Art After Dark returns to Houma
September 5, 2012
Chartering a Comeback
September 5, 2012
In recent years, our humble city has experienced a growth.
The growth doesn’t only belong to our new businesses and city projects; but also to our local music scene. The influx of new outdoor festivals to our town over the past few years has done wonders to introduce new and original music to the populous of Houma.
This is much needed, since our city is so full of remarkable original music that it could burst. From Houmapalooza, which was founded two years ago and already has become synonymous with local originality, to the brand-new Best of the Bayou Fest, opportunities for local bands to be showcased are steadily on the rise.
Best of the Bayou fest is held Sept. 29-30, as the first in a series of outdoor festivals during the fall season. Including Louisiana acts such as GIVERS and Cowboy Mouth, the Best of the Bayou is the first annual event of its kind and hopes to show off national and local talent from around the state.
During that same weekend, The Boxer and The Barrel hosts the Mega Mondo 13 Band Show, which features a wide variety of Houma bands that aren’t involved with this years BOTB. Set for Sept. 29, the show features talent from across the state.
The Mega Mondo Show is a great chance for local artists who are interested in breaking into new markets and booking shows outside of Houma to come out and meet musicians who are attracted to original talent.
The show includes locals such as Paper and Radio, Autumn High, Secret Society in Smaller Lies and Don Puebla and Harlem Heat. New Orleans also shows off some of its immense talent during the Mega Mondo Show with Sci Fi Zeros, Shock Patina, Lovey Dovies, and The Lollies.
Then, next month, is the festival that has become a must-attend affair with the local music circuit – the one and only Houmapalooza.
Over the past two years, this festival has done more for the original music of our town than anything else in recent memory. Bringing an entirely innovative vibe to the youth and music lovers of Houma, Houmapalooza has been heralded as the premier outdoor festival that showcases Houma’s artists. It is a strong possibility that your favorite local band has either played in the past or is scheduled to play the third annual Houmapalooza.
Glenda Toups, the festival’s head coordinator, offered some insight in to what she hopes the festival can accomplish.
“We have three main goals with Houmapalooza and those are to, first, continue the rich tradition of south Louisiana outdoor music festivals,” Toups says. “Secondly, we wanted to give the local original musicians their own platform to reach a greater audience. Last of all, we wanted to make sure that, with the proceeds received, we can ensure the future of Houmapalooza for years to come.”
This year the Houma Arts Council has planned a lecture series, which will take place through the week starting on Monday, Oct. 22, and culminate with Houmapalooza on Oct. 27.
During this series of information-based lectures, which are open to the public free of charge, guest speakers will share valuable music-related knowledge such as how to copyright music, how to license music to be used in TV shows and movies and a drum clinic.
“A career in music is now a viable option for the youth growing up in our ever-changing city“ Toups says. “We hope to portray this fact to anyone who is interested in learning.”
Lectures are scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. at the Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum.
As a musician and general fan of music, I have never been more thrilled for Houma’s artists. These festivals are not only an attempt to bring information to the common musician, artist or music lover; but to inspire all of those who have an idea.
Anyone with a little bit of careful planning and ambition has the chance to create and share their own inspiration. You can make Houma what you think it should be.
This town is here, so let’s continue to make it a culturally stimulating place for residents and tourists, alike, to enjoy.
Please join in with the tremendous people like Glenda Toups and help us to bring the music and art of Houma into the mainstream, anyway that we can.
– Alex Martin is a local musician and thesbian who loves and lives in Houma.
Whom Do You Work For?, a New Orleans-based pop trio that utilizes electronics to accompany guitar and percussion, perform at Houmapalooza. The festival, which returns in October, is one of many sprouting outlets for local musicians, columnist Alex Martin says.
