March 6-8, 2009 - I attended the first annual Harvest of Hope Music Festival and have been thinking a lot about how libraries promote local music culture, both within their collections (physical and digital) and through programming, and how this gathering links music, identity, and scene so well that I can't help but get excited about how the library could fit in the picture. So I combined these ideas to discuss music festivals and the library's potential role in collective music gatherings.
Harvest of Hope was a 3-day alternative music festival in St. Augustine that benefitted and raised awareness for the Harvest of Hope foundation that supports migrant farm workers and their families. The festival also emphasized a family and environmentally friendly atmosphere. There were four stages showcasing punk, rock, folk, electronica, blues, local, and hip-hop music. Most of the artists donated their time. The festival’s mission is posted here: http://www.harvestofhopefest.com/our-mission.php
"Music is an important way that millions of people find enjoyment, define who they are, and affirm group membership" (Levitin, 2001).
The music festival is a distinctive musical world, or scene. This type of scene allows for music lovers to engage in a gathering that not only allows for collective expression & experience, but is also serves as a cultural resource (Bennet & Peterson, 2004). There is much to be said about the social and cultural relations between music informatics and music gatherings. As this class covers the field of music information - research, technology, social, cognitive - many of the theories and bits of information I glean from readings and the discussion board have helped me to "experience" and think about music in new ways. In a way, festivals represent the music scene on both macro and micro levels. On the macro level, the music festival is a component of the broader music scene, an event that encompasses the economics and sociology of music on the broadest level. On the micro level, the music festival is a distinctive, intense scene that offers "a collective opportunity for performers and fans to experience music and other lifestyle elements" (Bennet & Peterson, 2004).
Music gatherings, from concerts, to jam sessions, to multi-day music festivals - unite artists and enthusiasts. Also including those who attend the gathering and discover something new. Music fests allow you to immerse yourself in the music and the culture. The festival may encompass a certain musical genre, a theme, a cause, or promote local artists. Bennet and Peterson compare these events to a religious pilgrimage, where one has to be dedicated to participation and attending: "the experience of being temporarily immersed in festival culture can profoundly transform attendees" (2004).
Community Building
Fans who attend these events are both local and translocal. Currently, music transcends borders, both physically and digitally. We can listen to local music of a region of any part of the world in the virtual scene online, however crossing those borders to experience it liveunites the local and translocal scene. Many will travel across the country for the chance to experience a musical scene they love for several days. While locals have the advantage of being able to attend the event as fans, or as a curious music-lover seeking out new tunes, and engage in a scene that is part of their identity. Music festivals, like Harvest of Hope, rely on volunteers and local businesses for promotion. They also invite local, family-run businesses, and non-profit organizations as vendors. Good place for a library to set up shop!! Local libraries can use this as an opportunity to also sell used/donated/weeded books.
On the "local" cultural level of the music fest, many attendees will camp out for several days. Campers form their own communities, meet others with similar interests, share information, share food! This is your chance to learn about new music and scenes. Nonetheless, a camaraderie forms among festival goers that encompasses a spirit of shared passion and devotion the musical culture in all its forms.
Social and Cognitive
Closely related to the community building section mentioned
above, music festivals also promote musical cognition and sociology. Not only is the brain being exposed to new sounds, but you are also influenced by the energy and emotions of the crowd around you. I observed whole families taking in the music and the scene. Young children seem to be in sensory overload and enjoying every moment – dancing and interacting. Children pump their bodies to the beat and copy dance moves from others. One toddler stole the show while rocking out onstage with the punk-rock band Against Me! I have never been a huge fan of electronic music unless I’m working out or dancing to it. However, I listened to an experimental, electronic band called Holy F**k and their electro-pop sound was brilliant and entrancing. I never knew I could appreciate this sound and find it stimulating. http://www.myspace.com/holyfuck
Music festivals also unite people with similar interests. This, in effect, can stimulate powerful relationships and raise awareness of social issues meaningful to this culture. On a personal note, I became much closer with some past friends. This music festival almost served as an epiphany for me, allowing me to realize the interests I share with those close to me and how important they are to our relationship. Not to mention, when you can camp and rock out with people for 3 days straight you have to become good friends (or realize you'll never be friends!). This culture of this festival represented ideas, music, and a social scene that I value and to be able to share that with friends is a profound connection.
Promoting Local Musicians
At music festivals local musicians have the chance to shine along side of well-known acts - they can sell their merchandise and deliver their music to the translocal crowd. Libraries can scoop up local music for their collection and network with musicians. You may find a band that proves as an awesome contact when looking for entertainment for a library function or that will donate their time for a performance at the library that will draw in teens.
This morning I looked up a few of the local bands I heard at the festival in some of the area library catalogs, just to see if maybe they carried local music. NOPE! I found a few bands - the ones that were really popular. It's just a shame that these talented musicians are not represented in their public library. As a central part of the community, it would seem worthy that the library promotes the local music scene as well as the literary.
This made me wonder how many libraries have local music in their collection, or promote local musicians through performances in the library?
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Overdrive-761030.html
Networking
A gathering of this magnitude is the perfect opportunity for musicians, club owners, promoters, labels, and the press to unite. Lesser known bands may get their big break ... or maybe some wealthy couple will want to hire them for a party. Musicians can collaborate with each other and network. Festival attendees also have the opportunity for networking, especially when immersed in an vibrant, communal atmosphere. Libraries could use these fests as an opportunity to gather music donations for their collections and promote the library's services.
Economics - fundraising - activism - raising awareness.
Music festivals are a huge endeavor that takes planning,
time, resources, connections, and money. Harvest of Hope combined the hype of a music festival with the chance to raise awareness and funds for a cause. They also allowed for progressive organizations and local businesses to have first priority in regards to vending and promotion. As mentioned before, libraries can use this as a chance to sell books and library items (bags, hats, sunglasses, etc. with library logo). This type of branding gives the library an image of "cool" and shows that librarians are dedicated to involvement in diverse scenes.
The music festival becomes it's own little music world for a few days, but the experience transcends borders and opens up a multitude of scenes and perspective for musicians and fans. "Finally, music festivals often create change beyond their own borders. This catalytic potential stems from the intensity of such events. Festivals can provide a forum for creating, mobilizing, and rejuvenating both performers and audience." (Bennet & Peterson, 2004).
Work cited:
Bennet, A. & Peterson, R. (2004). Music Scenes: Local, Translocal, and Virtual. Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press.
Harvest of Hope was a 3-day alternative music festival in St. Augustine that benefitted and raised awareness for the Harvest of Hope foundation that supports migrant farm workers and their families. The festival also emphasized a family and environmentally friendly atmosphere. There were four stages showcasing punk, rock, folk, electronica, blues, local, and hip-hop music. Most of the artists donated their time. The festival’s mission is posted here: http://www.harvestofhopefest.com/our-mission.php
"Music is an important way that millions of people find enjoyment, define who they are, and affirm group membership" (Levitin, 2001).
The music festival is a distinctive musical world, or scene. This type of scene allows for music lovers to engage in a gathering that not only allows for collective expression & experience, but is also serves as a cultural resource (Bennet & Peterson, 2004). There is much to be said about the social and cultural relations between music informatics and music gatherings. As this class covers the field of music information - research, technology, social, cognitive - many of the theories and bits of information I glean from readings and the discussion board have helped me to "experience" and think about music in new ways. In a way, festivals represent the music scene on both macro and micro levels. On the macro level, the music festival is a component of the broader music scene, an event that encompasses the economics and sociology of music on the broadest level. On the micro level, the music festival is a distinctive, intense scene that offers "a collective opportunity for performers and fans to experience music and other lifestyle elements" (Bennet & Peterson, 2004).
Music gatherings, from concerts, to jam sessions, to multi-day music festivals - unite artists and enthusiasts. Also including those who attend the gathering and discover something new. Music fests allow you to immerse yourself in the music and the culture. The festival may encompass a certain musical genre, a theme, a cause, or promote local artists. Bennet and Peterson compare these events to a religious pilgrimage, where one has to be dedicated to participation and attending: "the experience of being temporarily immersed in festival culture can profoundly transform attendees" (2004).Community Building
Fans who attend these events are both local and translocal. Currently, music transcends borders, both physically and digitally. We can listen to local music of a region of any part of the world in the virtual scene online, however crossing those borders to experience it liveunites the local and translocal scene. Many will travel across the country for the chance to experience a musical scene they love for several days. While locals have the advantage of being able to attend the event as fans, or as a curious music-lover seeking out new tunes, and engage in a scene that is part of their identity. Music festivals, like Harvest of Hope, rely on volunteers and local businesses for promotion. They also invite local, family-run businesses, and non-profit organizations as vendors. Good place for a library to set up shop!! Local libraries can use this as an opportunity to also sell used/donated/weeded books.
On the "local" cultural level of the music fest, many attendees will camp out for several days. Campers form their own communities, meet others with similar interests, share information, share food! This is your chance to learn about new music and scenes. Nonetheless, a camaraderie forms among festival goers that encompasses a spirit of shared passion and devotion the musical culture in all its forms.
Social and Cognitive
Closely related to the community building section mentioned
above, music festivals also promote musical cognition and sociology. Not only is the brain being exposed to new sounds, but you are also influenced by the energy and emotions of the crowd around you. I observed whole families taking in the music and the scene. Young children seem to be in sensory overload and enjoying every moment – dancing and interacting. Children pump their bodies to the beat and copy dance moves from others. One toddler stole the show while rocking out onstage with the punk-rock band Against Me! I have never been a huge fan of electronic music unless I’m working out or dancing to it. However, I listened to an experimental, electronic band called Holy F**k and their electro-pop sound was brilliant and entrancing. I never knew I could appreciate this sound and find it stimulating. http://www.myspace.com/holyfuckMusic festivals also unite people with similar interests. This, in effect, can stimulate powerful relationships and raise awareness of social issues meaningful to this culture. On a personal note, I became much closer with some past friends. This music festival almost served as an epiphany for me, allowing me to realize the interests I share with those close to me and how important they are to our relationship. Not to mention, when you can camp and rock out with people for 3 days straight you have to become good friends (or realize you'll never be friends!). This culture of this festival represented ideas, music, and a social scene that I value and to be able to share that with friends is a profound connection.
Promoting Local Musicians
At music festivals local musicians have the chance to shine along side of well-known acts - they can sell their merchandise and deliver their music to the translocal crowd. Libraries can scoop up local music for their collection and network with musicians. You may find a band that proves as an awesome contact when looking for entertainment for a library function or that will donate their time for a performance at the library that will draw in teens.
This morning I looked up a few of the local bands I heard at the festival in some of the area library catalogs, just to see if maybe they carried local music. NOPE! I found a few bands - the ones that were really popular. It's just a shame that these talented musicians are not represented in their public library. As a central part of the community, it would seem worthy that the library promotes the local music scene as well as the literary.
This made me wonder how many libraries have local music in their collection, or promote local musicians through performances in the library?
- Can local musicians donate their music to the collection?
- Does local music get its own subject heading?
- Does the musician's CD need to be reviewed or submitted for approval according to collection development policies?
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Overdrive-761030.html
Networking
A gathering of this magnitude is the perfect opportunity for musicians, club owners, promoters, labels, and the press to unite. Lesser known bands may get their big break ... or maybe some wealthy couple will want to hire them for a party. Musicians can collaborate with each other and network. Festival attendees also have the opportunity for networking, especially when immersed in an vibrant, communal atmosphere. Libraries could use these fests as an opportunity to gather music donations for their collections and promote the library's services.
Economics - fundraising - activism - raising awareness.
Music festivals are a huge endeavor that takes planning,
time, resources, connections, and money. Harvest of Hope combined the hype of a music festival with the chance to raise awareness and funds for a cause. They also allowed for progressive organizations and local businesses to have first priority in regards to vending and promotion. As mentioned before, libraries can use this as a chance to sell books and library items (bags, hats, sunglasses, etc. with library logo). This type of branding gives the library an image of "cool" and shows that librarians are dedicated to involvement in diverse scenes.The music festival becomes it's own little music world for a few days, but the experience transcends borders and opens up a multitude of scenes and perspective for musicians and fans. "Finally, music festivals often create change beyond their own borders. This catalytic potential stems from the intensity of such events. Festivals can provide a forum for creating, mobilizing, and rejuvenating both performers and audience." (Bennet & Peterson, 2004).
Work cited:
Bennet, A. & Peterson, R. (2004). Music Scenes: Local, Translocal, and Virtual. Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press.
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