Rapper Matt "Nur-D" Allen not only saw his upcoming gigs at the Fine Line and Minnesota United's home opener postponed over the past week, he even had to put off his late-April wedding amid the growing coronavirus quarantine.
He's still married to the idea to continue performing, though.
"This is not only hurting musicians financially, it's also affected them emotionally," said the Rosemount-reared rising star, who is helping out on both fronts with a new livestream series he debuted this past Sunday.
Dubbed the Quarantine World Tour, his online gigs feature other guests from the Twin Cities music scene in various studios around town. After hosting pop-rockers Yam Haus on Thursday night, he has fellow Picked to Click poll winners Gully Boys on Saturday and another hip-hop stalwart, Dwynell Roland, on Sunday.
During the webcasts — which alternate between Nur-D's Instagram, Facebook and Twitch accounts — viewers are asked to send money via Venmo to the MN Arts Relief Fund, which will benefit the performers in each case as well as other musicians. The first show raised an impressive $1,200.
Nur-D is so far the most productive of the many Twin Cities musicians not only scrambling to make ends meet by livestreaming gigs, but also simply trying to maintain their creative flow and sanity.
"It'll never replace the thrill of being in front of an audience," he said, "but it helps fill the void in the meantime."
Many other musicians are setting up online gigs to promote their albums available online, or they are simply asking for "tips," which viewers can contribute via Venmo, PayPal or other virtual payment platforms.
![Portrait of Twin Cities rapper Nur-D .] Jerry Holt • Jerry.Holt@startribune.com Twin Cities rapper Nur-D leads the pack in First Avenue's annual Best New Bands showcase on Saturday. Matt Allen spent his day at his favorite store "Source Comics" Thursday January 16, 2020 in Roseville ,MN.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/FUM2P3YSQYUT7IBPXIVZZUONXQ.jpg?&w=712)
