With venues & bars shut down from coast-to-coast, here's your guide to the best live-streamed music content right now.
As the nation adjusts to the new reality of life under self-quarantine in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, a number of artists and musical institutions are taking the show online to share some musical joy during these trying times.
With venues and bars on lock down across the country, there are plenty of things you can watch from the safety of your couch, thanks to everyone from the Dropkick Murphys to the New York Metropolitan Opera and the fine folks at Disney.
While sites like Stageit have been offering up live-stream shows for less-known artists for years, the loss of road time has inspired some acts to look for a new, temporary way to bond with fans until a return to normal.
Check out our ever-expanding list of shows and musical events to stream from the comfort of your home.
March 18: Charlie Puth hopped on Instagram Live on Thursday (March 18) to ease our minds with a mini-concert amid the coronavirus crisis, as part of the Together, At Home: WHO-Global Citizen Solidarity Sessions.
Erykah Badu is hosting an “interactive experiment,” a.k.a. a live concert series from her bedroom . Fans can pay $1 to watch, and will get to vote on songs she’ll perform. “We gone pull it off. We gone be calm . You gone help me make it happen,” sh wrote, noting that the time and details will be announced soon.
Sony Music Nashville artists will be engaging in livestream concerts during this period of social distancing. On Wednesday, Tenille Townes with Eric Paslay and Abby Anderson performed on Facebook live followed by Mitchell Tenpenny on Instagram at 9 p.m. CST. On Thursday, Rachel Wammack and Matt Stell will go live on IG at 4 p.m. CST and 7:30 p.m. CST, respectively. Tyler Booth will perform on Facebook at 6:30 p.m. CST.
Jordan Davis will be doing a live session on Wednesday via Facebook and Instagram at 7 p.m. CST.
Debbie Allen hosted a live dance class on Instagram.
Diplo is staying true to the house music name by live-streaming 90-minute DJ sets straight out of his living room every night.
Miley Cyrus will host another hourlong live stream on Instagram starting at 2:30 p.m. ET. This installment will include a seven-minute workout, plus chats with Amy Schumer and her husband Chris Fischer as well as Love Is Blind breakout couple Lauren and Cameron. Cyrus plans to do her Bright Minded live streams Mondays through Fridays.
“Together, At Home: WHO-Global Citizen Solidarity Sessions” will continue today at 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST with Charlie Puth. The performance will take place live on his Instagram page.
Charli XCX has announced a new series of daily “self-isolating” Instagram livestream shows, kicking off today here at noon EST with guest Christine and the Queens. Diplo, Clairo, Rita Ora and many more are on the lineup for future episodes; check out the full schedule here. Christine and the Queens and a ski mask-wearing Charli XCX got existential while chatting about the ups and downs of their isolations, but both artists have been trying to channel their creativity during this time.
The Grammy Museum in Los Angeles will be closed until further notice due to coronavirus, but the museum will debut never-before-released digital programs from its archives online for free starting today. Look out for programming with Billie Eilish, Bob Newhart, Brandi Carlile, Greta Van Fleet, Larkin Poe, Scarypoolparty, X Ambassadors and Yola.
New York’s 92nd Street Y 92Y@Home continues its daily live-streamed events tonight at 7:30 p.m. EST with a concert by young mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron; click here. Look out for Beethoven interpreter Jonathan Biss on March 26 as well.
Indigo Girls will perform a livestream concert and Q&A via Facebook Live on Thursday (March 19). Head here at 6:00 p.m. EST on Thursday to watch.
Comedian Tim Heidecker hosted an eight-hour edition of his Office Hours podcast with special guests Bon Iver, Mac Demarco, Fred Armisen, John C. Reiley, Kyle Mooney and more. Listen here.
Sam Smith took to Instagram to share with fans that they’re suffering from allergies, but hopes to potentially host a singalong with fans soon. “If I’m better in a few days, I’m going to sing and play some songs and just record them, and hopefully we can all have a little sing-song together. I think we all need it,” they said.
Kelsea Ballerini will host an album countdown live stream on Thursday (March 19) starting at 9:00 p.m. CT.
March 17: Bruce Springsteen has shared his Live In Hyde Park show in full for the first time. “Practice social distancing & stream ‘London Calling: Live In Hyde Park’ from the comfort of your own home, now on YouTube & Apple Music in its entirety for the 1st time! Bruce & The E Street Band’s 2009 concert is an absolute powerhouse,” Springsteen’s account tweeted. Head here to watch.
On Thursday (March 19), many of the artists slated to play this year’s Luck Reunion, the annual festival held in Willie Nelson’s backyard, will present “‘Til Further Notice,” a live-streamed, free event featuring call-in sets filmed live by artists themselves, including Nelson, his sons Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson, Paul Simon and Edie Brickell, Jewel, Nathaniel Rateliff, Margo Price & Jeremy Ivey and Randy Houser, among others. The sets are viewable via Luck Reunion’s website, Twitch and Facebook between 7:00 p.m. and midnight ET Thursday. While the majority of the acts will perform and record from living rooms, bedrooms or home studios, a small number of local acts are slated to broadcast from Austin’s Arlyn Studios.
As Rita Wilson recovers from COVID-19, she uploaded a video of herself singing “Broken Man,” with the caption, “People aren’t perfect. Gotta love them flaws and all,” she wrote.
Bono previewed a brand-new song via Facebook. “A little postcard from bubbling Dublin on St Patrick’s Day,” he says in the stream. “A little tune, made up here about an hour ago. I think it’s called ‘Let Your Love Be Known’ – let me know what you think.”
Luke Combs is performing songs from his What You See Is What You Get album and more on Facebook and Instagram at 8:00 p.m. ET.
BBC Music and the British Music Embassy partners teamed up for a slew of closed-door performances at the Mill Studios in London to help support U.K. acts that were due to attend SXSW. The third show will occur today.
Béla Fleck, Abigail Washburn and their family shared a version of the traditional Irish song “Molly Malone,” from their home in Nashville.
RDGLDGRN will be broadcasting two live-stream performances via Facebook Music in support of Capital Area Food Bank on March 20 at 12:30 p.m. ET and again at 5 p.m. ET.
Bebe Rexha went live on Instagram, where she shared a snippet of a new song called “Better Mistakes,” and had Kesha join her as a guest.
Chipotle is hosting Chipotle Together, a virtual lunchtime hangout for 3,000 fans that will feature celebrity appearances/Q&As, exclusive content, free entrée code giveaways and much more. The first installment was co-hosted by Lauv.
Miley Cyrus will be going live on Instagram again at 2:30 PM ET for the second episode of her new series #BrightMinds, this time with guest Demi Lovato. Both former Disney Channel stars killed the “ANT” — Automatic Negative Thoughts — after Cyrus talked about feeling like “a fraud” when she didn’t believe in her brand as a confident girl and the “Confident” singer disclosed she didn’t actually feel that good about herself like the song suggested before the two turned the conversation around about using their platforms for good and accepting self-love.
At 6 p.m. ET, Ben Platt will host a #QuaranTunes Virtual Dance Party.
John Legend has helped launched “Together At Home,” which is supported by Global Citizen and described as “a series of online concert performances hosted on artists social media platforms to fight coronavirus and promote social distancing.” Legend will go live on Instagram at 4 p.m. ET.
Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard has announced that he’ll be providing fans with some in-home entertainment in the form of performances livestreamed from his home studio. Tune in here to see Gibbard stream daily, starting today at 7 p.m. ET.
Country duo the Young Fables are hosting a live concert on Facebook at 9 p.m. ET, with a portion of their tips going to Smoking Mountain Meals on Wheels. “COVID-19 is affecting so many people, especially our elders,” they said on Facebook. “This non-profit organization is very close to our hearts.”
At 9 p.m. ET, Jon Cleary will stream a Q&A and performance from FHQ World Headquarters. Head here to watch.
Garth Brooks has announced that he will play a concert on his weekly “Inside Studio G” Facebook series on Monday (March 23) at 7 p.m. ET. The show will be just Brooks and a guitar (and possibly wife Trisha Yearwood) taking requests for up to an hour.
March 16: Coldplay‘s Chris Martin performed music for anyone wanting to tune in via an Instagram live stream supported by Global Citizen.
Keith Urban did a 32-minute set at his Nashville warehouse with wife Nicole Kidman by his side and streamed it live on Instagram. “Even though we can’t be in front of all of you guys tonight, I want to be able to play some songs and bring some entertainment to wherever you guys are watching,” said Urban, who had been scheduled to perform.
Like Urban, Hunter Hayes also hosted a performance from a warehouse in Nashville. “Even at a time like this, music is a powerful healing agent,” Hayes said.
Christine and the Queens is heading to Instagram daily to live stream, promising “guests and weird concepts.” Watch her first video here.
The Indigo Girls announced that they’d be playing “a low key, home grown set of songs” live on Facebook Thursday (March 19) at 6:00 p.m. ET. They also plan on doing a Q&A with fans.
Katharine McPhee told fans that she and husband David Foster, the Grammy-winning composer, will be playing live every day at 8:30 p.m. ET on Instagram, and is taking song suggestions. She credited stepdaughter Sara Foster for “the great idea.”
Pink shared a video on Instagram of her “free concert slash piano lesson” by performing “To Make You Feel My Love.”
American Public Media’s Live From Here radio show has kicked off a new “Live From Home” series, in which artists can put on a virtual concert for fans by uploading videos performing a variety of songs. The first installment was Chris Thile‘s cover of Wilco‘s fittingly titled “Radio Cure.”
Yo-Yo Ma took to social media on Monday (March 16) to share a song of comfort. “This is for the healthcare workers on the frontlines — the Sarabande from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3,” he wrote. “Your ability to balance human connection and scientific truth in service of us all gives me hope.”
Yungblud raged out during a YouTube concert that featured appearances from Machine Gun Kelly, Bella Thorne and more. “Having the ability to connect with you ain’t gonna get taken away. f— that. i can’t wait to see you,” he previously tweeted. “Tell ya fookin mates. CONCERT MONDAY 7AM PST… I want the show to feel as real as possible.” Click here to watch.
Nashvillians have banded together to create Virtual Festival, billed as “a collaborative effort dedicated to supporting musicians through live-streamed performances.” Lindsay Lou, Mimi Naja (Fruition), WildEyes (Emily Kohavi of Hozier), Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Trevor Clark, Sicard Hollow, and more are set to perform. Check out the schedule of performers here — it’ll be updating daily.
SiriusXM announced the launch of the Ultra Virtual Audio Festival on UMF Radio starting this Friday (March 20). The limited-run radio channel will feature exclusive DJ sets from artists who were set to take the stage at the now-canceled Ultra Music Festival in Miami this weekend, including Armin van Buuren, Afrojack, Martin Garrix, Major Lazer and more.
The White Buffalo (aka Jake Smith) is offering fans a premium, one-time-only live-stream concert on April 5 at 3 p.m. EST to hear material from his upcoming Shooter Jennings-produced album, On the Widow’s Walk (April 17). The event costs $10, with passes available here.
After some technical difficulties getting off the ground, Hunter Hayes bumped a planned YouTube concert to Monday night.
Miley Cyrus will be going live on Instagram at 2:30 PM EST/11:30 AM PST to “go thru an exercise for bright minds” alongside celebrity doctor Daniel G. Amen.
March 15: Alejandro Sanz and Juanes were forced to postpone upcoming concerts due to the pandemic, but fans got the chance to see them perform during a special live stream on Sunday night, ALEJANDRO SANZ & JUANES: El Gira Se Queda En Casa Para Todos” (The Tour Stays Home For All), a jam session with performances and a digital Q&A that streamed from Art House Miami Studio.
American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and Polish tenor Piotr Beczala live-streamed a 90-minute performance of Massenet’s Werther from DiDonato’s living room in the midst of the Metropolitan Opera’s shutdown.
Diplo couldn’t get enough, so he brought in some friends to dance along to a more uptempo Major Lazer mix on A Very Lazer Sunday.
Disney+ surprised families with “some fun and joy during this challenging period by bringing Frozen 2 to its streaming platform three months early.
Bummed that their long-planned show to celebrate the upcoming release of their fourth album, Underneath, was canceled by COVID, Pennsylvania hardcore band Code Orange did the only thing they could think to do: they took the LAST ONES LEFT: In Fear of the End online for a Twitch live stream from an empty room at The Roxian in Pittsburgh.
Electronic music collective Discwoman posted a live stream of “daytime party music” that featured sets from Loka, Katie Rex, Aku, bergonist and DisCakes.
After a tour with Fletcher was called off, L Devine is launching a URL tour that will be streamed live on a different platform each night between March 16-30. The tour kicks off on Monday night (March 16) on Instagram, then goes to Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.
March 14: Stuck at home, Diplo did what he always does: turned it into a party. The superstar producer gifted fans with an hour-plus chilled-out “Corona Sabbath” YouTube mix that featured tracks by everyone from Rihanna to Art of Noise, Autechre and Tourist and guest spinning by Rhye.
The Metropolitan Opera is temporarily closed over concerns about spreading the coronavirus, but beginning Monday (March 16), the Met Opera will stream titles from its Live in HD series through its website. The first offering will be a 2010 performance of Bizet’s Carmen. The daily streams will begin at 7:30 p.m. and be available for 20 hours.
The Dropkick Murphys may not be performing on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) for the first time in nearly two decades due to COVID-19, but that won’t stop the boys from live-streaming their annual blowout from Boston at 7 p.m. ET.
Code Orange live-streamed their performance to an empty Roxian Theatre in Pittsburgh, Penn. via Twitch. Watch here.
March 13:
Lizzo hosted a group meditation on Instagram.“A meditation and mantra to promote healing during this global crisis. Use at your own pace. Love you!” the singer wrote alongside the 30-minute clip.
Feeling the pain of high school theater students whose spring shows are on ice, Tony-winning Broadway veteran Laura Benanti encouraged them to upload their performances to Twitter to get shared under the hashtag #SunshineSongs.
Alt-rapper Gnash played an acoustic set on Instagram Live.
For information on how to stay safe and receive updates on the spread of the disease in the U.S., visit the CDC website.
