Post by "The Freq" on Aug 5, 2014 11:45:58 GMT -5
Yes folks, a puzzling thing has surfaced in our local music community that has got some attention from local musicians. After almost a decade of having the Rotaryfest 2nd Stage element of our local Rotaryfest activities, this year, the summer of 2014, that stage vanished without a whimper leaving many to scratch their heads on what happened. Rumours of funding, line up squabbles and more have been floating around but it appears the reason just came forth recently. It appears that a new concert series known at the Emergency Stages is replacing the Rotaryfest "thing". If I don't have the new name correct, sue me. It also appears that this was done in secrecy to avoid any backlash. I'm guessing on that. ;-)
What is the reason for the elimination of one series of concerts and replacing it with another? I can only assume but I would imagine it's a "control" factor. It's obvious now that the Second Stage cancellation was not a sponsorship issue like others thought including myself because the key sponsor of Rotaryfest Second Stage is now the sponsor of Emergency. What is does do though is control the style of music it has on it's stages. Reading the lineup for the 4 so called stages for this new event, the music will focus more on the music Lop Lops has favoured since it started. What does that mean for musicians playing rock or metal or country rock?? It means you won't find a home here. Lop Lops and the ever so snooty Sootoday are sponsors of this new event and it also takes place on Queen Street ironically in front of Lop Lops and also near Cases Music. It's a nice little package that helps that so called clique that years ago I never believed until recently.
Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with creating these concert series but sadly, they always favour the same people. It's never for the good of "all" if you catch my drift. I think musicians who did take part in the old Rotaryfest 2nd Stage will lose out with this new concert series. I highly doubt you will see rock or metal music in the new series as it seems to be more folk indie music.
What does that mean for the rest of us? It means nothing. It's a club and you just won't fit in. I know I won't. ;-) You have to be amused at how this little package works though. You have a bar getting the entertainment and a chunk of the money (I'm guessing), you have your own media ticket in your back pocket, you have a connection with a great sponsor through another musician who's part of the circle and you have a music store to help service these musicians plus a great local sound company at your fingertips. It's a nice tight little package. Yup.. it's a clique.
It's funny, years ago I would have never believed it, in fact, I didn't believe it to be quite honest, but after years of trying to get a promotion on Sootoday with zero luck and fighting my way to get on Rotaryfest Second Stage for years, I see it now. To be honest, reporter Donna Hopper made me believe it was a clique just by her biased reporting. Funny, without even trying she painted that picture for tons of us and now she gets pissed when we say it. haha. Isn't that ironic. Will this new Emergency concert series be better or worse or more of the same "cliquish" vibe? I don't know. It looks like the music style will be more controlled to cater to the Lop Lops scene though. It's a money machine, it's a club, it's a clique. (NO you can't use that on a T-shirt) If you're in that circle you're going to make money. That is obvious. Is that wrong? Well, depends on what side of the fence you're own. ;-) Is it fair? Of course not because these people yap about supporting "local musicians" and brag about having the "best" musicians playing these events but we all know that's a total load of crock. Sorry, but Lop Lops musicians are "not" the elite. That kind of labeling pisses people off and that's why there are ill feelings between this clique and other local musicians. There are other reasons too but that is an obvious one.
So kids, expect pretty much the same style of music you grew to hate from Rotaryfest Second Stage and Lop Lops. Yes, that wonderfully Canadian folky stuff that will make you grind your teeth in pain. Yes, those so called "elite" coffee house players that seem to tour Canada coast to coast and get all of Sootoday's musical attention. Sorry, but most of that stuff hurts my ears and I find it uneventful. I also find the music has a sameness that I find dull. There is no edge and it doesn't take chances. That music stays in it's simple style and never reinvents itself. ;-) Oh sorry, that's my opinion and what is does to me. I can't speak for others. Don't get me wrong. I love folk music, but Canadian stuff in most cases, hurts. It's no secret I'm not a fan of Canadian music. Yes, there are some Canadian musicians or bands that I love but they were smart and got the hell out of Canada to "make it". haha If I've offended any Canadian folk musicians, don't complain. You have one less fan.. .big deal.. You're better off without me. haha Judging by the clique you will always have a home.
I will say this.. I'm declaring a State of Emergency for our local music scene because if we have to listen to this kind of music every year and Sootoday brag about it, I will literally throw up on camera in a Lady GaGa style and post it on Youtube. ;-)
I use to be proud of the local music scene.. Not anymore. What the F.U.C.K. happened to it?
What is the reason for the elimination of one series of concerts and replacing it with another? I can only assume but I would imagine it's a "control" factor. It's obvious now that the Second Stage cancellation was not a sponsorship issue like others thought including myself because the key sponsor of Rotaryfest Second Stage is now the sponsor of Emergency. What is does do though is control the style of music it has on it's stages. Reading the lineup for the 4 so called stages for this new event, the music will focus more on the music Lop Lops has favoured since it started. What does that mean for musicians playing rock or metal or country rock?? It means you won't find a home here. Lop Lops and the ever so snooty Sootoday are sponsors of this new event and it also takes place on Queen Street ironically in front of Lop Lops and also near Cases Music. It's a nice little package that helps that so called clique that years ago I never believed until recently.
Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with creating these concert series but sadly, they always favour the same people. It's never for the good of "all" if you catch my drift. I think musicians who did take part in the old Rotaryfest 2nd Stage will lose out with this new concert series. I highly doubt you will see rock or metal music in the new series as it seems to be more folk indie music.
What does that mean for the rest of us? It means nothing. It's a club and you just won't fit in. I know I won't. ;-) You have to be amused at how this little package works though. You have a bar getting the entertainment and a chunk of the money (I'm guessing), you have your own media ticket in your back pocket, you have a connection with a great sponsor through another musician who's part of the circle and you have a music store to help service these musicians plus a great local sound company at your fingertips. It's a nice tight little package. Yup.. it's a clique.
It's funny, years ago I would have never believed it, in fact, I didn't believe it to be quite honest, but after years of trying to get a promotion on Sootoday with zero luck and fighting my way to get on Rotaryfest Second Stage for years, I see it now. To be honest, reporter Donna Hopper made me believe it was a clique just by her biased reporting. Funny, without even trying she painted that picture for tons of us and now she gets pissed when we say it. haha. Isn't that ironic. Will this new Emergency concert series be better or worse or more of the same "cliquish" vibe? I don't know. It looks like the music style will be more controlled to cater to the Lop Lops scene though. It's a money machine, it's a club, it's a clique. (NO you can't use that on a T-shirt) If you're in that circle you're going to make money. That is obvious. Is that wrong? Well, depends on what side of the fence you're own. ;-) Is it fair? Of course not because these people yap about supporting "local musicians" and brag about having the "best" musicians playing these events but we all know that's a total load of crock. Sorry, but Lop Lops musicians are "not" the elite. That kind of labeling pisses people off and that's why there are ill feelings between this clique and other local musicians. There are other reasons too but that is an obvious one.
So kids, expect pretty much the same style of music you grew to hate from Rotaryfest Second Stage and Lop Lops. Yes, that wonderfully Canadian folky stuff that will make you grind your teeth in pain. Yes, those so called "elite" coffee house players that seem to tour Canada coast to coast and get all of Sootoday's musical attention. Sorry, but most of that stuff hurts my ears and I find it uneventful. I also find the music has a sameness that I find dull. There is no edge and it doesn't take chances. That music stays in it's simple style and never reinvents itself. ;-) Oh sorry, that's my opinion and what is does to me. I can't speak for others. Don't get me wrong. I love folk music, but Canadian stuff in most cases, hurts. It's no secret I'm not a fan of Canadian music. Yes, there are some Canadian musicians or bands that I love but they were smart and got the hell out of Canada to "make it". haha If I've offended any Canadian folk musicians, don't complain. You have one less fan.. .big deal.. You're better off without me. haha Judging by the clique you will always have a home.
I will say this.. I'm declaring a State of Emergency for our local music scene because if we have to listen to this kind of music every year and Sootoday brag about it, I will literally throw up on camera in a Lady GaGa style and post it on Youtube. ;-)
I use to be proud of the local music scene.. Not anymore. What the F.U.C.K. happened to it?
