This edition of Concert Picks of the Week is, like last week, all about supporting musicians from a social distance and keeping yourself healthy during this difficult time. Huge thanks to DCMR staff Jason Herman and Will Urquhart for their contributions to this week's list and for their continued support of our music community!

First up, last week DCMR announced the launch of Webcast Aid, a series of virtual concerts designed to: 

1. entertain the community in the absence of li. ve-audience concerts, 
2. encourage support of local artists as well as organizations giving help to those in need, and,  
3. provide people with information and resources to help them weather the storm.

THIS WEEK WE GOT: 
Gordon Sterling and the People Virtual Show at Crescendo Studios on Saturday night at 9p!

The focus of these virtual concerts will be to replace previously scheduled live-audience shows and to lessen the impact on artists due to those cancellations. The "aid" we are providing is webcasting services free-of-charge to bands who had a show cancelled. We'll be calling on viewers to aid the bands by supporting them, and aid the community by contributing to non-profits selected by the artists.

(Check out this great article by Washington Post's Rudi Greenberg about how local artists are finding creative ways to share their music.)

You will be able to find all upcoming and past streams here. If you are in a band who had a show cancelled and would like to replace it with a virtual concert, please contact us. We will do the best we can to arrange it. 

Music is not only the lifeblood for so many people in this region, but also a means of income for the staff at the music halls around us.  Here is an incomplete and alphabetical list of establishments setting up relief funds for their employees. Please click on the links below to see more details and check the website of your favorite local venues to see how to best support them.

• City Winery DC  
• I.M.P. (9:30 Club / Lincoln Theatre / The Anthem)     
• Jammin' Java & Union Stage
• Songbyrd 
• U Street Music Hall 

If you are a MUSICIAN, check out:

• Billboard: A State-by-State Resource Guide for Music Professionals Who Need Help During Coronavirus Crisis 
• COVID-19 and Freelance Artists
• Artist Relief Tree
• Sweet Relief - Covid-19 Fund
• Backline
• SheShreds
• COVID-19 List of Resources for Undocumented Communities 
• Think Local First DC: Supports the community through advocacy and education wants to know how COVID-19 has impacted your work in this 3-minute survey.

We know their are a ton of Livetreams out there besides our own. We wanted to provide you a few other streams of bliss:

• Thu, March 26: Atlas Touring Presents: The Quaran-Stream: an online streaming music festival uniting live touring bands from different regions of the U.S. Each region will host their own live stream coordinated to one main Quaran-Stream! Schedule:
  * Sam Burchfield - Atlanta, GA - 3:30PM-4 PM - Sam's House
  * Tom Mackell - Charleston, SC - 4PM-4:30PM - Charleston Pour House
  * Three Star Revival - Nashville, TN - 4:30PM-5PM - The Basement Nashville
  * Easy Honey - Charleston, SC - 5PM-5:30PM - Charleston Pour House
  * Harpooner - Nashville, TN - 5:30PM-6PM - The Basement Nashville
  * Rare Creatures - Charleston, SC - 6PM-6:30PM - Charleston Pour House
  * Stoop Kids - Nashville, TN - 6:30PM - 7PM - The Basement Nashville
  * Schema -Charleston, SC -7PM-7:30PM - Charleston Pour House
  * Desert Noises - Nashville, TN -7:30PM-8PM -The Basement Nashville
  * Little Bird - Charleston, SC -8PM-8:30PM - Charleston Pour House
  * Mo Lowda & the Humble - Philly, PA - 8:30PM - 9PM - Mo Lowda HQ
  * Little Stranger - Charleston, SC -9PM - 9:30PM - Charleston Pour House
  * The Vegabonds - Nashville TN - 9:30PM - 10PMBasement
  * Kendall Street Company - Charlottesville VA - 10PM - CLOSE KSC's HQ
  
  
• JamBase
• Nugs.tv
• LiveFromOutThere

We realize that you may feel a little anxious and a little cooped up at the moment.  We appreciate social distancing so we wanted to provide you some virtual resources to go out and explore some beautiful places around the world safely.

This may not be music related, but we still hope that these livestreams, webcams, and virtual tours can help you relax and take in the sights and sounds - if not for you, then for others in your house and life.

In the DMV:

• Cherry Blossom Cam
• National Zoo Webcams 
• National Zoo Naked Mole Rat Cam (We figured as long as you are sitting at your electronic device and may not be as dressed as a normal day, why not look at The Naked Mole Rat who calls that Monday.) 
• Baltimore Aquarium Livecam 

Outside the DMV

The following resources are an endless supply of amazement for us. Go see elephants in the Africa, Bears in Alaska, or some cuddles with Puppycams.  You can also spend hours walking around Yosemite and take in the sights and listen to the accompanying sounds of nature.

• Explore.org 
• Virtual Yosemite 
• 10 Animal Livestreams to Enjoy During Social Distancing

Lastly we wanted to leave you with some additional resources to help you day go by better.

• Catch up with good news on Good News Network​.

Lastly, if you need some recharge time and a way to clear your head, we really encourage you to try Headspace. This is a great source for some meditation, unwinding, and some quick respite from what is unfolding around us.  Not only that, they have opened up a new FREE section to help address what is going on as well as making more content free.  Lastly, while their free section always remains free, you can also purchase paid subscriptions (student and family rates are available).  

• Headspace Weathering The Storm  

Note: We have no affiliate codes or revenue generating mechanisms with any of the resources listed above beyond our own, we just are big fans and want to make these known to our music community.

AND FINALLY:

Remember, as much as we love seeing live music and the music community, THIS IS NOT A SNOW DAY.  Social distancing (6 feet between you and someone else) is important in helping to FLATTEN THE CURVE, which is important in allowing our health care system to take care of everyone who needs medical care.
From the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
• Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Learn what to do if you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
• Throw used tissues in the trash.
• Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. (Tips on how to make your own disinfectant from bleach, alcohol solutions, and other items located here.)
  
  
  IF YOU THINK YOU ARE SICK, call a doctor. If you are NOT in a high-risk category (elderly, those with specific underlying medical conditions), you may be asked to stay home, isolate, and take measures to prevent the virus from spreading. PLEASE VISIT THIS SITE if you think you are sick with COVID-19 (primary symptoms are fever, cough, shortness of breath.)

And with everything going on, let's be as kind and considerate as we can be to each other. If we can't get physically close, we can still be emotionally connected through music.