Rather than paying money to see artists perform on a stage in Athens, Ohio University students can now head to Front Room Coffeehouse to watch free acoustic sets.
The OU Performing Arts and Concert Series is sponsoring Wednesday Night Acoustic Showcases that will take place every week starting Aug. 30 and ending Nov. 15.
The artists are local and regional singer-songwriters whom Bruce Dalzell, the organizer of the event, knows. Dalzell, who also hosts the open mic nights at Front Room, said he likes to book people who are quirky and have a sound unlike those on the radio.
“I realized I can book everyone that I like,” he said.
The Campus Involvement Center sponsored the event to raise its profile, Andrew Holzaepfel, the senior associate director of student activities, said. The CIC helps raise money for the event and promote it.
“I’ve kind of cut the leash and let (Dalzell) run with it,” Holzaepfel said. “This is just another option for students to see amazing, talented musicians in a local setting.”
Dalzell said performing in Front Room has its perks because there are always people in the coffeehouse and there is a lot of energy.
“It’s really nice to perform on this stage because you feel like you’re well represented,” he said.
Dalzell remembers when he traveled to Athens to audition for some performance spots. Dalzell is looking forward to “enjoying people and their music and their heart” while they express themselves. He said the Wednesday Night Acoustic Showcase allows him to support local artists.
“There was one or two people who honestly seemed to enjoy what I was doing, and it meant so much to me,” he said. “So I have to try to do the same thing.”
