Music on Maxwell Back Thurs. May 13
April 25, 2010
By JOSEPH SITARZ
Index-Journal
Greenwood, SC - There was never a question in the mind of Jon Holloway that the Music on Maxwell concerts would return, it was just a matter of when. With some encouragement and financial help from a friend and musician, Music on Maxwell is back May 13 with The Trishas.
|
"I'm excited," Holloway said about next month's concert.
Tickets go on sale Monday at Holloway's studio and gallery at 140 Maxwell Ave. in Uptown Greenwood. The May 13 show, sponsored by David Bell, opens with Asheville's David Turner at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30.
|
|
Tickets are $12 and are only available at Holloway's studio, with limit of 150 to be sold. Food and beverages will be available.
|
|
The Trishas, from Austin, Texas, are Kelley Mickwee, Liz Foster, Savannah Welch and Jamie Wilson.
Music on Maxwell fans might remember Wilson. She was a member of The Gougers, a group that played the second Music on Maxwell series in February 2009. It was the last show before Music on Maxwell, billed as a listening room concert series, went on hiatus.
|
Holloway, a Greenwood photographer, and Nick Hyduke, the director of the Abbeville County Career Center, have worked together on bringing music to Greenwood for several years to play in Holloway's Sundance Gallery.
"I love music," Holloway said. "I've tried to create a little world that I really enjoy, that Nick and I can share with others. I think this space is one of the nicest listening rooms in the country, especially when you go up against places that are bars and are loud. I think we have something wonderful here."
Holloway isn't the only music lover here.
To help the return of Music on Maxwell, Bell, an executive with Countybank, decided he wanted to do something, so he did.
"I'm a musician and music lover. I'm excited," Bell said. "I think this site is as good a place that you can find anywhere. It's a beautiful room for an intimate type act. It's a nice setting. We really want to keep it just an intimate experience for Greenwood."
Holloway has some thoughts on what an ideal evening out can be.
"I want people to leave at the end of the night thinking, 'That was special, I'm glad we did that.'
Holloway, Bell and Hyduke think that's exactly what The Trishas will have everyone believing.
"I think that country music has been looking for an all girl group and I think that The Trishas are it," Hyduke said. "I think they're really taking a look at these girls from a GAC, CMT standpoint. They're talented and they're attractive. I think there are going to be some videos. I think they're what country music wants right now.
"I think they'd be very similar in sound to Sugarland or Lady Antebellum," Hyduke said.
Holloway sad, "They're a dynamic group. They have a great sound."
Bell complimented Hyduke for the talent he brings to town.
"He really knows a lot about the musical stuff. He's well connected," Bell said, adding many of the acts hail from Austin or Nashville. "If they can survive there with as much talent as there is there..."
Holloway agrees, saying Hyduke makes all the connections with the bands, books the music, works with all the promoters and does all the research and negotiating.
"He's very well connected. He knows people. Nick has done a wonderful job bringing in quality musicians some who are out of the box and are creating their own path," Holloway said. "This is a very unique opportunity."
"This is an alternative," Bell said, and suggested people give the music a chance.
"People are missing out if they don't come," Holloway said.
Holloway said Hyduke has a knack for finding acts who might not be able to play an intimate setting once they're discovered.
"The Trishas, once they're discovered, probably are not going to play a venue that only holds 150 people," Holloway said.
Hyduke sad more and more videos have popped up on YouTube since negotiations started six months ago. He added The Trishas just played SXSW in Austin and has worked with Raul Malo and Bruce Robin.
Realistically, Bell said he knows there will never be throngs of people lining up to see some of the acts for Music on Maxwell, but he believes there are supporters here.
"Americana is a niche," Bell said.
"There are a lot of people interested in it. You're always going to have more popular music. This is kind of where the real music gets made. Those acts are writing and performing their own songs. These are not the big hats and big belt buckles."
There has been support for the first two rounds of concerts, but Holloway said the hiatus was needed.
"We took a little time off to regroup and look at a lot of different things," Holloway said. "With the economy, it was tough to get people out. We cut the ticket prices. We made it very affordable."
"We've gotten a lot of wonderful response for the artists," Holloway said. "We do really treat the artists well. And Greenwood treats the artists well. Restaurants provide food. We just go above and beyond to do nice things for them and the talk among themselves.
"They know the god venues and the bad one," Holloway said.
"We've gotten lots of wonderful comments from musicians, or thank you notes, saying Greenwood was one of the best places they've played in a long time.
"The audience was engaged and they had a wonderful connection," Holloway said.
Plans are for another concert in the summer featuring a singer-songwriter who is also an artist. Holloway is looking to have another Music on Maxwell concert in the fall.
"I'm excited," Holloway said. "I'm looking forward to it. We hope this is going to be a big show for us and help us plan for the future."
For information, call Holloway's studio at (864) 227-1188.
|