Aside from being a health crisis, the coronavirus outbreak has also caused immense strain to the world's economy and all but shut down the live entertainment industry. For The National, it meant postponing tour dates in Australia and New Zealand, with the possibility of rescheduling their Homecoming music festival. Though the band members will be fine, their crew rely on these gigs to pay their bills. On Tuesday (March 24), the indie rockers introduced Instagram followers to their crew members and announced they'd be donating merch sales to help support them.
"Our crew are the lifeblood of our touring operation and have become family through the many years we’ve worked together," they wrote. "As uncertainty looms over the state of the live concert industry, we will direct all profits from merch sales through our webstore, new @ntlcherrytree fan club enrollments, and sales from the Cherry Tree members-only store to support our crew members throughout this crisis to the best of our ability."
Check out their charitable post below.
To keep up to date on the latest news about the coronavirus and to understand what you need to stay safe and healthy, check out the Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction podcast from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Photo: Graham MacIndoe