One of the biggest drawbacks of playing live music is that if you have a busy gig schedule, you don’t really get to see your other live musician friends all that much. That’s one of the problems the Upstate Live Music Meetup is meant to solve. This Sunday afternoon at The Spinning Jenny in Greer, members of more than 20 different bands will gather to hang out, network, talk about their new projects and, of course, jam.
The Upstate Live Music Meetup includes a who’s-who of local bands, including Remedy 58, Hot As A Pepper, Evan’s Dilemma, Split Shot and many more. But it’s not just for musicians. There will be vendors, music video producers, media members there to talk shop and enjoy some tunes.
It’s also free and open to the public, so local music fans are more than welcome.
“I think it’s important to have opportunities to grow connections between local musicians,” says Sharon Murry, the co-owner of The Spinning Jenny. “You can meet new people, find a new band member, meet a local booking agent, ask advice from seasoned musicians, swap gear, and jam with musicians you might not have the chance to on a normal basis. It’s a fun event for anyone interested in the local music scene.”
Heidi Chapman of the Upstate variety band Randomonium organized the event. She says it’s an outgrowth of the work she does with the 8,000-member Facebook group “Upstate Live Music.”
“It’s a chance for people who are usually working to get together and talk about each other’s projects,” Chapman says. “And if you’re a new musician it’s a great way to network. It’s open to anyone who wants to feel like a part of the music scene. If you want to jam, you’re invited, if you want to come listen, you’re invited, if you’re a venue owner or someone who sells music instruments, you should come to this and meet people.”
Chapman says that The Spinning Jenny was the perfect choice for the event for several reasons.
“First of all, they’re a great spot,” she says. “But second of all, they’re really conveniently located. Not everyone is coming from Greenville; we’ve got people coming from Spartanburg, so Greer is more centrally located. We’ve looked at other venues and the Jenny just has the right balance of a good vibe and a good stage. And it worked out well for them because they typically don’t have anything on Sunday afternoons.”
Chapman adds that she’d like the venue to get as much attention as the musicians.
“It’s a good way for us to raise awareness about what they do and the great shows they have,” she says. “It’s basically a win-win for everybody.”
For musicians, the all-day jam session might just be the most fun part of the Upstate Live Music Meetup. There will be equipment onstage courtesy of the Golden Strip School of Music, and signup slots for vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, drums and keyboards. Players will sign up for 15-minute or three-song slots.
“Basically, you can sign up to play with people you’ve never played with before,” Chapman says.
Ultimately, Chapman says that she hopes the event brings the Upstate music community closer together.
“I hope that first of all, everyone who’s always complaining that they never get to see their musician friends get to hang out with each other,” she says. “I also hope that maybe some new musicians who are just starting out or have just moved in from out of town can meet people and work on projects. I want this to be an event that fills the music community more.”
If you go
Who: Upstate Live Music Meetup
Where: The Spinning Jenny, 107 Cannon St., Greer
When: Sunday, August 29, 1-6 p.m.
Admission: Event is free
Info: 864-469-6416, https://thespinningjennygreer.com/
