ith Baton Rouge seeing an increase in local musicians promoting original works, Mid City has seen an upswing in where to go to pass a good time. Venues like Mid City Ballroom, The Guru, Pop Shop Records, Curbside, and White Star Market are hosting events ranging from solo and duo performances by singer/songwriters, as well as a number of larger, local bands, in an effort to give them a space to be heard. Many shows are all age shows, which means that families are able to share in the beauty that is music.
But why Mid City? What about the area is seen as a large audience base. The answer is simple. It’s the people. Mid City’s cultural heritage allows for an already creative base of residents to want to soak up what’s on offer. Add to that the community spirit of support in the area, and musicians are on to a win/win in terms of seeing attendance numbers on the increase. Earlier start times that are easily doable in community spaces, allow patrons to take in a show and be home well before bedtime, and the myriad of different genres playing the Mid City scene means that there truly is something for everyone.
Events like the Mid City Makers Markets, Hot Art Cool Nights, and White Light Night serve as sort of mini festivals of music. Visitors can check out a number of different bands, which in turn opens those bands up to a new legion of fans and followers. Businesses with space to hold concerts pay attention to those trends, and it makes the process of booking an easy one. They get to see first-hand what works, and can continue ensuring that residents are seeing who they want to see.
Live music is alive and well in Mid City, and with the way things are going, that looks to only be increasing. Art, culture and music. You can’t beat Mid City for a taste of all three.
