NOT to be beaten by the current coronavirus crisis keeping people at home, musicians, art organisers and live music curators are already setting wheels in motion to create online events.

One of these is renowned Southend based live music and arts organisation Culture As A Dare, who is planning an online festival. 

Applications are now open for The CAAD Fest! 

Curator Emma Reed said: “This will be an online festival of everything and everyone we love, coming this May. 

“If you would like to record an exclusive performance video for us (not restricted to music) then please email cultureasadare@gmail.com and please spread the word.”

Culture As A Dare, run by musicians Emma Reed and Richard Thompson, has been going strong since 2008, hosting hundreds of “alternative bands and acts far from the mainstream” across a variety of venues.

SoSlam, known for its live music events and project which it hosts all over Southend, has announced The Isolation Room.

A post in the SoSlam musician’s group said: “Hi all, trying out something new to keep live music in people’s minds called the Isolation Room. It’s going to be a page solely for live video feeds of your performances.”

Interested parties should apply via the SoSlam Sounds Facebook page. 

Meanwhile, arts organisation Metal, based in Chalkwell Hall, Chalkwell, is currently making plans to put its ongoing number of workshops online to make sure people don’t miss out, as well as poetry sessions.

This includes an online creative journalling workshop, (see story headlined A Way To Join Estuary Arts Project While Staying Home in Friday's Weekend inside the Echo) to support people who want to get involved in the creative journalling project, set to be exhibited in the massive Estuary 2020 festival, coming in September. Keep your eye on metalculture.com for updates. 

Iconic music venue The Railway Hotel in Southend, also said it was trialing a Facebook live streaming system today for you to enjoy gigs in the comfort of your homes.