When pedicab operator Sarah Grant and French Quarter street violinist Anna Roznowska realized in March their lifestyles were threatened by New Orleans' stay-at-home order, they were initially at a loss, but then decided to form a traveling concert on wheels called Mobile Music Box that winds through different neighborhoods in the city.
Colette Luke has more.
In a city typically throbbing with live music that is now all but silenced, this unlikely pair is trying to lift people's spirits...by bringing music back to the streets of New Orleans.
Sarah Grant is a Pedicab operator and Anna Roznowska is a French Quarter street violinist together they formed the Mobile Music Box, a traveling concert on wheels.
And neighbors stuck at home say it's exactly what they need right now.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ORLEANS RESIDENT, NAOMI WINTERS, SAYING: "I mean, I heard it before I saw it.
I thought it was our neighbors blasting music.
I'm like, 'They play instruments now?
What is this?'
And then I saw and I'm like, 'Oh, breathtaking.'
You know, this is definitely what I need.
I'm reading.
I'm drinking wine.
And it's just it's very New Orleans-like.
I mean, I am new here, but I think during the time that where we're at right now, it's appreciated.” (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ORLEANS RESIDENT, ELSA KERN, SAYING: "It's amazing and uplifting and, you know, live music is what we miss most right now, and it brings everyone out and makes everyone, you know, feel like it's a beautiful day." Roznowska is a conservatory-trained classical violinist from Poland.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MOBILE MUSIC BOX VIOLINIST, ANNA ROZNOWSKA, SAYING: "I love playing music, and I really believe in music.
And, in a time like this, yeah, we definitely need music more than anything else./..We did not know how much people needed it,/ people on the streets were just like coming out of their homes.
And we were just having goosebumps and crying.
And there was this feeling of just like, no, this this was so right.
This feels so good, like to do this right now." Grant spent years in the Peace Corps and then as the founder of a microlending nonprofit.
She says their rolling concert allows people to connect with each other.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MOBILE MUSIC BOX PEDICAB OPERATOR, SARAH GRANT, SAYING:"I think that the moments between strangers are so incredibly important, so important.
So important to talk to each other, to learn from each other.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ORLEANS RESIDENTS, WILLIE ANDERSON AND WANDA BROWN: ANDERSON: "Fantastic, something to cheer up the neighborhood." BROWN: "Something to make you laugh to keep from crying - because these walls is killing everybody.
You be glad to go outside and see something like this - do something, move around." The two live stream their rides on Facebook and they say they accept tips - with some people appearing to break the six-feet social distancing requirement.
But Grant says it’s not about the money, but more so the good vibes that come their way during this difficult time.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MOBILE MUSIC BOX PEDICAB OPERATOR, SARAH GRANT, SAYING: "People who are not artists are becoming artists right now.
I mean, because they have time and and a lot of us are going inward more.
So there's going to be so much beauty/ There hasn't been too much of a plan outside of, you know, we got to go out and do this.
If we make money, awesome, because, you know, that helps certainly.
But, you know, I think it was something that was definitely born out of love and probably has a bit of a life of its own.
So there's no real plan except just to keep doing it.”