James Bay To Play Live-Streamed Gig To Support Save Our Venues Campaign
“Big or small, spending time honing your craft and performing in venues is vital on the journey to becoming a successful touring and recording artist. We must never live in a world where live music venues don’t exist.”
Acclaimed singer-songwriter James Bay announced he’ll be returning to the stage on July 16 to perform a 45-minute live-streamed gig from London in support of Save Our Venues campaign.
The performance comes on the heels of his new single “Chew On My Heart” and will be streamed worldwide on his official Youtube channel.
Bey’s concert will include direct donation links to Save Our Venues, the official music industry crowdfunding campaign started to protect UK grassroots music venues at risk of permanent closure due to Covid-19.
Having extensively toured venues on the UK music scene while building his career, this is a cause which is extremely close to UK’s singer’s heart. On his motivation to support the cause, Bay said:
“Big or small, spending time honing your craft and performing in venues is vital on the journey to becoming a successful touring and recording artist. We must never live in a world where live music venues don’t exist. They are as important for the artist as they are for the countless visitors and of course the dedicated staff that devote themselves to running those rooms like clockwork. Venues offer a joy, an escape and a magic you just don’t experience through a screen or even through a stereo speaker. At all costs, we must save our venues.”
Donations for the fundraiser are open now on the video watch page and fans will be able to donate on Bay’s YouTube channel until Monday (July 20).
Bay has been keeping busy during quarantine, teaching his Instagram followers how to play guitar in a series of live tutorials and putting the finishing touches on his forthcoming third studio album – the follow up his surprise 2019 EP, Oh My Messy Mind.
“The next album is the most positive thing I’ve ever written,” he told NME last week in an interview.
“There are still a few moments that have sadness and weigh a little heavily, but it’s mostly uplifting. I’m typically a very private person and this next record is much more personal and vulnerable. My long-term girlfriend and I were just kids when we met; we knew each other before any of this happened to our lives. The album is a bit of a tribute to our journey.”
Listen to “Chew On My Heart” here.
