If you are listening to this episode years after it was recorded, the COVID-19 Corona Virus global pandemic is hopefully a thing of the past. Unfortunately, at the time of recording March 21, 2020, we are currently in the beginning of what will likely be a couple months of mandatory self isolation across the United States, and varying degrees of the same already in effect around the world. Businesses are closing, schools are shutting down, hospitals are filling up, and our government isn't helping. It's an unprecedented time that, despite years of warnings from the CDC and visionaries like Bill Gates, we aren't prepared for. No matter who you are, the fabric of your daily life is being impacted, and now more than ever, people are finding community through the things that bind us. Things like philanthropy, art, and, of course, music. As borders close and states declare mandatory isolation, postponing tours and closing concert halls, social media has lit-up with musical and lyrical love, like lighters in a swaying audience, as musicians of all levels share live performances with songs of hope, songs of support, and songs to keep a firm hold of the beautiful role that music songwriting continues to play in soothing, saving, and uniting us. As the world faces this unique challenge, Ed and I want to do our part to support the musical community that we are so grateful to be a part of, and so desperate to help during this time of economic hardship. So our next episodes are dedicated to all of the artists out there across the US, around the world, that are taking their performances online while the venues go off line, musicians that are playing on social media so that we can be physically distant but not emotionally separated, and for the live-streams being created to help sustain the musicians in every community. First, we have to focus on our hometown. The Tampa and Saint Petersburg, FL areas are already being hit hard, but our artists don't stay down. You don't need to look hard on Instagram or Facebook to find your favorite musicians banding together to bring audiences inspired, heartfelt performances as a way to help these musicians keep the lights on and help all of us keep the darkness at bay. The Dream Stream is one such performance. Slated for March 27th, 2020 and powered by Song Divers friends the Tampa Sessions, this live stream will feature a line up of 12 Tampa/St.Pete performers, including Song Divers alum J.T. Brown and Kristopher James, along with upcoming guests Shawn Kyle and Mountain Holler as well as many more we hope to have in the studio in the future. In anticipation of that event, and the many more it will inspire, we got ahold of Nick Ewing, Kristopher James, and J.T. Brown to get more details on The Dream Stream and see how a few of the SouthEast's finest songwriters are weathering the storm.
