Music On Our Minds
Let's face it. The weather this weekend just stunk. It rained, it snowed, it blew. The National Weather Service used that lovely term that I hate to see on the forecast: "frozen mix." Yuck. Just when you're getting excited to get your hands in the garden or break out the golf clubs or the fly rod, you're back on the couch in fleece, stoking up the fire, pouring some red wine and looking for something mindless on television.
This is almost what happened to me last night. I was seconds away from succumbing to the 'give it up and hide' attitude with this nasty weather, but somehow, at about 8 p.m., looking out at my greening courtyard (the one benefit to all of this rain), a little ray of setting sunshine poked through the clouds, washing the sky with sultry, teasing light that created an aura of possibility; a sign of hope; a little push to get OUT.
Before I changed my mind, I dashed over to the Mountain Town Stages 'Music Makers' Community Bash event at The Yard and man, did it lift my sagging spirits! The reminder that free summer concerts are just around the corner - at Deer Valley, at The Canyons, on Main Street on balmy summer afternoons and evenings - began pointing attitudes in the right direction. And who else but Park City locals could turn a dreary late spring night into a warm, inviting, soulful evening? Tickets were only $5 and you got a drink for it. A fine selection of Park City watering hole bartenders were on hand with generous pouring skills and cheery demeanors. Locals Marty Morrison and Drew Fink of "Small House Strings" were rocking the house with their mixture of bluegrass, rock, funk, jazz and folk. A huge selection of silent auction items were displayed around the room and guests were having bidding wars on things like music lessons, computer support, cleaning and doggie day care.
The vibe was just good - grassroots and low-key and down-to-earth. A fine group of hippie/musician/artist folk who are just plain fun to be around. Saw lots of old friends I hadn't seen in months. Enjoyed lots of fine conversation. Spring will come, shorts and flip flops will be broken out, and free music will return, thanks to Mountain Town Stages (presenting, supporting and fostering live music in Park City and Summit County).
Talking to some of the MTS board members, they told me that some of the "free" shows we enjoy every week actually cost about $3,000. We talked about how if everyone who enjoys these concerts all summer just made an annual donation of, say, $50 (the cost of one paid concert in many cases), MTS would have enough funding to keep the shows rolling. So I'm making my donation today. I know there are a lot of fantastic non-profit organizations in this town to contribute to, but I have to be the first to admit that I have enjoyed free concerts here for years but never bellied up to the bar with a donation. $50 for a year's worth of free live music? I can do that. Gratefully. Check out mountaintownstages.com to make a donation, for more info, or for a schedule of ongoing great live music in our town. Bring on the show!
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Kristen Gould Case is editor of Park City Magazine and a freelance writer who publishes nationally. Weaned on the blue ice slopes of New England, she moved to Park City 23 years ago and hasn't looked back.
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Reader Comments:
Hi Kristen! Glad you made it to the Music Makers Bash! I had a great time as well and there was an amazing turnout of all the usual, local faces. Woohoo! I could listen to Jay Meehan tell stories forever and Jody Morrison is always up for a few good howls. I am anxiously awaiting another amazing summer. Come on summer!