Familiar, unfamiliar LDS music artists to come to American Fork for new showcase
LDS musicians stop for a photo after the March 2013 LDS Music Artist Showcase in American Fork. Ph: LDS Music Artist Showcase
How many LDS recording artists does it take to hold a monthly concert? The best way to find out could be to pop in at the April LDS Music Artist Showcase concert on Saturday, April 27, in American Fork. The April show features popular songwriter Michael R. Hicks, pianist Amy B. Hansen, guitarist and singer Algie Powers and several other musicians whose names may not sound entirely familiar.
That’s the point of the series, actually. A lot of people in Utah Valley probably don’t realize how many cool folks there are in and around these parts who are making interesting music — following their muse — but probably not getting to share it with very many listeners. The LDS Music Artist Showcase was launched in January to start spreading the news.
The performers are, yes, all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And many of them sing about themes that would sound familiar to fellow Latter-day Saints, or play music that an LDS missionary could have on his (or her) iPod. That’s not a requirement, though, and the concerts, while wholesome and family-friendly, aren’t supposed to be firesides.
Lara Johnson, the Provo singer and mother of four who created the series, said that a lot of local artists struggle to promote their music.
“For a long time, I kept thinking, ‘There’s got to be a way for artists out there to get exposure in this market,’ ” Johnson said.
In 2012, Sounds of Zion, the company that distributes Johnson’s music, asked her to perform at a showcase event featuring an array of Sounds of Zion artists. “That show was so great, and there was such a variety of different artists,” Johnson said. “I thought, ‘There should be more showcase events available.’ “
After looking around on Facebook, Johnson found the group LDS Music Industry. “I got on there and I asked, ‘What if there were a monthly concert?’ ” she said. “Immediately, I got a really positive response.”
A showcase is born
One of the first people to catch the vision was Provo resident Jarom Smith, who recently moved to Utah from Arizona to work for a video production company in Orem — while also finishing up a degree program at Mesa Community College (thanks, Internet), and occasionally pursuing his interests in acting, comedy and composing. Hoping to meet other musicians, Smith, 25, found Johnson on Facebook and volunteered to perform at the first showcase.
“I was very pleased by the feel of the show,” Smith said. “It’s so laid-back and comfortable. Everyone’s just having a good time.” Smith enjoyed the experience so much, actually, that he stepped into a supporting role as host and emcee for the series.
Since the LDS Music Artist showcase got up and running, Johnson said, there’s been no lack of interest from recording artists who’d like to participate. The series has a home at the historic American Fork City Hall in American Fork. Sound engineer Greg Smith, who lives in South Jordan, has been volunteering his efforts on the production side.
Greg Smith said he got into sound engineering sort of the same way that Johnson got into concert producing. “My wife is a singer and she used to perform a lot,” Greg Smith said. “We were often disappointed with the people and equipment she had to deal with.” Greg Smith decided to make a bad situation better by taking it over himself, gradually purchasing his own equipment and teaching himself how to use it.
The LDS Music Artist Showcase concerts are a little tricky, Greg Smith said, because he typically hasn’t heard any of the artists perform. “I never know exactly what to expect,” he said. “I guess I need to go out and start buying everybody’s stuff.”
That’s another function of the showcase, actually. It can be hard to find everybody’s stuff, so most of the artists bring their CDs to the show, and everyone stays around after the music is done to meet people and shake hands.
The Grand Ole Opry of LDS Music?
In the beginning, it took some work to fill up each of the two-hour shows. “We were scrounging to get artists involved,” Jarom Smith said. It’s not that way anymore: “Now we have more artists than we can actually fit in. People are reaching out more than ever.”
As the series has (quickly) grown, Johnson said that participants have been excited by what they find. “Each month we’ve had a really great variety of artists,” she said
There’s a relatively small market for music by LDS artists, and it can be a tough nut to crack. Retailers, Jarom Smith said, are understandably cautious — but may also be missing out. “They’re going to sell whatever they’re sure people will buy,” he said. “Meanwhile there are all these amazing artists out there. A lot of them have stepped completely outside the LDS box. They’re unique, they’re refreshing, they’re talented and they’re quality.”
While he’s onstage as MC, Jarom Smith said, he tries to encourage people to buy the music they’re hearing. He said he’s been a salesman before and knows how to make a pitch, but this time he means it. “I really believe in this music,” Jarom Smith said. “This is really good music that will enrich your life.”
That’s the kind of everyone-pulling-together spirit that Johnson said she hopes will be another outgrowth of the concert series. “We don’t really have a unified industry,” she said, but she hopes that can change.
Actually, Johnson hopes a lot of things can change. She has a big vision for the future. “I want this to become such a well-known showcase that people who come to Utah will seek it out,” she said. “I envision it becoming like the Grand Ole Opry of LDS music. A consistent place that people can come to hear what LDS artists are doing.”
If you build it, they will come, right? You only get to find out if you build it first.
If you go
LDS Music Artist Showcase
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 27.
Where: American Fork City Hall, 31 N. Church St.,
Cost: $8
Info: http://lmas.eventbrite.com