Songs from An Empty Room livestream event to help live events workers features James Vincent McMorrow, Denise Chaila, Gavin James, The Stunning, Picture This, Jafaris & more from 5 venues around Ireland
Songs from An Empty Room is a one-night five-venue live stream happening on Saturday July 25, 2020 from 8.30pm – 10.45pm on RTÉ2, RTÉ 2FM and RTÉ Player put on by EPIC & RTÉ.
The performances will be broadcast from five venues who are unable to put on events right now in aid of support for two live event initiatives – Minding Creative Minds and the Association of Irish Stage Technicians (AIST) Hardship Fund (more info on both those below).
- The Olympia Theatre, Dublin
- Cyprus Avenue, Cork
- Dolans, Limerick
- INEC, Killarney
- Róisín Dubh, Galway
Songs from An Empty Room will be hosted by RTÉ 2FM’s Jenny Greene and Eoghan McDermott.
Songs from An Empty Room will feature:
- Aimée
- Denise Chaila
- Eve Belle
- Fia Moon
- Gavin James
- Jafaris
- James Vincent McMorrow
- Lisa McHugh
- Lyra
- Mother DJs
- Noel Hogan (The Cranberries) with Danny O’Reilly (The Coronas)
- Picture This
- Sorcha Richardson
- Soulé
- The Academic
- The Blizzards
- The Coronas
- The Stunning
Live events continue through wars, they raise money for famine, they raise the spirits of a nation in times of need and provide a focus in times of celebration. Never, in the history of staging live performances and events, has there been such a sudden and total cessation of work in Ireland, as happened on the 12th of March 2020. Currently, throughout the country, festival fields and event sites are deserted, theatre seats await an audience and music venues are empty. We hope that in sitting rooms around the country, audiences will tune in and become the support act that the live events industry needs right now.
There are huge challenges facing the live events industry due to the cancellation and postponement of all mass gatherings, festivals, concerts, theatrical productions, sports events, trade shows and community gatherings. Ireland’s event businesses and crews have lost their income, with no current roadmap to recovery as long as Covid-19 continues to present a significant public health risk.
The Live Events industry is worth €3.5 billion to Ireland each year. While many other sectors begin their recovery, Live Events & Arts workers have no clear indication or guidance as to when their work can recommence. Without support, many will be forced out of the industry, and losing that skilled specialised workforce will be catastrophic for multiple sectors, including arts, culture, tourism and hospitality.
Minding Creative Minds
Minding Creative Minds is a 24/7, free wellbeing and support programme for event industry professionals and contractors including production, lighting and sound engineers, site crew, event control, musicians, songwriters and artist managers. MCM provides free counselling services, in addition to free financial, legal and career advice for events industry personnel.
Association of Irish Stage Technicians (AIST) Hardship Fund
AIST.ie Hardship Fund is available to members and non-members who work in any crew related role in the Irish live events industry. The fund is managed and distributed by AIST.
How to support:
Audiences at home will be directed to the website Songs From An Empty Room and will be able to show support by donating via text or through the initiative’s GoFundMe Page. Branded crew merchandise will also be available to purchase through the website with all proceeds from these sales going to the initiative.
