Streetwise Radio

The Day the Music and High Fives Died 

(Or Paused by the Coronavirus)

By Shelah Moody 

       Grammy-winning vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant was scheduled to perform her new piece, “Ogress” at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland on March 11. But due to the panic caused by the coronavirus pandemic,  the concert was canceled by SFJAZZ.

     “In keeping with the mandate from the governor of California and the City and County of San Francisco to not hold public events or large gatherings, SFJAZZ is, effectively immediately, postponing all shows and education events through April 5 including the NEA Jazz Master events,” the nonprofit posted on SFJAZZ.org.

         That night, McLorin wound up performing “Ogress” at a private concert in the home of renowned author and activist Angela Davis. She was fortunate.

    The music industry is definitely taking a hit, with concerts and festivals around the world being canceled or postponed due to health concerns and widespread fear over COVID-19.

        Goldenvoice announced that the wildly popular Coachella festival, at the direction of the County of Riverside, announced on their website that their event has been postponed to October 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 2020. 

     Also, at the direction of City of Redondo Beach officials, the Beachlife festival, starring acts such as Ziggy Marley and Stephen Marley, has been postponed from its original May 1-May 3 dates. 

    In San Francisco, Broadway SF was forced to shut down productions of “Hamilton” at the Orpheum Theatre and also, “The Last Ship,” musical, featuring British pop icon Sting, at the Golden Gate Theatre.   

      In Berkeley,  Ashkenaz music and dance center, known for presenting reggae, folk, world, and indie music, decided to close its doors until April of 2020. 

      Though his shows have been canceled, Grammy-winning roots music artist Fantastic Negrito, based in Oakland, took the opportunity to write a song about the coronavirus and share it on Instagram.

       Stephen Marley announced via Instagram that he postponed his Washington D.C. show, which was scheduled for March 12, to October 1 of 2020.

   For Dan and Amy Sheehan and Jeff Monser, producers of the annual California Roots Festival, the coronavirus cannot stop the music. Last week on Instagram, they declared that Caliroots will move forward from May 22-May 24 2020 as planned at Monterey Country Fairgrounds. However, this week, Caliroots, too, decided to postpone until October of 2020.

     “We have been closely monitoring COVID-19 and how it may affect our event, our artists and our fans for weeks now. We feel like we’re on a really shitty roller coaster and it’s taking us into uncharted territory. Between the media, several other major events canceling and ensuing panic over purchasing toilet paper and soap has left us all a bit weary.”  

       For many, live music is a source of healing and uplift and it provides a sense of camaraderie. The cancellation of concerts and music festivals may be a crimp in recreation plans for some, but for touring and working musicians, it is a loss of livelihood and revenue.

       In New Orleans, one of the country’s music Meccas, the coronavirus fear has led to the postponement of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the French Quarter Festival until October 2020  and cancellation of other events.

           “Lots of gigs were canceled,” said trombonist and educator Terrance Taplin, a member of the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, who perform Wednesday nights at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro on Frenchman Street.

         “I have a little in the bank plus my wife has a nine to five, so we aren’t worried yet, but I am concerned. I give pounds to people I don’t know but I still hug my family.” 

    The pandemic has also caused a phenomenon called social distancing, limited physical communications such as handshakes, hugs kissing and touching to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

         “It’s all discouraged, but hell, u got to go some time, some kind of way,” joked NEA Jazz Master Delfeayo Marsalis, founder of the Uptown Jazz Orchestra.

           Harpist and music teacher  Jesse Autumn, a California transplant living in New Orleans, said that her Thursday night gig at Silk Road restaurant is still on.

         “I was in CA last week playing, but that was right before things got really crazy... Now I am hunkering down and teaching online. and my students that come over haven't canceled yet, but we shall see. I am cleaning and disinfecting everything constantly!”

      Guitarist Robert “Dubwise” Browne is a composer and producer who makes a bulk of his income touring with internationally known musicians such as Shaggy. Currently, he is riding out the coronavirus panic at home in Kingston, Jamaica.

   “When I saw how widespread the virus is, 

I started having concerns about travel and the realized if I can’t travel, that part of my earnings would be on pause,” said Browne.

      “Public gatherings have been put off or postponed until further notice in a lot of cities, which means no shows, tours or performances. So earning as a live act presently seems very uncertain. I’m grateful to have other streams of income as a musician - studio sessions, royalties, etc which hopefully can maintain my day to day until this situation is all figured out. In the meantime, I can focus on finally completing my next album and figure out how to market and promote it better than my other projects.” 

Check this article from CNET on E cancelations.