Well folks the world has changed a lot since my last column, only one week but feels like a lifetime ago. That column was all sweetness and light, telling you all about the great St. Paddy’s Day shows you were going to see.
The very day that column came out, WHO declared COVOID-19 a pandemic and the world, even our quiet corner of it, changed forever.
The next day, the schools were closed for three weeks. And every day since, have come the cancellations, the state of emergency, stock markets falling, businesses closing, bars closing, restaurants available for takeout only, churches suspending services…and every music tour and show in the world being cancelled for the foreseeable future.
I want to get back to that, but first, some updates on cancellations and rescheduling.
Orillia Silver Band’s SHINE-70 years of Orillia, both shows have been rescheduled to Nov. 1 at 3 p.m. in the Orillia Opera House. If you have already bought tickets, no need to do anything, your tickets will be honoured for Nov. 1.
Ashley MacIsaac at St. Paul’s Centre St. Paddy’s Day is being rescheduled, date to be announced; tickets will be honoured or you can get a refund from Eventbrite.
Orillia Opera House has postponed or cancelled all shows except Mariposa Arts Theatre’s upcoming production of Rabbit Hole, until April 30. Stay tuned to see if that production moves forward.
Orillia Museum of Art and History is closed to the public and all upcoming workshops are cancelled indefinitely.
Mariposa Arts Theatre’s film nights are suspended for all of April. Stay tuned to see if the final film on May 6 will be a go.
Speaking of film, Cineplex is closed until at least April 2, per the Ontario government’s state of emergency. Good news though, both the Paris Opera and the Metropolitan Opera are offering streaming of some of their extraordinary shows online. As well, some new movies are being offered through streaming services so you can watch them in the comfort of your homes.
All bars are closed, so any live music you were going to see isn’t happening. Restaurants can do take-out and delivery only, no eat in, so check with your faves to see if they are going that route, and support.
Mariposa Market, Eclectic Café, and Brewery Bay are closed, among others. Manticore Books and Jack and Maddy’s are open and offering delivery so please support them if you possibly can.
Orillia Kiwanis Music Festival, which starts on April 14, is being extremely clever and proactive, and taking it online! Participants are to video their performances and submit them, and they will still be adjudicated by the professional adjudicators that have been lined up for the festival.
There are plans underway for several online live streamed music festivals. Bandcamp is waiving its revenue shares starting Friday at 3 am Eastern Standard Time for 24 hours to help struggling musicians, so buying merch there would be a great way and day to support Canadian gigging musicians.
Roots North Music Festival committee members are still hoping to go ahead April 23 to 25, but they are meeting again this Sunday to see how things look. Stay tuned!
Mariposa Folk Festival cancelled the Union Duke show at the end of March at St. Paul’s Centre, but the main festival so far is still a go. Fingers crossed, it is the 60th anniversary, and lots of musicians and techs will be looking to that festival to start earning again.
Burl’s Creek's two main shows in July and August, Big Sky and Boots and Hearts, are still a go and again, fingers crossed!
Generally, things are cancelled or postponed until beginning of April, but I imagine that will be lengthened. Check in here for further updates.
If you can afford to support a musician, please do! Spring is tour season and musicians all over the world are in massive debt with tours being cancelled.
They all put out a lot of money marketing, buying merch, booking planes and cars and trains…and no guarantee they will get any help or refunds, so that money is sitting on their credit cards with their main source of income, shows, gone.
So far, airlines are offering credits for travel in 2020, which doesn’t help when your tour is being rescheduled for 2021. UNISON can help a bit, but not much with so much need.
Musicians are being creative and are offering online shows, with PayPal tip options. Or, buy their merch and enjoy or give it away as gifts. There are plans underway for several online live streamed music festivals.
Bandcamp is waiving its revenue shares starting Friday at 3 a.m. for 24 hours to help struggling musicians, so buying merch there would be a great way and day to support Canadian gigging musicians. Streaming services underpay musicians and are not a good way to support.
Lots more to talk about regarding who is being impacted in arts and culture, creative ways they are handling it, and how you can support, if possible. Check in next week for more arts news and send me your information by Tuesday at noon, to [email protected].
Stay safe, and wash your hands!
