Massive Attack Join ‘Block By Blockwest’ Minecraft Festival
The show will feature songs from 2013’s Massive Attack vs Adam Curtis show, with vocals from Robert “3D” Del Naja and Elizabeth Fraser.
Following the success of Travis Scott’s Fortnite concert and Twitch’s virtual music festival, it seems Minecraft is the latest video game platform to host virtual concerts. UK duo Massive Attack are the latest addition to the game’s Block by Blockwest festival this weekend, joining Pussy Riot, IDLES, HEALTH, Cherry Glazerr and more.
The virtual concert will stream on Minecraft tomorrow (25 April) beginning at 3:30 pm EST/8:00 pm GMT and will stream on the band’s Facebook page from 3:00 pm.
The concert will feature songs from 2013’s Massive Attack vs Adam Curtis show, with vocals from Robert “3D” Del Naja and Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser.
In a press statement, 3D said that he’s “delighted to finally share a bill with IDLES, and to expect Siberian Punk covers and more”.
Other artists on the line-up include Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Citizen, Action Jackson and more.
Block by Blockwest will be encouraging donations to the Coronavirus Emergency Relief Fund throughout the festival.
Tomorrow! We’re stage one at 5:20pm!#BlockByBlockWest pic.twitter.com/YMleXaPnxT
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The Minecraft festival is just the latest convergence of live music and gaming culture. Millions of people tuned into the first Fortnite in-game concert when Marshmello performed back in 2019. Soon after Weezer came on board, followed by rapper Travis Scott, who appeared as a giant, kaiju-sized avatar and performed ‘Sicko Mode’ to 12.3 million players this week.
This isn’t the first time Massive Attack have lent their efforts to the current pandemic. They donated £10,000 earlier this month to a crowdfunding campaign aiming to supply free meals to NHS staff and other frontline workers in the fight against coronavirus.
The Bristol Food Union announced that the band have “extremely generously boosted the #FeedTheFrontLine campaign with a mega £10k – so much love!” The Union, which is a collective of restaurants, farmers, and growers, launched their ‘Feed The Frontline’ crowdfund two weeks ago.
Visit the official Block By Blockwest website for the full line-up and more details.
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