Dropkick Murphys will perform live at Fenway Park in Boston, MA on Friday, May 29th for an event dubbed Streaming Outta Fenway, the band announced via Facebook on Monday. Additionally, Bruce Springsteen will join the Celtic-American punk band remotely, for a portion of the show, made possible by Pegasystems.
While the Old Ballpark will not admit fans for the event, the Boston-based sextet will stream the “full electric” show for free, beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET.
“That’s right – we are gonna be the first band in HISTORY to play right on the dirt and grass of the infield diamond – and we will be doing it FREE – for YOU, THE BEST FANS IN THE WORLD !!” Dropkick said in the Facebook post. Adding to the list of firsts, Streaming Outta Fenway will also mark the first time a band has played a full show in an empty sports stadium.
The event will raise funds for Boston Resiliency Fund, Habitat For Humanity, and Feeding America. Instead of selling tickets for Streaming Outta Fenway, Dropkick Murphys are asking fans to donate by texting “DONATE” to 404-994-3559, and according to the band, “You don’t even have to wait until the stream starts.”
Read the full post below and head to the Dropkick Murphys website for more information.
Streaming Outta Fenway adds to the list of creative ways musicians are connecting with fans during this period of social distancing. Some bands, like Phish, Widespread Panic, and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, have initiated weekly streams of archived shows, while others have partnered with virtual festivals like 11E1even Group‘s Live From Out There. Even more recently, we have seen artists such as Marc Rebillet and Spafford announce in-person performances at drive-in movie theaters across the country. While the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on the live events industry, it has certainly sparked the creative juices in artists desperate for the fan engagement that drives them.