The miracle of live music in a small town
We are spoiled for live music in Northumberland County. Leaving to the side the myriad of exceptional classical and orchestral offerings, let’s think about our local popular music scene. We have a pretty incredible array of local musicians around town. You probably don’t know half of them by name, but they’re all around, playing every style you can think of, knocking it out of the park. Pop into the monthly youth coffee houses hosted by SONG at the Capitol Theatre and you will be amazed at the young talent that is quietly coming up the ranks. Many bars and cafes are trying to support local musicians, which is wonderful, but at this time of year especially it’s tough to get anyone out to listen.
(If you’d like to hear some of what this county has to offer, check out my northumberland creates playlist on Spotify, and let me know if I’m missing anyone!)
Of course I have a show coming up, and of course this message is inspired somewhat by my own efforts to sell tickets. It will be a really special show, an intimate songwriters circle where Jakeb Daniel, Graven and I share our original songs and the stories behind them in a sweet little one room schoolhouse for a small crowd. Last year it sold out; this year ticket sales are slooooow. As an event organizer it’s really helpful when people buy tickets in advance so we know we won’t be losing money. This event, for instance, comes with about $400 worth of expenses for me before I can take a dollar for myself. That’s 20 tickets I need to sell just to break even. Should be doable, I’m banking on it happening, but I’m also taking the risk of making no money or even losing money. That’s the live music game, especially in a small town.
But also! Do you know about the Hibernate Festival happening on Family Day weekend? Literally stacked with a gorgeous lineup of live music, it should be sold out already but it’s not. I know it’s February and people have actually been swallowed up by their couches, but we have world class musicians in Port Hope for less than you’d pay to see them in a larger city. It’s such a beautiful thing right at our fingertips, and it isn’t sold out. That’s crazy to me.
So this is my reminder to you that live music at the calibre we experience here is a freaking miracle, but it can’t exist if people don’t buy tickets. I really want you at my show on February 11 because that kind of close connection and sharing lights me up and I know we will give you a beautiful experience. But I really, really want you to buy a ticket to at least one of the Hibernate shows because they are wildly good and we need to support and celebrate such incredible happenings right in our own backyard. We are lucky to have it and we can’t take it for granted.
My brazen plugs:
Tickets for my February 11 Up Close & Personal show (Shannon and Jakeb with Graven)
Info and tickets for Hibernate - I’ll be at the whole damn thing and I hope to see you there!
northumberland creates playlist - find your new favourite local artist and then get out to see them play.
See you at a show in the near future!
xo
Shannon
Upcoming Shows (Shannon and Jakeb)
Feb 10 - Ottawa show with Graven - Meow That’s Hot - tickets
Feb 11 - Up Close & Personal with Graven (Camborne) - tickets
Feb 23 - Walk the Line (Port Hope) - Sold Out
Featured Playlist - northumberland creates
This playlist features 46 songs from various Northumberland County artists - and it’s collaborative! Which means, if you know of a local band or musician I’ve missed you can add one of their songs.
Listen here.