The Park City Song Summit, descending upon the Utah metropolis of its namesake September 7-10 of this 12 months, is a gathering for open-hearted troubadours, music followers, individuals processing recoveries and traumas, and extra. It’s an occasion of radical honesty at its core, one which redefines what it means to be a musician and why so many artists wrestle with psychological well being points, addictions, and traumas that (for a large number of causes) go undiagnosed.
“I want this event to discuss and bring normalcy and clarity to issues that for too long have been swept under the carpet or spoken about in hushed voices,” occasion founder Ben Anderson says.
Because of the occasion’s distinctive perspective, Anderson discovered it crucial to construction it in a unique, considerate manner. Instead of bands taking turns enjoying set after set, the Park City Song Summit is constructed round plenty of completely different applications. For instance, there are Summit Labs, which host artists in dialog with each other to debate matters that always go ignored within the music trade.
In one Summit Lab, Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Warren Haynes and Newport Folk’s Jay Sweet will take a deep dive into the teachings of John Prine — issues like “social equality, humor, and keeping your soul intact while navigating the music industry.” Fans should buy tickets to every Summit Lab, which additionally embody a stay taping of Andrew Bird’s Live from The Great Room. The pioneering YouTube collection showcases the artistic course of throughout a large spectrum of arts, with the occasion’s episode that includes Fred Armisen.
For followers seeking to rock out, there are many live shows which are must-see occasions, like Father John Misty on Thursday with help from Bonny Light Horseman and Rising Appalachia. And as a result of the Park City Song Summit has a give attention to restoration (the charismatic founder himself is 15 years sober), the occasion supplies a supportive surroundings that features sober inexperienced room area, guided yoga and meditations, each day 12-step conferences and craft mocktails.
“There is a way for all concertgoers to coexist if we put intention to the process and listen,” Anderson says. “Some promoters and producers are very supportive, but I would like it if more of them would see the artist as a whole person and support them that way.”
The occasion is as a lot a gathering floor for artists as it’s your typical festival-going expertise. It permits artists to elucidate their processes and dive into the trivialities of their work in a wholly distinctive manner. Alongside these intimate discussions, the occasion will host Songwriting Rounds, which permits the viewers to “hear the story behind their favorite songs from award-winning songwriters.”
The occasion has additionally paired with plenty of organizations that help its core mission. One such group, The Phoenix, matches in as an ideal help system for the Summit.
“The Phoenix is proud to partner with Stand Together Music to bring our programming to Park City Song Summit,” Scott Strode, Founder and National Executive Director of The Phoenix, mentioned. “We believe that The Phoenix and Park City Song Summit share a unique goal: transforming the world through the power of community. Our team is thrilled to join PCSS as an on-site activation partner this year, helping facilitate the creative journey of artists and attendees through a variety of mental health and wellness activities.”
The Park City Song Summit is above all, a manner for artists to precise themselves as human beings. Anderson believes that the viewers isn’t capable of see the souls inside artists usually sufficient, which may result in a scarcity of empathy. The Summit permits for artists to precise themselves each via their work and their personalities.
“We can perhaps understand and appreciate their music more, but more importantly, understand and appreciate who they are as humans, their challenges, their successes, their failures,” Anderson says of his hopes for the occasion. “If our attendees can understand the humanity that goes into music, we might all be a little more mindful of one another and be able to coexist better on this planet.”
Discussion about this post