What’s your context?
That’s the question I asked at the first meeting of the Guild, back in January. The idea was that music – like all art – is born in a social context. It’s made by certain people, for certain people in a certain time and place. Some songs are for the battlefield; others are for bars. But it’s all meant for somewhere. Every genre has its roots in a certain time and place, among a certain people. And in that sense, all music is folk music.
So – who are your folks?
Which means, I guess, they ought to hear my music.
My community is downtown Aurora. There’s a group of us here who believe in being local, who believe in the community we live in, and who believe in the power of art to connect people and make life more rich and full. That’s why we’re pushing the Aurora ArtWalk, which I hope you’ve heard about by now. A week from Friday, we’ll turn one intersection into a hub for craziness and creativity. I’m hosting two rock bands, a painter and a sculptor. There’s a poet at the optician’s down the street. Other folks are giving free dance lessons, reading children’s books and playing with electricity. There’s even a cash prize for the crowd favorites.
If you’re within range, join us on September 12 from 7 to 10pm. Be part of us. Be local. Offer to perform for us next time. We’re hoping this will be an amazing night. We’re hoping to have fun – but also to inspire far greater things. Because the best thing would be to become the context we all need. The best thing would be to live somewhere that can be a birthplace for more songs and pictures. The best thing would be to make folk music, and to be each other’s folks.
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