Independent Venue Week
The COVID-19 pandemic has put a significant hold on the worldwide live event and concert industry, causing the smaller independent venues worldwide to shut down. The National Independent Venue Association, also known as NIVA, was formed to help raise awareness and money for the struggling venues around the US and UK. As part of an effort to raise this awareness, Independent Venue Week, an annual nationwide initiative supporting indie music venues, used its platform to raise funds to benefit the NIVA Emergency Relief Fund. On their website, Independent Venue Week states that “by championing independent venues, we are able to highlight why they are so much more than just places for live music – they are cultural hubs for learning, creativity, arts and culture more widely connecting people in their local community of all ages, backgrounds, abilities, genders, skills and walks of life.”
The digital Independent Venue Week took place between Oct. 24-30. In the US, over 120 independently owned venues in 70 cities across 32 states have participated in this year’s event. One of those participating venues included Chicago’s very own Hideout. As mentioned on their website, the Hideout is a Prohibition-era bar in a small space that hosts all kinds of live music events. This special venue hosted a roster of notable artists that includes Jack White, Phantom Planet, Jimmy Martin and many more iconic names.
On October 29th, the Hideout hosted a very special Halloween themed digital livestream entitled “Cosmic Country Showcase”. Fifteen talented acts performed thrilling musical performances and comedy sketches. It featured many fantastic headliners, starting with a yodeling and barking country singer-songwriter known as Nick Shoulders. He performed two original songs entitled “Turn on the Dark” and “Snakes and Waterfalls”. Other headliners include “Los Espookys” writer and actress Ana Fabrega, the “No Respect” comedian Sarah Squirm, fancy drag artist Nico, and banjo playing singer-songwriter Evil.
Other notable acts include the father-son duo, Sammy Tweedy and Jeff Tweedy. Their performance of Black Sabbath’s “Changes” will undoubtedly give you chills. Cosmic Country regular cast members Tenci, Andrew Sa, Hawk Colman, Sima Cunningham, and Ben LaMar Gay presented their talents throughout the show with their outstanding spooky musical performances and comedy sketches. To learn more about the performers, click on the attached link below!
The public can still view the “Cosmic Country Showcase” on the Hideout’s website. Anyone can have access to it for only $15! A full list of the venue’s upcoming events can also be found on their website. It is important to note that all the raised funds from these shows will benefit the NIVA Emergency Relief Fund, which ultimately helps your favorite independent venues around the US.
Independent Venue Week Artist Ambassador, Alison Mosshard, stated that “Independent venues are incredibly important to our musical history as a country, and they are incredibly important to our future.” What makes a city like Chicago so special is the iconic places where memories and history are made. So please, support your local venues by donating to NIVA Relief Fund. You can save our stages.
Hideout
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hideoutchicago/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hideoutchicago/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hideoutchicago
Website: https://www.hideoutchicago.com
Cosmic Country Showcase Performers List: https://www.hideoutchicago.com/e/cosmic-country-showcase-tickets-123549918131/
NIVA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nivassoc
Instagram: https://www.saveourstages.com/support-niva
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nivassoc
Website: https://www.nivassoc.org
Independent Venue Week
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IVWUS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivw_us/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivw_us
Website: https://www.independentvenueweek.com
