On A High Note: Absolutely Austin

When you think of a music city, you probably think Nashville, Tennesse, or Los Angeles. I did, too. Now, I think of Austin, Texas. 

I spent some time in the live music capital of the world over break and found a passionate community that passionately supports a culture of local music.

Austin would be nowhere without its hometown comradery. The reason there is a band in every bar is because owners are willing to fund something people care so deeply about. You don’t find that kind of thing up north.

While in Texas, I spoke to independent music producer and singer-songwriter Mark Addison about some programs the city has to support local artists. He has worked in the industry for over 35 years and has been covered by big names like Edwin McCain, Cher and Gene Simmons of Kiss.

Addison told me about Black Fret, a citizen-funded organization that gives grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to artists living and working in Austin. The panel nominates the best and brightest in the area and funds them to keep creating the kind of art that represents the city so well.

Austin Music Foundation is a nonprofit that provides free education, helping young professionals succeed in the dynamic industry. Panels and workshops are held for artists looking to grow individually and one-on-one consultations are also provided.

Austin, however, is also the perfect forum for big events. Taylor Swift played her only show of 2016 in Austin for an estimated crowd of 80,000. Not to mention the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival held in Ziller Park every summer over two consecutive three-day weekends. C3 Presents, which also produces other smash-hits like Lollapalooza, puts on the show for about 450,000 each year and artists of all genres contribute to the lineup.

However, I don’t think what makes Austin special can really be explained by statistics. It’s better defined by the spirit of the city.

It’s the little girl that wants to stand on a stage and has a realistic shot without uprooting her life. It’s the donations from citizens to fund lower-level musicians’ entire careers. It’s the “Keep Austin Weird” campaign; people are actually taking pride in something other than sports success in their town. It’s the passion for art that is evident on any given street to the Willie Nelson Statue. The bottom line is that Austin is not just unique to Texas; it’s a one-of-a-kind gem.

Halle Weber is a freshman studying journalism with a focus in news and information at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. What city do you think of when you think music? Let Halle know by emailing or tweeting her at hw422715@ohio.edu or @HalleWeber13, respectively.