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Our guest is Mark Falgout, owner of Blue Moon Saloon, one of America’s premier venues for roots music from around the world. He also owns Warehouse 535, a popular venue for special events and live performances.
Mark and his wife, Nicole, were instrumental in creating the South Louisiana Songwriters Festival and Workshop, known as SOLO, which was successfully launched in 2018 in partnership with the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation. The second annual SOLO Festival will take place May 21 through May 26, 2019, and once again, music insiders from around the world will travel to Lafayette to participate and share their expertise with locals who want to break into the business. SOLO provides aspiring songwriters the opportunity to collaborate in an intense four-day workshop with seasoned music professionals. Participants are placed in groups of three and work all day creating songs and lyrics and given the opportunity to network with successful industry insiders. On Friday, May 24, workshop organizers will select the top 10 to 15 compositions and notify the composers that they will debut their original creations at the Friday night performance at First United Methodist Church.
On Memorial Day Weekend, participating SOLO artists and well-known musical acts will perform Saturday and Sunday on six stages at Blue Moon Saloon and Warehouse 535. You can view the entire schedule here and purchase tickets online. A pass for the entire five-day event, which gives you access to weekday and weekend events as well as the exclusive Friday night World Premiere of songs at First United Methodist Church, may be purchased for $250 and if you purchase with the Rader Solutions Access Code, you can save $50.00. Visit https://www.radersolutions.com/solofest/ for this Access Code.
This year, SOLO has added a two-day conference on May 24 and 25 which include record label executives, publicists, managers, engineers/producers, entertainment lawyers, and others who will present nine sessions and share their insider knowledge on how artists can make it in the music business. Speakers will cover topics such as “How to Promote Yourself in the New Industry Model,” “Getting in Sync: How Artists and Music Supervisors Work Together to Get Music in TV, Films, Video Games and Commercials,” and “Songwriting: How Songwriters Pitch Their Songs.” The cost of attending the conference is $99.00, with a discount for students, and interested parties may register here.
Another new component is working with local elementary, middle school and high school music students in “SOLO Schools. Two SOLO alumni and instructors have been brought in to teach the songwriting process. Mark shared that the young students have displayed an incredible ability to craft songs. Early exposure to the mechanics of a song’s structure can provide a meaningful head start on a career in the music industry. School of Rock will be assisting in the presentation of the artists who will be selected to perform at the Thursday night SOLO School Performance.
The event is presented with support from the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation, the CREATE initiative, Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, BMG and many public and private sponsors, including Rader Solutions.
Volunteers are needed to help with transportation, ushering, merchandise sales, and even making coffee! All are welcome and can sign up here.
Visit https://www.solosongwriters.com for more information.null
May 22nd – Opening Night – NICK LOWE
at Warehouse 535 – Get your tickets NOW
May 23rd – SONGS OVER STYLE + SOLO School Program Performances at Warehouse 535!
May 24th and 25th – SOLO Industry Conference – Panels and Workshops – REGISTER NOW
May 25th and 26th – SOLO Fest – 6 stages at Warehouse 535 and Blue Moon Saloon – Get your weekend pass NOW
