Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley music festival, Deep Roots, has announced the cancellation of its 2020 event. But organizers have now decided to move the fest online through a series of YouTube-hosted singalongs called "Deep Roots COVID Concerts."
Attendees are encouraged to visit the fest's YouTube channel to learn how to participate via video submissions in the upcoming weekly singalong events, which will feature performances by Zakary Miller and Heather Kelday beginning next weekend. More artists are scheduled to be announced in the coming weeks.
"We know that this will be sad (but probably not unexpected) news for our Deep Roots community," board chair Peter Mowat wrote in a statement. "We are pivoting quickly this year to create physically-distant connections, but we sincerely hope that we will be back presenting the music you love, in September 2021, live and in-person in our festival venues."
The online edition of the festival begins on May 30 and runs until September 19. The in-person festivities would have taken place this fall.
"People need music. And performers need gigs. We are hoping that the first show will feel like spring tonic to the Deep Roots audience," program director Dave Carmichael said in a statement. "Please email your suggestions to submit@deeproots.ca. Feel free to send any pictures as well (there must be lots of funny haircuts out there!) and we'll include them in the show. We will continue to make concert announcements as we progress, get feedback, adapt and learn as we go."
Ticketholders for this year's cancelled edition can opt for a refund or donate their ticket price to the festival. More information can be found at the Deep Roots website.
Watch a preview of the upcoming events and learn more about submissions in the video below.
Attendees are encouraged to visit the fest's YouTube channel to learn how to participate via video submissions in the upcoming weekly singalong events, which will feature performances by Zakary Miller and Heather Kelday beginning next weekend. More artists are scheduled to be announced in the coming weeks.
"We know that this will be sad (but probably not unexpected) news for our Deep Roots community," board chair Peter Mowat wrote in a statement. "We are pivoting quickly this year to create physically-distant connections, but we sincerely hope that we will be back presenting the music you love, in September 2021, live and in-person in our festival venues."
The online edition of the festival begins on May 30 and runs until September 19. The in-person festivities would have taken place this fall.
"People need music. And performers need gigs. We are hoping that the first show will feel like spring tonic to the Deep Roots audience," program director Dave Carmichael said in a statement. "Please email your suggestions to submit@deeproots.ca. Feel free to send any pictures as well (there must be lots of funny haircuts out there!) and we'll include them in the show. We will continue to make concert announcements as we progress, get feedback, adapt and learn as we go."
Ticketholders for this year's cancelled edition can opt for a refund or donate their ticket price to the festival. More information can be found at the Deep Roots website.
Watch a preview of the upcoming events and learn more about submissions in the video below.
