2009.04.10
Down by Downtown festival is early in planning stage
My column in print tomorrow features a few words about the Down by Downtown festival, which planners say will be based somewhat on Austin's South by Southwest fest. Here's what musician Cyrus Pace, one of the planners, had to say about the early details and philosophical intention behind the fest.
> The Down by Downtown festival will be the culminating event in a year long series of initiatives created by the Tolerance section of the recent Creative Connectors Program run by Stuart Mease and Roanoke City. The overarching title for the year is STAR, The Spirit of Tolerance and Art in the Region. It was our thought that the great art and music of our country has always held the sentiment necessary for true inclusion. Black and white musicians were playing together long before they were allowed to stay in the same hotels.
Down by Downtown will be a 4 day celebration of the very vibrant and very open music and art scenes in Roanoke. We are still working out details but think of it as Roanoke's version of SxSW but we want it to be our own. Some ideas include:
Art Spaces
All clubs have an open door policy with 3 to 4 bands each night
National level act at Jefferson Center
Open Galleries (they already are on Thursdays)
Special events at Taubman
Sunday gospel choir sharing and performances on the market
Great idea. Where and when do sign to play?
Comment by Jimmie Landry — April 11, 2009 @ 8:59 am
i think this will be amazing!
Comment by jd — April 12, 2009 @ 10:33 am
Keep informing the public! I would love to volunteer. Take notes from Floyd Fest....one of the most efficient and well run festivals in the biz! Pull from local ppl like Dylan Locke, Chris Hodges and Jason Martin, 3 ppl I gives props to for building the local scene in the NRV & Roanoke over the last 5 - 10 years. These 3 promoters have helped create the layering that the area needs in terms of types or events/venues (ie Martins Thurs night - guaranteed decent local/regional music) to solidify the region's the diversity in it's offerings (and there's many more ppl out there - these are just a few that I know of). This is what urban areas offer: great local bands, frequent visits from touring regional bands, and a few national acts a few times a month. We're getting there, Roanoke! Keep on jammin!
Comment by ruth — April 14, 2009 @ 7:45 pm
By the way, here's the column link, for anyone who hasn't read the print version yet -- http://www.roanoke.com/entertainment/insideout/music/wb/200680
Jimmie, I'm soon word of sign-ups will be coming. Ruth, you're absolutely right about Locke, Hodges and Martin. In fact, Martin (with a big assist from Carlos Aranguren) brought in Snarky Puppy last week -- one of the best live shows I've seen in years.
Comment by Tad Dickens — April 15, 2009 @ 12:49 pm