Words and Photos By Madeline Harris
Bad news: On November 4th, my car broke down.
The good news? I was within walking distance of the Provo Music Scene Town Hall meeting.
A win is a win.
There are so many exciting things coming into and out of the music scene. It’s a tight knit and abundant community web that just keeps on spinning. From adding more accessible venues, to opening up an immaculate hi-fi listening lounge, big things are afoot. All bases were covered during this month’s Town Hall meeting, hosted by 3hive on Center Street and facilitated by JR Boyce of ABG’s and Bly Wallentine of The Toaster Oven.
New attendees were present at the meeting (myself included), so brief introductions acted as a precursor to the items of business. Darcie Roy began by discussing new developments to her community-centered website, provomusicscene.com. She urged everyone to spread the word and tell bands to upload their schedules and booking information. The goal is to put everything in one comprehensive place, but it only works when musicians contribute and collaborate.
Gears shifted to discussing community action and philanthropy in regards to current limitations on food and resources. Representatives from Community Action Services and Food Bank proposed the idea of tying donations into DIY shows and events. It was proposed that house shows could take donations as an entry fee to help combat issues related to SNAP benefits’ inaccessibility. Small actions make a big difference, and members of the scene are encouraged to consider ways to help the community at large.
The meeting then became a reflection on the ALL SAINTS festival of November 1, which was a smashing success. It had been in the works since July, and Bly and JR noted that so many people contributed to its organization and facilitation. It was a demonstration of community involvement and its rewarding payoff (sweet, sweet music).
Jacob Oman – a local musician, BYU music student, and internet presence – noted his plan to put on a monthly musician showcase, hosted by some big Utah names and featuring some big Utah names. The hypothetical but highly promising showcase would start in January, but more details are to come at a later time. Additionally, Jacob announced his plan to teach lessons on social media marketing for musicians and noted the positive correlation between social media views and music streams. Stay tuned if this is something that interests you.
Local music scene heroine Mindy Gledhill was in attendance, and prompted conversion about rebooting classic events like the Rooftop Concert Series that ended in 2017. Everyone expressed a mourning for pre-Covid music opportunities and the need for similar experiences to once again take place in Provo. A great place to start generating momentum for these advancements is provomusicscene.com.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Eli Kerr introduced himself as the proprietor and operator of B-side HiFi, 3hive’s new upstairs neighbor. He offered a tour and taste of what the vinyl lounge is all about to anyone interested after the meeting. Nothing has ever piqued my interest more. You can bet I absolutely took advantage of this sneak peak.
I cannot stress enough how fantastic an experience it is to listen to records in an environment based entirely on the philosophy that music should be intentionally consumed. B-side’s impeccable atmosphere is open for listening sessions on Fridays and Saturdays per their monthly schedule, which can be found on their Instagram. Now that it’s up and running, music enthusiasts are highly encouraged to go check it out.
November’s Town Hall was buzzing with ideas and opportunities, and next month’s will likely be, too. All are welcome to come and mingle, share ideas, and learn about the scene from within. The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 2 at 3hive. We hope to see you there!
Make sure to follow 3hive Record Lounge on Instagram. You can hear Jacob Oman’s latest single, “Starts To Rain” below!