Author: Dalia Jakubauskas, December 2, 2021
About 20 years ago, Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans and the creative people who made the city their home, almost destroying both. Now a different but equally destructive storm-the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic-threatens the lives and livelihoods of artists fighting for survival.
After Hurricane Katrina, Music Rising, a non-profit organization co-founded by U2's The Edge, producer Bob Ezrin, and many music industry partners, helped rebuild New Orleans and the culture of the region. Lost or destroyed in the flood. The charity cooperated with the virtual event platform ohyay to return to its roots, in "Guitar Idol: Musical Instrument Auctions Conducive to the Rise of Music."
Scheduled to start at 10:00 AM Pacific Standard Time on December 11, hosted by Van Eaton Galleries in Los Angeles, the immersive virtual experience will open the door to exclusive events and auction catalogs, featuring Bono, Lenny Kravitz, Tom Morello, Chris Martin, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Eddie Vedder, Slash and Elton John, and more of the world’s most famous musicians and friends of Music Rising. Highlights include The Edge 2005 limited-edition Gibson Les Paul Music Rising guitar; Paul McCartney's tour and studio played the left-handed "Wings" Yamaha BB-1200 electric bass guitar; The Edge "I haven't found what I want" Custom signature fender Stratocaster; Lenny Kravitz Tour played Custom Gibson Flying V; and Bono’s U2 Tour played Custom Gibson ES-175 electric guitar, to name a few. The virtual environment will also pay tribute to the founding mission of Music Rising by allowing visitors to explore virtual New Orleans landmarks such as Bourbon Street, Conservation Hall and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation.
"Through ohyay, we have created a public, experiential and inclusive virtual space for music lovers all over the world. We are delighted that people can experience unprecedented online auctions and compete with their favorites on a new level. Artists make connections," U2's The Edge said in a press release.
Music fans and collectors interested in live auctions will be able to access 360-degree views of selected instruments, learn the stories behind them, and watch performances filmed specifically for the virtual experience. They can also purchase new limited edition Music Rising merchandise from the exclusive virtual gift shop.
From now until January 1, viewers can join the ohyay experience and invite their friends by visiting www.ohyay.co/musicrising. You can view the "Guitar Icon: Musical Instrument Auctions That Beneficial to the Rise of Music" catalog and available for purchase. Visit the Van Eaton Gallery's website at www.vegalleries.com/musicrising. For more information, please click on the link below.
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