Mountain Music - a New Venue

Subject: Mountain Music - a New Venue
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Jul 06 - 12:26 PM

In Juneau, Alaska, I've been asked to find and book 8 or 9 sets of performers for a new end-of-season music night in a mountain top restaurant and theatre one reaches - or can - by way of tram. (The management will do the promotion; they won't pay the performers but will present each with a season pass on the tram for next year, which is not too shabby)

They suggested that in addition to the performances there could be a contest, such as fiddling or flatpicking.

Frankly, I don't like competition in a small community. I think it's divisive as well as inaccurate and meaningless.

I'm suggesting that instead there could be a demonstration of different versions of an old familiar tune, whether it's Happy Birthday or Soldier's Joy or whatever.

Any ideas?

Subject: RE: Mountain Music - a New Venue
From: BanjoRay
Date: 13 Jul 06 - 03:37 PM

There are lots of small communities in the Southern Appalachians which have held annual festivals with competitions for many years. I suspect that in thin years it was only the competitions that kept them going. I also suspect that the competitive challenge maybe grabbed people before the love of the music - this came later.
Ray
(a Brit who's visited a few US festivals and competed)

Subject: RE: Mountain Music - a New Venue
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Jul 06 - 04:23 PM

But, Ray, one big difference is that not only is this a small community but we don't have access to other communities so we can't draw from them- we're pretty isolated here.

That means that that means in this town just about the whole music community knows each other. That also means that there are not too many performers in each genre, which means that there aren't too many playing in each of the Texas-style, the Irish-style, the Cajun-style, the bluegrass-style, or the symphony-style violin. In fact, I could tick off on one hand each (Texas/Gerry; Irish/Andy; Cajun/Bob; bluegrass/Melissa; symphony/Steve). See what I mean?

Thanks for opening this thread. I should have titled it differently so people would have a clue as to what it's about.

Subject: RE: Mountain Music - a New Venue
From: BanjoRay
Date: 13 Jul 06 - 06:15 PM

I see your problem, Ebbie. Good luck solving it. I wouldn't fancy listening to 10 different versions of Soldier's Joy, though - they're not THAT different! But it sounds like you could manage a concert with lots of variety.
Ray

Subject: RE: Mountain Music - a New Venue
From: Ernest
Date: 14 Jul 06 - 06:49 AM

How about a presentation of the various styles of music then?

Maybe you could find "standards" that are played in all those kinds of music to be presented in all variations.

Or let every band pick a tune/song from another style and let the audience deceide which presentation they liked best. Or a funny song.... just something that makes the competition less serious and more fun for the musicians.

Whatever you do: good luck
Ernest

Subject: RE: Mountain Music - a New Venue
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 14 Jul 06 - 04:13 PM

Any chance you could get them to spring for airfare from Anchorage Ebbie?

Subject: RE: Mountain Music - a New Venue
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Jul 06 - 10:08 AM

I used to do demos in elementary schools....lots of stringed instruments, mostly viol family but also harp and lap dulcimer. One thing I did was use either Turkey in the Straw or Golden Slippers to demo several diff styles of music....bluegrass, old time, Irish, Wagner, Bach, etc. You could maybe do that?