave, and many more. To see a full lineup of performances, venues, and additional information, or to donate, please visit the official #SaveOurStages website here.