Post by Walker, Texas Ranger on Jun 3, 2009 13:10:41 GMT -5
Written by Chuck Crowder
Two weeks ago I did a column on the struggles regional music festivals are having this year in particular due to the uncertain economy. I mentioned how some festivals are scaling back talent, or even cancelling altogether. I wrote of how talent agents are making deals to get bands booked, and how festivals are doing everything they can to make up for missing sponsorship dollars.
But the main purpose of my piece was to point out how lucky we in the Noog are to have not one, but two such festivals happening as planned despite all of this. Both haven’t gone without their share of struggles this year. And this may have caused both to draw in the reins a little tighter when it came to shelling out talent fees.
Being on the Nightfall committee, I have seen the effects on that festival first hand. And I’m sure Riverbend has experienced the same challenges. Both festivals try very hard to represent the musical taste of everyone who might want to attend. But being “all things to all people” never goes without criticism.
Poor Riverbend gets knocked around like a redheaded stepchild each and every year by music snobs like me. And my column two weeks ago took some pot shots at this year’s lineup like sitting ducks on a barge stage. But the point I was trying to make is that the Riverbend side stages, which have delivered some of the finest talent this town’s ever seen over the years, in my opinion may have suffered in this economic downturn. That’s because after quickly glancing through the schedule I saw many of the same names of the same bands I see playing local clubs around here all of the time.
chattanoogapulse.com/columns/life-in-the-noog/life-in-the-noog-lettin%e2%80%99-the-music-do-the-talkin%e2%80%99/
Two weeks ago I did a column on the struggles regional music festivals are having this year in particular due to the uncertain economy. I mentioned how some festivals are scaling back talent, or even cancelling altogether. I wrote of how talent agents are making deals to get bands booked, and how festivals are doing everything they can to make up for missing sponsorship dollars.
But the main purpose of my piece was to point out how lucky we in the Noog are to have not one, but two such festivals happening as planned despite all of this. Both haven’t gone without their share of struggles this year. And this may have caused both to draw in the reins a little tighter when it came to shelling out talent fees.
Being on the Nightfall committee, I have seen the effects on that festival first hand. And I’m sure Riverbend has experienced the same challenges. Both festivals try very hard to represent the musical taste of everyone who might want to attend. But being “all things to all people” never goes without criticism.
Poor Riverbend gets knocked around like a redheaded stepchild each and every year by music snobs like me. And my column two weeks ago took some pot shots at this year’s lineup like sitting ducks on a barge stage. But the point I was trying to make is that the Riverbend side stages, which have delivered some of the finest talent this town’s ever seen over the years, in my opinion may have suffered in this economic downturn. That’s because after quickly glancing through the schedule I saw many of the same names of the same bands I see playing local clubs around here all of the time.
chattanoogapulse.com/columns/life-in-the-noog/life-in-the-noog-lettin%e2%80%99-the-music-do-the-talkin%e2%80%99/