By Frankie Shayne
Reports from The Scene
The local music scene in Hutchinson has always had ups and downs. We’ve had times where there were several venue options and festivals that gave local artists a chance to be seen and times where it was slim pickings.
In 2015, the debut of a local radio show called The Scene changed things up a little by offering a local radio show that only played unsigned Kansas artists. This gave local and regional bands an opportunity to get their music played over the airwaves. Back in the day, that’s how bands “made it” by first breaking into local radio and, with any luck, being heard and then pushed to regional and eventually national airplay. Times have changed, and record companies and radio don’t work the same anymore, but it still garners opportunities that pushing your CDs out of your trunk does not.
I was lucky enough to host this show, and after 11 years it has been retired. I’m proud to say it was one of the longest-running local shows on our platform, but alas, it has run its course, and now we will see what the future holds.
From the show, we birthed another opportunity for local artists called The Scene Singer/Songwriter Showcase that is held the last Saturday of most months, barring a conflict or holiday sharing the same weekend. Despite the show being retired, the Showcase will continue. If you’re an artist and would like a spot in the Showcase, reach out to me through email or Facebook and I’ll get you signed up.
So, what is next? What can I move into next to help keep the local music scene moving forward? I’ve had several suggestions from artists, and I’m open to giving them a try.
One venture that has been presented to me multiple times is particularly interesting, except I am clueless how to break into it. That suggestion would be a music-centered podcast giving local artists a platform to perform, be interviewed, or to have new material debuted. It could be fun, but I’m not sure what direction to go, but that is an option. The Scene was just one way the local scene had an outlet, and there are plenty of businesses that see the value of live music in the local area, but as a community, we have to support those businesses and by extension the artists they book.
So, what about the music scene in general? As always, it will continue to roll along. This summer will see a Singer/Songwriter Showcase downtown for the Smallville Comic-Con Fest in June, and we will continue to host the showcase at Metropolitan Coffee, so opportunities to see and support local music and artists will still be found. There are several great local artists with new music on the horizon, as well as new opportunities with more local venues opening and expressing their desire or intentions to host local music.
Also keep an eye on the fairgrounds lineup at the state fair, as they always have a few local artists fill the stages in various times throughout the day. Lake Talbot, the gazebo south of the Channel 12 building, and the stage north of the Pride of Kansas Building are all venues the Fair typically uses to host local musicians.
I’ve also been lucky enough to judge the Sedgwick County Fair talent contest in July, and it has a great lineup of local artists vying for a cash prize and title as winner of Fair’s Got Talent. And as always there is a local favorite, Third Thursday. There is always local talent being showcased downtown every Third Thursday of the month. This month, that will be May 21st, so plan to be there for that. The talent is there, and the opportunity to see and support them is there; you just have to either seek it out or be in the loop. That’s what I am all about. So, there really is only one thing left to figure out. Is this the end of an era? Or the beginning of a new era? I choose the latter. Furthermore, I choose to believe I am not alone in this.
Frankie Shayne is a radio show host, a local singer/songwriter, and an advocate for local artists and musicians. He can be reached at fsp7774@gmail.com.