Concerts and festivals might be cancelled but there are plenty of ways to experience the best of American music from the comfort of your own home. Destinations across the USA have created online concerts, gigs, lessons and playlists to help you immerse yourself in their culture and lifestyle. In part #2 or our series we have selected more virtual US music experiences currently available online.
Learn the guitar with musicians from Chattanooga, Tennessee
The Songbird Guitar Museum is offering guitar lessons from scratch with Songbirds Foundation's video series (24 videos). You can also watch the Vault Sessions series on YouTube, with over 80 episodes available with artists like Steve Earle, Eric Johnson, John 5, Drew & Ellie Holcomb, Kevin Bacon, Tommy Emmanuel, and more.
Meet Tulsa’s music scene
Tune in to the Woody Guthrie Center’s YouTube channel for live gigs every Friday for Woody’s House, a series of performances and interviews with local musicians. Woody’s House started its YouTube series with Tulsa-based hip hop artist Dialtone - more artists are being added over the coming weeks.
Enjoy Orlando-based concerts
Listen to intimate musical performances at the Timucua Arts Foundation, set in the home grounds of the former music director for Cirque du Soleil. The foundation will post daily videos of previously recorded live performances on its Facebook page.
Listen to virtual concerts from Florida
The glorious Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Central Florida, has been holding virtual carillon concerts that can be seen on their Facebook page. Bok Tower Gardens - Voted “Florida’s Best Garden” – is a National Historic Landmark that was dedicated in 1929 as a gift to the American people from Dutch immigrant and world peace advocate Edward Bok. Nearly 700 acres of conservation lands and gardens surround the magnificent 205-foot ‘Singing Tower’ carillon and Pinewood Estate, a 20-room, Mediterranean-style 1930s winter retreat. Bok Tower Gardens sits on one of peninsular Florida’s highest points, providing a haven for rare plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.
Listen to Minnesota-made Music
Minnesota is home to icons like Prince, Bob Dylan and current favourites like Trampled By Turtles, The Replacements and Lizzo. Stream the Meet Minneapolis’ latest playlist here for some upbeat tunes.
Enjoy critically acclaimed opera and orchestras
The Metropolitan Opera in New York is home to some of the world’s most innovative and talented singers, conductors, composers and musicians. Every day for the duration of the Met’s closure, the company will be streaming a different encore production from its Live in HD series online for free here.
Meanwhile, the internationally acclaimed Seattle Symphony Orchestra, is sharing its most-loved performances through free video rebroadcasts and livestreams, aiming to provide strength, comfort and joy to its virtual audiences.