American Football to headline virtual Minecraft COVID-19 relief festival

Set to take place within the virtual world of Minecraft, American Football will be headlining a COVID-19 relief festival called Nether Meant.

As all in-person concerts have been cancelled for the foreseeable future, many bands have taken to performing online gigs to entertain their fans. So far we’ve seen three instalments of Isol-Aid, Green Day have taken to releasing cover songs each Monday, and now U.S. emo icons American Football will be headlining a virtual gig in the video game Minecraft.

Taking place on April 11th at 6PM Eastern Standard Time (that’s U.S. time, folks), the concert is set to have American Football play alongside sixteen other bands, including BATHS, Hana, and Robin & Murder Club.

Put on by Open Pit, fans can watch the concert inside the game where there will also be VIP passes for special areas within the game on offer, as well as in-game merch. Proceeds from the concert will go directly to benefit Good360’s COVID-19 relief efforts.

Previously, Open Pit has held concerts within the world of Minecraft, craftily using puns to combine the names of the event. This festival is no different with the combination Nether Meant coming from American Football’s ‘Never Meant’ spliced with ‘the Nether’, Minecraft‘s own netherworld dimension.

As for the iconic emo band, they’re keen as for the festival. Frontman Mike Kinsella revealed to Pitchfork “I’m looking forward to (finally) being able to prove to my 7-year-old son that I do, indeed, have a job.”

Those who aren’t familiar with Minecraft can still join in on the fun by streaming the concert via Twitch. All the information on how to view the concert has been posted via the Nether Meant festival’s website announcement, so you can be sure to not miss out.

Check out ‘Uncomfortably Numb (feat. Hayley Williams)’ by American Football:

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.

Subscribe to Rolling Stone magazine

Subscribe to Rolling Stone magazine