We were just discussing how cool it is that Portland has so many small venues. From wine bars and coffee shops to Alberta Rose Theater or The Artichoke, we have so many choices to get out and be able to hear every note and sometimes even interact with the artists. So why aren't they packed? Small venues offer several advantages to the listening audience compared to larger venues: so let's discuss.

Intimacy and Connection: Small venues provide a more intimate setting, allowing audience members to feel closer to the performers. This intimate environment often enhances the emotional connection between the artist and the audience, making the listening experience more personal and engaging.

Better Acoustics: Smaller spaces typically have better acoustics, allowing for clearer and more balanced sound. This ensures that the music is heard as intended by the artists, without the distortion or loss of quality that can occur in larger venues.

Closer Interaction with Artists: In small venues, there is often an opportunity for audience members to interact with the artists before or after the performance. This can include meeting the artists, getting autographs, or even having a conversation with them, which enhances the overall concert experience.

Unique Atmosphere: Small venues often have a unique atmosphere or ambiance that larger venues may not be able to replicate. Whether it's the cozy setting of a coffee shop or the historic charm of a small theater, these venues can add to the overall enjoyment of the event.

Affordability: Tickets for small venue concerts are often more affordable than those for larger arena or stadium shows. This makes live music more accessible to a broader range of people, allowing more fans to experience their favorite artists live.

Discovering New Talent: Small venues are often where emerging artists and bands perform before they become more well-known. Attending concerts at these venues can provide audiences with the opportunity to discover new talent and support up-and-coming artists.

Less Crowded: Smaller venues usually have fewer attendees compared to larger venues, which means less crowding and a more comfortable viewing experience. Audience members can often find a good spot to watch the performance without having to navigate through large crowds.

Overall, small venues offer a more intimate, immersive, and affordable live music experience for the listening audience, making them a popular choice for many music lovers. Hope to see you out there. There's some great music from wonderful performers coming to town.

BRIGHTWELL & MORAN UPCOMING SHOWS

If you weren't able to attend the latest performance by Brightwell & Moran and would like to take a look, Cafe Artichoke streamed this show and it is available on their YouTube page. The show starts off with a cover of Henley & Hornsby's song “End of the Innocence.” This is the very first song and Woody forgot to put his capo on his guitar, the good news is that we caught it on the first chord. Click here for this performance.

You can fast forward to about the 11:30 mark to start the show. There is also about a 10 minute break between the 1st and 2nd sets.

Here is the set list for this show.

1. End of the Innocence (cover)
2. Slide Under (new B.A.M. song)
3. Birds and Stones (Brightwell)
4. The Great Escape (Brightwell)
5. I Still Choose You (Brightwell)
6. Molly's Valentines Day (Moran)
7. Cowboy in Babylon (Moran)
8. Havana Afternoon (Moran)
9. Lovely Day
10. Top of the World
11. 100 Pairs of Wings
12. Land of Plenty
13. River Flow
14. Just a Little Different (new B.A.M. song)
15. You Can Love a Memory (new B.A.M. song)
16. Girl in Hollywood
17. ENCORE Tainted Love (cover)

Brightwell & Moran appear on the KOIN AM Extra show to talk about their award-winning song, Bare Boards; Recording the song at Abbey Road Studios in London as the prize from Talent Is Timless; Promoting their new EP, "Land of Plenty"; as well as their upcoming show at Cafe Artichoke on September 23rd. You can watch the interview by clicking here.

Brightwell & Moran were able to dip our big toes into the world of jingles thanks to a call from Corky Coreson. Corky has been around the Portland radio and jingle scene for many years, writing and producing scores of jingles. He told us that he had been thinking of who to get to do his new jingle for Grover Electric & Plumbing, who have retail stores all over the Pacific Northwest. Then he thought, who do I know that are already used to singing and harmonizing together. Thank goodness he was already our fan. You can hear the music bed that Corky wrote along with Brightwell & Moran's jingle debut at the end of the track by clicking here.