Live streaming acoustic, rock, opera, ballet, classical music and warehouse raves has quickly become a way of life for the past few months.
It’s no secret that the coronavirus pandemic derailed the touring industry, forcing the cancellation of gigs, concerts, musicals, theatrical performances and club nights around the world, and making people stay home under lockdown. It’s also meant artists have had to get extra creative when it comes to finding an audience, leading to the flood of live streams that have popped-up to help us all through self-isolation.
With the thought of months without local music, Newtown singer-songwriter Matilda Hassall (from all-female trio Hey Mammoth) decided to take matters into her own hands and start a virtual music venue where musicians and artists from Geelong and surrounds could keep sharing their music, and stay connected with their fans and each other.
Coined ‘Under The Rug’, each Friday night would see four bands or musicians live stream 30 minute performances from their homes, bringing joy to musical lovers everywhere for free via the virtual venue.
Since launching back in April, Under The Rug has celebrated the likes of Georgia Rogers, Finnigan August, Rach Brennan, Pollyman, Momoko Rose, Fenn Wilson, Sarah Carroll, Liam Brennan, Grand Pine, among many other local favourites.
Now Under The Rug is calling it quits on the weekly virtual performances, and are celebrating with one final hurrah!
Hosting one last live-streamed finale event tonight (Friday, July 3) the ‘Rugged Up’ livestream will present back-to-back 20-minute sets from local artists and abroad – all fresh faces to Under the Rug!
Kicking off from 5:40pm, you’ll enjoy performances from the likes of Oscar Edwards, Isabella Khalife, Localles, Alister Turrill, Benjamin Trillado, Lumii, Icky Sticks, Cry Baby, and even the aforementioned Hey Mammoth, right up until 11pm tonight.
You don’t need to sit in front of your phone the whole time either. The beauty of the virtual space is you can come and go as you please, and tune in while you’re sitting on the couch, cooking dinner or relaxing by the fire with a glass of red.
Alongside the final livestream, they are also launching a compilation album called ‘Under the Radar’, boasting local artists’ demo tracks. Available via Bandcamp, the album is available for purchase tonight from 5pm, coinciding with Bandcamp waiving their revenue share for 24 hours, where half of proceeds from the album will go directly back to the artists involved, and half towards the First Nations Artists and Community COVID-19 Appeal. Listeners will have the option to buy singular tracks or whole album – $1 per single track, or $10 for the album.
Tune in through the @undertherug.venue account on Instagram or head to https://www.instagram.com/undertherug.venue/ if you’re watching on your laptop.
You can find out more about the #FNC19Appeal here.
Photo by FacetimewithPaul
