4 posts tagged “frederick arts council”
March is Women's History Month, and ArtNext is hosting a performance that features local women singers, dancers, actors, and poets. Performers include yours truly, singer/songwriter Sarah McKay, poet/dancer Kristie Culler, Equinox Dance Company, actresses from the Maryland Ensemble Theatre, and more! Admission is FREE and open to the public. For more information, call 301-662-4190 or email info@frederickartscouncil.org.
Gallery open M-F, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and by special appointment
Cultural Arts Center, 15 N. Market St., Frederick
Also in March, the Cultural Arts Center will be home to a nationally touring photo exhibit called "Changing the Face of Power: Women in the U.S. Senate." The exhibit, sponsored by the Frederick Arts Council and the Frederick County Commission for Women, features photography by Seattle-based photojournalist Melina Mara ... This image (above) takes my breath away, so I can't wait to see the others.
Chapter 12, "The Power of Place," was one of the best so far. When I got to the section about "Authenticity," my highlighter almost ran out of ink. I'm already a complete fanatic when it comes to supporting local music, and this section just added fuel to the fire.
Basically, it provides an economist's spin to what's already pretty obvious to anyone who knows anything about the music business. Independent musicians, especially those with active touring schedules, can live and work (and pay taxes) anywhere they want. There's no reason to live in an unsupportive environment that offers few opportunities for inspiration and collaboration. If a city wants to reap the benefits of a vibrant music scene, all the stakeholder groups (musicians, non-profits, government, businesses) must do everything in their power to create an environment that provides opportunities for local musicians.
Some of the best passages:
"Music is a key part of what makes a place authentic, in effect providing a sound or "audio identity." Audio identity refers to the identifiable musical genre or sound associated with local bands, clubs and so on that make up a city's music scene: blues in Chicago, Motown in Detroit, grunge in Seattle, Austin's Sixth Street. This is what many people know about these cities ... it is also the way these cities promote themselves.
"... it's hard to think of a major high-tech region that doesn't have a distinct audio identity. In addition to Seattle and Austin, consider the San Francisco Bay Area. It was home to perhaps the most creative music scene of the 1960s with the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Mamas and the Papas, Haight-Ashbury and the seminal Monterey Pop Festival. Chapel Hill, North Carolina, at the heart of the Research Triangle, was recently named as having one of the best local music scenes in the country. Technology and the music scene go together because together they reflect a place that is open to new ideas, new people and creativity. And it is for this reason that frequently I like to tell city leaders that finding ways to help support a local music scene can be just as important as investing in high-tech business and far more effective than building a downtown mall."
Please, somebody, send my local elected officials a copy of this book. Lord knows they need to read it.
Of course, this book is not just about music. In fact, it's mostly about other things. If you have any interest in economic & community development, creativity & creative industries (including graphic design, industrial design, research & development, information technology, biotechnology, and many others), this book is a must-read.
This message went out to my email list today. Here's the latest:
Just yesterday, I spent some time chatting with Barb and Mike Campbell at Studio 11, a photography and framing business in downtown Frederick. For the past few months, they've been bringing the First Saturday Gallery Walk to Court Street by opening their doors to locals, visitors, and art lovers of all kinds. The studio is beautiful, and the atmosphere is friendly ... Luckily, it's also an ideal spot for a solo, unplugged performance. If you're out and about during gallery walk, make sure you stop by. I'd love to see you, wish you a Happy New Year, and introduce you to Barb and Mike!
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Studio 11, 19 N. Court St., Suite 102, Frederick, MD
I'll be playing a solo, unplugged performance throughout First Saturday Gallery Walk
, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Studio 11 will also be celebrating the opening of the "Flashes of Life" photography exhibit by Chris Kolobow
FREE (CDs for sale)
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Music Cafe,
26528-B Ridge Road, Damascus, MD
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
With Bill Gardner (bass) and Art Krum (percussion)
Soups, salads, sandwiches, coffee, and smoothies available for purchase - Come enjoy dinner & music!
FREE (CDs for sale, and we'll probably set out a tip jar)
Monday, February 4, 2008
Brewer's Alley (Upstairs), 124 N. Market St., Frederick, MD
8:20 p.m. (Stick around for Kenny Meek's set at 8:40!)
I play a 3-song set as part of this weekly songwriter showcase, hosted by Ron Goad and sponsored by SAW and BSA
FREE
(CDs for sale -- The event organizers collect donations for the main
act, who will play a longer set at 9:00)
Also coming up ...
A featured guest spot on FNP@3 Artist Spotlight & a show at
Cafe Nola ... Dates & details TBA. Stay tuned for details!
In the works ...
Word
has it that a steel guitarist is joining us at our next rehearsal --
This whole "band" thing is really picking up steam! Also, I'll finally be
recording some of my newer material in 2008. And I'm spearheading a
compilation CD project for ArtNext, spotlighting the best of
Frederick's local music scene.
Speaking of local music ...
NoMa
Lounge, the ArtNext show at the CAC on November 23rd, was a HUGE
success -- There were 150 people who fought off the annual Thanksgiving
tryptophan overdose and came out to support local music! We were able
to raise some much-needed funds for ArtNext (a social network of creative people, initiated by the Frederick Arts Council). In mid-February, ArtNext will
celebrate its one-year anniversary, and we're gearing up for a NoMa Lounge birthday
bash, which will again feature local bands. Get ready to rock! More
details in the next update.
Here's what's scheduled so far ...
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Cultural Arts Center, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick, MD
Gallery opening and performances from 5-9 pm
I'll play a set around 7 pm at this indoor "artists market" event!
FREE (Concession sales and donations benefit ArtNext)
Thursday, August 9, 2007
North Star Cafe, 225 Congress St., Portland, ME
Maine Songwriters Association Showcase begins at 7 pm
I'm hoping to grab a spot in the open mic - begins at 9:30 pm
FREE (I think)
Monday, August 20, 2007
Brewer's Alley, 124 N. Market St., Frederick, MD
Songwriters showcase begins at 8 pm
My 3-song set is at 8:45 pm
FREE (But donations are strongly encouraged)
