The local music community will come together to support arts education Saturday night.
Downtown Jamestown will feature the talents of 40 musical acts at eight venues for the ninth annual Local Music Showcase. For $10, attendees can take in a variety of music. All proceeds will benefit Infinity Visual and Performing Arts Inc.
"By coming out and being a part of LMS, participants support Infinity and its youth-development efforts, but also support local musicians and venues," said Shane Hawkins, executive director for Infinity. "There is so much local talent in our community, and so many of the local bands pitch in to help with this fundraiser. It's amazing how so many pull together to make this event a success. The bands usually have one-hour sets, so it is possible to see a wide variety of genres and bands in one evening - a festival in the city."
Article Photos
Pictured are The Bogarts performing at last year’s Local Music Showcase. The 2012 Local Music Showcase will be held Saturday night and will feature 40 musical acts and eight venues.
P-J file photo
The 2011 Local Music Showcase raised $8,000 for Infinity. Hawkins hopes to match or top that total Saturday night.
Support of the event has increased every year, Hawkins said. Some venues, musicians and sound engineers have volunteered their services annually. More than 40 door volunteers also make Local Music Showcase possible.
"The event is coordinated by Infinity staff, but would not be possible without the volunteers who help make the event a reality," Hawkins said.
Saturday's participating venues include Mojo's, The Pub, Labyrinth Press Company, Forte, The Wine Cellar, Suburban Blend, The Reg Studio Theater and Infinity Arts Cafe. After starting in Bemus Point, Local Music Showcase has been held in downtown Jamestown since 2006.
"Downtown Jamestown venues and business owners have been extremely generous and welcoming each year, opening up their establishments to the volunteer bands, and allowing Infinity volunteers to sell wristbands at their doors all evening," Hawkins said. "Several businesses also go above and beyond to donate checks each year to help Infinity even more."
Local Music Showcase serves as the primary fundraiser for Infinity, a multifaceted arts and music education program housed at 115 E. Third St., Jamestown. Formed in 1998, Infinity was developed to help aspiring musicians enhance their creative talents and performance skills. Infinity became a 501(c)3 in 2005.
"Fundraising is so very important for nonprofits, and more important than ever due to repeated and wide spread funding cuts to arts and youth programs the past few years," Hawkins said. "Community support of this fundraiser and others that Infinity holds are critical. They not only raise much-needed funds, but increase awareness about our program offerings."
According to Hawkins, many of the 40 participating musical acts have ties to Infinity as instructors or former or current students. Others just choose to support what Infinity offers by volunteering their talents one night a year.
"It's really amazing how much talent, creativity, and love of the arts and music we have here for such a small community," Hawkins said. "The musician community is a very tight-knit, active group, and they have always really stepped up to help out in any way they can at Infinity."
The $10 wristbands can be purchased the day of the event at participating venues. Pre-sale tickets are available at Infinity. Those tickets can be exchanged at any of the eight venue doors for a wristband. There will not be $5 single-venue wristbands this year.
Mojo's, The Pub, The Wine Cellar and Forte will be 21-and-over venues. Saturday night's all-ages venues include The Labyrinth, Suburban Blend, Reg Studio Theater and Infinity Arts Cafe. Local Music Showcase will be held from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information, call 664-0991 or visit infinityperformingarts.org/.
LOCAL MUSIC
SHOWCASE SCHEDULE
Forte
10:30 p.m. Cindy Haight & Paul Liuzzo
11:30 p.m. Andy Conti
12:30 a.m. Gary Peters Jr.
Infinity Arts Cafe
6 p.m. GAHU Drum Ensemble
7 p.m. SYMBA
8 p.m. Bowling Kids of America
9 p.m. Collective Groove
10 p.m. Weeirdo Drum Ensemble
Labyrinth Press
Company
6:15 p.m. I AM FRANKIE SCRAPMETAL
7:30 p.m.The Elektra Kings
8:45 p.m. Oliver Burdo
10 p.m. Haunted Heart
Mojo's
6 p.m. Amber Lee & The Hallow Society
7:30 p.m. Higher Ground
9 p.m. Thee Audience
10:30 p.m. The Bogarts
12 a.m. Smackdab
Suburban Blend
8 p.m. Beyond the Illusion
9:15 p.m. Hi-Fidelity
10:30 p.m. Lion Avalanche
11:45 p.m. OTiS
The Pub
7 p.m. Tara Lamont Eastman
8 p.m. Crippled Fingers
9 p.m. Doc & Bill
10 p.m. Steel Rails
11 p.m. Sean Lander
12 a.m. Joey Cobra
The Reg Studio Theater
6 p.m. OXENWINGS
7:15 p.m. Rat Ivy
8:30 p.m. DJ80N3
9:45 p.m. Voodoo Brother
11 p.m. Blind Society
12:15 a.m. Hot Stenographer
The Wine Cellar
6 p.m. Nick Kilpatrick & Sara Rafaloski
7:15 p.m. Amanda Barton & Bill Ward
8:30 p.m. Mike Brunacini
9:45 p.m. Brian Hanna
11 p.m. Cryptic Yeast
12:15 a.m. Andy White
1 a.m. Claud Schuckers