Must See: Your Favorite Artists Perform With Spotify’s Virtual Concert Experience

Connecting fans to artists (and vice versa) is important to us. We’re always working on more ways to help listeners get to know and share music from their favorite creators—whether that’s by catching the newest tracks on their Release Radar playlist or by sharing Canvas videos to their socials. This past year in particular, we’ve realized that fostering this connection is more important than ever. So today, we’re pleased to share our most recent exploration: a virtual concert experience. 

We know that fans care deeply about supporting artists and connecting with their music through live performances. And while some parts of the world are beginning to open up, we recognize not everyone is comfortable with or able to attend in-person events just yet. These shows will allow fans to experience and support their favorite artists while immersing themselves in a performance-style experience they crave. 

Throughout the next month, Spotify will give fans access to five intimate, ticketed performances in partnership with producer Driift. (Just make sure to tune in at the designated date and time so you don’t miss anything.) Plus, we’ll be better integrating concerts into the overall listening experience by making performances easier to find and helping fans track the events and artists they care about. 

We’re kicking off with five prerecorded livestreams: 

• May 27: The Black Keys will be coming to fans from one of their favorite juke joints, Blue Front Café in Mississippi.
• June 3: Rag’n’Bone Man will be playing at one of his beloved venues, the Roundhouse in London, where fans will virtually join him for an intimate performance. 
• June 10: Bleachers’ Jack Antonoff will take fans on a journey from Brooklyn, NY, to Asbury Park, NJ—all while on a city bus. 
• June 17: Leon Bridges fans will hear songs from across his catalog as they get an inside look into the meaningful spaces at the Gold-Diggers Hotel, where Leon spent time writing, recording, and being inspired for his upcoming July album, Gold-Diggers Sound.
• June 24: girl in red’s Oslo-based performance will bring fans into a world in red (and a world of rock) with unique lights and video filters. 

Fans can get excited for 40-75-minute concerts where their favorite artists will perform songs they know and love—whether new or classics. Tickets available here. 

“I’m excited to collaborate with Spotify on this intimate concert experience that will feature songs from across my catalog, including a few tunes from my new album, Gold-Diggers Sound,” says Leon Bridges. “I’ve truly missed seeing my fans around the world this year, and we are working hard to bring the concert experience to your home, thanks to Spotify.”

Since the performance alerts are personalized to our listeners, some users will get notifications about the concerts we think they’ll love most. Fans of The Black Keys, for example, will start to receive notifications on May 19 for the performance taking place on May 27. 

“We have always been a band that loves to play live in venues of all shapes and sizes,” says The Black Keys. “The past year has been tough for musicians and fans alike, so we wanted to find a way to share this live performance of songs from our new project, Delta Kream, from a place we love, the Blue Front Café, the oldest active juke joint in America. We’re excited to be a part of this new initiative with Spotify that will give fans a great way to connect with their favorite artists.”

Anyone can purchase a ticket for $15 (plus tax) or the local currency equivalent at spotify.live. Those who don’t already have a Spotify account can buy a ticket and enjoy the experience by signing up for a free account.

Our ultimate goal, as always, is to help artists and fans connect to one another and share their art. These five shows strengthen that commitment and create a unique performance opportunity that creators and listeners are sure to love.

Excited? So are we. Head to spotify.live to purchase tickets and learn more.