Musicians from Stellenbosch and Cape Town have been participating in hybrid shows, which involve both a physical audience and live streaming online, at a Stellenbosch bar in order to continue reaching audiences during Covid-19.
Performers such as Francois van Coke en Die Gevaar and Spoegwolf were among the first to perform live at the Daisy Jones Bar on Summerhill Wine Estate and stream their concerts to online audiences simultaneously, according to Conrad Jamneck, co-owner of Daisy Jones Bar. These performances took place in early March 2021, said Jamneck.
“The [music] industry really got hurt and people are really struggling. I hope these shows will be a more sustainable option,” said Danie du Toit, lead singer of Spoegwolf, in reference to the new hybrid shows.
During lockdown, the Daisy Jones Bar initially hosted live stream shows with no physical audiences. The first one, starring the Albert Frost Trio, took place on 19 May 2020, according to Jessica Botha, who works at the Daisy Jones Bar. Since then, the bar has catered to many local artists, said Botha.
“We then ran monthly live streams under a series name. For example, ‘August Rush’, with artists like Matt Carstens and DJ Robfather,” said Botha in an emailed response.
The hybrid shows have been introduced as the next step in keeping Daisy Jones Bar alive during Covid-19, according to Jamneck.
“It’s better for the energy of the show, and logically it keeps the venue alive,” said Jamneck.
While the emergence of online shows and hybrid events is of benefit to the struggling music industry, the impact of Covid-19 is still evident, according to Gwen Ansell, a researcher for the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).
“Some [musicians] are even contemplating the sale of [their] instruments and equipment simply to feed their families,” said Ansell in a research paper produced by Concerts SA, titled Digital Futures: Live Streaming in SA. The research commenced in June last year, in the midst of the initial hard lockdown.
However, online shows provide hope for the industry, according to Albert van der Merwe, bassist of Spoegwolf.
“We [musicians] are in a gang now. We are going to come back hard,” said Van der Merwe.
Spoegwolf recently celebrated the release of their newest album with a concert at Daisy Jones Bar, which was attended by a limited crowd and an online audience, according to Jamneck.