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COVID-19

Live Music is Back

EXPERIENCING LIVE HUNTSVILLE MUSIC DURING COVID-19

September 16, 2020 by Grace Treutel
COVID-19, Live Music
alabama, ally free, april prendergrass, culture, green bus, huntsville, huntsville live music, live huntsville music, music, rocket republic, stovehouse
Rawk It

In late August, HuntsvilleMusic.com published a piece on seeing Huntsville live music shows safely during COVID-19. This advice stemmed from a combination of CDC recommendations, local and state ordinances, and individual venue guidelines. We decided to experience the scene ourselves by checking out a few shows.

Tom, Alex, and I hit our first stop, Stovehouse, when it was still light outside, and we were pleasantly surprised to find that it was straight-up crowded – crowded, while managing to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Steven Jackson, Stovehouse’s Director of Marketing and Communications, gave some insight into how Stovehouse has dealt with crowds, COVID, and fostering a sense of community safely.

“Like everyone else, we stressed about the best ways to handle crowds safely as they slowly returned to eat and drink. Luckily, we have a 200,000 sq. ft. campus that is mostly outdoor plus a bazillion tables and chairs. We were able to encourage folks to use the whole space to socially distance while enjoying each other, live music, and the backyard party atmosphere that we try to provide here. Not to mention we’ve used five years’ worth of hand sanitizer over the past few months.”

This initiative has been a success so far, with groups of show-goers dotting the green outdoor space at Stovehouse with six-foot gaps between them. More impressive still: everyone, right down to the littles, seemed to be wearing a mask when not eating or drinking. When asked how he managed to pull that off, Steven was honest.

“We kept the mood light instead of oppressive. It’s a lot easier to ask folks to ‘Do it for MeeMaw’ than it is to say ‘wear a mask or you’ll be escorted off campus.’ We’re fortunate to have patrons who get our whacked sense of humor AND the importance of keeping each other safe.”

The band that evening was ToY ShoP, a local chill rock sound that had a few brave masked souls dancing by the third song. Add a cold cocktail and a languid sunset and by the time we finished dinner (Fresko Grill for Tom, vodka for Alex and me), spirits were high and we had that distinct, familiar looseness and sense of camaraderie that live music brings.

By the time we made it to Green Bus Brewing, dusk was falling and Ally Free was halfway through her set.

When we walked in, she of course recognized Tom and Alex (who in Huntsville doesn’t?) and greeted them both before making a point to thank everyone for coming out. And, like Stovehouse, it seemed everyone had come out; the narrow street outside of Green Bus was a study in lawn chairs and six-foot gaps, with music lovers sipping from purple cups and calling to one another through masks. Ally seemed absolutely in her element, undeterred by the distance and masks as she promised a ‘great night’ and started strumming the opening chords for her next song.

If you’ve been out in downtown Huntsville, chances are you’ve heard Ally play. If not, you need to; her voice is if someone took the coziness of hot cocoa, the decadence of supple leather oxfords, and the smell of campfire and packaged it into one smoky sound. She’s generous with covers, guaranteeing you’ll be able to sing along, and she has a way of connecting with her audience that makes you feel as though she’s genuinely happy to see you.

Golden Ratio

 

And that night, she was genuinely happy to see everyone at Green Bus.

“I love playing [at Green Bus]. The crowd is receptive and, for the most part, very respectful of the COVID rules they’ve set in place. I always have a great time, especially when they have the Art Walk the same night I’m playing.”

Our last stop of the night was Rocket Republic where April Pendergrass was playing in a trio with an accompanying violinist and drummer, creating a dreamy, winding-down vibe. It was late enough in the night that the crowd had thinned, leaving ample space to socially distance. And, since we were in the outdoor biergarten, we felt comfortable slipping off our masks to sip our Scotch Rockets. It was the perfect end to a much-needed night out, and our own Alex Hendrix sums it up best:

“I didn’t fully realize how much I’d missed the energy of live music until I was finally back, standing (a safe distance) in front of a stage.”

Live music is back, Huntsville. Mask up, grab a purple cup, keep a six foot distance, and practice safe sound.

For more information on Huntsville live music safety precautions, check out our piece here.

To find upcoming shows near you, check our calendar.

 

ToY ShoP
Stovehouse
Grace and Alex - Stovehouse
Ally Free at Green Bus Brewing
Stovehouse
April Pendergrass at Rocket Republic Downtown
Live Music Is Back
Grace Headshot
Grace Treutel

Grace is the Content Director of HuntsvilleMusic.com and lives in Madison, AL, which really isn’t that far, guys.


Got ideas on how we can help build Huntsville’s music scene? We’re all ears. Send me an EMAIL with any questions, comments, or suggestions, and  SiGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER for important updates. Don’t worry – we won’t overload you. Important stuff only, promise.

huntsvillemusic.com/
Practice Safe Sound

Seeing Shows Safely During COVID-19

August 26, 2020 by Grace Treutel
COVID-19, News
coronavirus, covid19, huntsville alabama, huntsville live music, live music, pandemic

Let’s be honest: COVID-19 has been a real bitch.

We’ve all slid into our new reality of mask wearing, social distancing, and attending virtual work meetings sans pants.

But there are some things still worth putting on pants for, including the Huntsville live music scene in Huntsville, Alabama.

Going to shows may look a little different these days – think plexiglass dividers between artists and audiences, pre-booked tables set six feet away, and a lot of elbow-fives instead of hugs – but it’s still well worth coming out to see the crop of rich local talent our city has to offer.

So how can you hear live music while still being responsible and staying safe?

Venues are taking steps to ensure everyone stays happy and healthy, but there are things you can do, too.

If you’re going to a music venue, check first to see what precautions they’re taking. Here are just a few things happening around town to keep everyone safe.

Several Huntsville live music venues, like Mars Music Hall and Sidetracks Music Hall, are adhering to by-table seating, meaning that you and your group can buy tickets and remain at least six feet away from other show-goers.

Smaller, open-air venues like Yellowhammer Brewing are incorporating plexiglass dividers between the artists and the audience to ensure health and safety for all involved.

And some venues, like Green Bus Brewing, are encouraging listeners to bring their own chairs and camp out at socially-distant intervals outside in the open air.

Ally Free at Green Bus Brewing

You can see Ally Free play at multiple Huntsville venues – See her upcoming shows

 

While the best way to keep safe and healthy is to isolate as much as possible, there are steps you can take when going out to be respectful of your health and the health of others.

Here are some things you can do to ensure you keep yourself and everyone around you safe and healthy while still enjoying live music.


  • Mask up! At HuntsvilleMusic.com, we are big fans of the mask – in no small part because every time Tom puts his on, he says he feels like an old-timey bank robber. If you’re in need of a mask to show your local pride, we recommend these “Keep Your Space, Huntsville” masks from our friends at the CVB.


  • Hand sanitizer. It’s a good rule of thumb to keep a personal-sized bottle of hand sanitizer on your person anyway, but doubly so when you’re going out and about. Keep some on hand (get it) and sanitize often to ensure you keep yourself and others safe.


  • Stay six feet apart. Temporarily gone are the days when you go to a packed-out show and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers, lightly sweating on each other as you belt out the lyrics. For some of us, this may be a good thing – you now have a built-in excuse to avoid the claustrophobia of a tight venue! Avoid spaces where you can’t have space, and always practice safe social distancing.


  • Take advantage of table seating. In a similar vein, many venues are offering ticketed tables to enforce social distancing. We mentioned above that Mars Music Hall and Sidetracks are among those venues, and their practice is to sell tickets in blocks of tables to keep show-goers isolated as much as possible.

And, as always, if you aren’t feeling well, have a fever, or are showing symptoms of illness, just stay home. Live music is awesome and at HuntsvilleMusic.com, we’re all about encouraging everyone to come out and support – but never at the expense of their health or the health of others.

For now, practice safe sound, Huntsville. Mask up, sanitize, keep your distance, and rock on.

Grace Headshot
Grace Treutel

Grace is the Content Director of HuntsvilleMusic.com and lives in Madison, AL, which really isn’t that far, guys.


Got ideas on how we can help build Huntsville’s music scene? We’re all ears. Send me an EMAIL with any questions, comments, or suggestions, and  SiGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER for important updates. Don’t worry – we won’t overload you. Important stuff only, promise.

huntsvillemusic.com/

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