Friday, January 17, 2014

Passim: It's About The Music


By: Doug Ruffin
     President,
     Boston Music coalition

I love walking through Harvard Square. You can walk down the same street several times and you end up discovering something new that may have been there but you just didn't notice. 

Passim (formally, Club 47 ) is a great night club for live music. Jazz, folk, and you name it. Passim has it. Just like Harvard Square, the charm of Passim is that no matter how many times you attend Passim, you may be surprised to find that Passim offers so much more.

Passim is an institution. I know. Music institutions come and go. They leave the scene often because music institutions loose their focus. ... Usually Music.

Not at Passim. More than a night club. And wow; What an epic club. Not in size, but in spectrum.  

How can a night spot in Harvard square effect the entire music industry? The answer: Keeping it's focus on live music.

You first have to realize that this is not some big business pretending to focus on music. Passim is, in fact, a 501c3 non profit. The Mission of Passim is to provide truly exceptional and interactive live music experiences for both performers and audiences, to nurture artists at all stages of their career, and to build a vibrant music community.

I had a conversation with, the Executive Directer of Passim, Dan Hogon. He explained that Passim is, "a program of programs". Dan went on to explain the different music programs under the Passim umbrella. 

To better understand the programs, Mr Hogon started by explaining that Passim gives grants to music artists to help build music careers. Since 2008, The Iguana music fund helped several bands and individual music performers from all around New England with grants ranging from $500 to $2,000. The reasons for the grants range from improvements to a practice space to a van for a band going on tour. Bands and artists interested in learning how to participate and gain grant money, can click on the links in the resource area of this blog. 

Other programs include, the Passim school of music. Since 200, students can take classes in a fun and informal setting. Whats really great is that the Passim School of music works closely with the Passim nightclub. That offers opportunities for students to perform on the Passim Stage. 

If you do not have solid plans for Memorial Day Weekend and / or Labor Day weekend, Consider joining in on the Passim campfire. New artists perform in such a relaxed manner, that its common for audience members to be pulled on stage a long side of the performing artists. Its lots of fun. 

The Passim  Nightclub its self is amazing. They offer a Celtic Music Fest and Berklee students also perform there all in addition to an eclectic professional live music schedule. Food and drinks are served as well. 
Passim offers a lot to listen to, a lot to see and so much more to experience. What ever you do. You'll find it better to stop in to Passim at 47 Palmer Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge.Because just walking by a nightclub ... just isn't enough.


Resources

Harvard Square in Cambridge. Get the History and Latest News 
www.harvardsquare.com 

Passim - Listen Experience Engage 
www.Passim.org 

Are You a Music Artist (or Band) in the New England Area? Need Funds to get to the Next Step? Find Out About the, "Aguana Music Fund" And How You can apply 
Click Here: http://passim.org/about-fund 

Want to know who is getting funding their Music? 
Click Here to find out: http://passim.org/past-winners 

How about a Music Class? 
Take one (or, Two) Click Here: http://passim.org/about-school 

How Can You Perform at the Passim Campfire? 
Click Here: http://passim.org/campfire-festival 

Click Here to Get the Club Passim Concert Schedule
http://passim.org/club-passim  




Della Mae is one of the many successful music artists who Received a grant from the Passim Iguana Music Fund. This Year, Della Mae is nominated for a Grammy. Take Listen to her Grammy Nominated Bluegrass CD.     







                
           
               
               

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