There was a story in Tuesday’s Madison Courier about Madison’s participation in the Americana Music Triangle event last weekend at the Pilgrimage Festival in Franklin, Tennessee. I actually went down and helped staff the booth and talk to the thousands of people who stopped by to learn more about Madison.
But I thought I’d put a Charlie’s Beat spin on the experience.
First of all, if you like big music festivals, the Pilgrimage is one of the best run and nicest venues you could ask for. It’s held on an old horse farm right outside town, complete with white board fences, rolling grass fields, and historic horse barns. I would recommend it, if you like that sort of thing. There are two outdoor stages that tag team the big name acts, and then the Americana Music Triangle tent houses the smaller third stage.
The whole concept behind the Americana Music Triangle is to package all the southern music towns (and a few near-south towns, like Madison) into a single branded travel experience.
So, for example, if you go to Nashville or Memphis for a day or two, but then you are like “Now where else can I go to explore more American musical heritage?” The Triangle provides the answer.
You can go down to Clarksdale, Mississippi, next, where the blues were born. You can go over to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where Aretha and the Stones and Dylan recorded. And you can pop north to Madison, Indiana, where we have a great live music scene every weekend!
There are a surprising number of international music tourists who come to the U.S. seeking exactly this type of genuine American musical experience, and as part of the Triangle, Madison is poised to capture that market. I talked to people from Brazil and England, plus Michigan, Texas and South Carolina, to name just a few.
People are deeply passionate about music, and they don’t mind traveling and spending money to see and hear it. Madison has a great package of good live music and historic downtown beauty that will satisfy and delight anyone who visits.
But this whole concept of regional music destinations got me thinking more locally, too, beyond the Americana Triangle, which is primarily a broad southern association. What do we have right around here, within an hour’s drive, that could expand the musical experience we offer? The fact is, there’s plenty!
I immediately think of Vevay, and not just the Wine Festival, but also the regular Friday music events they feature. I think of Scottsburg and the Ross Theater they have over there. Carrollton has their big blues fest at the Point every summer. Seymour has the Crossroads Acoustic Fest in April. North Vernon has regular shows at the Park Theater (including a big show this Saturday with Tracy Thompson and the Forever Band!)
The point is, while Madison is undoubtedly the premier focal point of any fun weekend getaway, with our vibrant music scene and amazing hotels, it can also be the hub for regional music tourism, with lots of other shows and venues just a few miles away. How cool would it be if the entire southeast corner of Indiana became known as a music Mecca? The Southeast Indiana Music Triangle? That’s something to think about!
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Frank Pearson and Erik Brunner have been fixtures on our music scene for quite awhile now. But I just saw on Frank’s Facebook page that he is retiring from playing music due to health reasons. In his words, “It’s a lot of fun, but it takes me days to recover after a gig.” If you like this duo, or you’ve never had the pleasure of seeing them, this could be your last chance, Saturday night at The Drake. You’ll also want to take note that Mad Paddle is open this weekend with music on Friday and Saturday. Roman Toast on Saturday is always fun, with a lot of high energy songs from the 90s and early 2000s. Oh, and Jerry King and his band at Thomas Family Winery will be a really great rockabilly evening. So much music to choose from!
Charlie Rohlfing is a retired advertising man and partner in The Red Bicycle Hall music venue. Look for his distinctive fedora bobbing above the crowd, anywhere live local music is happening.
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Thursday, Sept. 28
Rivertown Grill — Open Mic with Fred Elam
Friday, Sept. 29
Live Lunch at Lytle Park — Anthony Ray Wright (11:30 a.m.)
Mad Paddle — Acoustic Crossroads
Rivertown Grill — Strange Brew
The Central — Jordan Wilson Coalition
The Lighthouse — No Name Band
Saturday, Sept. 30
First Street Saloon — DJ Mark Lewis
Rivertown Grill — Crossfire
The Central — Killin’ Smalls
Thomas Family Winery — Jerry King & Rivertown Ramblers
VFW — Rock Steady Band
The Drake — Frank & Erik
Mad Paddle — Roman Toast
Lighthouse — Hog Head Blues
Park Theater (North Vernon) — Tracy Thompson
Sunday, Oct. 1
Rivertown Grill — Rachel Holt
