By Crystal McGough, Editor
PINSON – The Pinson Valley Arts Council will be hosting its third “First Friday” block party event on Friday, July 7, 2023, and this time the theme will be “Musicians Open Stage Jam Fest!”
Musicians and stage performers of all genres are invited to come out and light up Main Street during this free-to-the-public event.
“We just want people to come out and do their own thing; just give them their three (or five) minutes of fame,” PVAC founder DieDra Ruff said. “We don’t care if it’s spoken words. We can have some spoken words, poetry, just any type of talent that they have.”
Ruff said she has already been contacted by musicians from all around Alabama, including Fort Payne and Hartselle, who are interested in performing at the event.
“I’m getting a lot of good feedback off of this one,” she said. “I got a guy (from Fort Payne) who called and said he wanted to come. He plays guitar, he plays harmonica and he said he’s written some songs. He’s excited and said he’s going to do some original stuff that he wrote.”
While several musicians have already reached out to secure their spots and Ruff said she’s expecting to receive more phone calls as the event gets closer, the event will still be an open-mic style night, she said.
Ruff and her husband Keith will be the opening act, and then each performer will initially be allotted up to five minutes on stage. If time allows once all of the performances are complete, there may be an opportunity for the artists to come back up for a second performance.
After the first two “First Friday” events, Ruff said she has been asked why there are no food trucks, especially ones that provide alcoholic beverages.
The answer is simple: the purpose of “First Friday” is to have a family-friendly event that grows Pinson and helps support the small businesses of Main Street.
“I want this to be a family-oriented event,” Ruff said. “I want kids and teenagers to come out and be able to see something that they want to do – like sing or play in a band – and I want them to be able to see that in a healthy situation. I want them to be able to see that music and musicians are not all about drugs and alcohol. That it can be fun, it can be family-oriented, and (everyone) get to know each other.
“My goal – and it has always been – is to get people to eat and drink right there at Price’s (and Barking Bee Coffee), and get something to wear next door at Celina’s, and go get you some lotions and smell-good stuff there at Love Life (Naturals),” she added. “I’m just trying to bring attention to Main Street again. It would be very easy to grab a food truck, but I don’t want that; I want the money to stay right here in Pinson.”
Ruff said she highly encourages everyone to bring their own lawn chair to the event, as there will be no seating provided. Guests are welcome to bring their own coolers with food, as well.
The “First Friday” stage will be set up on Main Street beside Celina’s Boutique and the event will last from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
For more information, contact DieDra Ruff and the Pinson Valley Arts Council at (404)379-0096.