Features
Singer-Songwriter Laura Marling Adds Performance After Selling Out Geo-Blocked London Union Chapel
Gus Stewart/Redferns – Laura Marling
Laura Marling performs on stage at Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time Hyde Park at Hyde Park on July 12, 2019 in London, England.
British folk artist Laura Marling is taking a novel approach to the virtual concert, with a geo-blocked, multiple-camera, ticketed concert June 6 at London’s Union Chapel (850 capacity) that added a second performance after selling 1,500 tickets to North American audiences.
The show put 1,500 tickets on sale for North American fans only, to coincide with what have been the end of her canceled North American tour, and sold out that bunch in days, according to her team, which has added an additional performance the same day, this time with tickets geo-blocked to be available to only UK and European fans. Tickets are limited to this performance as well, according to the announcement.
Minimal staff and crew will take part in order to help produce the show, and ticketholders will be given a unique YouTube link just before the broadcast starts where they’ll be able to view the performance.
Tickets start at about $15, with options to add to charities chosen by Marling, including Refuge and The Trussell Trust.
Marling, represented by WME, just released Songs For Our Daughter April 10, with boxoffice submitted to Pollstar including a sold-out Brooklyn Steel in 2017 (1,800 tickets) and two shows at Triffid in Newstead, Australia, also from 2017, which sold 1,171 tickets.
The concerts are notable as the concert industry comes up with different approaches to monetize or support venues with the livestream and virtual concert, with ticketed virtual “tours,” such as the “Live From Out There” series by Colorado-based jam band Sunsquabi and Japanese Breakfast’s efforts to help support venues with its own streamed performances.
Longtime boutique agency Fleming Artists has also adapted, using marketing/ticketing platform Side Door to geo-block ticket sales for its artists and teaming with venues to host the streamed performances.