Inauguration festivities means that in the days leading up to the swearing in of Joe Biden as president of the United States and Kamala Harris as vice president on Jan. 20, there will be various musical performances to watch on television, which will of course also be streamed online. But perhaps most notable will be Lady Gaga singing the National Anthem on the big day itself, with additional sets by Jennifer Lopez, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, and many more.
If you’re looking for something to take your mind of politics, there are plenty of other options as well. Those include the long-awaited and twice-postponed Verzuz battle featuring Ashanti and Keyshia Cole on Jan. 21, and a big virtual concert by K-pop superstars Seventeen on the 23rd.
Below are some of the virtual music events to check out the week of Jan. 18-24. Stay tuned for other livestreams as more online shows are announced.
Jan. 18: The Chicks, Ruthie Foster and more are participating in the Move Forward Virtual Music Festival to raise money to relocate two historic Confederate monuments from the Bastrop, Texas County courthouse lawn. The event will also promote racial equality, and can be streamed on Move Forward’s YouTube and Facebook pages. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. ET.
A$AP Mob is hosting his annual Yams Day, this year virtually, and will feature an awards ceremony. Visit YamsDay.com for more information.
Jan. 21: After two postponements, the Ashanti and Keyshia Cole Verzuz battle is finally happening. The event begins at 8 p.m. ET on Verzuz’s Instagram Live or on Apple Music to watch in HD.
Phoebe Bridgers is livestreaming a set on BandsInTown.com beginning at 8 p.m. ET. A subscription is required to watch the event.
Jan. 21-30: The Hives are playing the World’s First World Wide Web Tour on Jan. 21 via livestream. The live shows will feature phone calls from fans, voting for the setlist, and more. The only U.S. show is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET on the 23rd; tickets start at $15 plus a service fee. For the full list of dates and tickets, visit The Hives’ website.
Jan. 23: K-pop stars Seventeen are kicking off 2021 with a virtual concert, during which they will perform more than 20 songs. The show begins at 4 a.m. ET. Check venewlife.com for more information.
Juliana Hatfield is performing the entirety of her 1998 album, Bed, with just an acoustic guitar. The show is pay-what-you-want, and begins at 4 p.m. ET on YouTube.
