A garage, a "great room," a funeral parlor. They're among the unconventional local venues, often in private homes, where musical and other performances are taking place, writes Jon Bream in the Star Tribune:
"House concerts are a folk tradition that's as old as 'Oh! Susanna.' But nowadays they're the stage for pop performers, too -- everyone from Wilco's revered Jeff Tweedy to Canada's Be Good Tanyas to your neighbor's aspiring singer/songwriter college student. Other arts -- dance, theater and even visual arts -- are being presented in Minnesota houses, apartments and back yards, as well.
"These alternative gigs are less a response to tough economic times than a grass-roots strategy of reaching and building an audience. The Twin Cities blog Cake in 15 has been hosting 35-seat house concerts for indie-rock hipsters. And living-room performances have become special-occasion events for baby boomers who don't see much live music beyond arena concerts by old heroes like Elton John or James Taylor."
Read the full article here.