Sunset Celebrations on the Wonderful Lake of Wylie

WHY:

The Greater Charlotte Area is growing some wonderful artists and musicians however the creatively artsy venues tend to be located in the heart of Charlotte and Lake Wylie is sorely lacking outlet for its own funky flavor! Lake Wylie is home to a diverse population of folks who end up going into Charlotte for their music fix and to support artists of all kinds. Thanks to the efforts in NoDa, Southend, and Dilworth plus the folks of WSGE in Dallas, NC and handfuls of other artsy-loving individuals and groups, the Charlotte area has been infused with interesting options for music and arts lovers. It’s time the Lake Wylie area expresses her funky, playful artsy-ness and, as the Blue Brothers say, “We’re on a mission from God!”

DEFINITION OF THE ARTS:

The terms “art” and “artist” need a bit of definition as they are used in our mission. We’re not talking formal arts such as might be found at metropolitan museums or wear-a-tux scenes. We’re not referring to the studied and credentialed necessarily. We are focused on those people and creations that lead toward fun, playful, creative, expressive, innovative, down-to-earth, real, honest, roots, free-spirited, colorful, passionate, folksy, and unpretentious.

WHAT:

Beginning with a once-a-month Saturday evening event in Boyd’s Cove during the Summer months of 2010, we hope to gently grow some enthusiasm for more river-centric expressiveness! We’d love to see our event grow toward something like the Sunset Celebrations in Key West Florida with varied performers and artists represented. It is not our intention or desire for this to go commercial. We want it to remain in the hands of the real riverrats of our community, to be held in public venues rather than business settings, to be free and accessible to all who wish to join the party. And when we say “party,” we mean a colorful and laid-back party atmosphere that inspires play and creative expression. While the focus is honestly for adult entertainment, we do honor the possibility that young folks might show up sometimes and will maintain a healthy atmosphere for most appetites.

GROWTH:

The Sunset Celebrations could reach in many directions, even reaching toward a full-out festival-type experience such as LEAF. We will keep those kinds of inspirations in mind to fuel our creative juices. However, the seed vision is for the people of Lake Wylie. That includes those who trailer their boats in regularly but does not extend to anyone and everyone if it means that those who live and play in this community can not participate.

WHO:

The Committee for Fun in the Cow Cove is leading this mission. All river rats who live and play on the Lake, we love good music and a good time, we enjoy artsy people and innovative artisans, and we hold a vision for a playfully creative renewal in the Lake Wylie area.

Flicks and Tunes in the Cow Cove

The initial Sunset Celebrations in 2010, called “Flicks and Tunes in the Cow Cove” will be an evening featuring a local artist/group and a music-oriented movie showing and will be held the Second Saturdays of June, July, and August in Boyd’s Cove. A portion of Boyd’s Cove was nick-named The Cow Cove some years ago due to Bessie, the cow, who watches over the cove from Jon and Jan Pendleton’s property. Bessie has a reputation for fun and free-spiritedness and while she will simply be overseeing the festivities rather than engaging in her usual shenanigans, she is an inspiration for merriment. Besides Bessie, Jake and Elwood Blues are ever-vigilant partiers atop the floating dock so our first event will be in their honor.
This free performance and movie will be watched by boaters from the lake! To attend, folks anchor their boats in the cove. Entertainment will be based on Bessie’s docks and consists of live music and a movie. The schedule plan goes something like this….
6-8 Entertainment by area musicians and performance artists. The musicians will include sing-along portions to engage partiers and some songs from the movie-of-the-night
8-10 Movie (the start time of the movie will vary depending on the time of sundown that month) The movies are to be music-filled flicks and the movies for this Summer include THE BLUES BROTHERS, TOMMY, and THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW.
There may or may not be an afterparty – all depends on the crowd, the neighbors, and the performers.
It’s assumed that boaters will be grilling out, swimming, socializing, drinking, and otherwise enjoying a relaxed Summer evening on The Lake of Wylie. The land/docks will not be available for boaters use. (Although the homeowners may have their own house partiers in attendance.) Lake Wylie’s lake officers of the Charlotte Police Department will be informed of all activities and cruising by at regular intervals as needed and we envision and request no issues requiring their attention!

CURRENT NEEDS:

We are currently in the initial search phase for entertainers. In addition to musicians (see CALL below,) we hope to include some performance artists of other kinds along the line of jugglers and such, keeping in mind the space and time we have.

CALL FOR MUSICIANS

We are in search of artists/groups who might like to be a part of this innovative event. Our committee would like folks to apply to participate and here’s what we’re looking for:
1.       Motivated artists who don’t expect money but rather a way to connect with the community and share their music. They will be welcome and encouraged to sell their own merchandise at the event and we’re happy to put out a hat for tips too but there will be no money paid for their performance. Our intention is to help some new hopefuls form a following. It would, of course, be great if the musicians were from nearby but that’s not necessary.
2.       The movie and musicians will play from a large dock at a private home. (Friends of the house party will be allowed on land but others required to enjoy from afloat.)
3.       We’d prefer a more acoustic-type (yet still amplified) sound rather than full band amp’d up. We’d like folks to hear and understand the lyrics and enjoy the full sound rather than be blasted with noise. More novel/original ensembles rather than the usual rock set ups. At this point, we’re not stuck on a particular genre … eclectic options! There’s electricity to the dock and amplification will be needed to be heard by all. We can help with that (to a certain extent) or they can bring their own.
4.       As part of the events, we’d like there to be a sing-along portion and expect the artists to lead the audience in singing along with varied tunes: old folk songs, familiar contemporary tunes, fun and playful music of all kinds that folks will know! We’ll have the ability to project the words on the screen if we know what’s to be included in the sing-along portion. Expected time for sing-along: at least a half hour of the performance time….mixed in throughout preferred.
5.       We’re talking about the Second Saturdays in June, July, and August. The evening will start at 6pm with musicians performing and sing-along time. The movie will start around 8pm depending on when dark is that month! It’s possible more music could happen after the movie if the musicians are willing but we are flexible about that. Dates are June 12, July 10, and August 14, 2010
6.       The movies will be The Blues Brothers, Tommy, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It’d be great if the musicians know and can perform and/or lead some of the songs from the movie of the day.
7.       The feel of the evening is relaxed, playful, fun, and active. There will be boats anchored out in the cove, folks grilling out, swimming, drinking, and a generally free-spirited Summertime energy. Musicians will be expected to be charismatic, fun, able to energize a crowd.
Musicians can submit a recording and letter of interest to