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Homegrown Festival 2009	Growing Local Jams	Homegrown History
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Plan to spend Saturday, May 16, at the Butte Folk Music Society's HOMEGROWN MUSIC FESTIVAL with a showcase of area talent encompassing a wide array of music genres. The festivities begin at noon at the Chico Grange (2775 Nord Ave. -- old Nord Highway) on two stages. Music will continue throughout the day culminating in a dance in the evening. Further information will be forthcoming on the musicians performing.

Delicious food and beverages will be available on site catered by David Guzzetti.

Bring your family and friends for a fun-filled musical experience at the HOMEGROWN. Tickets will be available at the door for $7 per person; ticket prices for teens and children will be less. Volunteers are being sought for 3-hour shifts and gets you in free to the event. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Darla at novakd42@aol.com with your name and telephone number.

About two years ago, while busking with my fiddle at the Chico Farmer’s Market, Bill Ungar and Leanne Schlaf invited me to the monthly Jam led by Steve Johnson at the Upper Crust Café. There I also met Harold Gilbert, claw-hammer banjo player, Laurel Paulson-Pierce, Bob & Bernie LoFaso, and many others.

I started attending that jam regularly, and with Bernie’s and Bob’s encouragement, soon started an Old Time Jam at Augie’s Café focusing on Fiddle and Clawhammer banjo(3^rd Saturday). Dave Bilinski joined in, and pretty soon he started his Song Circle Jam at Augie’s too (2^nd Saturday). Lucy Smith has helped out at many of the jams over the years, and pretty soon decided to do a regular Bluegrass jam at Augie’s.(4^th Saturday) So now the only jam-free Saturday in Chico is the 5^th Saturday of the month, if there even is one!

Over the last two years, I’ve attended probably the majority of the jams. It occurred to me that you need 3 things to make a successful jam:

1. A committed leader, or leaders. Rain and snow forms around a particle of dust… someone has to be that “particle of dust” for the jam to form around. The leader needs to be somewhat like a music teacher in having a fair amount of patience for beginners, mistakes, deviations from style, etc.

They either have to be very reliable, or have a “sidekick” they can have take over if they have another obligation. The leader offers a stylistic focus based on their range of styles that will attract likeminded musicians and even audience members- this focus can also be specified, as in the case of the Old Time and Bluegrass jams. They also need to be able to “hang loose”, because you just never know who all is going to show up, and exactly what direction the music will take.

2. A reliable location. People associate jams with a time and place, and you need a location that will consistently welcome you, and not book the location at that time for something else. Presently the Upper Crust Café and Augie’s Café are fulfilling that function precisely because they are so welcoming. Patronize these establishments and thank them for hosting the jams!

3. Musicians! Jamming is a lot like dating… it’s an experiment… bands are more like marriage- there’s some level of commitment involved. Jam sessions are attractive precisely because you have an opportunity to play, but if you do have other obligations, the jam will go on. It does help if you have at least two or three regular attendees so that you always have about a band’s worth of musicians to keep up the energy level -3, 4,or 5 musicians. The people who <can’t> show up every week still have a valuable contribution to make- variety! They keep the jam from always doing the same songs over and over again.

4. Publicity! Darla Novak’s e-mail events newsletter has been GREAT in this regard, because it takes the publicity burden off of the jam leader. But word of mouth is important too- that’s how I and others have gotten involved. When I play at the Farmer’s Market, and I get into conversations with musicians and others, I tell them about the jam that afternoon!

Anyway, Butte Folk Society members, even though the jams have been going pretty well, there is still room for you to be involved: You could be a “sidekick”, that special someone the leader could turn the jam over to in case of illness; you could be a regular- that someone that encourages the leader by maintaining a “quorum”- or you could be an occasional attendee that adds spice to the soup!

Butte Folk Music Society has held the Homegrown Music Festival In the spring for many years.

After a hiatus of several years, we are Reviving this Chico tradition at a new location, the historic Grange Hall on Old Nord Avenue. Past events were held between 1990-2002 have been held at the CARD Center on Vallambrosa, at The California Park Pavillion, the Women’s Club, Wall Street Center for the Arts, and at the CSUC Performing Arts Center.

Many of the performances have been recorded and compiled into Sampler Cassette tapes, thanks to Grant Johnston and Starshine Studios. Some of the musicians who have participated in past Homegrown Fests Are : Dave Houser and Friends, Banjo Jim, String Nation, Troika, Hawks And Eagles, Doc Schultz, Make It So, Myself, the Red Dirt Bullies, Steve Johnson, Strings with Wings, and A Wing and a Prayer.

The time we held the event at the CARD Center, we had multiple stages And all the acts on the main stage were video taped in a multi-camera production by Photo Phil, and made available as sampler videos. The M.C.’s

for this event were Lucy Smith and Hank Switzer. The artists who shared their music with us were Ken Donnel and Sid Lewis, Chris Schadt, Beltain, String Nation, R. Roy Clayton, the Rim Rock Ramblers, and Wholly Cow! (Dave and Deb Cowan).

The last time we produced this event, it was on the Chico State Campus In conjunction with the University. Many of the musicians went to the KCHO studios and performed on Lorraine Dechter’s Good Old Fashioned Folk Music Show. Dan DeWayne assisted with some of the arrangements.

Some of the people who have performed at the past Homegrown Festivals are no longer with us, or no longer in the area, which serves as a reminder for us to live each moment to the fullest, and make music when ever and where ever you can! And support live music at every opportunity!

Many members of the Butte Folk Music Society have worked together to Bring the Homegrown Music Festival to Chico in the past, and we look Forward to many of these folks putting together a successful festival in 2008.

Please come join us at the Historic Chico Grange Hall 2775 Nord Avenue. On May 16 from 12 a.m. to 10 P.M. to help revive this musical Tradition.

This is the first in a series of articles reviewing recording studios in the North State . In this series I’ll conduct my reviews by gathering information in the interview format with the owners and engineers and by actually recording at each of the studios. (To avoid any possible conflict of interest, I’ll pay the standard studio rates for all recording I do in these reviews—I’m all for musicians getting paid!) By the time I got the idea for these reviews, I had already started a recording project and I’m doing this first review about that studio, Heirloom Studios in Chico

Heirloom Studios is located at 275 Fairchild Avenue, Suite 101A , in the Chico Airport business park. It is owned and operated by musician / audio engineer Scott Cory since he opened in April, 2007. Scott selected the name “Heirloom” because the studio has been passed along through several ownerships since it was originally constructed by Cloud 9 Studios in the late 1980s. Heirloom Studios specializes in “recording music and memories for every generation.” Scott explains their work is “creating musical heirlooms for future generations to enjoy and cherish.”

Scott—a Chico native—was playing drums by 6^th grade and began to develop an interest in recording when first exposed to 8-track tapes and “Quadraphonic” sound in the early 1970’s. The sounds he heard inspired him to learn how they were created and recorded. Scott’s high school rock band “Tempest” did it’s first recording in the basement of the old Valley Music in 1981. He spent time working as a DJ for Northern California Productions and performing with bands at various social events. Attending his first class in recording technology— taught by Peter Berkow at Butte College— Scott layed tracks towards his future success in audio engineering.

Scott told me his goal is to support musicians in feeling safe and comfortable during the entire recording process and to provide them the best quality space, equipment, and support they need to make great recordings. I can report that, in each of the recording sessions I’ve done so far at Heirloom, Scott completely succeeded in meeting that mission. He provides that safe atmosphere through the mood he and master engineer Chris Keene create and the studio design.

Heirloom is a beautiful, spacious studio suitable for every size ensemble from an individual musician to a full choir. The control room, main recording area, and isolation booth are open, airy, and richly accented in polished mahogany. The entire studio is approximately 1750 square feet. The main studio is a more-than-ample 600 square feet and the primary control room is almost 400 square feet. There is a separate mastering studio available and a separate, multi-station podcasting studio for voiceovers, audio book recording, group interface, multi-station conference calls (in includes a phone interface) and recording audio clips.

The main control room is equipped with ProTools HD—the high-end digital audio recording system by Digidesign. Heirloom also provides an excellent selection of microphones for all recording requirements, Ampeg bass amps, Line 6 guitar amps, DW and Ludwig drum sets, Korg synthesizers, and a Yamaha CP-80 electric grand piano. The studio’s equipment also includes:

Mackie d8b Digital Mixer / HUI — Digidesign Pro Tools HD 2 System — Digidesign 96 I/O [x3] — Digidesign MIDI I/O — Focusrite RED 1 Quad Mic Pre-amp — PreSonus M80 Eight Channel Pre-amp — PreSonus ACP88 — Comp/Limiter/Gate — BBE 882 Sonic Maximizer — KRK V8 Nearfield Monitors — EAW UB12S Surround Monitors [x6] — KRK V88 Midfield Monitors — KRK V12s Subwoofer — Alesis Monitor One Nearfield — Alesis Monitor Two Midfield — Alesis RS300 Reference Amplifier [x2] — Alesis HD24 Channel ADAT Recorder — Alesis ML-9600 Master Disk Recorder — Alesis ADAT XT [x3] = Export To HD — Alesis BRC ADAT Remote Controller — Alesis Quadraverb 2 Effects Processor — Tascam CD-RW901 CD Recorder — Tascam CD-150 CD Playback Deck — Tascam 302 Bi-Directional Cassette — Sony MDS-E11 Minidisc Recorder — Monster Power PRO 3500 [x3].

Mackie d8b Digital Mixer / HUI — Mackie HDR 24/96 Recorder — Line 6 Guitar POD Pro Modeler — Line 6 Bass POD Pro Modeler — TC Helicon VoiceWorks Vocal Effects — BBE 362 Sonic Maximizer — KRK V6 Nearfield Monitors — KRK V88 Midfield Monitors — EAW UB12S Surround Monitors [x6] — EAW SB48 Subwoofer — QSC MX700 Amplifiers [x3] — Monster Power PRO 3500.

Audio-Technica AT 4047/SV [X3] — Sennheiser e602 [x2] — Sennheiser e604 [x6] — Shure BETA52 [x3] — Shure SM57 [x10] — Shure BETA58 [x3] — Shure SM58 UT Wireless — Shure SM81 [x2] — Shure SM94 — Sterling Audio ST66 [x4].

I started my recording project by purchasing a Digidesign MBOX 2 PRO so that I could record tracks at home and in the studio. During the first session I had at Heirloom, Scott helped me install the ProTools LE software on a MacBook Pro and get it registered and active, then gave me basic lessons in how to use it. I took it home and recorded some initial tracks and brought them back to Heirloom. Scott uploaded the tracks into the studio’s system, checked their quality, and created an initial mix so that I could provide those tracks to other musicians for rehearsal. ProTools is new to me and I couldn’t have done this without the assistance I received at Heirloom. To move the project along, engineer Chris Keene jumped in and recorded four-well done guitar tracks on this project.

Heirloom records a lot of tracks for musicians who take them home to add other tracks with their own interface system. The studio does this often with drum tracks and reports that recording live drums is a real forte for Heirloom.

Heirloom gladly records any style of music, provides songwriting and production arrangement assistance, and provides studio musicians to assist songwriters in producing demos. A recently-added service came when the studio began working with the Chico Area Recreation to provide classes in Studio Mic And Recording Techniques — using the acronym ‘SMART’ for these classes.

Heirloom Studios are available for rehearsal space with drums, amps, and pa system included at very affordable rates based on size and age of your group. Heirloom also offers sound reinforcement services—providing pa systems for live sound and specializes in remote recording up to 24 tracks. Heirloom provides free consultation for musicians seeking a great place to record. Scott tries to work with everybody’s budget to create recordings they are proud of.

While I look forward to discovering other studios in our North State , I’ll miss working in the beautiful space at Heirloom and the great professionalism I found there. I’m a fan and I know I’ll be back for more recording with Scott and Chris.

For more information and pictures of the studio check out Heirloom’s website at www.heirloomstudios.com or call them at 530-899-8698.

Mondays: Aaron Jaqua - Café Flo 7:00 - 8:45 365 E. 6 th. 892-0356
Bluegrass Jam - Café Culture 7:00 - 9:00 931 West 5th Ave. 345-6045

Wednesdays: Magalia Hillbillies - Lynn’s Optimo (Paradise) 8:00 9225 Skyway 877-8428
Blues Jam - Italian Gardens (Paradise) 6929 Skyway 876-9988

Thursdays:                             Open Mikefull - Has Beans 8:00-11:00 6:30 signup 501 Main 894-3033
                                                Good Old Boys - Cassidy’s (Oroville) 5:00 491 Oroville Dam Blvd. 533-7565
                                                Shasta Blues Society Jam - Lulu’s (Redding) 6:30 - 10:00 Pine & Cypress
                                                Magalia Hillbillies Open Mic - Knee Knocker Sports Bar (Magalia) 8:00 13917 S
                                                        Park Dr
                                                Blues Jam - Lynn’s Optimo (Paradise) 8:00 9225 Skyway 877-8428
First Thursday:                      Midnight Blues Society Jam - Nash's 7:00 - 10:00 1717 Esplanade

Fridays:                                   Dave Houser & Flow Masters - Shakey’s Pizza 7:30 -10:00 P.M.
                                                        2890 Olive Hwy. Oroville 534-8844
                                                 Pub Scouts - Duffy’s Tavern 4:00 - 7:00 337 Main St. 343-7718
                                                 2 nd Friday Ragtime and Tin Pan Alley 6:30 2750 Sierra Sunrise Terrace

1 st Saturdays:                        BFMS Acoustic Jam - Upper Crust Bakery 2:00 - 5:00 130 Main St.
2 nd Saturdays:                       Music Circle Augie’s 2:00 - 5:00 230 Salem St., 894-3764
                                                 Open Mic - Cohasset Community Building 6:30 - 10:00
                                                 3 rd Saturdays: Augie's - Old Time Music Jam 2:00 - 5:00 230 Salem, Chico
                                                          894-7409
                                                 4 th Saturdays: Bluegrass Jam - Augie’s 2:00 - 4:00 230 Salem St., 894-3764
                                                        (Except May)
Sundays:                                  Open Jam for Beginners - King's Tavern (Paradise) - 5771 Clark Rd 877-7100
                                                             343-0662
                                                  1 st Sundays: Northern California Harp Ring - Various locations. Janice at
                                                             530-893-8026
                                                  4 th Sunday: Old Time Fiddlers Jam - Thermolito Grange Oroville 12:00-5:00

May
15 Bernie’s Guitar (Redding) - Maria Dunn 3086 Bechelli Lane, Redding 530-223- 2040
16 Chico Grange - Homegrown Festival Noon - 10:00 2775 Nord Ave
17 Sierra Nevada Big Room - Carrie Rodriquez Trio, The Greencards -1075 E. 20th

Recording Studio Review

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