It's time for music, among people
Hi friends!
First off, thank you all so much for the support for The Harmony of Rhythm so far. It's nice to know this concept that has been bouncing around in my head resonates with someone else. If you haven't had a chance to listen, I totally understand--there's a lot to keep up with these days. The 40 minute sonic adventure will be available whenever you're ready. I have heard that it is nice to listen to outside.
Speaking of outside, the most wonderful time for musicians has come. While it's not technically summer yet, it sure feels like the season has changed here in Chicago.
While there is a beauty to all seasons as far as the creative process goes, there's nothing quite like the energy of summer. Gigs, jam sessions and concerts abound--and both players and audience seem to have the energy for collective release.
My personal favorite type of summer show is the outdoor community event. I'm talking block parties, street fests, craft fairs etc. Here in Chicago, we're lucky to have public money set aside for these types of things, and many neighborhood organizations willing to pour time, resources and energy into pulling off these traditions in spectacular style. As someone who works a lot in less comercial music, this is a time when I get to play cool stuff for people who have just that much more willingness to take something new in. And even if the gig calls for something with a bit more mass appeal, it's just awesome being able to give and receive joy with real people. You've still gotta promote, but you also get to experience many more chance encounters--both musically and socially.
Artists of the Wall Festival this weekend
This weekend I'm performing at a community event I think will be a great time. Every year, in Loyola Park, community members make a small contribution to the park's advisory council in exchange for space on the wall to paint their own mural, which stays up for the whole year. All the while, bands perform on a small but very good sounding festival stage.
We had a blast when Calculated Discomfort played the fest in 2019, so I'm elated to be returning this year with the Wrong Trio--a group composed of Beau Barry on saxophone, Lyn Rye on bass, and myself on drums.
We'll be performing a 45 minute set of original jazz on Saturday June 15th at 3pm. We're actually closing out the day, so you can catch other great artists if you arrive early. It's a great park with activities, courts etc.
The festival runs Saturday and Sunday, and the stage is located at Farwell and the lake. It's seriously going to be a beautiful time.
Read more about the Artists of the Wall Festival here.
Other festival community events I'm looking forward to this summer include Piraguas y Piropos performing at Barrio Fest in July, Prosthetic playing at Northwestern University's Llunch on the Lake series in August, and a major event I can't await to announce soon for September. Sharing music and space in this way is truly restorative.
Hope to catch you out in the sun,
Tommy