Live music in Germany fell silent about a year ago. The last concert took place at Hamburg’s Barclays Arena on 8 March 2020. To mark the anniversary, Sasha planned to counter the ongoing silence with a campfire concert at FAME FOREST – for just one person from another household.
Even the rainy weather in Hamburg couldn’t stop these plans. To escape the storm, Sasha moved the campfire concert from FAME FOREST to the empty Barclays Arena without hesitation.
On 11 March 2021, Hamburg-based pop singer Sasha gave perhaps the smallest concert ever held at Barclays Arena. About a year after the lights went out and the microphones fell silent in venues across the country, the idea of the FAME FOREST CampFireConcert was relocated to Barclays Arena, all while strictly adhering to hygiene protocols.
“I love music. To be able to play for just one fan is a gift—for both sides,” said a delighted Sasha ahead of the very special evening. He added, “It’s not just the 1.50 meters on the measuring tape that provides the necessary distance, but a warming, crackling campfire between me and the fan.”
Since 2019, every artist who performs at the Barclays Arena has been given a tree as a gift, resulting in a small forest – the so-called FAME FOREST. A sign hangs around each tree indicating which artist the tree was donated to. However, due to a lack of concerts, Barclays has come up with a new solution.
‘We didn’t want the virus to ruin our new tradition and, at the same time, send a message of hope to the cultural sector, which – like environmental protection—is very close to our hearts. That’s why we planted a tree for each of the 100 or so events that were canceled last year.’
Tobias Grieß, CEO of Barclays Germany
