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Jayne and the Huntsmen

Interview with SarahJayne of Jayne & the Huntsmen

October 21, 2020 by Alex Hendrix
Artists, Culture, Live Music, Musicians
huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville al live music, huntsville alabama, huntsville artist, huntsville musician, jayne and the huntsmen, live huntsville music, sarahjayne
Jayne and the Huntsmen

With a voice reminiscent of Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker and emotional songwriting that blends folksy lyrics with bluesy guitar, SarahJayne has been a staple in the Huntsville original music sector since moving to Rocket City.

Stylistically, her solo sets run the gamut from one genre to another, never fitting neatly into one single box. Listeners can expect to enjoy Liz Longley-esque Americana tunes, followed immediately by unusual chord progressions and scatting breakdowns. But one theme remains no matter what song is being played: passion. SarahJayne often gets lost in her own songs in the very best way possible, taking you along with her on a ride through her memories or stories of people she met once who made an impression.

Although many musicians are having to make large changes in 2020 in an attempt to restructure to fit the new world, SarahJayne’s transformation began before quarantine even started. This introspective soul has taken on a new role as frontwoman of Jayne and The Huntsmen, a project that was temporarily derailed when COVID struck.

“Our first show was supposed to be in April, and you can imagine how that went. The guys and I have taken a lot of precautions to continue practicing together to be ready for when everything opened back up.”

After kicking off her musical career 8 years ago, SarahJayne has played across the country at dive bars and proper venues alike.

The places she’s been and the people she’s met along the way have been a major inspiration to her songwriting, which started before she even played shows at all. But she always knew she wanted a bigger energy.

“Since I was thirteen, I wanted to be in a rock band, but I didn’t really know how. There’s a certain ability that a full band has to captivate an audience and I’m a sucker for a good bass line, so to me, there’s no question why I wouldn’t want to front a band.”

Aaron
Michael
Jake

Enter The Huntsmen, full of faces already familiar to the Huntsville music scene. Aaron Bradley Anderson, a fellow singer/songwriter and soloist who you’ve undoubtedly seen playing around town, takes up lead guitar and showcases his knack for distortions and twang. Spinships member Michael Cummings grooves on the bass, and Jake Tucker keeps the rhythm on the drums (often with his boots sitting next to his kit).

We can expect exciting things from this dream team going forward, as they are actively booking shows and preparing to record an EP. They’re buzzing with excitement to bring their new sound to Huntsville music lovers. Most recently they played a gig at The Camp, and SarahJayne relayed her enthusiasm: “We’re still encouraging people to social distance when they come to our shows, but we’re so happy to see faces and hear everyone singing back!”

So what makes the Huntsville scene so perfect for a new endeavor like this? Cooperation.

“I’ve played in lots of cities across the US, but when you look at Huntsville, it’s so unique. It’s not a competition here. We’re cooperative. You see artists coming from various genres who all uplift each other. Go to the R&B show and find a folk songwriter there. Go to see that aspiring pop artist and you’ll find a metal guitarist in the crowd. That’s endlessly inspiring, to see people lifting each other up and wanting each other to succeed. And this all is not to mention the fact that – if you put in the hustle – you can make music your full-time job here. I have truly found the right place here in the people who appreciate eclectic song choices and the venues that let me do my thing.”

Photo credits to Eric of @hsvphoto

 

Jayne and the Huntsmen
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
Battle of the Bands

Battle of the Bands at TrashBone

October 3, 2020 by Tom Patterson
battle of the bands, huntsville al live music, huntsville music, live huntsville music, live music huntsville al, live music huntsville alabama
This event is moving to October 3rd and we will be having The Casket Kids battling The FrankenF#cks with special guests Skeptic?!
More dates will be announced in the near future but expect to see Bone Zone, B.M.G., Aatxe, House of Southern Sorrows and more.
********************************************
Starting September 26th and going to Oct. 24 we will be hosting the Battle Of The Bands Preliminary Bouts. This is for Fun and a chance to compete in the all day Battle Of The Bands event on Halloween.
Each Saturday night 2 bands will face off. Every person who pays admission is given a vote. The votes are tallied and the band with the most votes plays Halloween.
There will be a third guest band to help M.C. each Preliminary event.
We encourage FUN! and for each band to come prepared to win over the audience and obtain their vote.
The plan is to have similar genres face off in the preliminaries and no holds barred on Halloween.
If costumes and foam swords appear and an all out war transpires, remember, this is a fight for Fun! A war against nothing to do! NOT a war against each other. put good use to the mask wearing and get creative.
The Battle is for local Bands.
The guests will be out of towner’s who will perform and help out on stage. They are not judges but will get to place a vote the same as those in attendance.
If your band would like 2 participate we are preparing the schedule now for both the local competitors and the guest bands.
Please let us know A.S A P. if you would like to participate. The schedule must be filled no later then September 20th so we can properly prepare.
There will be prizes and surprises.
This event is sure to be a good time and that’s its intention, so be a part of it, enjoy yourself, see lots of great music and let’s have some fun!
This is a teen and up event do to the possibility of explicit language.
It is a BYOB space, be responsible for yourself and respectful to the venue.
How HuntsvilleMusic.com Helps Artists

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
Headphones

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.

Guitars

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 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
Live Music is Back

EXPERIENCING LIVE HUNTSVILLE MUSIC DURING COVID-19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Golden Ratio

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

To find upcoming shows near you, check our calendar.

 

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

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


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

huntsvillemusic.com/

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