Second Street Live! begins season with one-two punch

story by Peter Lewis
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Second Street Live!, a non-profit focused on bringing great music to Fort Smith, is set to open its 2011-2012 concert season with a performance on Tuesday, Aug. 23, by guitar legend, Jimmie Vaughn.

Following on the heels of Vaughn’s performance will be an appearance by SSL alum Brave Combo on Thursday, Aug. 25. This one-two punch grants the start of the 2011-2012 SSL season with a decidedly Texan air.

It’s an air that Second Street Live! seeks to cultivate.

“Those shows are very popular in this area and fit with our core audience,” noted John McIntosh, the vice president of SSL Board of Directors.

With a wide-range of performers set to appear in downtown Fort Smith this year, the music extends well beyond the blues legend Vaughn and the eclectic world stylings of Brave Combo — something McIntosh was keen to point out as he detailed the varied list of performers and their genre classifications. (A full season scheduled is posted at the end of this story.)

And as you run down the list of 12 performers, from R&B legend George Porter Jr. to the multi-instrument impresario David Lindley, it’s a heady mix of overwhelming talent and musical diversity.

This commitment to diverse and sometimes under-appreciated talent was fostered in the early years of SSL by former executive director Dick Renko.

“Dick did a wonderful job introducing great musicians to this area,” McIntosh said.

Building on that commitment is SSL booker Brian Crowne. Brought on last year in the wake of Renko’s departure, the Fort Smith native has continued to meet the high expectations of the SSL board of directors and the season ticket holders.

“We’re very fortunate to have him, especially since he’s a native of Fort Smith and understands the market so well,” McIntosh explained.

Part of the challenge with producing a well-run concert series is understanding the finances behind the endeavor to ensure the music is accessible to wider community. To that end, McIntosh said that the ticket policy has been simplified. Anyone can purchase a ticket to an SSL event through the SSL website or by calling the box office.

In addition to the one off purchasing of concert tickets, the season ticket policy has also been simplified. A 2011-2012 season ticket features 12 shows and comes at a cost of $400. Included in that price tag are benefits that stretch well beyond the music experienced at SSL.

“It’s a sponsorship really. Each season ticket holder gets something extra. We’ll often host a meet and greet reception with the performer before each show,” McIntosh explained.

He also said the pre-show function for season ticket holders would feature free hors d’oeuvres and have a special cash bar.

One new feature SSL will experiment with this year is cabaret-style seating for season ticket holders. McIntosh said SSL was open to new ideas and configurations within the venue to ensure enjoyment for their patrons in novel and exciting ways. In many ways, he said, SSL is just “learning as we go.”

Part of that learning experience is opening the SSL venue to a wider world than music. McIntosh said the approach of the organization is much more focused on community use than in years past.

“It’s become a pretty popular venue for parties, meetings or university events, offering a nice alternative to more traditional hotel meeting rooms,” McIntosh noted.

He said focusing on the utility of their venue allows the organization to further entrench themselves as a bastion of the river valley community.

To learn more about SSL and the 2011-2012 season, including the full slate of performers scheduled, visit their website.