Page 46 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2021

Tom Stewart built a flatbed trailer with full backline and lights to roll up and perform for people on the streets of San Diego, CA. Photo courtesy of Tom Stewart

in Motion.’” Stewart also invented “The Pande-Mic Covid radio station Deutschlandfunk. Even in a pandemic, Greene
Cover,” a microphone cover to help protect your mic, yourself was able to reach audiences worldwide.
and others from spreading germs, which also comes with a Texas-native blues-rock artist Hadden Sayers says, “I’d
disinfectant spray – all with the foresight of someday resuming like to play in your living room… virtually… or in-person.”
live performances and events. Even before the pandemic, Sayers offered house concerts,
Like so many, Canadian blues artist Chris Antonik’s 2020 but, as you can imagine, it’s been kicked up a notch since
tour schedule was canceled. While the extra time allowed March 2020. Whether virtually as a live stream performance
him to focus solely on developing his new record, the loss of over Zoom or as a “CDC-Appropriate” show outdoors with
tour revenue thwarted the record’s funding. To make up for less than 60 people, Sayers takes requests, dedications and
it, Antonik tried something new. He explains, “I launched an suggestions to create a truly personalized experience.
Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to give fans an opportunity In June 2020, singer/songwriter/searing guitarist Tommy
to pre-purchase the new album ahead of time and get involved Castro began offering fans personalized “Tom-e-grams” for
in the production team through various perks, such as online any occasion, with options like a personalized video, phone
call or solo song request. Fans can even talk one-on-one with
guitar lessons, songwriting workshops and even executive Castro about guitars/music and trade licks over Skype, Zoom
sponsorships. It has been a really nice way to connect with or FaceTime.
people. I am extremely happy with the results, and I am very At the time of publication, the United States is turning a
grateful for all the amazing blues fans out there!” pandemic corner. Over 120 million individuals have been
While many artists connected with fans over virtual fully vaccinated and the rate of new COVID-19 cases is
performances and social media, Santa Barbara-based blues- declining. We also know so much more than we did a year
rock musician Alastair Greene also connected via radio. With ago, and are now well-versed in public safety precautions.
his band, Greene recorded an hour-long live show of original There is a light at the end of this dark tunnel, and that means
tunes spanning his career, exclusively for the popular German live blues is on its way back!

44 Blues Festival Guide 2021