Music Promotions and Festival Fun are the main topics here today  Plus where to find live music tonight!

This Music Business. Class Is In!

 Learning the business is essential to making or breaking it with your career in music. I am a big proponent of the promotions angle, as that has always defined best ambitions. Besides the music itself, the next important step is promoting it. If you don’t promote your music why even bother playing it?

Music journalists, photojournalists, videographers all capture a story that can bring your band project to the next level. The radio disc jockeys that can play your song to the masses is your best friend when you are breaking into the business. Cultivate a list and form relationships with these people who can help you broadcast your message.

Whatever you do, don’t rely on social media as your only branding tool. Case in point, I chose to publish my content on a WordPress site so that it can be shared independently to as many sources as I elect. In this case, I share it via email, Facebook, Twitter, WordPress, and LinkedIn.

When I first started out, wrote the content on Facebook and tagged the people who were playing. That was through a good portion of 2015, in 2016 I got more serious about the blog and committed to publishing content here twice weekly. Since 2017, the music promotions in New Bern has caught a lot of attention. That’s when I learned more about how to tag an article so that it is found in common word searches.

The more outside sources your name appears in, the easier it is for people to find your music. For those looking for more tips, I found a great site and good writer too!

Shaun Letang offered great insight into the importance of promotions in his article Master Music Marketing in 2019, The Art of Getting People To Listen to Your Music. And the How To site where it is published is a “Music Industry How To”, that offers great insight on many topics, from promotions to songwriting. The site even has a tool to generate your rapper name or new band branding.

Now go out there and make a name for yourself. CLASS DISMISSED!

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NCMZ.LIVE May 2019 Festival Guide Pt. 4

May and October are the busiest festival months in our beautiful state of North Carolina. Being a fan of fairs and festivals, I am going to use this section to highlight festivals around our state.

North Carolina Fairs And Festivals

To compile this information I research many sites and would like to highlight those first. For a full annual list of Festivals check out http://www.carolinamusicfests.com/.

Another good resource came from WRAL.com https://www.wral.com/2019-north-carolina-festival-guide/

The final site for resourceful information around the state is https://www.ncarts.org/comehearnc/whats-playing/2019-music-festivals

May 23-26, 2019:

Lil John’s Mountain Music Festival

This is a three-day music festival that happens each year is Snow Camp, NC  it accommodates campers and offers a full line up of acts. It all kicks off with a Jam next Wednesday and following that welcoming event, the line up as per the website looks like this

MAY 22 – WEDNESDAY  Sideline open Jam & covered dish dinner 6 pm

MAY 23 – THURSDAY

12:00 – 1:00    3 rd Place Band Contest Winner

  1:00 – 2:00    Passin’  Thru

  2:00 – 3:00    Lawson Creek

  3:00 –  4:00   Hammertowne

  4:00 –  5:00   Cuttin’ Grass

  5:00 –  6:00   Supper Break

  6:00 –  7:00   Lawson Creek 

  7:00 –  8:30   Johnson Mountain Boys Tribute Band (Dudley Connell, Steve Dilling, Bailey Coe, Michael Cleveland, Jason Moore, Dave McLaughlin)

  8:30 –  9:30   Hammertowne

  9:30 –  Until  Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

MAY 24  – FRIDAY

12:00 –  1:00    2nd Place Band Contest Winner

  1:00 –  2:00    Diamond Creek 

  2:00 –  3:00    Buttermilk Creek

  3:00 –  4:00    Darin & Brooke Aldridge

  4:00 –  5:00    Sideline

  5:00 –  6:30    Russell Moore & III Tyme Out

  6:30 –  7:30    Supper Break

  7:30 –  8:30    Buttermilk Creek

  8:30 –  9:30    Diamond Creek 

  9:30 –  10:30  Darin & Brooke Aldridge

10:30 –  Until   Sideline

MAY  25 – SATURDAY

 9:00 AM       Skip Cherryholmes Cornhole Tournament

 1:00 –  2:00   1 st Place Band Contest Winner

 2:00 –  3:30   Constant Change

 3:30 –  5:00    Dave Adkins Band

 5:00 –  6:30    Sideline

 6:30 –  7:30    Supperbreak

 7:30 –  9:00    Leroy Troy & The Tennessee Mafia Jug Band

 9:00 –  Until  Balsam Range

~  SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE  ~ 
 

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Gears and Guitars 2019

2019 Gears and Guitars Fest  This is a four-day festival that takes place in Winston-Salem featuring lots of awesome music
May 23rd

Pre and Post Game Music at The Winston-Salem Dash

May 24th

Trampled by Turtles
The Infamous Stringdusters
Songs From The Road Band

May 25th

Drive-By Truckers
North Mississippi Allstars
Devon Gilfillian

May 26th

Stone Temple Pilots
Dishwalla
Hannah Wicklund & The Steppin Stones

https://www.gearsandguitarsfest.com

Tickets can be purchased in person at The “B” String please refer to their page for hours.

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White Squirrel Festival

Next weekend also marks the 16th Annual White Squirrel Festival in downtown Brevard, NC. This is another weekend-long festival with lots of music on the bill.

According to the Facebook event at press time, this was the line-up…

𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙘 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙡𝙚:

𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟒𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟗
Brother Oliver 5:30-6:30
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys 7:00-8:00
Travers Brothership 8:30-10:00

𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟓𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟗
Davidson River Taiko 12:00-12:30
Cody Siniard 1:00-2:00
Zoe & Cloyd 2:30-3:30
Unspoken Tradition 4:00-5:00
Lovers Leap 5:30-6:30
Clint Roberts & the Wonder Drug 7:00-8:00
Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds 8:30-10:00

𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟔𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟗
Spalding McIntosh 12:00-1:00
Chatham Rabbits 1:30-2:30
Jamie Laval 3:00-4:00
Fireside Collective 4:30-6:00

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Fiddler’s Grove

Listed among one of 23 most intimate music festivals in North America, this Annual event takes place at 1819 W. Memorial Highway
Union Grove, NC.  For more information, you can email the event at info@fiddlersgrove.com. Full day passes cost $25.00 and kids under 12 are welcome for free.

“What started as the Union Grove Fiddlers Convention in 1924 has become an exciting 95-year old annual tradition for fiddler fanatics, families, and friends. This festival brings together 2,000 guests for an entertainment-filled Memorial Day weekend, and it is dedicated to preserving traditional old-time and bluegrass music. This is a three-day event kicking off Friday, May 24th.

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Closer to Home

Fossil Festival, Aurora, NC

Headlining this event will be The Switch on Saturday evening, May 25, 2019. This is a great event to take the whole family out for a fun day. Located in downtown Aurora, NC it is great fun for the kids.

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SILOS Palooza

Mark your calendars! Its the biggest event of the year. Live Music all day, cold beer, activities for kids, plenty of food and fun!!
Keep an eye out for Palooza Shirts! Check out the picture above for the fun-filled music line up!

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~ Live Music Options ~

Friday, May 17, 2019

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There is always a reason to head to town and gather for some fun. Tonight’s reason: LIVE MUSIC

Our Local Clubs and Pubs

The Brown Pelican

The Brown Pelican hosts an evening of classic rock treats courtesy of Third Degree Bern offering songs from 7-10 pm. Come enjoy a fun night of familiar songs by this local group. Free music is never free and neither is the gas to get there, please tip the music makers that you meet.

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Blackbeard’s Triple Play

Blackbeard’s Triple Play Restaurant, 415 S Front St. The party comes courtesy of Ravenz Bru, they will bring the music to life tomorrow night on the deck with all the grooves you will love. Music plays at 7:30 pm- 11 pm. For more info please reach out and call the club at 252-635-0322.

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The Bruin Craft Beer and Wine

Live music will be offered is at The Bruin Craft Beer and Wine each Friday from 8-10:30 pm.

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On the James City Side of that Confounded Bridge

The Garage

The Garage welcomes the music of Tommy Duzan Sr. Live music is offered from 7-10 pm for FREE! But I suggest, you feel free to tip the servers and musicians you meet along the way!

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BrÜtopia

BrÜtopia offers the freshest brewed beer and the good blues grooves of Big Jim Kohler live, who will be sharing songs tonight and jamming from 7-10 pm. Free music for your listening pleasure. Come out and support local music, while you enjoy the freshest new beer on tap!

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Cruising the Crystal Coast

Atlantic Beach 2016

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Cedar Point, NC

Treehouse Beer Company

Treehouse Beer Company welcomes the music of Old Smoke grooving in the garden from 7-10 pm. Sip on a cold beer and groove to the rock blues and country grooves of this popular local duo.

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Newport, NC

Carolina Home and Garden

Carolina Home and Garden welcomes the weekend with Joey & Mason jamming in the garden, offering songs and sharing the grooves we all know and love. Come grab a bite to eat from the Sub Tropics Food Truck, a cold beer and relax as you settle into the weekend.

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Swansboro, NC

The Boro Restaurant & Bar

 The Boro Restaurant & Bar offers live music each Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night. You are invited to bring the whole family and enjoy a great night of fine dining with awesome music. This weekend you can enjoy the music of Justin Castellano. Music plays at 8-11 pm.

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Surf City, NC

JM’s Place PUB

JM’s Place PUB welcomes the rocking grooves of The Adam Hill Band. The fun grooves play from 9 pm until 12 am.

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Rocking Around the Region

Durham, NC

The Blue Note Grill

The Blue Note Grill

Tony Holiday Band / Jason Damico & the New Blue 

MAY 17, 2019 · FRIDAY * 9PM * $10

Tony Holiday is a vocalist and harp player who is rapidly emerging as a star on the international blues scene. He has been recognized by blues legends like Charlie Musselwhite and James Harman as one of the finest up-and-comers in the game right now and is steadily building his own legend one gig at a time. Speaking of gigs, he plays up to 200 of them a year across the US and has brilliantly recorded his latest album Porch Sessions in between them on the actual porches of some of the blue’s best-known musicians.

https://tonyholidaymusic.com/

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jason Damico

High octane, rockin’, blues artist, multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, actor and producer Jason Damico, is no stranger to the Blue Note Grill Stage. This artist has already racked up awards in music – 2014 Triangle Blues Society Solo Blues Challenge Winner, 2015 Carolina Music Awards Rock Male Artist of the Year and the youngest member of the Duke University Jazz Ensemble at 15.

Damico is honored to have performed two pre-shows for the late, great B.B. King at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC), as well as opening for Joe Louis Walker, Lucky Peterson, Slam Allan, Trae Pierce, John Arthur Greene and more.

https://www.jasondamico.com/

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Greenville, NC

AJ McMurphy’s

It is going to be a night not to be missed by southern rock n blues fans, as AJ McMurphy’s welcomes Duane Haddock to the stage! Come grab yourself some good food and a cold drink at one of the coolest places in Greenville. Music plays from 8:30-11:30 pm. This show is free!

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Washington, NC

Backwater Jack’s Tiki Bar & Grill

There are some live music choices up to our North tonight. There is a new room to welcome the bands during the winter months at Backwater Jack’s Tiki Bar & Grill. And that is where music is served from 7-10 pm each Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. On Thursdays, they welcome all players with a Low Key Open Mic Night hosted by Brian Burke.

On Fridays and Saturdays, it’s the finest local acts on the list to entertain you, while you dine and drink and unwind. This weekend it is Damn Yankees on Friday and this Saturday it is For The Love Of Music Jam with John Williams 

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Market Street Pub

Friends and fans of TrainWreck are invited to come out to Market Street Pub this evening. Come out and enjoy a cold beer and country sounds offered by this talented artist.  Music starts at 10 pm.

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Festival Fun Recap for May 17-19, 2019:

Cruising The Coast

Beaufort Music Festival

The Beaufort Music Festival is celebrating 31 years of bringing awesome music to the Crystal Coast. This year will feature five acts on Friday evening and an additional ten acts on Saturday. The fun takes place at Gallant’s Channel in Beaufort, NC.

Since this festival is all about the music, here is the awesome line up for this year:

Friday Evening Performances:

5 pm – 5:45 pm: Driskill
6 pm – 6:45 pm: Chatham Rabbits
7 pm – 8 pm: The Tan & Sober Gentlemen
8:15 pm – 9:15 pm: Stop Light Observations
9:30 pm – 11:00 pm: No BS! Brass 

Saturday Performances:

12 pm – 12:45 pm: Qualian
1 pm – 1:45 pm: Strung Together 
2 pm – 2:45 pm: Hot Buttered Grits
3 pm – 3:45 pm: Durty Dub’s Tribute to Charley Pride
4 pm – 4:45 pm: Pie Face Girls

Saturday Evening Performances:

5 pm – 6 pm: The Artisanal
6:15 pm – 7 pm: Kamara Thomas
7:15 pm – 8:15 pm: Aaron Lee Tasjan
8:30 pm – 9:30 pm: Lilly Hiatt
9:30 pm – 11:00 pm: Hiss Golden Messenger

For more information on the event please visit  https://beaufortmusicfestival.com/.

There is limited parking on site and shuttle service available.

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2019 Atlantic Beach Music Festival

Calling all shaggers and cloggers, just over the bridge and across the causeway is the 2019 Atlantic Beach Music  Festival. This event is celebrating its 6th year of bringing the music that makes you dance, to the circle in Atlantic Beach.

The fun gets started on Saturday, May 18, 2019, at 11 am and it continues until 6 pm. For full details and the band line up please visit  http://atlanticbeach-nc.com/events/abbmf/

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Outer Banks Bluegrass Island Festival

This festival got underway Wednesday, a free kick-off party. The pre-party for this year’s annual event is hosted by the Bluegrass Island Trading Co. 107 Budleigh St, Manteo, NC.

The festival is celebrating its 8th year and here is their story:

Music lovers from all over the world flock to the Outer Banks for this “New” tradition, that adds a roster of acclaimed bands with one of the most beautiful venues anywhere. The Outer Banks Bluegrass Island Festival has quickly become one of the most highly anticipated events of the year, and this year’s event is no exception, with a number of regionally and nationally famous bands set to take the stage. ​

The festival is held at the stunning Roanoke Island Festival Park, which overlooks miles of pristine sound waters. This unique 22 acre island becomes Bluegrass Island each year to host the event. Attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets and lodging well in advance and despite its off-season timing, this event tends to fill up fast year after year. If your dream vacation involves laying back in your most comfortable beach chair and taking in the best bluegrass acts the country has to offer, then you’ll definitely want to set this long weekend aside for the Outer Banks most popular festival!

Make your plans today for Blue Skies…Blue Water & Bluegrass at the 8th Annual Outer Banks Bluegrass Island Festival!

For the rest of the schedule and ticket information, the 2019 and 2020 Festivals visit the website: https://www.bluegrassisland.com

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Mustang Spring Jam

This is a two-day music event that promises amazing live music offered by eight nationally touring bands of various genres. That is what’s on the set-list for Mustang Spring Jam 8, which will be held the weekend of May 18-19 at Mike Dianna’s Grill Room in Corolla.

For event information, please visit MustangMusicFestival.com.

Founded in 2011, Bearded Face Productions is a full-service promotion and production company serving the Outer Banks and beyond in concert, festival and event booking, management and consulting.

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Around the State

 16th Annual Montford Music & Arts Festival

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6th Annual Asheville Food Truck Showdown

According to this unique food festival’s Facebook Page we learn:

33rd Annual Carolina Blues Festival

The Piedmont Blues Preservation Society is proud to present the longest running Blues festival in the Southeast United States!

The 33rd Annual CAROLINA BLUES FESTIVAL has happened all over the Triad. This year they bring it back to LeBauer Park at Greensboro Downtown Parks, Inc.

In recent years the society has been investing in Barber Park and supporting East Greensboro. But they have also held festivals in Jamestown and Winston-Salem as history tells.

This event is now being scripted in Downtown Greensboro for the second year in a row! NCMZ.LIVE was on hand last year for the final day of the fun festival. That is where I met my sweet blues friend Gary Redd.

It was the first time I met the singer, songwriter, former club owner and soulful stringer known as Appaloosa Redd.  He is a positive and vibrant talent from that area whose band closed out last year’s street fair and park festival. The blues-man stays busy around the Greensboro area with Big Ron Hunter and other talented friends.

Taking a look at this years lineup they have a fist full of fine talent on tap:

House of Dues
Melva Houston
Jon Shain
Clark Stern and The Musical Rewards
Dom Flemons

For more info and tickets visit the Piedmont Blues Society’s Website: https://carolinabluesfestival.com/artist-lineup

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Speaking of Appaloosa Redd and Festivals, he and Big Ron Hunter close out the day for the Southern Roots Festival.

This one-day event will take place between 12-5 pm in Prospect Hill, NC. It is a free event and here are the details from Facebook:

The Caswell Council for the Arts will present our first ever “Southern Roots Festival,” celebrating the arts, music, and creative traditions at the roots of Southern Culture. The event will feature live music, an artist and crafter’s market, creative activities, antiques, historical tours of the Warren’s Store, and a variety of Southern food and craft beverages. Admission and parking is free!

Enjoy live music by Connie Badgett Steadman (12:20pm), Barefoot Manner Bluegrass (1:15pm), and Big Ron Hunter with Appaloosa Redd (3:15pm).

Visit us at www.caswellarts.org for more info, or to register to participate in the artist and crafters’ market or as an antique vendor.

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And speaking of the Blues and festivals; next Saturday also offers The Durham Blues & Brews Festival in Durham Central Park. This event gets started at 5 pm and offers amazing music until 10 pm. On the bill for this year’s event is

Closing things out this amazing night of great blues music will be the Mississippi Blues Child himself, Castro Coleman aka Mr. Sipp. This talented player has been around music all of his life. His parents and aunt had a quartet group. He was influenced by B.B. King at the age of 6 which is when he started playing the guitar.

It is time for the Annual BBQ  Cook-off and Festival. This event is in Ayden, NC next week. There will be lots of vendors, cook-off competitions, a car show, a beer garden, rides, and live music.

On stage, tonight will be, the Raleigh based party band Hip Pocket and capping off the event on tomorrow evening with fun country grooves will be The Bryan Mayer Band. Show times are 7 pm both nights!

For full details visit http://www.aydenbbq.org

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North Carolina Potato Festival

The festival will be held May 17, 18, and 19 in downtown Elizabeth City. This year’s theme is “Eat, Shop, and Play Downtown,” in recognition and celebration of all our downtown businesses and to celebrate the amazing growth and progress happening in downtown.

There is a National Potato Peeling Contest, the Little Miss Tater Tot Contest, midway rides and games, the blocks-long Auto and Bike Show, free French fries (while they last), Cornhole Tournament, the CGEA 5K Run, lots of vendors. Interesting as well as traditional festival foods, and an amazing lineup of local and nationally-known musicians throughout the three-day event. And so much more!

Visit https://www.ncpotatofestival.com/ for more information and click https://www.ncpotatofestival.com/main-stage-schedule for the full line up of entertainment on the main stage.

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Answering the Call

Checking things out around the rest of the region, I ask my Facebook followers each week where we can go to hear them play. This is what they said this week.

May 13 at 5:02 PM

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Do you like live music videos? Check out my Live Stream Page on Facebook.

Tracey Stones Live on Facebook

Searching for more events around the region:

Events on Facebook

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Keeping up with the Blogger

Follow me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TraceyStones69.

Feel free to invite me to your events.

If you have a budget for advertising, please consider promoting your next event here!

Do you need music for an event you are planning? Consider the services of:

Tracey Stones Productions

I read emails daily. You can send those to:

ncmz.live@gmail.com

Please include the day, the date, the time of the event, the time of your scheduled performance.

Be sure to mention what time doors open and the price of tickets.

Pictures are helpful. You may send links to band websites so I can post those as well.

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Thank You for Reading!

Please go out and support live music tonight!  Please be sure to call the club in advance to confirm what you read here is true. Many times events change without anyone updating the changes publicly.

If you like this blog please sign up and get an email each time we publish.

I appreciate my readers, the musicians and the venues who all do a part in keeping live music alive! Give us a like and tell your friends about our mission by sharing this page on your social media pages.

Thanks to the many bands and clubs, thanks for keeping me informed!

When you walk out the door tonight, take kindness with you. Be sure to tip those that serve you and the music makers that rock you!

Hug people often and share the love. Make sure you take time to enjoy the dance. Please party safely sweet people! We love having you here with us! Rely on your sober friends, call a cab or sign up to Uber around town tonight!

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Back The Blogger

The girl behind the banner has big dreams and major ambitions of healing the world with music. If you wish to help along on this journey of connecting people to music please consider one of the following options! There are so many ways for people to be a part of this build.

Affordable Partnerships For All

Corporate Unions

I am an advertising vehicle in need of a vehicle to take the dream farther. Let’s work together. If your corporate dollars help to build these well-contemplated plans, that will support the dreams of many local music makers, let’s talk about community commitment. I am very invested in this build and can’t imagine what life looks like without working on this business plan, which is going to need a lot of money to make it fire on all cylinders. Corporate Sponsorship packages start at $5,000.

Community Co-Hosts

 

Are you the leader in your niche? Consider partnering with me by being a stage sponsor! Proudly display your banner across the stages we set up to let locals know that you are supporting local, live music. Sponsorship dollars help to build fair pay stages for acts to offer their music. In exchange, you will be recognized as the co-host of keeping these music dreams alive! Stage sponsorships start at $1,000. 

Post Hosts Are Welcome Here

 

If you are a small business and want to back the mission, consider being a POST HOST! As a post host, you will be featured in an article that will highlight your love of music. A post host will also be given one month of advertising in the sidebar of the blog, seen on all pages. The price to be a Post Host is $250 for one Post or $400 to be The Weekend Warrior POST HOST are just two options to consider.

Advertisers and Donors Appreciated

Are you a band or a small business with an ability to contribute $50.00 each month, consider advertising here!

Donations from readers and live music supporters have always been appreciated also. 

www.paypal.com/ncmz

Fact is this is going to be something that takes flight with the help of the community! In fact, it can’t happen without you because it is all happening for you!

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TIPS! DONATIONS! KINDNESS CONTRIBUTIONS!

If you are a reader, who likes the content of this blog and you have a few dollars to spare, you can always tip the grateful blogger. There are several tip buckets found here on this site.  All donations and tips are filtered back into the growth of this live music blog.

This site is a free service to support live music. Most often it is published twice weekly as a gentle reminder for people to get out and support live music. Support the mission of promoting live music. Your donations will help fuel the growth of this informative live music blog. All contributions are appreciated. Thank you for your support!

~Tracey Stones, Writer~

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