EAR TO THE GROUND: Let's grow Macon's music scene in 2016
Historically, Macon is a music town, but the city has a long way to go if there is to be any sort of vibrant scene happening. Since it's the time of year for trying new things and resolving to be better at others, why not add music to your beginning of the year list?
If supporting music in Macon was already on your list of resolutions, congratulations, you're a step ahead of the curve. If not, here are a few simple suggestions that if practiced regularly throughout the year, will help grow a scene in our fair city and make 2016 a great year for music in Macon.
GO SEE A SHOW
2015 was a great year for music in Macon, and 2016 promises to be even better. The city has seen its share of on-the-cusp artists come through lately, and look for that trend to continue.
The act you see playing for a small crowd here just might be the next big thing. Case in point: Chris Stapleton played an intimate show at the Cox Capitol Theatre just weeks before becoming the belle of the ball at the CMA awards. Seeing a show like that requires an investment of some sort, though.
In 2016, pay attention to bands that are coming through town. Do some research and listening, and make the effort to venture into a place you've never been to before to see an artist you've never heard of.
GET SOME MUSIC LESSONS
Did you or someone you know get an instrument as a gift this Christmas? Great! Don't just shove it under the bed or deep into the closet. Get out there and bang away on it.
If you need help, there are plenty of options in town for just that sort of thing. If it's a young'un that was on the receiving end of that instrument, send them down to the new Otis Redding Center for the Creative Arts, which is now offering lessons in piano, guitar, flute, drums, cello and voice. Best of all, the lessons are provided by local musicians, which enables you to support two great causes at once.
BUY A RECORD
Listening to music on wax is back in fashion, and did you know that Macon has several places to satisfy the itch for that warm sound?
Fresh Produce Records on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, which opened in 2015, is the best spot to get that hard-to-find independent release you've been looking for, and if it's the right day, that artist just might be playing a show next to the counter. The store plays host to an amazingly diverse calendar of concerts by artists from around the world. Most importantly, keep an open mind.
Around the corner at Habersham's, you can find plenty of soul and R&B in stock. If you're willing to dig through the stacks, you just might find a gem.
On the weekend, head out to Smiley's to see Jimmy down on Aisle H. He has the best selection of records in town, and they're more than likely going to be in fantastic condition. And take the time to talk to Jimmy about music, especially girl groups and psych. He possesses a wealth of knowledge from years of being a music fan and in the record business.
INVEST IN NEW PROJECTS
The biggest musical news to hit Macon at the end of last year was the announcement that the Capricorn Sound Studios building will be preserved thanks to a partnership between Mercer University and NewTown Macon. That's great news, but the hard work is ahead.
The success of the plans being laid by those two organizations is contingent upon the continued support and participation of the community. In fact, that same statement can be extended to Macon's music scene as a whole -- it only exists through active engagement and can only thrive through an enduring dedication to its success.
Jared Wright is a member of Field Note Stenographers, a collective of local musicians who write about shows in Middle Georgia. He is also a musical historian, curator and archivist. Contact him at fieldnotestenographers@gmail.com.
This story was originally published January 7, 2016 at 6:25 PM with the headline "EAR TO THE GROUND: Let's grow Macon's music scene in 2016 ."