The National set to stream on YouTube for those without tickets

Saturday nights don’t always bring rock concerts for all of us, and if you’re stuck at home on the second weekend of February with nothing to do, YouTube will be airing a rock concert that should be just like being there.

It may lack the atmosphere, but fans of the band The National will be able to check out the group’s music without reaching for their wallet thanks to the Sydney Opera House streaming the performance on the night of February 8.

“Experiencing a performance at the Opera House is unlike anywhere else,” said Ben Marshall, Head of Contemporary Music at the Sydney Opera house, adding “as one of the greatest buildings of the 20th century we play host to the great artists of the world, and we want to share the magical experience of live performance with every corner of the globe by live streaming, taking extraordinary artists live into people’s homes and hands.”

“To do this with a band as magnificent as The National is a dream come true,” said Marshall. “My association with the band goes back many years and watching their continuous ascent over this time has been absolutely thrilling.

“I could not be any prouder to present two sold out shows by The National on the steps on the Opera House, and to live stream this performance around the world will be a major moment.”

The event is one of many that has occurred since YouTube and the Sydney Opera House teamed up in late 2012 to deliver performances to the world, with artists partaking in the program including Sarah Blasko, Neil Finn, Wilco, Counting Crows, Grizzly Bear, and Empire of the Sun.

Previous performance videos can be watched in full at the Sydney Opera House YouTube site, but on Saturday, February 8, indie rock stars The National will go live to YouTube, as the rockers play in the Forecourt of the Opera House.

If you’re keen to watch, tune in to the Sydney Opera House website on February 8 at 8.20 AEDT PM (20.20).

We’re hoping they play the song they made for Portal 2, though we would say that.