Photo by Madison Boyce
Written by Sydney Durst
Having moved around a few times, I’d like to think that I have a somewhat tried and true process of discovering the local music scene of wherever I end up living. Admittedly, it really just consists of going to every concert I can and keeping an eye out for the openers.
While this method can be hit or miss, it's a fun way to discover new artists. Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, getting involved in your local scene has transformed into a harder process than before.
So, until it’s safe to just randomly show up to every whispered about punk show downtown once again, it's definitely possible to take part in your local scene online! Here's your own personal how-to guide...
1. Bandcamp is Your Friend
Bandcamp is a website and app where you can discover and directly support artists and their music. A majority of smaller artists use Bandcamp as a way to promote their music, sell merch, and more.
This site is also an amazing way for people to discover new music and local bands, as well as support them financially if you're able! On the mobile app, you can enter your own city or the biggest surrounding city listed to personalize the experience.
Bandcamp has an amazing search engine where you can filter by location and genre as a way to find artists in your area that play the music you like. From there, you can start to browse through artists and ultimately find them on social media.
2. Getting Social on Social Media
In an age where Twitter has definitely taken the lead in being the best site to discover fellow fans of the things you love, Instagram and Facebook definitely have an edge in finding out where those events will be. No matter which social media the Bandcamp bio has led you to, what to look for will be the same: promotion posters.
On Instagram, the best way to do this would be to go to the tagged photos page of the artist and scroll till you find a promoter’s poster for a venue in your local area. Venues usually follow each other on social media, so following one or two venues you're familiar with will help you find a whole host of others.
More importantly, however, it’s through the venue’s website or social media feed that you can discover when concerts that feature bands you'd like to see, big and small, are happening in your town. For right now, many venues are posting and promoting virtual shows!
Facebook would have the same process when it comes to finding the venue. However, unlike Instagram, Facebook gives you the chance to easily find the communities that make up your local scene as well.
3. Can’t Spell "Local Show" Without "Locals"
Facebook groups, while a source of entertainment when it comes to memes, are also a great resource for finding friends within your local scene! A simple search like “Pacific Northwest Pop Punk” could warrant a whole list of results.
Your best bet is probably starting with a basic search like that, your city, state, or general area paired with the genre you love or are trying to get into. Artists and fans alike use these groups to promote their music, shows, and tons of other things; you never know who you might meet!
4. Most Importantly, However...
The most crucial part of this process is to remember that there are no strict guidelines in finding your local music scene. It can consist of anything, from searching the web for hours on end to making a figurative home in your local record shop.
How you find your local music scene doesn’t matter at the end of the day. As long as you're having fun, enjoying the music and forming bonds with people who share that love of the music, I'd consider your process a success.
Do you have any more tips for finding a home within your local music scene? Share your helpful hints with us on Twitter @lgndsoftmrw!
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