We’re throwing a big holiday party next week, and you are all invited. And you don’t even have to dress up or leave your house or workplace. All you need is a computer and access to Facebook.
For several months now, we’ve been doing something called Music Wednesday every week via Facebook Live, and we’ve been extremely happy with both the artists who have so graciously stopped by to share their talents and by the numbers of people who drop in to listen.
Dan Landrum and Aaron O’Rourke visit the Times Free Press on Music Wednesday to demonstrate that a traditional instrument can still rock — if played correctly.
Barry CourterIt’s been going so well, in fact, we’ve decided to throw a party. So Wednesday, Dec. 21, at noon, we will have a bunch of special guests in the Music Wednesday studio here on East 11th Street.
Whether you like your holiday music flavored with a country twang, a traditional croon, a punk bent or a jazzy jingle, we’ll have it.
All of the guests are local or have local ties and will include Dennis Haskins and Nick Lutsko. We will even have our own house band for this edition. There also will be a choir and a special visit from Santa.
The original vision for the special was a mash-up of the old Andy Williams Christmas specials, “Wayne’s World” and the Merv Griffin episode of “Seinfeld.” For those who never saw these shows, Williams was all sweaters, fake snow, holiday lights, special guests and lots of singing.
On the Seinfeld episode, Kramer found the old “Merv Griffin Show” set in a dumpster and set it up in his living room, then proceeded to play host to “guests” Jerry, Elaine, George, Newman and even animal expert Jim Fowler.
Anybody know where I can get a hawk for this show, by the way?
And, of course, “Wayne’s World” was a “Saturday Night Live” creation about a cable access show set in Wayne’s basement.
Whether we hit any or all of those marks remains to be seen, but that’s the idea. And it will be live.
The beauty of these weekly events is that we get to visit with some of the many talented musicians who live and perform here in Chattanooga. It’s a very casual setting where Lesley Dale and I get to ask a few questions and then listen to the artists play.
For this event, we have partnered with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. Officials there said they are in particular need of peanut butter, so we are calling this event PB & Jam.
You can find links to past Music Wednesday segments and more information about future ones at timesfreepress.com/musicwednesdays.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.