Friday, May 25, 2012

Films, street parties, music ...

In the beginning, the Riverfront Amphitheater was judged to be too distant and large to justify weekly events, and what came to be known as Live@5 was designed as a modest street party to be placed at the Farmers Market.

Then, what was to be a simple TGIF gig steadily grew in emphasis and became Live@5, and now the Amphitheater will be used after all, for non-alcoholic films, thus isolating the boring teetotalers by the waterside.

I approve of this solution.

(My two cents: Flag-waving is trite, and a far better film for Memorial Day is "All Quiet on the Western Front," which can be watched here in its entirety. But you really need booze for that)

Also, it should be noted that for the inaugural Live@5 on Friday, June 1, NABC (craft beer) and Wick's (otherwise) will be vending adult beverages at stations located at the alley entrances to the closed section of Market Street.

This is possible owing to the existence of temporary and catering permits, which include detailed site plans, and typically must be submitted to the state ATC for approval no less than 15 days in advance. Given this fact, and if the city intends to have beer and wine at Live@5, it would be useful for whomever acquires the permits (NABC pulled the June 1 catering paper) to know where the events actually will take place. It is something the ATC insists on knowing, and it can be funny that way.

A final note: Many of us were vociferous critics of the England administration's insular effort to be entertainment arbiter and booking agent for the Amphitheater. By comparison, the Gahan administration now has doubled its skin in the showbiz game by booking both music and films, and at multiple locations in the city. The Green Mouse says that much of the impetus for the Gahan team's musical thrust comes from the Mom's Music/Maxwell/Crashers empire. Film choices are anyone's guess.

My point is this: Allowing for due time to see how these entertainment-related experiments play out, ultimately we are compelled to apply the same critical criteria to these decisions as those used during the England regime. One significant and welcomed change in 2012 is that the Amphitheater can be booked for use by entertainment entrepreneurs, and admission charged -- finally permitting a somewhat free market to operate.

Top Gun showing Saturday at the New Albany riverfront; First Live@5 show will be held at intersection of Market and State, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune)

NEW ALBANY — In honor of Memorial Day, the city of New Albany will show the movie “Top Gun” on its new 40-foot screen at the Riverfront Amphitheater Saturday.

The movie will begin at dark, and the event is free to attend. There will be activities for kids, food vendors and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase ...

... On June 1, the Live@5 summer concert series will launch with a performance by The Rumors. The shows will begin each Friday at 5 p.m. at varying downtown venues through Aug. 31.

The Rumors will be performing on a stage that will be assembled at the intersection of Market and State streets next week. The intersection will be closed during the event, which is expected to last until about 8 p.m.

1 comment:

Jeff Gillenwater said...

Whether performances take place on Market Street or the moon, it's still about the content. As a political entity, the City as promoter will most likely tend to fall on the side of mainstream safety-- OK in some cases, but nothing that will distinguish us from anywhere else.

Via theater at St. Marks, private amphitheater shows like Cabin/Wax Fang, and other occasional performance venues, we've seen glimpses of excellence and the possibility of more. One of the best things we can do as a community is to support them when they happen.