Governor Cuomo announces 'Pop Up gigs' in New York

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that there will be around 300 ‘Pop up gigs’ running through Labor Day.

These gigs are being called “NY PopUps”, and they will start February 20th with a free performance for health care workers. That specific gig will feature Anthony Roth Costanzo, Jon Batiste, Cecile McLorin Salvant, and Ayodele Casel. The group will travel throughout New York City and play in parks, outside hospitals and street corners. 

Film makers Jane Rosenthal and Scott Rudin will run the program alongside the New York State Council on the Arts and Empire State Development. 

“We’re trying to thread the needle,” Cuomo stated to the New York Times. “We want the performances. We don’t want mass gatherings and we don’t want large crowds.”

10,000 new cases a day are reported in New York, which is similar to the first wave New York experienced in 2020. Despite this, New York is attempting to start the process of bringing back live music.