There’s no area of life that escaped the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but few groups were hit as hard as the entertainment industry.

Some live concerts are finally starting to resume as the pandemic winds down in the United States, but most musicians were forced to miss their shows for more than a year. While big-time singers and bands could afford the year off or stage a few virtual shows, smaller musicians who depend on live shows for exposure and income were devastated.

A number of musicians from bands still looking to catch their big break described how their aspiring careers have been derailed by COVID-19.