The Best VR Events and Concerts Planned for 2021
Tags: news, virtualreality, discuss, eventdriven
Published: 2021-01-29 16:20:52

![1.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1611936226406/g2iaHvnxd.png)
© Sony

Virtual reality (VR) performances are quickly  [becoming](https://medium.com/echoar/how-virtual-reality-is-changing-the-music-industry-9b874ee166ab) the norm for live events, music concerts, and festivals (despite some unfortunate news coming from Wave earlier this week regarding their VR app). Most recently, on **January 11, 2021**, fans watched as **Madison Beer**'s virtual avatar  [stood](https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/sony-immersive-reality-concert-madison-beer-ces-1234882988/) in Sony Hall, New York performing her debut song "Boyshit." While she stood in a studio in her virtual reality suit, Beer gave her fans the appearance of a live concert. In this VR concert hosted by **Sony**, viewers around the world were able to share in "Madison Beer Immersive Reality Concert Experience," by watching the concert using VR devices such as PlayStation VR and Oculus VR. Following the success of the show, **Sony** is planning to  [expand](https://square.sony.com/ces2021/digital-press-event-4) its efforts to provide opportunities for artists to create immersive experiences in the future.

![2.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1611936279106/zQzfuECDm.png)
© Sony

With COVID-19 still a reality, many event planners are also looking for innovative ways to put together an experience for their viewers that feels as close to real life as possible. The **Sundance Film Festival**, which is being held from **January 28 to February 3**, is now  [offering](https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/sundance-film-festival-goes-virtual-reality-2021) a virtual reality recreation of the event. Tuning in through their virtual headsets, attendees will be able to take part in a "futuristic parallel reality" experience. The virtual reality version is not simply a live reconstruction of the festival. Rather, it uses VR to create an entirely different experience for the viewers. This includes a VR party room as well as access to five film features that will be shown in "a fully realized VR theater."

![3.jfif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1611936321148/eYwdBgyWw.jpeg)
© Engadget

Some of the great VR experiences featured in Sundance this year that will require you to put on your headset include:

*  [Namoo](https://fpg.festival.sundance.org/new-frontier-info/5fd1a6d463d6770cd7c3aaf2) 
*  [4 Feet High VR](https://fpg.festival.sundance.org/new-frontier-info/5fd1a09663d67772e5c3aa4d) 
*  [Tinker](https://fpg.festival.sundance.org/new-frontier-info/5fd1a66947af89d68fb3175a) 
*   [The Changing Same: Episode 1](https://fpg.festival.sundance.org/new-frontier-info/5fd1a28463d6776b7bc3aa68) 
*  [Nightsss](https://fpg.festival.sundance.org/new-frontier-info/5fd196e263d677158fc3a889) 
*  [Prison X - Chapter One: The Devil and the Sun](https://fpg.festival.sundance.org/new-frontier-info/5fd1a2b863d677ddecc3aa89) , and
*  [To Miss the Ending](https://fpg.festival.sundance.org/new-frontier-info/5fd19cdc63d677735dc3a98f) 


![4.jpg](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1611936412701/3doGRc7lH.jpeg)
© Sundance Institute (Project Nightsss)

Pop concerts and film festivals are not the only events that are exploring the limits of VR technology. In **March 12 & 13**, the symphonic metal band **Nightwish** from Finland will  [offer](https://nightwish.com/) its fans a unique two-nights VR performance within a tavern built in virtual reality world, as part of their upcoming world tour. In the meantime, **Adelphi Orchestra** in New Jersey is also  [planning](https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/2021/01/12/adelphi-orchestra-to-present-virtual-reality-concert-on-march-20th//) a virtual reality concert for **March 20, 2021**. The concert will be an "immersive 360 degrees performance" of Vivaldi's famous Four Seasons featuring violinist Laura Hamilton. The event will broadcast on both HD and 360-degree virtual reality.

![5.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1611936460400/2CvdniMNt.png)
© Adelphi Orchestra

---

![6.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1611936474640/pe95yEkGa.png)
Scan this QR code with your phone to see something awesome!

or go directly to  [https://go.echoar.xyz/W3P9](https://go.echoar.xyz/W3P9) with your phone browser.

[Sign up](https://console.echoar.xyz/#/auth/register) to the echoAR platform
for free to create this yourself!


---

The groundbreaking implications of introducing VR technology to the music industry cannot be overstated. In Korea, for example, concerts have become an interactive virtual experience. Fans get to experience a VR concert, and even chat with their favorite K-pop idols during concert breaks. Virtual reality has not only given artists a new way to connect with their fans, but also expanded the size of their audience. Typically, there are around 10,000 attendees at a K-pop concert because of limited seating. However, the recent virtual reality concert Beyond Live  [hosted](https://abcnews.go.com/International/pop-boy-band-superm-thrills-fans-performs-concert/story?id=70362270) by the K-pop group SuperM boasted an attendance of over 75,000 fans from all around the world who would not otherwise have had the chance to see the group perform.

![7.jpg](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1611936526764/cdXwuPIh1.jpeg)
© SXSW

The annual mega-event **SXSW** is also going virtual this year and, during **March 16–20**, will  [showcase](https://www.sxsw.com/music/2021/music-festival-announces-2021-lineup-artists-indigo-sparke-seed-ensemble-squid-and-more/) selected music performances in VR via "SXSW Online XR". This year's SXSW schedule also includes a film festival XR exhibition that will  [feature](https://cart.sxsw.com/products/filmapp-vr) immersive VR projects. On **June 9, 2021** the **Tribeca Film Festival** will also  [kick off](https://tribecafilm.com/festival/submissions) and will premiere VR projects and films as part of its "Tribeca Immersive" category, some of which are expected to be provided online as immersive VR experiences, in a manner which should  [resemble](https://tribecafilm.com/festival) last year's event.


![8.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1611936609746/tj-ubN8hB.png)
© Tribeca Enterprises LLC

As events and concerts continue to be revolutionized by VR technology, we at  [echoAR](https://www.echoar.xyz/)  hope to continue to be part of that journey. With our 3D-ready cloud platform, companies can manage and deliver AR/VR content that can be used on apps and devices everywhere, making our technology a great option for virtual events or concerts.


---

> **echoAR** (http://www.echoAR.xyz; Techstars '19) is a cloud platform for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) that provides tools and server-side infrastructure to help developers & companies quickly build and deploy AR/VR apps and experiences.


![9.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1611936644189/ZyaJIqL4WG.png)