Culture
Stuart’s to Host Concert, Film, Record Sale this Saturday
By: Bryan Gibson
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Live music fans, record collectors and film buffs will all have something to celebrate this Saturday at Stuart’s Opera House.
The Nelsonville concert and arts venue is hosting a full day of music-related activities, including a set by “psychedelic Appalachian” guitarist Daniel Bachman, a screening of the documentary In Search of Blind Joe Death: The Saga of John Fahey and the ever-popular Record Sale and Swap in the lobby.
Raised in Fredericksburg, Va., Daniel Bachman has been performing and touring throughout the U.S. since he was a teenager, sharing the stage on several occasions with his hometown friend, the late Jack Rose.
Bachman, whose intricate fingerstyle guitar playing can be heard on his most recent release, Jesus I’m a Sinner, recently found a fan in Stuart’s Opera House Marketing Director Brian Koscho.
“I got into Bachman’s music at the end of 2013 based on (Stuart’s executive director) Tim Peacock’s suggestion and I love it,” he said. “I’m a big fan of American Primitive music and love John Fahey and Jack Rose and all that, so Daniel’s music is right up my alley. I’m excited to get the chance to see him play live.”
Koscho feels that Daniel Bachman and John Fahey fans will find common ground this weekend. The documentary, which features a treasure trove of archival Fahey footage, music, photographs, prose and paintings, should appeal to both camps, he said.
Fahey, who passed away in 2001, was a key figure in the American Primitivism genre, which combines blues, country, folk, classical and several other styles to create an evocative, sometimes mesmerizing sound.
“I’m a big Fahey fan, and I also find him to be an interesting character in the history of music. Someone who always did his own thing and didn’t worry what people thought about him, and I always gravitate toward people like that in music,” Koscho explained. “And for anyone who loves Fahey, I think you’ll enjoy Bachman’s set, too. I have a feeling a few attendees will walk out with a new appreciation for Daniel’s music, maybe even a few new fans, too.”
The annual Record Sale and Swap has become a Stuart’s tradition in recent years, featuring a wide variety of LPs, singles, CDs, cassettes and music memorabilia from vendors throughout the region.
“Most people find some things they’ve been looking for and a lot of people find something they might not have even known they wanted,” said Koscho. “There will be lots of bins to dig through and good people to chat with. Keith Hanlon (former Athens resident, currently based in Columbus) will also be setting up a table for his vinyl label Scioto Records and will have his releases for sale, along with a couple crates of his own records. It’s a fun way to spend an afternoon, looking around at a bunch of records and talking with people who love music.”
The Record Sale and Swap gets underway at 3 p.m. in Stuart’s lobby. Admission to the sale is free, though tickets are needed for the concert and film, which begins at 7 p.m.
Visit www.stuartsoperahouse.org for more information.