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Tennessee Valley Music Showcase

First Annual Tennessee Valley Music Showcase, Free At Mars Music Hall

April 9, 2021 by Grace Treutel
Art, Culture, Huntsville, Live Music, News
alabama, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville alabama, huntsville culture, huntsville opera, live music huntsville, mars music hall, rocket city, tennessee valley, tennessee valley music showcase

Get ready to rock, Tennessee Valley – Huntsville’s hosting the first Annual Tennessee Valley Music Showcase, a free event happening at Mars Music Hall on April 17th, 2021 all day long. This free event is the first of its kind at Mars Music Hall and will be showcasing local talent from all over the southeastern region.

Derek Welsh

Derek Welsh

Southern rocker Derek Welsh of McQueen Street fame and award-winning country star Paige King Johnson will be headlining the show and setting the tone for genres, which will be a mix of southern rock, country, and classic rock ‘n roll. Supporting regional acts include Inclination of Direction, Bad Ethyl, Cameron Dubois, Zoe Burdett, Michael Clark, Tyler AK, and more.

Paige King Johnson

The event will also include vendors Serengeti Guitars of Hartselle, Redstone Harley Davidson, Copper Top Bar & Grill, and more. Doors will open at 12 to browse the vendors and showcase, with music beginning at 2 and going until 10. There will be merch giveaways throughout the day.

The showcase is organized by long-time Alabama native and music enthusiast Steve X, whose mission in hosting such a large-scale event is simple.

“[This showcase] is all about bringing people together and having a good time. Showing them that Huntsville’s alive and vibrant in the music scene. This is gonna be an annual thing, so this is the first of many showcases to come in the city of Huntsville.”

His mission echoes ours at HuntsvilleMusic.com – to show the Tennessee Valley that you don’t have to make a drive to a neighboring city to hear great music.

“All these artists are gonna be playing some of their original music and it’s such good stuff. It’s gonna be a great time to come and discover your next favorite band. There will be some covers for everyone to enjoy, but we really want to showcase our local talent.”

The event was conceptualized by Steve and the Von Braun Center’s Mike Vojticek, who worked together to create this unique, tailor-made experience to promote music and culture within Huntsville, by Huntsville.

Mars Music Hall

Mars Music Hall

“We’re very grateful to Mars Music Hall for letting us do this, as well as Mike and his staff. We really just can’t thank them enough and all the bands, of course. We have no idea what to expect for the showcase – we’re ready for 300 people and we’re ready for 1700 people. We’re excited to see how Huntsville embraces this.”

For many of the bands, this showcase will be their first experience playing on such a large stage, and for others, it will be a return to humble roots. Most of the acts will be available to the public after their sets to sign autographs, take photos, and talk shop.

The event is a come-and-go, free event, so music lovers can pop into Mars to hear a set, then take a walk downtown to eat, drink, or soak up the sun in nearby Big Spring Park. The showcase is open to all ages, so bring your rock ‘n roll mini-me’s, and get ready to enjoy some live Huntsville Music.

“It’s the first showcase of many, our first annual Tennessee Valley Music Showcase. It’s a free show and I just hope it’s a great night for everyone.”

We’re with you, Steve.

For more information, visit the Mars Music Hall site.

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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.

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Gilbert & Sullivan

Gilbert And Sullivan In Rocket City: An Upcoming Outdoor Operatic Experience

March 31, 2021 by Grace Treutel
Art, Culture, Huntsville, Live Music, News
alabama, burritt on the mountain, gilbert and sullivan, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville alabama, huntsville botanical gardens, huntsville culture, huntsville opera, live music huntsville, opera, Opera Huntsville, rocket city

Huntsville is about to get a whole lot more cultured thanks to Opera Huntsville’s upcoming series, an operatic performance bespoke to the Rocket City called Gilbert and Sullivan in Rocket City.

We sat down with Erin Huelskamp, stage director of the production, to get some insider insight on challenges, highlights, and what to expect, but first, some background on this eclectic experience.

Gilbert & Sullivan In Rocket City

According to Opera Huntsville, “Gilbert and Sullivan in Rocket City is a one-of-a-kind production set in Huntsville and highlighting each of the 14 operas created by the iconic duo W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan (G&S).

This show combines some of G&S’s best-known pieces such as Three Little Maids, The Matter Trio, and Poor Wandr’ing One with brand new, clever dialogue by G&S lover and expert, Jaie Deschene. Tailor-made for Opera Huntsville, the three little maids transform into three little engineering nerds from UAH. The nerds wander through Rocket City building robots, spaceships, and, of course, looking for love. Hilarity ensues.

This fully staged, hour-long production features ten stellar singers alongside the Calhoun Chorus and a nine-piece orchestra. Set outside, performed with masks, and socially distanced, it should be an experience that brings musical excellence and a sense of joy to Huntsville. The singers and the orchestra will be amplified in order to hear them clearly while outside and masked.”

HuntsvilleMusic.com got a chance to interview stage director Erin Huelskamp, who shed some light on why this production is a must-see for opera lovers and Huntsvillians alike.

“I think that one of the coolest things on earth about Huntsville [is that it’s the Rocket City], and to have an opera that engages with that is just really fun. There are lots of little things that reference Rocket City in the show. In some of our opening lyrics, we say, ‘if you marry me, a rocket I will build you.’ Of course, that’s not the original lyric, but you’ll notice lots of cute things like that.”

Lyrics aren’t the only thing that were changed to accommodate the current climate, however – the show will be performed outdoors, something that’s unusual for an operatic performance. But Erin and her troupe aren’t deterred – in fact, they’re excited.

“[Our outdoor venue choices] were definitely influenced by the pandemic since we knew we needed someplace safe. Burritt on the Mountain and the Huntsville Botanical Gardens are so iconic in Huntsville, and it was exciting to be able to partner with them and present a show in a way that we hope is going to be as safe as possible for everyone involved.”

If you marry me...

And when Erin says everyone involved, she means everyone – musicians, chorus members, and singers included. Which means masks for performers, which in turn calls for bigger performances.

“We’re going to have to engage a little bit more in what would be considered a grand opera staging where you use your body in its entirety to tell the story. If you can imagine how operas are usually performed, you would have people in nosebleed seats who could only kind of see the performers on stage through binoculars or what have you. People who are performing in those venues have to use big gestures because you’re playing to a house that’s huge. Even though we’re small, we’re masked, so we’re going to have to engage in a similar way.”

But Erin doesn’t sound deterred by the twist on a traditional smaller-scale operetta performance. In fact, she sounds excited by it, eager to share her and writer Jaie Deschene’s brainchild with the city that inspired it. Her enthusiasm is infectious, especially when she promises pirates – “you can’t do Gilbert and Sullivan without pirates!” – and spills over as she promises a good time for everyone, regardless of age or familiarity with opera as an art form.

“It’s intentionally kooky, it’s intentionally fun and random. I hope people enjoy it and have a good time. We want to make you laugh – there’s been too much heavy. We hope to make you laugh and enjoy our city.”

For more information and to grab your tickets, visit https://www.operahuntsville.org/gilbert-and-sullivian.

Gilbert and Sullivan
in Rocket City


Friday 4/9/21, 7:00 PM
, Huntsville Botanical Gardens
Saturday 4/10/21, 2:00 PM, Huntsville Botanical Gardens
Sunday 4/11/21, 7:00 PM, Burritt on the Mountain

And for more information regarding instrumentalists and additional artistic staff members, please contact ebohn@operahuntsville.org.

*denotes Huntsville-based performer

Performers:

Shane Kennedy, tenor*

Charles M. Anderson, tenor

Amanda Nelson, soprano

Rachel Eve Homes, soprano

Celese Sanders, soprano*

Sierra Hammond, soprano*

Rachel Gibson, mezzo soprano

Chauncey McGlathery, tenor*

Justin Colon, baritone

Xavier Joseph, baritone

Erin Huelskamp Bohn, stage director*

John South, music director*

Calhoun Chorus, directed by Granville Oldham*

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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.

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Alex Hendrix

Exclusive Interview With Alex Hendrix On Her New Single, Necromantic

March 25, 2021 by Grace Treutel
Art, Artists, Culture, Huntsville, Musicians, News
alabama, alex hendrix, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville alabama, live music, necromantic

What do you get when you combine a dynamic songwriter-producer relationship, smoked honey vocals, and a pandemic’s worth of pent-up existential dread?

A fucking fantastic song.

Alex Hendrix’s latest single, Necromantic, is all of this and more. It drops this Friday, March 26th, and we have the inside scoop on it – plus a teaser to bless your ears.

Alex Hendrix – Necromantic

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Hendrix, a contributor at HuntsvilleMusic.com (and just about every other Huntsville-based institution), sat down with me today to discuss her new single. We covered everything from the recording process to Evanescence to quarantine coping.

But, of course, we had to start with the title.

NECROMANTIC

adjective

nec·​ro·​man·​tic | \ˈne-krə-ˌman(t)ic

1.

: – an amalgamation of the Greek prefix ‘necro’ meaning death and the English word ‘romantic’ meaning characterized by or suggestive of an idealized view of reality. Or, according to Alex, “A play on necromancy, which is communicating with the dead.”

Grace: Hello, Alex, welcome to the interview. Are you excited?

Alex: NO. Next question.

Grace: I’m keeping that in.

Alex: Please do.

Grace: We’re here today to talk all about your shiny new single, the name of which is probably my favorite song title in the history of music: Necromantic.

Can you tell me where ‘Necromantic’ as a title came from?

Alex: I am so glad you enjoy it! Necromantic was actually not the original title, so I’m extra glad you appreciate the change. It was originally something very self-referential that tied back in with the line about Death Knells, but once Necromantic popped into my head I knew it was the one. It’s a little bit of a nod to what the song tries to do, which is tie in these gothic romantic themes with ghosts and hauntings, but more than that I just thought it sounded clever, so here we are.

Grace: I like it so much because it’s such a marriage of the eerie/creepy with the beautiful and romantic – like the song.

Alex: Thank you, I thought it sort of wrapped up everything I was going for into one memorable word.

Grace: I think so, too.

The song itself is a pretty big change from your usual sound. You describe it as ‘part gilded ghost story, part synthy melancholia.’ Why the departure from your usual folksy vibe?

Alex: During Quarantine, I got very into writing these gothic songs and eventually gothic short stories, it was such a weirdly specific catharsis for some reason. There’s a cinematic quality to this song that I knew as soon as I started writing the lyrics had to be involved if I was ever going to record it. But, I also think that there’s usually a large difference in the way I write songs in my head and the way I play them. This was my first time working with Johnny Okwu, who produced this track and was absolutely amazing, and my style probably would have expanded a long time ago if I’d met him sooner. This was the first time I was really able to articulate what I heard to someone who could make it happen.

Grace: Your voice and intonation sounds different, too – you told me that [Johnny Okwu] told you to ‘whisper’ some of the words.

Alex: Yes, I ran through the vocals once for a draft version as we were building the track and he said, “That was great-” which I knew meant it was not, in fact, “- but try whispering it this time.” And we ended up rolling with those placeholder vocals and never re-recording finals.

Grace: It worked so well. Your voice sounds fuller and richer – can I make the comparison?

Can I say it? About Amy [Lee, the lead singer of Evanescence]? Cuz… damn, girl.

Alex: Please do, I will bask in that comparison for all my days. There are so many little quirks in my voice that came through on this recording that always get buried or muffled, it’s really a night and day difference.

Grace: It is. And no one ever changes the radio station from Amy Lee – it’s physically impossible not to sing along. Necromantic has that quality, too.

Alex: Thank you, that is incredibly generous. I grew up crying in my bedroom to Evanescence, there is absolutely a bit of my soul that was forged by Amy Lee.

Grace: So not much has changed?

Alex: I have always been operating at this level of emotional flamboyance, yes.

Grace: ‘Emotional flamboyance’ should be the title of the album.

Alex: That’s what I’ll call the tour.

Grace: I cannot wait.

Let’s talk lyrical content for Necromantic. It’s such a rich, visceral song, and I think a lot that has to do with the flickering images you feed the listener. What led that choice?

Alex: It was a little bit of a writing exercise, honestly. I wanted to add elements you’d find in gothic literature, so the verses are very much about scene building and aesthetic. That was a different way to write songs for me, because usually it’s very feelings-forward. I love that genre of writing because it is such a haunting juxtaposition between these vivid beautiful images and the horrifying things that are happening. I feel like that speaks to me on a personal level, also.

Grace: I’m glad you used the word ‘juxtaposition’ since you do a lot of interesting play with juxtaposing two unlike things in this song and making them like.

For example, the drama and dated-ness of the imagery paired with the casual way you use ‘babe’ – something about that feels wrong but also so right.

It’s rare that you get ‘babe’ and ‘parapet’ in the same song.

Alex: I mean, what an oversight for songwriting as a whole! I focus a lot on singular word choices, almost to the point of weird obsession sometimes, so anytime someone recognizes one of those agonized choices I am thrilled.

I wanted a little disorientation there in places, because as much as it’s a song about grief, it’s also a song about romanticizing your grief.

Which, for me, always go hand in hand no matter what.

Grace: That is very type 4 of you.

Alex: It is maximum type 4 energy.

Grace: What do you hope listeners will take from Necromantic?

Alex: I would say that maybe more than any other song I’ve ever written, Necromantic is a “for me” song. It’s all these dramatic elements I love paying homage to a genre I am obsessed with paired with subject matter that is not as relatable as, say, a breakup anthem. Everything about it was really very selfishly for myself. I hope people find a little bit of an escape in it, and more than anything I hope they put it on their Spooky Season playlists

Grace: That’s funny since I feel like when you finally have that little break through and make a piece of art that you think, ‘screw it, this is just for me, I’m not gonna try to adhere to what will ‘sell’ or get views,’ that’s when you make your best work.

And I really feel that this is your best work yet.

Alex: From your mouth to god’s ears!

Grace: I was raised Catholic, so. I’ve got that direct line.

Alex: Don’t tell him we want it too badly, though, I’m trying to preserve my cool image.

Grace: We’ll keep a lid on that part for now.

Alex Hendrix, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to the humble outfit that is HuntsvilleMusic.com.

Alex: It has been a true pleasure, thank you so much for listening to the song and still wanting to interview me.

Grace: I literally cannot stop listening to the song. It’s not just on my Spooky Season playlist – it’s on every single one of my dramatic melancholy sad-girl playlists, which is… a lot of them.

I can’t wait for all your fellow 4’s to put it on their moody playlists, too.

Alex: I hope 4s specifically enjoy this song, and if you don’t, then don’t tell me!

Check out Alex Hendrix’s site for more updates on releases, music videos, and more. And follow her on Instagram for a very aesthetically satisfying take on Huntsville, songwriting, and cute pets.

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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.

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Ben Lovett, Amphitheater

Ben Lovett, Venue Group On Huntsville Amphitheater Progress

February 23, 2021 by Grace Treutel
Art, Culture, Huntsville, Live Music, News
alabama, amphitheater, ben lovett, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville alabama, huntsville amphitheater, huntsville venue, live music, midcity, midcity distract, mike luba, ryan murphy, venue group

In late 2020, HuntsvilleMusic.com covered some of the biggest news of the year for our city – the official announcement of Huntsville’s newest park, the Amphitheater at MidCity.

And today, Huntsville Venue Group, the driving force behind the amphitheater, dropped an update on its amphitheater plans, complete with a video to stoke your excitement for the venue-recreation-entertainment juggernaut.

Plus, we got a chance to talk to Ben Lovett, founder of Venue Group and member of Grammy-award winning band Mumford & Sons, about all things amphitheater and Huntsville.

The shiniest, most exciting piece of Venue Group’s update was their video – a video showcasing Huntsville in all its vibrant, colorful glory, produced with the help of Knoxville-based videographers Loch & Key.

“This is unique,” says Devyn Keith, City Council Member, about the Amphitheater. “And if done correctly, the world will see it.” He’s sitting in his newly opened coffee shop, Dark Side Coffee, an endeavor that further cemented his reputation for not just saying but doing. And Keith, like so many others representing our city, is ready to do.

 A quality that Ben Lovett recognizes about our leadership, and much of what brought the amphitheater here in the first place.

In the video, Ben enthuses about Huntsville, his passion and excitement for this project sparking on screen. When I interview him about this, I ask him why – specifically, why Huntsville?

“There’s quite a lot of elements that make Huntsville a very special opportunity for growth and culture,” says Ben, with the fluency of someone speaking from the heart. “This region of North Alabama has such a rich history when it comes to music. You’ve got the story of Singing River, the Shoals – and you connect all of this with the administration in Huntsville that really values the results.”

The administration he’s referring to is represented in Venue Group’s video, matching Ben’s excitement about this massive project. And Ben doesn’t pull punches, calling them out by name, giving praise where he feels praise is due – to Huntsville itself.

“[The administration] is clear-minded in their goals to make Huntsville a better place. They’re just exactly what leaders should be – these people like John Hamilton and Mayor Battle and Devyn Keith. They’re pure of heart and you can tell there’s no bullshit, if you pardon my French. The people leading the progress are doing it for the right reasons. The administration plus the history and the people, it all creates this perfect storm of a moment to do something special.”

And the video showcases this. Making up the rest of the motley crew of Huntsville champions represented in the five-minute watch are musical artists Translee and DEQN SUE, Mayor Tommy Battle, Venue Group founder and president Ben Lovett and Ryan Murphy, Tangled String Studios owner Danny Davis, producer Mike Luba, and city administrator John Hamilton.

“The premise is we’re gonna build the best venue in the world,” says Ben on-camera, as if it’s simple. And to Ben, a concert-venue veteran, it is. “I’ve spent a lot of time over the last 5 years trying to figure out what it is about a venue that makes it special. A really critical part of that is the food and beverage experience.”

I ask him to expand on this – specifically, I ask him which dish he’s most excited to eat once the amphitheater is open.

“We’ve been throwing around some concepts. The thought that turns my head is this noodle bar, and just… having a noodle bar in the concourse. It’s so far from what you expect from a venue. You can go get a healthy meal that actually makes you feel good at a show instead of eating something heavy that makes you feel like you need to take a nap.”

This desire to make ‘better’ on the biggest scale possible is woven throughout the project, as evidenced by Ben’s excitement over creating this ‘food village.’

Amphitheater quote

“[Curating this food experience] is the next big challenge for the project over the next three to six months. I like that we can widen the palate of what’s available to the community; we can sort of bring in the best of London, of Austin, of New York City, and bring all of this to Huntsville and create this cross-pollination of culinary experience.”

Throughout the video, the rest of the amphitheater team echoes this sentiment. Ryan Murphy, president of Huntsville Venue Group and a good friend of HuntsvilleMusic.com, emphasizes the long-term effects this will have on shaping and creating the culture of our city.

“Right now, there’s a great opportunity for people to be taking that heritage and that history and not only amplifying the past but really writing the future for this whole area,” he says, sitting in his office, walls covered with blueprints of all the great things to come.

The video closes with Ben’s words as he earnestly tells  the audience, “One of the greatest joys of my career has been working on the Huntsville amphitheater. I mean, there’s so much to come; we are just at the starting line.”

I ask him why, exactly, working on this particular project counts among the greatest joys, and Ben is characteristically forthcoming.

“I’ve done a lot of things in the last 15 years. I’ve written songs, gone on tours, started a record label that’s done well, founded a publishing company. But I realized six years ago that I was still missing something. I wanted this thing – I had this idea that my grandchildren could one day step inside a place of mine and feel me, feel family. Venue Group has a lot of family, it’s who we are. Generations from now, we’ll have this space that can be a part of not only our lives but other people’s lives.”

He’s referring not only to the many families that make up Venue Group but also the families within it. He and his brother, Greg Lovett, are prominent leaders within the company.

But Ben’s desire to create something lasting goes beyond family. It’s all about experience, and creating spaces where life can unfold in all of its beauty.

Amphitheater Blue Print 3
Amphitheater Blue Print 2
These are the blueprints that decorate the office of Huntsville Venue Group.
Amphitheater Blue Print 1

“I had this experience once, when I was seeing a show in a London venue we built. And it was this brilliant singer, Frances, performing. And she invited a friend on stage… [and] he ended up proposing to his boyfriend there, on that stage. And I just thought, ‘this stage didn’t exist a year before.’ It was just rubble. But now it’s this place where these moments are happening.”

And it’s all about looking forward and building for the future.

“I love the idea that people will have local legacy stories about the Huntsville amphitheater. It could be as simple as, ‘Oh, I saw the Alabama Shakes play at the amphitheater in 2023.’ And by then it’s 2070 and that seems so long ago – it just seems so crazy. We’ve been building [the Huntsville amphitheater] with this longevity in mind. And this is going to be the most grand music venue that’s been built in the last five or so years in the world.

Along with the video, Venue Group also released a press release with amphitheater news. We distilled down the four major takeaways from the press release:

  • Construction is officially underway for the amphitheater, which is going to boast a completely unique design inspired by classical architecture but with a modern twist. ‘It looks almost Roman coliseum-like,’ says Mayor Tommy Battle.
  • Doors are set to open in April, 2022 – that’s only a year and some change away, guys. I am ready.
  • Ben Lovett, founder of Venue Group and member of Grammy-award winning band Mumford & Sons, hand-picked Huntsville as the ‘perfect location for their first foray into the U.S. market’ for building ‘a new era of world class music venues combined with significant community growth and amenities.’
  • Venue Group is hard at work curating an experience that swells beyond ‘just’ music – their focus is on creating a ‘food village’ surrounding the amphitheater that will be open year-round and provide dining and recreation options for Huntsville, regardless of what’s going on at the amphitheater.

You can find the full press release on the Amphitheater’s website.

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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/
Mardi Gras at MidCity

Mardi Gras Concert At The Camp Giveaway

February 11, 2021 by Grace Treutel
Art, Culture, Huntsville, Live Music, News
alabama, events, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville alabama, live music, local, Mardi Gras, mardi gras at the camp, midcity, midcity distract, The Camp, The Camp at MidCity

Laissez les bons temps rouler, Huntsville – let the good times roll and celebrate Mardi Gras at the Camp with a socially-distant festival including good drinks, great food, and live music!

Wear Your Mask

Best of all?

We want to send two of you to Mardi Gras at the Camp for free, and the rest of you to Mardi Gras at the Camp with a special discount code.

Read on to find out more about this COVID-cautious celebration and how to score two free tickets or $10 off to celebrate Fat Tuesday Louisiana-style!

This Saturday, February 13th, the Camp at Midcity presents Mardi Gras at MidCity 2021, their second annual Mardi Gras celebration. The event will feature authentic Cajun food including world-renowned Randazzo’s king cakes and Cajun staples like gumbo and crawfish Monica, authentic Nola décor and elements, and a cacophony of New Orleans cocktail favorites like Purple Drank, Nola Bloody Marys, and the Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane. All themed cocktails are served in fancy specialty glasses that are yours to keep! Plus, there’ll be a Mardi Gras market comprised of over a dozen local vendors for you browse and buy.

Of course, the biggest draw for us at HuntsvilleMusic.com is the lineup of Grammy-recognized live music.

“Guests can expect […] 6 incredible, award-winning local and regional bands. Entertainment includes Grammy-nominated CHA WA, Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band, funk-rock band Flow Tribe, and the Young Fellaz Brass Band coming from New Orleans. Local artists include Huntsville-bred hip-hop recording artist Translee and the St. Bartley Gospel Choir for a powerful start to the festivities.

The day kicks off at 11:00 am with St. Bartley’s Choir and the Mardi Gras Artisan Market. Guests will enter through the East entrance where the street between the concert viewing area and The Camp will be closed to vehicle traffic.

Music-lovers can walk south to the concert lot where nearly 100 circles have been drawn in the terrain to maintain a safe and distanced viewing experience. MidCity staff have marked these socially distanced “Krewe Circles” for guests to dance the day away. The 5′ Krewe Circles marked in green are suggested for groups of 2-4, and the 10′ Krewe Circles marked in purple are perfect for groups of 6-8. Krewe Circles are first-come, first serve.”

Cha Wa at SXSW

Flow Tribe

Translee 16 Bars

Rebirth Brass Band

Mardi Gras at Midcity

Mardi Gras at MidCity 2021 Schedule

10:30 AM: Doors open
11:00 AM : Mardi Gras Market begins
11:00-11:30 AM : St. Bartley’s Gospel Choir Begins
12:00-1:00 PM : Cha Wa
2:00-3:00 PM : Translee
4:00-5:00 PM : Flow Tribe
6:00-7:00 PM : Rebirth Brass Band

Pro-tip: arrive early to snag the best dancin’ spot!

Young Fellaz Brass Band and the famous Mardi Gras Indians will be entertaining guests throughout the day.

If this sounds like your kind of party, HuntsvilleMusic.com agrees. We want to sweeten the deal by giving out two free tickets to one of our followers – and, just for having amazing taste as evidenced by you reading this blog, give you a $10 off code to use if you’re buying tickets!

To enter our giveaway, visit us on Instagram @huntsvillemusic or Facebook @HuntsvilleMusic, find our giveaway post, and follow the rules to enter.

To purchase tickets and get $10 off, visit the Mardi Gras at MidCity purchasing link and enter HSVMUSIC at checkout for $10 off of your ticket.We can’t wait to see you there!

Tickets, details, COVID-19 precautions, lineup, and menus may be purchased and viewed at MardiGrasatMidCity.com.

Plus, check out the Mardi Gras at MidCity Facebook event page to get all the details and see behind-the-scenes photos and videos of what to expect.

Pro-tip: arrive early to snag the best dancin’ spot!

Young Fellaz Brass Band and the famous Mardi Gras Indians will be entertaining guests throughout the day.

If this sounds like your kind of party, HuntsvilleMusic.com agrees. We want to sweeten the deal by giving out two free tickets to one of our followers – and, just for having amazing taste as evidenced by you reading this blog, give you a $10 off code to use if you’re buying tickets!

To enter our giveaway, visit us on Instagram @huntsvillemusic or Facebook @HuntsvilleMusic, find our giveaway post, and follow the rules to enter.

To purchase tickets and get $10 off, visit the Mardi Gras at MidCity purchasing link and enter HSVMUSIC at checkout for $10 off of your ticket.We can’t wait to see you there!

Tickets, details, COVID-19 precautions, lineup, and menus may be purchased and viewed at MardiGrasatMidCity.com.

Plus, check out the Mardi Gras at MidCity Facebook event page to get all the details and see behind-the-scenes photos and videos of what to expect.

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/
Dueling Pianos

Huntsville’s Dueling Pianos On Going Virtual

February 10, 2021 by Grace Treutel
Art, Artists, Culture, Huntsville, Live Music, Musicians, News
alabama, claire johnson, dueling pianos, dueling pianos huntsville al, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville alabama, huntsville barber, huntsville dueling pianos, huntsville stories, local, newt johnson, stephen johnson

The #iHeartHSV campaign is back, and this year, HuntsvilleMusic.com is getting in on the digital lovefest by shining a spotlight on one of Huntsville’s most unique, badass acts – Dueling Pianos.

#iHeartHSV

WHAT IS #IHEARTHSV?

“Celebrating its eighth year, Huntsville’s biggest “digital lovefest” once again offers visitors and locals alike the opportunity to share what they love most about Huntsville/Madison County. This year, the CVB (Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau) is specifically shining a light on the area’s “heroes of hospitality,” local representatives across a variety of hospitality sectors that went above and beyond to rise to the challenges of the past year. Everyone is invited to join the CVB in celebrating all things travel and hospitality in the Rocket City by using the hashtag #iHeartHsv on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Starting Monday, February 1, and lasting through Sunday, February 14, social media users who respond to daily prompts posted via the CVB’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram channels using the hashtag #iHeartHsv could win big during the two-week campaign. The Huntsville/Madison County CVB will pick a daily winner each night at 8:00 p.m. CST, awarding them with $150 towards the local restaurant, attraction, or hotel stay of their choice.”

For more details on how to participate in the #iHeartHSV campaign and potentially win real money to spend at awesome local businesses, visit Huntsville.org/iHeartHSV.

See Know Huntsville’s interview with the Huntsville/Madison County CVB about the #iHeartHSV campaign below:

Throw out what you know about dueling piano acts – Huntsville’s own Dueling Pianos is an act unto itself, taking the traditional formula of two pianists battling it out with duets and crowd-pleasing classics and twisting it on its head.

Huntsville’s Dueling Pianos consists of Newt Johnson and Stephen Johnson on piano with Claire Johnson as the host and coordinator, a three-person act that is part dueling pianos, part game show, and all fun.

I had the pleasure of meeting with Claire on a chilly, windy Thursday at Stovehouse, where we talked about how she and her groupmates – one of whom, Newt, is her husband – formed Dueling Pianos and how it’s evolved over time.

“It started as standard dueling pianos where they were going back and forth, but it quickly became something else – this themed game show where the guys would play and we’d have trivia questions, we’d play games, we had prizes. It became this whole other thing. Now we always tell people, ‘this isn’t your typical dueling pianos show.’”

And she’s right.

Traditional dueling pianos shows involve two pianists playing duets, taking requests, and indulging in piano ‘battles,’ oftentimes at designated piano bars. Think the Big Bang bar in Nashville, Tennessee, one of the south’s most famous dueling piano bars. But Huntsville’s Dueling Piano group has taken this formula to the next level, incorporating games and prizes and finding ways to pull the audience into the show beyond just taking requests – and, despite all odds, they managed to keep this going during COVID.

I ask Claire how they pulled that off, and her tone is humble and grateful as she places credit for their success where she feels it belongs – with the people of Huntsville.

“During our very last show before [the initial COVID shutdown], we had a feeling that everything was going to shut down. And we had this audience that would always come out – we call them our family – and we thought you know, we want to be able to keep doing this, we want to still provide something.”

It was this desire to continue providing entertainment to a loyal fanbase during a time where, arguably, they needed it most that motivated Claire, Newt, and Stephen to figure out a way to keep the spirit of Dueling Pianos alive via a virtual platform.

“We set up our usual setup in our basement and we changed the format to be entirely virtual. Where people would usually fill out their paper trivia forms and hand those in, we built an online form they could use to submit their answers and suggestions. We took all of the audience participation games like Spin the Wheel and Name that Tune and created online versions [by building] this landing page with the games and the song request list that all came directly to us so we could perform the show on Facebook live.”

Divider

And their prediction was right – their usual fanbase did turn out to support their favorite local piano show from the comfort of their own homes, and they brought friends. I ask Claire if she felt Huntsville was supportive of this new format, and her answer is a resounding, unhesitant, “Yes.”

“The amazing thing is not only did we have our regular fans [supporting us] but doing it online opened [the show] up to so many people who couldn’t come before. Say they had kids at home, or it just got too late for them, or they had other activities that were going on; all these new people got to experience it for the first time. We saw our numbers grow.

Plus, we started to see people tune in from all over the country. We’d have our friend from South Huntsville say, ‘my sister-in-law is joining us from Destin and my brother’s in New Hampshire’ and we’d just have all these people – I mean, my mom watched from New York! People were tuning in and saying, ‘hello from Dallas, hello from wherever’ and we’d be just like, ‘oh my gosh, this is so cool’. To be sitting in our basement during a pandemic and getting to have a shared experience with people all over the country and playing along with us.”

Claire’s face brightens as she speaks of the support they’ve received from their fans, old showgoers and new alike. It’s clear that she feels passionate about this project – and not only this project, but the community that supports it. When I ask her about what she thinks of the music culture in Huntsville, she considers the question for a moment before answering thoughtfully.

“I have seen not only so much growth what with so many incredibly diverse different acts, but [also found] they’re all so supportive of each other. When you go to a local gig, whether it’s our show or concerts in the park or a brewery on the weekend, you can almost always find two or three local musicians in the audience supporting them. Or sharing [the gig] on social media and saying, ‘hey, I can’t make it out but y’all should go to this.’ And that’s one of the things I really love about [the Huntsville music scene] – it doesn’t feel overly competitive, it’s very supportive and very nurturing of its own.

With so much growth in the city through all the new restaurants, venues, bars, grills, outdoor spaces, everything – there’s more and more opportunity there [for musical artists]. I think if you just look for it, you’ll find that there are not only opportunities but a lot of support. And a desire for it.”

It’s this passion and dedication that we at HuntsvilleMusic.com believes makes Huntsville’s Dueling Pianos the prime example of #iHeartHSV’s Heroes for Hospitality recognition, since they found a way to take the difficulties of 2020 and create a silver lining to provide entertainment and a little bit of joy to our city when it needed it most. Congratulations to Stephen, Newt, and Claire – we can’t wait to tune in to your next show, and to come out in person to support this local talent!

Follow Dueling Pianos on Facebook to catch their next virtual show.

 

 

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/
Review of Good Vibrations

Review of Good Vibrations Barber Shop

February 3, 2021 by Salina Brilla
Huntsville, News
alabama, barber shop, barbershop, emy, good vibrations, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville alabama, huntsville barber, huntsville stories, local, narrative, salina brilla

Salina Brilla is a prominent member of the local Huntsville music scene and recently visited Good Vibrations Barber Shop. In it, she found an unexpected and much-needed sense of community and love for the Huntsville arts scene.

My youngest son Ian has a favorite barber in Chicago, Ahmed at Hobobo Fades. Ahmed is like family; he’s been cutting Ian’s hair since Ian was small, and we have to stop in to see him every time we’re in Chicago. Because of this, Ian is never satisfied with haircuts here in Huntsville – not the barber’s fault, they just aren’t Ahmed. But at this point, he was way past due for one.

Enter Emy.

I have known of Emy Butler for about 10 years now. One night, a couple of years ago, X.Y. Spaces was playing at CopperTop. They brought in a barber’s chair and she gave a guy a haircut while they performed. After watching her Instagram for quite a while, I decided it was time to make an appointment for my picky son, and I made an appointment for myself as well. I usually cut my own hair, but since we were going to Decatur I thought, ‘fuck it, let’s do this!’

Emy’s shop, Good Vibrations, is on a corner in downtown Decatur. There are old trolley car tracks in the street. It is quaint and, by the looks of it, has been a barber shop for a while. Emy and her apprentice are both masked and greet us warmly. She is wiping her chair with disinfectant wipes as Ian and I get comfy, and she tells me there is free beer in the cooler and to help myself. Next to the cooler, there is a wall of local art for sale. Emy also lets me know there is a local ‘zine, Chum, I can read while I wait. I’ve loved ‘zines ever since I was young in Chicago, so I dive in while she starts on Ian’s hair. We chat about the zine,  its creator, and its content.

Emy is so warm and gorgeous. She’s wearing a New Orleans t-shirt with her curly hair styled in a side-shave and her head tattooed on one side. The tattoo is a pink straight razor, done by another Huntsville legend Carsten Templeton who ordered that particular shade of pink just for Emy. Carsten at Black Hearts Tattoo has tatted me, my sons, my nieces, my ex-husband, and even my mother. Just one more person Emy and I share.

Johnny Wolfsberger

Johnny Wolfsberger

Way No Bueno

Way No Bueno

We also share Johnny Wolfsberger, a dear friend to both of us and a local legend, most famously of Way No Bueno, who we both love and recently lost. As I write this I still want to cry. He helped so many people; he helped Emy get started with cutting hair, he helped me purchase Copper Top’s PA. We reminisce about the last times we saw him. There aren’t words for when someone so amazing leaves us but it feels good to have these moments of morning with Emy about our shared person.

Way No Bueno Live on Know Huntsville

I was showing Ian pictures from Emy’s Instagram before we came in so he could see her work, and there are so many great photos on there. Lots of great local musicians and artists; pictures of both Johnny and Carsten. As Ian sits in the chair talking about what cut he wants, I know… this is the cut he is going to finally be satisfied with.As Emy works we talk of shows, of course. She says the first time she went to a show at about twelve years old, it was the first time she didn’t feel alone. She tells me how bands would come to town and ask for haircuts and how it’s the one thing she found that made sense for her to do.

When the pandemic started she was working at Bandito Burrito until one day she decided, ‘I’m gonna open a barber shop.’ And she did. At the most daring, crazy time to decide to follow your heart, your dreams, and your intuition, Emy did it! And Ian and I are here, experiencing it.

Emy Butler

Emy Butler

We talk about the last shows we saw before the pandemic: Emy saw Terror and I saw the Goddamn Gallows, both in Nashville. She tells me how one time the Goddamn Gallows had stayed at her house after playing Copper Top. I remember that night. I had booked one of the members at Copper Top and they went Decatur after – to Emy’s house, I now know. I loved so much how things were then; the network of people helping was so large and bands always found a place.

Emy works on Ian’s hair for a while. I drink a couple of beers and finish reading the ‘zine. It has a fantastic poem as well as some cool photos and even a mad libs. When I take a break, I find the bathroom has even more cool art and posters along with writings from other patrons. Good Vibrations is a fitting name for a cool space that began during a pandemic where people could come and hang out, get cleaned up, and enjoy good company while being safe – and this positive energy is all over the walls.

Ian loves his cut and now, it’s my turn to get into the chair. As she works, Emy talks about her first memory of me. She was coming into Copper Top before she was of age for shows. She doesn’t remember what band was playing but remembers I was dancing and says she thought so highly of it, and I just love that I made an impression on her. Those were good times in the old Top.

Emy finishes and, no surprise, my haircut is fire! Ian is satisfied, I’m satisfied, and I purchase the first 3 CHUM ‘zines. The first CHUM has a playlist made by Judson Law, another Huntsville Legend, that you can find on Spotify called CHUM. Dude, Fela Kuti is on it and I am so impressed!

Overall, Ian and I had a fantastic experience at Good Vibrations. What a cool place Emy has created that supports art and culture.  This is exactly what people can be for one another. We can be these beautiful lights in each other’s lives. Barbers, bartenders, musicians, artists, gas station attendants, the lady you see every time you visit the ABC store, your waitresses and baristas. People like Johnny, Carsten, and Emy.

Even though right now we are masked, we are still so much to each other. We are the experiences that transform, influence, and make Huntsville great. In a world of so much fear due to COVID-19, political turmoil, racism, and other adversity, we still stand strong. Even the ones we’ve lost are with us when we share them with one another.

So go get a haircut; go buy a coffee; go grab  a drink and talk with people. If you see someone you love, stop what you’re doing and tell them so. I know it’s a time to mitigate and be diligent but it’s not a time to stop loving people. It’s never that time.

Thank you Emy, your courage is inspiring what you do is important. I commend you for it! I look forward to a long patronage at Good Vibrations and recommend it to everyone.

Salina Brilla
Salina Brilla

Salina Brilla is a prominent member of the local Huntsville music scene and has continually helped to book and promote underground Huntsville music.

4 Things Header

4 Things We’re Thankful For

November 11, 2020 by Alex Hendrix
Culture, Live Music, News
alabama, alabama amphitheater, amphitheater, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville al live music, huntsville alabama, huntsville amphitheater, huntsville live music, huntsville music, live music huntsville al, live music huntsville alabama, music venue, outdoor event, outdoor venue, venue

‘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.

Forward Motion

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.

Preston Watts
Wanda - One Hit Wonder
Andrew Loehr
New Tunes
Lines
Tireless Supporters
Lines

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.

Judy Allison

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.

Tim Miller

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.

Mario Maitland

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.

Deserved Recognition

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 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
The Venue Group - Amphitheater

Amphitheater To Be Huntsville’s Newest Park

November 4, 2020 by Grace Treutel
Culture, Live Music, News
alabama, alabama amphitheater, amphitheater, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville al live music, huntsville alabama, huntsville amphitheater, huntsville live music, huntsville music, live music huntsville al, live music huntsville alabama, music venue, outdoor event, outdoor venue, venue

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.”

Ryan Murphy - The Venue Group

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.’”

Amphitheater Blue Print 1
Amphitheater Blue Print 2
These are the blueprints that decorate the office of The Venue Group.
Amphitheater Blue Print 3

 

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?’

Ryan Murphy - The Venue Group

 

“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.

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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/
Turn Up For Huntsville Arts Week

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
Huntsville Arts Week

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.

 

Fantasy Playhouse

“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. 

Read More

Pumpkin Painting

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

Huntsville Museum of Art

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

imb

 “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.

Read More

Halloween Block Party

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.

Read More

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 Headshot
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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