2 posts tagged “local music”
I've been reading The Rise of the Creative Class for a community book discussion sponsored by ArtNext and the Frederick Arts Council. So far, it's been pretty interesting, and our first discussion yielded some good ideas.
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.
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 Monday, I'll be playing in WestSide Music's songwriter showcase at Brewer's Alley. Here are the details:
Monday, June 18, 2007
Show starts 8:00 p.m.
My 3-song set is at 8:30 p.m.
Brewer's Alley Restaurant & Brewery
124 N. Market St. (Google Map)
Downtown Frederick, MD
Brewer's Alley has great food, excellent staff, and they're providing a classy, intimate space for local/regional musicians. The showcase is in the upstairs room ... When you enter the restaurant, take the elevator to the second floor.
As some of you know, I started a new "day job" back in January ... I finally feel like I've made it through the transition, so I'm starting to devote more time to music and other extracurricular stuff. This will be my first time playing in public for a LONG time, so I'm hoping it will be a good kick-start. I'm planning to play a couple of my own tunes, as well as a favorite cover song.
(I've played throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, and it seems the "showcase" thing is more prevalent in the D.C. metro area than in some other places ... For all those outside Maryland and Virginia, it's basically just a pre-booked open mic night for songwriters, usually featuring a touring regional musician who plays a slightly longer set.)
Monday, June 18, 2007
Show starts 8:00 p.m.
My 3-song set is at 8:30 p.m.
Brewer's Alley Restaurant & Brewery
124 N. Market St. (Google Map)
Downtown Frederick, MD
Brewer's Alley has great food, excellent staff, and they're providing a classy, intimate space for local/regional musicians. The showcase is in the upstairs room ... When you enter the restaurant, take the elevator to the second floor.
As some of you know, I started a new "day job" back in January ... I finally feel like I've made it through the transition, so I'm starting to devote more time to music and other extracurricular stuff. This will be my first time playing in public for a LONG time, so I'm hoping it will be a good kick-start. I'm planning to play a couple of my own tunes, as well as a favorite cover song.
(I've played throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, and it seems the "showcase" thing is more prevalent in the D.C. metro area than in some other places ... For all those outside Maryland and Virginia, it's basically just a pre-booked open mic night for songwriters, usually featuring a touring regional musician who plays a slightly longer set.)
