As another three weeks in isolation looms over the nation, The Mic’s President Tristan Phipps offers his selection of the cool and quirky events happening online from local, national and international artists.
Despite the sunshine sweeping across Great Britain, this has been one of the greyest of April’s that we have endured as an industry. Festivals cancelled; summer plans in tatters – creatives and performers tearing their hair out at the prospect of another three weeks, at the very least, devoid of action on the big stage. However, out of darkness cometh light, and sometimes from the most unlikely of sources. To fill the void, The Mic team will aim to provide our selection of the best artist livestreams to fill the coming weeks.
Perhaps the most fruitful day of the week, Monday 20th April brings a promising live set from American R&B starlet H.E.R. with her “Girls With Guitars” series, on Instagram at 8pm ET (midnight GMT). Having promises a special guest streaming with her, fans have been quick to speculate, with talk of the singer being joined by the gifted R&B new-kid Summer Walker or neo-soul icon Melanie Faye. Tune in to find out!
Last week also saw Snoop Dogg, aka DJ Snoopaholic, announce his plans for an Instagram DJ set, to be played through his brand “Merry Jane”, in honour of the digital reissue of Dr. Dre’s classic solo debut album, The Chronic. The eagle-eyed of you will note that it will be Snoop Dogg’s favourite day of the year, and he will no doubt be joined by CBD connoisseurs and casuals worldwide while he walks us through the album that put him on his pedestal. Unsurprisingly, the livestream commences at 4:20pm, which should be 11:20pm GMT.
Sadly, Tuesday is a particularly dry day for stay-at-home livestreams. However, London based quartet Lazy Day will be taking over the Bodega Instagram at 7pm. The brainchild of Tilly Scantlebury, expect Lazy Day to satisfy your dreamy, indie-grunge needs. “Tune in for some cheerful content” is the word on the street: some cheerful content wouldn’t go amiss right now!
On Wednesday 22nd, Dan Smith (the guy from Bastille that you probably had on a poster) will be talking us through the role of music in two very different films: French alternative classics Girlhood and The Triplets of Belleville. Joined (virtually, we hope) by some very special, mystery, guests, this is set to be a unique lockdown treat for those with a penchant for French cinema.
For fans of the local Nottingham circuit, Good Hustles, recipients of Best Nottingham Band at The Mic Awards 2019, will be displaying their crusading sound in a more refined form, as frontman Morton Piercewright is set to woo fans with a late afternoon acoustic set. Drummer Will Peters has explained that, at 6pm every Wednesday, we can expect a different set-list every week, so expect to hear “a mixture of Good Hustles tracks, brand new songs, demos, and some of his own work.” Whatever he puts together, it’s sure to be a mesmerising viewing and one not to miss from the frontman of one of Nottingham’s most promising groups.
Exploring the local talent is certainly an infectious pastime: once you’ve checked out Good Hustles, you may as well check out Bodega favourites Vega Bay, who will be bringing their dreamy blend of indie pop to the Bodega Instagram at 8:15pm, right after the NHS clap. Having played a series of hit shows at Bodega over the last year, they are certainly a band to familiarise yourself with if you haven’t already.
Friday sees two drastically different forces of UK music go head-to-head in the battle for best livestream, as early 00’s pop icon Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Scottish rock mainstays Biffy Clyro will be broadcasting their respective talents. Albeit unlikely to share much of an audience, both streams are set to be filled with entertainment. Ellis-Bextor’s blend of nu-disco and dance will no doubt keep her family-friendly edge, as previous “Kitchen Disco” livestreams have shown her cutting shapes alongside her children, in what has proved very wholesome viewing. For those of you chasing the thrill of the pit and the lick of the guitar, Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil will be playing a selection of their hits to fans in their masses. Get your requests in on Facebook or Instagram, and although Biffy’s is set to begin at 18:00 GMT, keep your eyes peeled on their respective pages to avoid disappointment.
Saturday sees my personal pick of the week, with UKG sensation Conducta opening the doors to his abode in “Conducta’s Crib”. Garage one week, 4-4 house rhythms the next, Conducta has been keen to switch up his sets every Saturday. As of the time of writing it is unknown what to expect from this week’s set, but we can be sure of something magical from the mixing virtuoso. Catch him from between 8-10pm on either Twitch, Instagram, or Facebook.
On Sunday, it’s time to get up close and personal with some good friends of ours: Blackwaters. In their weekly YouTube podcast, find out what tunes are easing the ‘The Mic X Amnesty’ headliners, and their fans, through quarantine. Starting at 9pm GMT, this is the perfect way to round off the week with one of the country’s most exciting young troupes. Over on the Bodega livestream a little earlier, rising Nottingham artist BLLE will be live from 19:30pm GMT to demonstrate why she's one of the city's most promising local solo musicians.
This week’s livestream selections
Monday 20th April: H.E.R. “Girls With Guitars” & Snoop Dogg and “The Chronic”
Tuesday 21st April: Lazy Day @ Bodega
Wednesday 22nd April: Bastille & Good Hustles
Thursday 23rd April: Vega Bay @ Bodega
Friday 24th April: Biffy Clyro & Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Saturday 25th April: Conducta’s Crib
Sunday 26th April: The Blackwaters’ podcast
Check out more information on livestreams from The Bodega here
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