I think one of the best ways to hear music is to sit in somebody’s living room and be entertained by performers. It seems like that’s almost a thing of the past for many people.
I always liked scenes in old movies, where wealthy people had recitals in their homes. I’m thinking of the funniest movie I’ve ever seen: The Awful Truth. One of the many great scenes in this 1937 movie is when Cary Grant accidentally enters a room where a recital featuring his wife, Irene Dunn, is singing to a group of women.
That’s all I’m going to say about that. I won’t be a spoiler. You’ve got to see this film if you never have.
But all of this is leading up to a great event I attended recently. Dr. Jonathan and Jana Finder (pronounced “Fender,” like the guitar), held a Music Export Memphis house concert in their living room on June 25th. Amy LaVere and Will Sexton and Church Brothers — Jacob and Ben Church — performed individual sets.
Jana made the food. Tons of food, including the best strawberry cake I’ve ever eaten. And it wasn’t even iced.
Jonathan, a pediatric pulmonologist at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, learned about Music Export Memphis through his neighbor, Cameron Mann, a member the Music Export Memphis board as well as a veteran musician and a former owner of Young Avenue Sound.
“He’s a great guy,” Jonathan says. “And he actually was the person who said, ‘Hey, you guys like giving house concerts and you’re big supporters of Memphis music. You’d be a natural to house a concert for Music Export Memphis.’
“And he was right. We are big supporters of Memphis music, especially the local Midtown music scene. And the majority of our friends are musicians who feel as passionate about music as we do.”
Jonathan chose the musicians he wanted to perform at their house concert. “Amy and Will have a great sound and a cool vibe about their music. And, also, people love them and know about them and I thought they would be a draw. I thought they’d be a great headline act because they’re well known. They travel around the world. And they’re well-respected musicians.”
He also wanted Church Brothers. “I think they’re incredible. I think they don’t get enough recognition and I think they deserve more and I wanted to feature them. Because I think they should be on everybody’s radar.”
Jonathan wasn’t kidding about him and Jana being big supporters of Memphis music. It seems like they’re always at a concert or entertaining musicians at their home or at a restaurant. I’m not kidding. Not to mention the big weekend swimming parties, which feature a who’s who of Memphis Midtown performers singing poolside or swimming.
Music Export Memphis is “a non-profit export office for Memphis music,” says board chair Baylee Less, who attended the Finder concert. “Basically, the idea is we create opportunities for our local musicians to showcase outside of the city and help them grow in their careers.”
That includes providing money for them to showcase at events, including Americana Fest, Folk Alliance, and Toronto’s NXNE (North by Northeast).
And, Less adds, “We’ll just provide them with direct tour support. If a musician is going on tour for five or more dates, they’re eligible for grant funding to help them fund their tour.”
Touring, she says, is “one of the best ways for them to grow their careers.”
As for the house concerts, Less says, “It’s one of the ways we raise funds for the organization. We try to do one or two a month. If you’re interested in supporting them and excited about the work, you can have live musicians in your living room. Invite your friends over and have some musicians perform at your house.”
The house concerts are free, but the host sets a fundraising goal as to how much money they plan to raise in donations at the event. “Almost all the hosts hit the goal.”
Music Export Memphis representatives “give an overview of the organization in the middle of the event and ask for donations for the work. And we sell t-shirts and stuff like that.”
Like the Finders, hosts can feature musicians they already know or Music Export Memphis can help select the performers. They also set up all the audio equipment as well as an event page and help manage the RSVP list “to make it really easy to invite people.”
“So, really, the hosts are opening their home and having a few snacks and drinks for people and setting their fundraising goals and saying they support Music Export Memphis. We, really, handle everything else.”
They’ve assisted with everything from “a pool party with 75 people” to an “indoor Midtown living room” party with 10 people invited, Less says. “It’s how many people can fit in the space.”
If you’re interested in hosting a Music Export Memphis house party, contact the organization’s executive director Elizabeth Cawein at elizabeth@musicexportmemphis.org.
For more information, check out their web page at musicexportmemphis.org.
