For the fifth year in a row, Rob Swales is bringing together local musicians for a marathon of songwriting and performing in the 24 Hour Music Project, which culminates with a concert at the Red Dog in Peterborough on Saturday, March 21st.
2015 24 Hour Music Project
Where: Historic Red Dog Tavern (189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-750-1710)
How much: $10
More info: Facebook
A local musician and filmmaker, Rob was originally inspired by the “24 Hour Project – 5 Plays Written, Rehearsed and Performed in 24 Hours”, which theatre director and improv artist Ray Henderson began in 1998.
The 24 Hour Music Project follows a similar format, but with music.
First, Rob recruits a group of 10 songwriters and around 20 musicians to participate in the project.
Then, at 9 p.m. on Friday night — 24 hours before the concert — he gathers the 10 songwriters at his studio and randomly separates them into pairs.
Each pair of songwriters leaves the studio and has until 8 a.m. the following morning to write a 20-minute set of original music.
When the songwriters reconvene at the studio the next day at 8 a.m., they are given a list of 20 musicians from which to draft, hockey style, a six-person band to perform the new tunes.
An hour later, the musicians arrive at the studio to find out which band they’re in, and then go off to finish writing and to rehearse their creations for the rest of the day, before the show begins at the Red Dog at 9 p.m.
What makes the 24 Hour Music Project so innovative and creative is that you never know what you’re going to hear, because musicians are often writing songs and performing with each other for the very first time.
“You don’t know who’s going to be paired,” Rob says. “The 10 songwriters all come from different genres. So you may get rock with country, which is a simple fit, but then you may get rap with metal, which is a little more interesting. Or folk with metal.”
Alternative rock band The Lonely Parade will be performing a set of their own tunes as the finale to the concert.
The concert takes place Saturday, March 21st at the Red Dog Tavern (189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-750-1710). Doors open at 8 p.m. and the first band takes the stage at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door.
For a taste of the creativity that arises from these musical collaborations, check out the videos from last year’s 24 Hour Music Project.
Where’s Frank?
Music written by Danny Taro and Chris Collins and featuring Ryan Ford, Rob Swales, Ryan Browne, and Pete Rellinger
Waterford
Music written by Rick Fines and Al Black and featuring Carol Jackson, Derek Bell, Alisha Embury, and Bryar Gray
The Heavy Chase
Featuring Melissa Payne, Jacques Graveline, Kate Leduece, Jeremy Boyd, Alex Unger, and Josh Fewings
Pump Squirts
Featuring Washboard Hank, Matt Crowley, Dan Fewings, Frank Girard, Laura Klinduch, and Marty Kerslake
Cavon Fever
Music written by Jay Swinnerton and Grainne Ryan and featuring Aaron Cavon, Ryan Perks, Jill Staveley, and Dylan Ireland
