INDIANAPOLIS — You may have noticed well-known artists starting to do online concerts from their living rooms on Facebook or Instagram, while many fans around the world are stuck at home because of the coronavirus.
One organization in Indianapolis is doing something similar for artists and musicians in central Indiana.
They’re called “virtual house shows” being put on by the Fourth Sunday Music Company.
“It gives us something productive to do in this time,” says Craig Helmreich, the founder. “And it shines a light on these wonderful artists.”
The organization normally hosts concerts at Square Cat Vinyl in Fountain Square, but after the latest one on March 14 was canceled because of the coronavirus, Helmreich decided to put on these online concerts. He told WIBC’s Terri Stacy that the goal is to raise money — through online donations — for everyone involved, from the artists who can’t perform at venues, to the workers at the local venues and restaurants who are also without a job with everything being shut down.
“Fans of a lot of these places can say ‘who are those people over there that I always say hi to, that always make the experience better? I want to help them out,'” Helmreich said.
He said they’re also trying to raise money for the victims of the Nashville tornadoes from a couple of weeks ago. That was the original goal for the concert on March 14.
The next “virtual house show” will be on Sunday at 12 p.m., on Helmreich’s YouTube channel.
“We’ll keep doing it as long as it works,” Helmreich said. “As long as people are interested, and watching, and hopefully generating some donations for the great causes.”
For more information, go to FourthSundayMusic.com.
