4 Things We’re Thankful For

‘Tis the season to count your blessings and not your calories, at least that’s what we tell ourselves as we reach for one more Good Company pastry.

2020 has been a wild one, but we’re here to say that it hasn’t been all bad. Even in the bleakest of times, we’ve found some key things to be thankful for, from quirky new jams to multi-million dollar developments.

We are thankful for…forward motion

While so many cities have come to screeching halt amid the uncertainty of pandemic life, Huntsville has continued to gain momentum. The Rocket City has taken the time to innovate and reimagine, and because of that we are seeing live music return with safety measures in place. From Mars Music Hall’s local series to Humphrey’s patio shows, Huntsville venues are bringing your favorite Huntsville faces back to the stage for live performances all across town.

But we’re not just returning to the typical — we’re also making moves. And excitement for a big move, the Huntsville Amphitheater, is palpable.

At the start of the pandemic, the fate of the amphitheater, a large-scale project, seemed to be up in the air. But we’re happy to report that Huntsville’s amphitheater-slash-park-slash-community-mecca is right on track for a 2022 opening and slated to give 8,000 music lovers perfect acoustics and uninterrupted views.

We are thankful for…new tunes

Many artists have taken time during quarantine to perfect a plan for releasing new music, and we are loving the additions to our playlists. In the last few weeks alone we’ve been graced with Live Local alum Preston Watts’ long-awaited release, Distractions from the Truth, a new single from beloved duo The Beasley Brothers, and a full-length album from Huntsville transplant Andrew Loehr.

Plus, there’s even more to come in November. WANDA is releasing their debut record this month, with first single Lazy Susan already out and garnering rave reviews. Fans are encouraged to pre-order now and celebrate the milestone release of their album, One-Hit, this Saturday, November 14th at Gold Sprint for their release show.

We are thankful for… tireless supporters:

It would be impossible to have a collaborative music effort in Huntsville without the constant support of community members who work tirelessly to build up musicians and venues. These busy hands are often working long hours behind the scenes with very little personal payoff.

Huntsville locals like Judy Allison, Huntsville Music Board member and Founder of Purple19, which hosts Music Biz Mondays, education for musicians on how to navigate the music scene and SheWrites, a songwriter showcase for female writers.

We also want to mention our friend Tim Miller, who has been busy promoting local artists on his podcast In Tune with T-Mill and has spearheaded many community projects during 2020.

And of course, Mario Maitland, who founded Maitland Conservatory to ensure the future of musicians themselves, helping children pursue their dreams and passions while also cultivating a knowledge and education that assists them in actually achieving their goals.

Of course, Huntsville has many more faces that deserve a full-blown Beaches moment where we sing Wind Beneath My Wings as the sun sets, though this article would go way off the rails if we tried to fit them all into it. Please know that we see you and we are thankful for you.

We are thankful for… deserved recognition:

It’s no small feat to carve out a place for the Arts in a city built on science and technology, which is why it feels like a massive victory to be acknowledged. This is why we are overjoyed that Huntsville just won the national Scout Guide Campaign’s Top Artistic City.

We were placed in this category alongside major locations such as New Orleans, Memphis, and Richmond, so earning the top spot is something that should not be taken lightly. This further proves that Rocket City is on the rise, quickly becoming a destination for arts and music lovers as well as artists and musicians themselves.

And lastly and most importantly, we are thankful for you. For all of you who have embraced us and joined our mission to bring Huntsville music to the forefront. Thank you, from our weird family to yours.

Alex Hendrix

Alex is a native Huntsvillian and a singer/songwriter, culture promoter, and content creator.

Got ideas on how we can help build Huntsville’s music scene? We’re all ears. Send us 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.

info@alexhendrix.co

Amphitheater To Be Huntsville’s Newest Park

Huntsville’s newest park is set to open its doors in 2022 — and by park, we mean amphitheater.

Ryan Murphy, President of Huntsville Venue Group and the mastermind behind the amphitheater, met with HuntsvilleMusic.com to fill us in on the big things ahead for Huntsville’s amphitheater. It’s a project that’s been two years in the making and which, as of October 2020, has been officially greenlit by Huntsville city.

“It’s going to look like nothing you’ve seen before,” Ryan promises, his excitement contagious.

The amphitheater will be a Romanesque marvel designed to hold 8,000 to 8,500 showgoers with not a single bad seat in the house. The design is intentional; the inside will be a bowl created to ‘hug in the sound,’ ensuring that everyone in attendance will be able to hear the live music regardless of seat.

“We’re lifting [audience members] up and bringing them in as tight as possible. The artist/fan experience is just mind-blowing at that point. Even in the worst seat in the house, you’re seeing the whites of the performers’ eyes.

And those ‘worst seats’ will be made all the better since the higher you climb in the amphitheater’s bowl, the better your view will be of Huntsville’s breathtaking skyline and sunsets.

But it isn’t just Huntsville locals Ryan and his team plan on attracting with the amphitheater. The plan is to draw in big-name performers and eventually host festivals and other events that turn the amphitheater into what Ryan refers to as a “pilgrimage spot,” further cementing Huntsville as a Music City in its own right.

“When Sound Diplomacy was here researching the idea of an amphitheater for the sound audit, my partners flew down and suggested creating an amphitheater that wouldn’t be just one of many but would be the one. The only one like it.”

Currently, the amphitheater is set to begin construction in 2021 with a projected completion date of January 2022. Its open-air structure means it will be a viable venue for socially distant events and allow for safe event-going in the current climate. The first concert won’t be for several months after construction is complete, but Ryan doesn’t plan on waiting until then to open the doors.

“By February and March [of 2022], ideally we’re doing community events. I am very much a proponent of opening this place up and literally anyone who wants to see it – wants to walk around, check it out – you’ll have a couple months to have done that before the first major concert. I wanna open this place and people go, ‘hey, I might not ever buy a ticket to see a concert there, but I can walk through and go grab a sandwich, a beer, I can go have a picnic, I can go do yoga, I can run the stairs.’”

These are the blueprints that decorate the office of The Venue Group.

Ryan’s list of amphitheater activities outside of shows isn’t merely hypothetical; all of these suggestions are rooted in experience. After all, this isn’t the first amphitheater he’s conceptualized and reinvented.

Ryan spent the last decade bringing the St. Augustine Amphitheater – colloquially and affectionately known as The Amp – into a new golden age. Along with booking star-power performers like Stevie Nicks, Steely Dan, and Santana, Ryan introduced community-minded initiatives like farmer’s markets, art shows, and smaller-scale concerts by local artists. It’s this vision he plans on iterating here in Huntsville.

“At St. Augustine, I’d get to work at 7:30 and there’d be people doing yoga in the pit. On any given day, there may be a farmer’s market, there’d be bands, there’s stuff for kids. There’d always be something going on to where you could go and not spend a dollar and still have a full day of fun.”

My question: “So… it’s like a park?’

“It is, yeah. It’s entirely for Huntsville, by Huntsville. We want to really drive home that point – that this is yours. Granted, we’ll still have ticketed events with awesome artists playing, but on any given day, if there’s not a concert, these gates are wide open.”

But it won’t only be big names performing in the 8,000-capacity venue. When asked about other, smaller bands and local acts, Ryan was enthusiastic about involving and showcasing this talent, too.

“We’ll have smaller bands play, too – we’ll get creative.”

Ryan draws inspiration from well-known, community-embracing venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado and Forest Hills Stadium in New York, both of which encourage community involvement and have famously expanded beyond the traditional understanding of a music venue. He believes that with the right mindset and the right community, the Huntsville Amphitheater can be counted among these ranks.

The amphitheater will be located in the MidCity district, tucked into the greenway to enhance the park-going experience. It will attract shows across all genres and be home to future festivals, art installations, farmers markets, and more. To stay up to date on the amphitheater’s progress, visit huntsvilleamphitheater.com and sign up for their mailing list, or follow them on social media @huntsvilleamphitheater.

Ryan’s promise to the community (and beyond) is simple: “On any given day, there’s going to be something.”

And we at HuntsvilleMusic.com cannot wait to go.

Ryan Murphy talks about the future plans for park.

Ryan Murphy talks about the orientation of the amphitheater.

Watch Know Huntsville’s interview with Ryan Murphy.

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/

Turn Up for Huntsville Arts Week 2020

October 14, 2020 by Grace Treutel

Art, Culture, Live Music, News

arts huntsville, hsv, huntsville alabama, huntsville arts week, huntsville culture, local arts, local culture, local music, north alabama

Great news, Huntsville: Huntsville Arts Week is on, and Arts Huntsivlle says it’s going to be awesome.

We all know 2020 has been a year of pure chaos. A global pandemic swallowed up our lives, Joe Exotic inexplicably became part of the zeitgeist, and this sexy hand sanitizer costume exists.

But, instead of fighting against the weirdness, Arts Huntsville has decided to embrace the madness during this year’s Arts Week by gathering together an eclectic roundup of participants and changing up the format. And we at HuntsvilleMusic.com want to make sure we cover it, since music is a key part of our arts and culture scene.

Here’s the what, when, who, and how of Arts Huntsville’s Huntsville Arts Week so you can stay plugged in to the Huntsville arts scene.

Patrice Johnson with Arts Huntsville says this year, Arts Week is going to be “kind of virtual, kind of in-person – it’s a mix!”

She’s referring to the many vendors who are participating in Arts Week this year, including Spirited Art, Burritt on the Mountain, The Camp, Lowe Mill, and Maitland Conservatory.

According to the Arts Huntsville Facebook page, “This year, much like everything else, Huntsville Arts Week will look a little bit different. However, we are still shining a spotlight on the Huntsville arts scene and showcasing ways you can connect to the arts…even while staying safe and social distancing. There is so much to discover!”

Here’s an overview of the events slated for the 2020 Huntsville Arts Week.

“Amelia and Harriet’s Magical Adventure” – Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater and Academy‘s Virtual Production on Facebook Live October 17th at 2PM. This virtual event is free, however, FPCTA is accepting donations if you are able to contribute.

Painting Pumpkins – On October 18, kiddos ages 3+ along with their family can enjoy an afternoon of painting pumpkins with Spirited Art Huntsville at Salty Nut Brewery. More information can be found https://bit.ly/33TOqPn

Registration Is Required

Get hands-on at Huntsville Museum of Art – CREATE Saturdays –Kandinsky Tree Art

CREATE Saturdays offer, FREE, fun, interactive art-making activities for families with children ages 3 and up that will sure to spark one’s creativity! Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. There will be two sessions, one at 11 a.m. and one at 1 p.m. with each session lasting 45 minutes on October 17th.

Registration is Required

“Drive-In Cabaret titled The Villains of Broadway- Independent Musical Productions presents a cavalcade of musical theatre bad guys (and girls) whom we simply love to hate Sunday, October 18, at 7:00 pm.

Halloween Block Party – Print a spooky Halloween keepsake with original, one-of-a-kind Green Pea Press blocks! Pick any block you like from our Halloween selection, and help run the press to print your item on the spot. Saturday, October 24th at their Lowe Mill location.

To follow along and see who else joins the Huntsville Arts Week lineup, check out the full list of the events and participants on the Arts Huntsville site here.

Mask up, practice safe sound, and get out to support the arts, Huntsville!

Grace Treutel

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

huntsvillemusic.com/

Huntsville Symphony Returns

September 30, 2020 by Grace Treutel

Art, Live Music, News

alabama, hso, huntsville, huntsville symphony, huntsville symphony orchestra, symphony, vbc, von braun center

Break out your cocktail dresses, three-piece suits, and elbow-length gloves, Huntsville – the symphony orchestra is back.

Okay, so maybe that isn’t a completely accurate representation of the dress code at a symphony concert (although a girl can dream). However, the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra does provide an option for an elegant night out, and this fall, it’s returning with two free shows.

The HSO officially resumes its 2020-2021 season on December 31st, but you don’t have to wait until New Year’s Eve to luxuriate in live symphony orchestra sounds. Instead, the orchestra is holding two Fall Festival Concerts in November, both of which will be ticketed for in-person attendees as well as streamed for at-home listeners.

Fall Festival 1:

The Four Seasons

Sunday, November 1
1:30 pm and 4:30 pm
Featuring: Amy Schwartz Moretti, violin

Fall Festival 2:

From the Alps to the Appalachians

Friday, November 13, 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 14, 11:00 am
Featuring: Aleksandra Kasman, piano

Current 20-21 Season Subscribers (Classical or Pops) can request tickets to the Fall Festival Concerts here.

The first Fall Festival Concerts will be offered to the community completely free, and will also be streamed for free. Subscribers will be offered tickets first, then additional seats will open up for public reservation. The second Fall Festival Concerts will be free for subscribers, then we will offer any additional seats for $25 each.

For those attending in person, both attendees and musicians will be following COVID-19 procedures to ensure everyone’s safety. According to the HSO, “These two concerts will be around an hour each to avoid an intermission, the audience and musicians will be socially distanced, and masks will be required.”

Gregory Vadja, the Music Director and Conductor, says, “The HSO staff and I are excited about being able to present live concerts to you soon, in a safe environment. We are all looking forward to returning to the stage.”

And he isn’t alone in his excitement. HSO subscribers have already been grabbing their tickets to the first Fall Festival Concert, and the musicians themselves are eager to get back on the stage.

Kaitlyn Vest, a contracted cellist with the orchestra, has a unique insight into the difficulties of COVID as a performing musician. She says, “Finding musical goals during this time away from orchestral (and all live) performing has been a unique challenge, and I definitely look forward to playing in person. I find inspiration in collaborating with other musicians in real time, as well as the irreplaceable feedback and energy from a live audience.”

As far as safety procedures go, Vest is confident the HSO will ensure the health and wellness of its members – both musicians and showgoers alike.

“The modified schedule [in November] allows for both the musicians and audience to be spaced apart, as well as an option for online attendance. I am hopeful that the Huntsville Symphony can continue to adapt and find new ways for music to continue as we navigate going forward!”

The 2020-2021 Huntsville Symphony Orchestra season will officially resume on December 31st, 2020.
To learn more about the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra including upcoming shows, ticketing information, musician information, and more, follow their season updates here.

Below is a little sample of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra with Andy Akiho percussion concerto from last year. Enjoy!

Grace Treutel

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

huntsvillemusic.com/

HOW HUNTSVILLEMUSIC.COM HELPS ARTISTS

September 24, 2020 by Alex Hendrix

Artists, Musicians, News

alabama, artists, huntsville, huntsville artists, huntsville music, huntsville music live, huntsville musician, huntsville musicians, live huntsville music, local musicians

2020 has not been kind to musicians. We’ve seen months of gigless confusion, loss of income, and now uncertainty surrounding new live stream rules (thanks, Facebook). Growing concern over impending small venue closures is pairing well with our generalized anxiety disorders, but hey- at least we’re writing songs about all our feelings of dread! It seems like the entire music industry is collectively waiting for the next shoe to drop.

This, strangely enough, made it a perfect time for the new HuntsvilleMusic.com to appear. Being able to lay all the groundwork before the industry is fully reopened ensures that everything done on the new site is proactive instead of reactive. This leads to mindful moves instead of scrambling, and lets you know that everything being set in place is a conscious decision made to help Huntsville’s Music Scene.

I know what you’re thinking- sure, but how will HM help Huntsville’s music scene? Oh, let me count the ways.

Visibility

A city-wide music calendar has no downside. You’re a musician wanting to get your gigs out to a wider audience? This benefits you. You’re a music lover wanting to see when your favorites are out and about? This is for you. You’re a visitor to the city and have no idea what’s going on, but are able to Google the words ‘Huntsville’ and ‘music’ in conjunction? This will make all your dreams come true.

The new site design offers a sleek, visual calendar that is easy to navigate on desktop and phone, so you can make music-related plans on the go. Make sure your upcoming gigs are on our calendar.

Promotion

This site is run by social media and marketing professionals, so content strategy is kind of a big deal here. Artist Spotlights are already happening on Instagram, with blogs and videos to come. The great part about operating as a general community resource is that there’s no ulterior motive. There’s no pay-to-play tactic, there are no ticket sales, there’s nothing to gain other than a thriving music scene.

As a musician, I cannot stress enough the importance of features by official, branded sites and organizations. This gives credibility to you as an artist in a way that your own outlet can’t always do. It also continues to place your face in front of new listeners, who quickly turn into fans and friends. If you have an album release or big upcoming show that you’d like to submit for featured content consideration, email us!

Collaboration

John F. Kennedy once said, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” This is a quote I return to time and time again when thinking about Huntsville’s culture. We are at a true turning point, and that feels scary and exciting. But JFK was spot on when he said that whatever is good for one is good for all when it comes to drawing attention to our little scene.

Every time music lovers are directed to Huntsville, it’s a win. Becoming a force in the national music scene doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a thousand little steps that lead someone (accidentally, sometimes) to our door. HM will continue dropping those breadcrumbs.

More To Come

These are just some of the strategies HM has up its sleeves. You can expect more from us: more content, more promotion, more passion, more commitment. As we work toward our official launch, we will stay communicative and keep you informed on all the cool projects we’ll be rolling out.
Until then, make sure you’re getting free promotion by being listed on our Artist page and stay connected on Facebook and Instagram for upcoming artist spotlights!

Alex Hendrix

Alex is a native Huntsvillian and a singer/songwriter, culture promoter, and content creator.

info@alexhendrix.co

Midcity Mural Honors Little Richard

September 2, 2020 by Grace Treutel

Art, Culture, News

arts huntsville, huntsville, huntsville alabama, little richard, local art, logan tanner, midcity, midcity district, mural

MidCity has begun work honoring the late rock and roll legend Little Richard in a big way – a 40 foot by 30 foot mural. And Logan Tanner, a Huntsville artist, is responsible for it.

Many rock and roll aficionados may be surprised to learn of Little Richard’s deep roots in Huntsville, Alabama, but there is a history there. In fact, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer felt so connected to the city that he was buried here at his request. And Huntsville wants to celebrate this through art.

I meet with Logan on a drizzly Tuesday outside of the mural, which spans the east-facing side of the Wahlburgers restaurant building at MidCity.

“[MidCity] approached me and said they wanted a Little Richard mural,” says Logan as he hoists cans of paint from the back of his minivan. “This is shortly after he had been buried in Huntsville and it was still very fresh on everyone’s minds, and we figured it was a good way to let people know he has a connection to this city.”

Logan had previously worked with MidCity to honor late rapper Mac Miller during their event, Mac Miller night, where he painted a live portrait of Mac as a tribute.

“This is the biggest wall I’ve painted at one time,” Logan tells me, peering up at his project. It’s an amalgamation of several different images of the late, great Little Richard rendered in loud, harmonious colors – warm oranges, teals, and purples. It suits the dynamic personality of the prolific rock and roll singer.

While not technically Logan’s biggest mural – the psychedelic dogs in Lowe Mill take that prize – the Little Richard mural is the largest single-wall piece he’s painted. The projected time frame for this project? “Two weeks,” Logan says with a shrug, as if it’s casual. “Three, if it keeps raining.”

This chill, hyperzen attitude pervades the entirety of our interview, even as we encounter minor obstacles like rain, a shaky scissor lift, and a small hive of wasps.

“I’m not scared of heights,” Tanner explains as he keeps a tense hand on the lever, eyes fixed anywhere but on the ground shrinking below. “But I don’t particularly like them, either.”

I’m more concerned about the wasps, but Logan dismisses my fears with the same calm, even manner with which he seems to approach everything.

“Nah, they’re my friends. They were cool with me last time; we have an understanding.”

And he’s right. We sail smoothly past the wasps and up to the top right corner where Logan leans forward, pausing only once to steady himself on his feet, and begins to paint. He’s working on a ray of golden yellow that will gradually become a gradient into a bright, pop-art orange as we talk, and for someone so soft-spoken and humble, he is forthcoming about his work, what inspires him, and the Huntsville arts scene.

I ask if there were difficulties in getting this project off the ground. Logan muses for a moment before relaying the handful of steps he’d taken to get to a starting point: finishing up in-progress projects, renting his first scissor lift (though it isn’t his first time using one), and grappling with COVID-related technicalities. But after getting all of these pieces in order, Logan says it’s a fairly simple process.

“I finished the outline and the palette beforehand. There’s something nice about having everything, even the colors, planned out, and then you just come in and it’s a coloring book page. You execute, it’s very simple – it’s more meditative, I guess.”

I ask him if he feels a connection to Little Richard, and he paints a few thoughtful strokes before answering.

“I’m a fan of Little Richard. I like his popular music but I prefer his slower, more soulful pieces. And really, it’s quite an honor to be associated with Little Richard. He influenced so much of what music is – he influenced the flamboyant and androgynous looks and sounds, everyone from Prince to Michael Jackson down to the Beatles.”

This freedom of expression and boldness to be true to oneself is reflected in much of Logan’s existing work. He’s the genius behind several local murals, most recently the 54-foot long technicolor mural spanning the back wall of local tiki paradise Phat Sammy’s. When asked about the creative process behind that work of art, Logan smiles and references the Instagram-famous mermaid of the mural.

“They said I could free the nipple, but I ultimately decided against it.”

The result is a bodacious fish-headed mermaid with one arm crossed coyly over her generous chest. A little tease with your tiki.

He also painted several murals in Lowe Mill: the stairwell pieces, both dancing dinosaurs and psychedelic dog. There’s also a Gospel-based series at the Downtown Rescue Mission in the men’s dining hall, where he has one final mural left to paint: the Crucifixion.

But murals aren’t Logan’s comfort zone, which makes his work all the more impressive.

“If I had to paint anything it’d be smaller canvases like oil paintings where I can really finesse the details and stuff.”

One such piece is currently on display at the Huntsville Museum of Art as a part of their Red Clay Survey, an exhibition of contemporary Southern art. This piece is called Leviathan, and as Logan describes it, “It’s Leviathan who’s been slain – it’s the dragon that God slew. In my paintings, I work with the chaoskampf. This one is after the battle with Leviathan cut open, and the wild animals feeding on him.” An apt piece for the 2020 exhibition.

To see Logan’s Little Richard mural in person – and you really should – you can check it out at Huntsville’s MidCity district and watch the progress as he wraps it up. You can also follow Logan on Instagram to see what he’s up to and buy some of his weird, funky pottery.

“I never accepted the idea that I had to be guided by some pattern or blueprint.” – Little Richard, 1932 – 2020

Grace Treutel

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

huntsvillemusic.com/

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 Treutel

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

huntsvillemusic.com/

HuntsvilleMusic.com Goes Live

August 19, 2020 by Grace Treutel

Music audit, News

huntsville al live music, huntsville alabama, huntsville music, live music huntsville alabama, music audit, sound diplomacy

Big news, Huntsville — the new Know Huntsville-powered HuntsvilleMusic.com is live.

Last week, we let you in on the not-so-secret news that Know Huntsville had acquired HuntsvilleMusic.com. We told you what this would mean for you: a fresh look for the up-to-date Huntsville live music events calendar, a spicy new blog, a concerted social media presence, and more. Plus, we gave some context relating to the Sound Diplomacy music audit as well as our mission statement. Read More

Quarantine Reading: Huntsville’s Music Audit

August 12, 2020 by Tom Patterson

Music audit, News

huntsville al live music, huntsville alabama, huntsville music, live music huntsville alabama, music audit, sound diplomacy

A few years back, I was sitting with a friend at a high top table at Sidetracks Music Hall waiting for a show to start. Read More

HuntsvilleMusic.com and the Sound Diplomacy Audit

August 8, 2020 by Grace Treutel

Music audit, News

huntsville alabama, huntsville live music, live music huntsville al, music audit, sound diplomacy

In August 2020, Grace Treutel and Tom Patterson of Know Huntsville acquired HuntsvilleMusic.com to further the goal of making Huntsville, Alabama a destination Music City.

“A Music City is defined as a city that embeds music as a tool into its collective governance ethos, across economic development, tourism, education, equity, and overall quality of life.” – Sound Diplomacy Music Audit, Executive Summary

For context, the city of Huntsville commissioned an audit of the local music scene in 2019. The Sound Diplomacy Music Audit outlined over 40 specific recommendations on how the city can make Huntsville a Music City destination and gave actionable next steps to make this happen.

Our mission at HuntsvilleMusic.com is to fulfill as many of these recommendations as we can with the goal of helping transform Huntsville into a key player on the music scene. In turn, we make local music easy to reach and accessible to everyone – both Huntsville natives and music-lovers nationwide.

We want Huntsville to be a contender on the music scene on as large a scale as possible, so part of our efforts will be to create a well-rounded resource to attract acts and fans from outside of the area.

RECOMMENDATION 25: CREATE A LOCAL EVENTS CALENDAR

Sound Diplomacy Music Audit p.153

“[…] there must be a single calendar which acts as a one-stop shop for people to discover local shows and events.”

HuntsvilleMusic.com exists to be that one-stop shop so anyone in Huntsville, whether passing through or with long-time roots, can plug in to the local music scene with the tap of a button.

RECOMMENDATIONS 26 & 28: PROMOTE LOCAL MUSIC AMONGST VISITORS, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, LOCALS AND PROVIDE CONTINUED FORMATION FOR PROFESSIONALS.

Sound Diplomacy Music Audit p.154

“Huntsville needs to share its music with all its visitors, newcomers and locals to consolidate its brand.”
“As in every industry, music industry professionals worldwide need continuous professional development.”

HuntsvilleMusic.com maintains an updated calendar and blog so anyone seeking out information on local music, whether visitor or local, can quickly and easily find out what’s going around them.

Beyond that, we strive to provide resources for music-lovers and the musicians themselves to help cultivate and support the ever-growing slate of artists contributing to the vibrancy of Huntsville as a Music City.

Recommendations 33 & 34: Create a Huntsville Music Week and create an annual industry event

Sound Diplomacy Music Audit p.160

“The design of a Music Week which involves local and regional musicians and visitors will champion Huntsville’s reputation as a music-friendly city on both the state and national level.”

One of our long-term goals at HuntsvilleMusic.com is to create events that will bring the musical community together from all walks, including artists, venues, vendors, sound technicians, and more. The creation of a Huntsville Music Week festival is our ideal avenue to fostering this sense of support and togetherness —while having a really awesome time in the process.

Grace Treutel

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

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