Future Sounds

Sept. 2, 2016

Who better to offer some thoughts about the future of the local music industry than the people who watch it grow at ground level?

Northern Express: How do you think the music scene around northern Michigan has changed since you first started. What’s different now?

Brian Chamberlain, musician, recording engineer, and owner of Studio Anatomy in Traverse City: “Over the past few years, this area has seen a huge growth in the singersongwriter/folk/indie folk scenes. Anyone looking through the weekly Nightlife section of Express can easily see the local staples making the rounds. With all the new craft breweries, wineries, and cider houses, solo musicians and acoustic acts have a great environment for performing. Unfortunately, all other ‘electrified’ bands performing original music have very few places to book a gig. A lot of people in the area may not realize there are many altrock, punk, indie, and hip-hop groups in town trying to get their name out there, but they’re rarely discovered unless they get a Studio Anatomy or InsideOut show.”

Sam Porter, owner of Porterhouse Productions and TentVenue in Traverse City: “History is still a factor of how great the music scene is here. That has created the venues for all of the new arts and music to play in. But the right venues are still in flux … and it will take leadership and gusto to leap into building the next spaces that will be more conducive for the arts.”

Marty Scott, musician, artist, and founder/ owner of Red Sky Stage in Petoskey: For the 20 plus years I have lived here, northern Michigan has had a great assortment of local musicians. In the last few years, many of those artists have started to move beyond northern Michigan and expand their audience across the region, and even from coast to coast. We have at the same time been exposed to a growing field of musicians from around the country and beyond who are looking for opportunities to bring their music to northern Michigan, venturing more and more into an area that was generally viewed as too remote and sparsely populated.”

Seamus Shinners, founder of Connemara Concerts and artist booker/liaison for Sleder’s Family Tavern On the Porch Series in Traverse City: “Today, there are many more venues presenting music, especially in the summer. What’s different is that there are a wide range of venues to choose from, which allows for greater opportunities to hear music in a wide range of styles. Ideally, this means that artists have a chance to hear and creatively engage other musicians who might be in the area.”

Express: Is it a better scene these days?

Chamberlain: “Most definitely. But there’s still a need to expand the kind of venues that are open to more diverse genres of music on a proper stage. I think the City Opera House or other larger venue should entertain the thought of putting on all-ages shows—no alcohol—featuring original music — sounds funny maybe, but I’m serious.”

Porter: “Well — it’s grown more than it’s changed, in massive ways. I think the old days are missed by those that remember the shows.”

Scott: “Yes. As a result of both of the trends I mentioned, northern Michigan audiences expanding their range and new musicians venturing here, I think the local music scene has become much richer and more varied.”

Shinners: “All of the new venues, plus all of the festivals such as Blissfest, Manitou Music Fest, and Aten Place have created a musical galaxy of opportunities for audiences to savor. And the supportive nature of the music community is the best element of the music scene here.”

Express: Where do you think the future of the music scene here is going — has it leveled out, is there still room for expansion — or is this just the beginning?

Chamberlain: “There’s a ton of music happening here. Unfortunately, it seems to consist of mostly the same genres. But in order to expand the diversity of our music scene, we need more music venues. What we have now are either breweries and/or restaurants, and the music is nearly background entertainment for the patrons. I’d love to see the growth of larger venues where music is the primary objective. By having venues capable of handling at least 300-1000 people, we might become a new tour stop for touring bands.”

Porter: “We are missing a key space: a 350-to- 600-capacity all-arts, all-genre community venue. I tried seven years ago in Old Town, but the market and my investors were not ready. We’re saturating many festival concepts and patio gigs, and we’re outcompeting ourselves. We need to focus on our arts with huge support, including rooms for artists, sponsorships for festivals, and keeping the place authentic and approachable so people can also enjoy our local culture and traditions.”

Scott: “The structure of the music scene all over northern Michigan is dominated by bars and festivals — that is as true of Petoskey as it is of Traverse City. It feels to me that we are creating a bit of a change here in Petoskey by adding the experience of a more intimate environment — at least, I hope so. There is an increasing desire for something more in the style of coffee-house venues, spaces with great sound and no distractions between the musicians and the audience. I think the most important trend is to increase opportunities for local musicians to reach a wider audience, and for musicians from around the world to find access to audiences in northern Michigan.”

Shinners: “It’s more a process of change, of evolving, of artists trying to find a sound that captures the heart of both artist and audience alike. The venues, presenters, and promoters have to work to maintain a commitment to providing the settings that allow for artists and audiences to share in a performance together. Some don’t realize that artists rely on the people to sustain them through a performance, and that can be difficult when a venue doesn’t share that commitment.”

Express: Let’s look ahead 10, maybe 20 years. What will the music scene in northern Michigan be like in the near future?

Chamberlain: “Robots making a never-ending supply of EDM! But seriously, if I have anything to say about it, there will be a greater number of artists in the area performing a diverse mix of music in a mix of small and large venues. Local acts on the bill, opening for out-of-town bands; local independent record labels; a local music and art media publication; and a few more record shops selling local music by means of high resolution 24-bit audio files tapped directly into the auditory cortex … and of course, good old-fashioned vinyl.”

Porter: “Well, some major players might just develop camping-based experimental festivals by then that will have massive economic and cultural impacts. As many know, the nature surrounding us here is the ultimate focus, so we just need to protect that balance and keep investing. I see a food and arts festival, a solid small venue, more city policies waived for more food vending opportunities, TART trail growth, and more celebratory events.”

Scott: “I expect northern Michigan will continue to grow in population and in diversity of all types. At the same time, I expect we will retain and possibly increase our affection for the beautiful place we live. Growth in diversity is always good for art, including music, so I think our music scene will become richer and more complex in the next 20 years and, thus, more enjoyable.”

Shinners: “There will always be music being made and shared by artists for an audience. But the looming concern that impacts artists’ careers is downloading songs from the internet.

If this isn’t resolved, then downloading songs with little or no compensation for the artist will remain an area of concern for all of us. I see the quiet and slow rebirth of record stores in our community. And house concerts will be the new favored norm to hear a show, because they will afford a more intimate listening experience where the shared musical moments are easier to achieve.”