Scene circa 2000

Hear In Rhode Island showcases the state's best

by Bob Gulla

John Fuzek

Nothing embodies Rhode Island's struggling music scene as clearly as Hear In Rhode Island, John Fuzek and company's two-day festival that celebrates original music in the Ocean State. This year the setting is, appropriately, the Temple to Music at Roger Williams Park, a terrific place to kick back, watch the ducks, and hear some of the area's best performers in an unplugged setting. Now in its seventh year, the festival is designed to encourage and foster support for local/local-ties songwriters and bands, to promote the credible musical diversity and sophistication we have hear under our noses, and to get people to enjoy music for music's sake.

Unfortunately, since the get-go, the festival's been a struggle. Attendance, a problem in most of our downtown clubs, has been a problem for the festival as well. And so has money. Fuzek explains, "If I had money this festival would be a helluva lot easier. Ninety percent of the time is spent trying to find money, trying to get people to support us." Most advertisers, reluctant to part with cash, trade for their services. The Bread and Circus grocer, for example, is providing backstage catering in exchange for advertising. WHJY and UPN-TV have responded, but they prefer to be "in-kind" sponsors. "The cash is generated from raffle tickets and vendor spots," says Fuzek, "but everything else is bartered." Fuzek has approached over 100 advertisers and yet, nine out of 10 possibilities don't pan out. It's an uphill climb, for sure. "People tell me I'm one sick puppy," says Fuzek, who works on the festival four months out of the year. "But they don't have to tell me that. I don't make a dime off this thing."

It's not for lack of trying. Through the years, Fuzek has done a fine job assembling quality performers and this year is no exception. Mark Cutler, Anam Cara, Lovetrain, Mary Ann Rossoni, and 50 other high-standard acts will take the stage this year. Fuzek, a talented singer/songwriter on hiatus, has also lined up several in-the-round sessions, where three or four like-minded artists take turns playing their own songs and backing each other. Between sets, there will be spoken word interludes and patrons can stroll among the food and gift vendors. It makes for a terrific day, especially if, as Bob Marley says, "sun is shining."

But even after seven years, Hear In Rhode Island remains an overlooked secret. Rather than exposing great music to unexpecting and open-minded masses, the humble gathering seems more an opportunity for musicians to support musicians, for songwriters to cheer songwriters, for the preachers to preach to the converted. "The people who go to this festival come back the next year," says Fuzek. "It's only a matter of getting them out the first time."

Another problem is the festival's penchant for changing locations. This is the weekend's fourth move in seven years and people may experience some confusion, expecting the festival to fall on approximately the same weekend and in the same location. But it doesn't. "We moved to keep up with the new and happening scene in Providence," says Fuzek of the shifts, admitting he enjoyed Waterplace Park, but not last year's poorly attended version at India Point Park. "We're just trying to maximize exposure. I'm glad we've moved back to Roger Williams," he says. "It was a big part of the original festival; it's such a cool place."

One way to maximize exposure is to implore folks to come out for a few hours. The festival's absolutely free and a fantastic way to familiarize yourself with talented local acts. It's this Saturday and Sunday, June 10 and 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bring a picnic, bring the kids, bring the sunscreen, bring a blanket and plan on staying for a while. For those of you who are tired of schlepping through traffic down to Newport for the Folk Festival, Hear In Rhode Island is a pleasant, no-hassle alternative.

STRING BUILDER. As many of you know already, String Builder is Alec and Joel Thibodeau, Providence musical brothers and adventurous kindred spirits who recently completed a multimedia project called "From the Curb." Together, beginning in the spring of last year, the Thibodeaus set out on a Greyhound bus to circle the country clockwise, stepping out occasionally to busk in random areas and points in between. They ended up singing in 25 different places. Money from a Rhode Island State Council on the Arts grant and a free pass from the bus company helped them on their way.

Essentially, the project was the answer to the rather grandiose question: "What is American culture?" Alec and Joel documented their trip through photographs, audiotapes, and a public comment book. They then turned their documentation into photographic screen-prints, travel writing, and audio recordings.

AS220 is currently exhibiting the Thibodeaus' unusual journey now through June and it's a worthwhile stopping point. A good time to check it out might be their official reception on Thursday, June 15, at the space. It runs from (5 to 9 p.m.) and will, of course, feature a String Builder performance.

JENNIFER MINUTO. At a benefit show at Jazz Masters headlined by local sensation Jennifer Minuto and her sextet last week, something of an area record was set when Minuto, an on the rise local performer, auctioned off a future first copy of her new CD for $4000.

Before Minuto's sextet performed their last set, the singer/pianist held the auction, which was intended to raise funds to pay for a full-length recording project that begins this summer in New York City. Bidding started at a modest $10, but after a battle among the patrons, the gavel came down at four grand. The final bid went to John Webster of Rhode Island. We're assuming this is a record for a CD sale in the Biggest Little.

Look for more information regarding the up and coming Minuto in this column.

WANDERING EYE. Congrats to Grüvis Malt for finishing second in Jim Beam's nationwide band hunt. They didn't come home with the big prize, but they sure did do their home state proud along the way. With huge chops and some magic happening along the way, look for the Malt to enjoy a blindingly bright future and fast.

It's not as if we haven't given 'em enough ink already, but let's mention anyway that the Amazing Crowns, winners of the Phoenix's Best Local Band prize, are throwing a big party in honor of their new and blazing disc, Royal. The party goes down at Lupo's on Friday, June 9. Murphy's Law and the Money Shots open. Also, the same night, another local winner, The Complaints, hit the stage at the Met. Dean Petrella and company will most likely be digging into some of tunes off their fine set, Fear.

Lastly, the folks at Stone Soup have announced their move from Gloria Dei Lutheran to Slater Mill in Pawtucket. Yep, they're out of town, but they're much much happier, as is the more or less artistically bankrupt burg of Pawtucket, which is welcoming them to the Mill with open arms. More later.

Bob Gulla can be reached at b_gulla@yahoo.com.