Thursday, Sep. 24, 2009
Summit and Surfside Odd Bedfellows?
I recall a few years ago getting a press release about something called the Southeast Music and Entertainment Summit happening in Myrtle Beach, promising networking for independent rappers, singers and anyone interested in the urban music industry.
I must admit that I viewed this through a cynical paradigm, i.e., I’d believe it when I saw it.
Then, the following year, I got another notice that the event was coming back to the Grand Strand.
But this time, it was being hosted in Surfside Beach.
Hmm…
I’m a resident of the Surfside Beach area, and I can tell you, a hip-hop, R&B and urban music Mecca it is not. A fine town in its own right, it’s just that when you think of rappers, pull-down-your-panties crooners and jamming beats, Surfside Beach doesn’t immediately come to mind.
But just because a place isn’t known for a particular thing, doesn’t mean it can’t be a gracious host and a good spot to boost tourism, right? I mean, would it be any stranger if say Atlantic Beach were to host a national Tiddlywinks convention?
And who doesn’t want to convene at the beach if you’re attending a conference?
Earlier this summer, the SMES sent word again that it would be setting up shop at the Holiday Inn Oceanfront in Surfside Beach, and I figured this time around, it warranted further investigation.
I did a little bit of digging and uncovered that many legitimate industry players have attended the SMES since inception (I’ll cite just one here: piano player/singer John Legend), and there was no sign of “In Living Color’s” Funky Finger Productions co-conmen Clavelle and Howard Tipps, III.
With the conference set to begin Friday, we dispatched correspondent Matt Reid, who is also a local writer/rapper who goes by the moniker Jo Shmo, to find out what the SMES is all about. He spoke with one of the events co-founders as well as some local musicians who rave about the summit, so turn to page 12 to check out the report.
Also, on page 15, we’ve got a breakdown of the many featured panelists that are slated to appear at the music summit along with a schedule of related-activities, including an awards show an after-party.
Wouldn’t it be really cool if SMES became the urban music industry’s answer to the South by Southwest Conferences and Festivals in Austin, Texas, which has put the Lone Star State’s capital on the map in terms of rock ’n’ roll and pop culture?
Wouldn’t it be great if our local leaders and tourism boosters embraced this SMES event and helped it grow?
more music
And speaking of music, I learned recently from an informed source that LeAnn Rimes’ Sept. 12 performance at Freestyle Music Park’s outdoor Stars Theatre is most likely the precursor to more big-name concerts at the theme park in 2010, including a reprisal of Freedom Fest, which featured Rimes as the headliner.
If you recall, the amphitheater hosted several shows during its one season under the Hard Rock Park name, including the Eagles, Moody Blues (which I covered) and Kid Rock.
I think this is a great idea and I wondered why the facility wasn’t being utilized as a concert venue this summer.
Let’s hope Freestyle does a better job of booking concerts than Hard Rock Park did, bringing in many of the acts (Sister Hazel, George Clinton, and Charlie Daniels Band) that have already played here ad nasuem. There are plenty of amphitheater-worthy acts out there that never even sniff the Grand Strand, so it’d be nice to see some more variety.
Stay tuned.