The Masc-uerade Ball

The Masc-uerade Ball was a unique live streaming event to promote the release of Jack Stevens’ fifth studio album Close Encounters.

Background
In light of the global coronavirus pandemic, initial plans for a the Close Encounters Tour were delayed until 2021 and promotional opportunities to promote the Close Encounters album were limited. Keen to connect with fans and offer content to them while they many were in lockdown, Jack teamed up with digital streaming service Dice for a unique live streaming event which was broadcast across the world on Saturday 28th November.  Jack announced ‘The Masc-uerade Ball’ in early November, with the title being a play on his single ‘Masc For Masc’ and tickets available exclusively to those who pre-ordered his album ‘Close Encounters’ from his website. Tickets were conservatively priced between £10-£15 and fans were able to view the performance at 8pm in their local territory. Tickets for the performance sold well and Jack trailed the performance heavily across his social media, he was joined by special guests Emily Henning, Indigo Peak and JUSTYCE. Rather than taking the visual of a usual concert tour, ‘The Masc-uerade Ball’ was instead a unique musical film that took advantage of the latest CGI and AI technology and was describe by Rolling Stone as a stunning visual spectacular, the performance showcased some of Jack’s classic hits as well as new tracks from ‘Close Encounters’ including ‘Masc For Masc’ and ‘Last Romeo’. The Masc-ureade Ball was broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK ok December 31, 2020 with extra specially recorded performances and a countdown to midnight to see in the new year.

Rolling Stone Review
Jack Stevens proves still he’s the hottest ticket in town this week as he welcome’s us to 'The Masc-uerade Ball', a unique virtual live experience, streaming this Saturday Night to launch his brand new album ‘Close Encounters’ and Rolling Stone has been given an exclusive first look at the visual spectacular which is an absolute must watch for all music fans.

Beginning in a dark sub-urban disco, to the opening bars of his hit single ‘Hook, Line & Sinking Sailor’, Jack takes us on a journey through the ‘Hole In The Wall’, while dressed in leather and surrounded by a troop of socially distanced dancers in a misty maze of lasers and smoke, the hits are constant, ‘Electropop Discosound’, ‘Popstars By Numbers’, ‘In For The Kill’ but the new tracks sit effortlessly alongside ‘The Money Shot’, ‘How London Used To Be’, ‘Made Your Bed’. As the disco reaches climax Jack leaves us with the first surprise of the night, Indigo Peak appear in an interlude performing their classic duet with Jack ‘Electric Eccentric’ in a haze of interference across various different screens. 

Outside the disco and Jack storms around a futuristic Gothic city, giant CGI skyscrapers illuminate the sky and are sprinkled with lasers as a now mesh-wearing Jack is transported through the city through various cars and motorbikes, while performing some of his best hits. Emily Henning appears on billboards around the skyline for a special remix of ‘Big In Japan’, posing on a Japanese shopping channel while JUSTYCE appears behind a shop window for a beautiful synchronised routine, almost touching Jack – damn those COVID regulations. 

As the apocalyptic city crashes and burns, Jack appears in an almost ethereal state as he transports us to a dream like land in the clouds, to slow the pace, ‘Last Romeo’, ‘Fool’s Paradise’ if you listen really closely you’ll even hear a nod to THAT infamous Lucreacia duet, ‘First Last & Only’ – as we reach the point of no return, Jack completes the show with an encore fit for a king and an audience of queens… ‘Reverend Stevens’, ‘Hands Up! Pants Down!’, ‘Masc For Masc’. Jack might be alone in an empty warehouse with just our broadband connection for company, but we challenge you to find a more accomplished, polished and triumphant live show this side of 2021.

Setlist
01.	Hook, Line & Sinking Sailor (Intro) 02.	Hole In The Wall 03.	Electropop Discosound 04.	Popstars In For The Kill (Remix) 05.	Made Your Bed 06.	The Money Shot 07.	Electric Eccentric (Indigo Peak Interlude) 08.	How London Used To Be 09. Something Kinky In Japan (Emily Henning Remix) 10.	Late Night Safari 11.	Jack For Justice (JUSTYCE Remix) 12.	Trendy Pop Boys 13.	Last Romeo 14.	Fool’s Paradise 15.	Reverend Stevens 16.	Hands Up! Pants Down! 17.	Masc For Masc

Close Encounters Tour
As well as promotion for the album Close Encounters, 'The Masc-uerade Ball' also acted as an advertisment for The Close Encounters Tour which will be Jack's first UK & Ireland Stadium Tour in 2021, with three further dates in Edinburgh, Manchester and London added shortly after broadcast. Jack hopes to take the tour to Europe, Australia and Asia dependant on the coronavirus pandemic and the outcome of a vaccine.