Charli Fudge: Get Your Lockdown Arts Fix This Weekend

I don’t know about you but I’ve got a huge spring in my step this week. Brighter days, shorter nights and the news that I can officially get drunk in a park with one friend in less than 2 weeks has me feeling better than I have in weeks. The prospect of a beer garden in 6 weeks has me positively giddy. Is this a sign that things are finally on the up? Or just indicative of an underlying drinking problem on my part? Who really knows.

What I do know is that never again will I take for granted the sparkling bead of condensation lazing its way down a cold pint of cider to settle on a wooden bench, the twirl of smoke from a borrowed cig curling around my fingers as I huddle around the outdoor heater. Overpriced crisps, oversharing with strangers and queues for the loos – just a few really normal things I’d never thought I’d have to miss. And not the “new normal”. Fuck that. I mean the “normal” where we’re allowed to hug and dance and share stuff, the “normal” now twinkling promisingly but with much fragility just on the horizon. Also, while we’re fucking things, fuck people who say we’re not getting on holiday this year. Positive vibes only please *insert peace sign here*

And as if the arts and culture world can sense this new found spirit of positivity - as if it knows its days of living room offerings are gradually coming to an end - it has served up a veritable feast of live streamy goodness. The best of which I have boiled down, seasoned well and served for you on a gold plated platter below.

Thursday 25th February

Radio X Barclaycard Presents‍

Britain’s favourite homophobic underbite Chris Moyles is hosting a live stream on Thursday night with pint sized protégé Jake Bugg, indiepop crooner Tom Grennan and the excellent DMA’s, who despite hailing from Sydney have breathed new life into Britpop. Find out more here.

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Friday 26th February

Little Dragon‍

This ever evolving electronica three piece from Gothenburg are performing live in their hometown in celebration of their recent fourth album and subsequent single release featuring Moses Sumney. They’re playing Friday night/Saturday morning at 2am for $9.99 here.

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Bicep

‍Time to assemble your make shift music systems, put the Christmas lights on strobe mode and call your local gazza guy. Following on from the success of their last live stream, dance duo Bicep are returning to our living rooms this Friday live from London with accompanying visuals from black box echo. Tickets are a tenner and it starts at 8:30 here.

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Black Renaissance

‍Part of Black History Month, this YouTube/Google event goes live on YouTube on Friday to celebrate black creators, artists and writers who have shaped history through a star studded showcase featuring performances by Anderson Paak, H.E.R, Toby Nwigwe and loads more as well as short films, short stories and even an appearance from the Obamas themselves. Don’t miss out on this festival of culture airing over here.

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Julie Holter‍

LA chamber pop songstress Julie Holter blends pure vocals and whimsical lyrics with both classical and electronic elements to create a pastiche both familiar and entirely strange. She playing in LA as part of Audiotree’s STAGED series. Watch her at any point from 3am all day for $21 here.

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Saturday 26th February

Post Malone‍

It’s finally here. The day we all have marked in our calendar. The day we’ve counted down to since Christmas. You know it, its Pokemon day! Post Malone will be celebrating 25 years of catchin’ ‘em all by performing a free live stream over on YouTube and Twitch midnight UK time here. Optional: swap the beers for a bowl of sugary cereal and some strong squash to really recreate those heady SMTV Saturday mornings.

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D’Angelo Verzuz Friends‍

Timbaland and Swizz Beats virtual DJ battle webcast has seen faceoffs like Alicia Keys vs John Legend, Snoop Dogg vs DMX and even Brandy vs Monica which let’s face it we’ve all been waiting to hear the outcome of since 1998 (Brandy won, duh!). Each artist presents their hits over 20 rounds while hype from the comments go towards a score and an eventual winner is announced. This week its D’Angelo vs friends. There’s been much speculation around who these “friends” might be but only one way to find out for sure, check it out here.

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Tom Odell

‍This perpetually heartbroken pretty boy is delivering his usual brand of singer/songwriter-ness in a series of intimate gigs, starting this Saturday for £15. The proceeds will apparently be donated to Tom’s band and crew. Isn’t he lovely. More info here.

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Sunday 27th February

Harry Belafonte’s 94th Birthday‍

Daaaay-O! Jump in the line to attend a surprise birthday party for this legend who clearly doesn’t use the internet. This is no normal birthday party though. Obviously you won’t get any birthday cake but you will get entertained by the likes of Jay-Z, Aloe Blacc and Danny Glover. All proceeds from the event will go towards Harry’s charity organisation The Gathering for Justice and tickets start at $25. Check it out here.

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Album Of The Month Club

‍Classic Album Sundays (not Classical Bum Sundays, as you might think after reading the website URL) is an excellent website filled with articles, podcasts and videos about amazing albums that have shaped our musical culture. The likes of Richard Reed-Parry (Arcade Fire), Morgan Simpson (Black Midi) and Giles Peterson have all weighed in on their favourite albums and the Album Of The Month event each month has covered music giants like Fugees, Kraftwerk and Neil Young. This month’s album is Hunky Dory by David Bowie. For £10 you can join this online listening club which will tell you the history of the album and give you the chance to discuss and dissect with like-minded fans. Find out more here.

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Tuesday 1st March

Save the Scene NYC‍

So I’m very aware that I am now climbing out of my box to attack your Tuesday with piping hot live streamed culture but this one was too good to miss. This live benefit concert is hosted by Sweet Relief, a non-profit who help musicians cover medical expenses and who in 1993 hosted a fundraiser headlined by Lou Reed himself. So now, on what would have been his 69th birthday, 28 years later, the charity are celebrating his life by hosting another event with some local NYC talent. Standout artists for me are Pinc Louds, Deep Sea Peach Tree and Spud Cannon but definitely check out the line up if your playlists need some more New York City cool. More info here.

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Have we missed anything big? Should your event feature in our weekly run down? Are you sick of me not converting dollars to pounds? If so, get in touch charlifudge@gmail.com

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