It is no secret that I am a big fan of local music. I have thrown myself into bringing great artists to Frisco for the last few years, and we have seen the growth with more venues adding live music to their calendar of events.
But what is Frisco missing?
How about an event that not only brings the venues together but draws new talent to Frisco while still working with local artists? For too long I’ve said “If only we had such an event that could do all these great things for our city.”
Well we do and it’s coming October 15th 2016!
“The WhistleStop Jamboree” kicks off on Saturday October 15th and is the start of a new Frisco tradition.
The Frisco Music Scene
The concept started over the summer when a group of local artists formed the “Frisco Music Scene.” Jeffery Brooks, Steve Anderson, Ben Shurr, Stacey Shoppe, and Matt Hinchey not only have a passion for music, but also for Frisco.
The purpose behind the Frisco Music Scene (FMS) is simple: Bring and create a music culture to Frisco while working with venues, local business, and city officials.
The FMS is committed to keeping the roots of Frisco, while embracing the growth that our city is enjoying. What started off as a simple Facebook page promoting events, bands, and conversation has become a council of 6 (myself included) that meet to discuss ideas and to bring more music to Frisco.
Out of one of those meetings came the idea for a festival or event. The idea took many twists and turns but untimely the focus was on the music and Frisco’s historic downtown. With all the great bushiness that are just across the tracks, the FMS wanted to draw people to that area and showcase what Frisco has to offer. The mission statement that the Frisco Music Scene has released is simple:
“Music is to a city what flavor is to food. A city like Frisco, Texas, needs its own music to help define its unique character and style. The Frisco Music Scene is a collaboration of local artists, venues, and community leaders dedicated to this understanding. Our goal is to nurture a distinct musical culture for our developing city.
The three pillars of our philosophy are: Creativity, Community, and Citizenship. By creativity, we encourage original music by local artists of various genres. By community, we understand music to be not only the product of a musician, but an interaction between the artists, their location, and their audience. And by citizenship, we are especially interested in nurturing a musical culture that identifies itself with the Frisco experience, from its historic roots to the blooming society it is producing.
In the end, it is our mission to help Frisco develop not only as a hub of commerce, but as the center of a flourishing culture.”
The Whistle Stop Jamboree
The ideas came easy for locations but it needed something else, something different that would get people excited and that could grow in the years to come.
Jeff Brooks a member of the FMS, as well as The Bodark’s, brought up the idea of a musician lottery. Brooks had heard of the idea and read about how Cleveland did the lottery and it has turned into something really special.
The “jamboree” was going to be the fuel that kept the festival moving and keep it fresh for years to come.
The FMS began to send out invites to different artists from different styles of music. Singers, drummers, bassist, lead guitarist all were welcome to join the lottery. The lottery was drawn and from that lottery several “Jamboree” bands would be playing the festival together for the first time. Different styles and talents would join together to create a unique experience for everyone involved. Artist’s like Matt Bell, Brad Haefner, Jason Lovell, Ben Wade, and more will create a band with new songs and play throughout the day at several venues in downtown Frisco.
From there everything started to happen fast and the response from Frisco and the bands that wanted to play was overwhelming.
“The WhistleStop Jamboree” kicks off at noon on Saturday October 15th 2016. The newly renovated eight | 11 will be hosting the “Picking Circle” which is open to anyone and everyone to sit around and play all day until 6:30 pm when Sebastian Valenzuela will take the stage and continue to play into the night.
One of the great things about The WhistleStop Jamboree is that all the events are within walking distance so you don’t have to worry about driving and parking all day.
For example, just across the street and only a few blocks down Manny’s Tex-Mex will be hosting the “Student Stage” where young upcoming talent will be playing and showing their skills. These kids are the future of music and Manny’s is a great place to bring the family for good food and to support everyone who is playing. Students from The Frisco Music Center and School of Rock will be there as well as students from across Frisco.
One of the newest venues taking part in The WhistleStop Jamboree is “The Frisco Rail Yard“. The food trucks, bar, and live music park will not only be a huge addition to the downtown area, but a key to the Frisco Music Scene. The Frisco Rail Yard will have two stages the day of the event and bands like The Buffalo Ruckus, Mark Shelton and the Greater Good, Wooden Nickel, The Bodarks, Ben & Stacey and Matthew Bell, and The Next of Kin.
The Frisco Music Scene has worked hard to create this very unique and special event that not only brings in great music but also brings the city together. Having several of these venues work together and support each other is a huge step in the right direction of what I believe this city needs to grow.
Other sponsors include Franconia Brewing Company, Groggy Dog, Frisco Music Center, Big Ben’s BBQ, J & S Paint and Body, and Jeff Baird of ALLstate Insurance. This festival is going to be something magical.
As the years go on and this event grows, the FMS hope to get involved with the city of Frisco and really expand on this concept and make it part of the Frisco tradition. If you want to find out more about The WhistleStop Jamboree visit the official website. You can also contribute to the growth of this event to ensure it stays around for years to come.
