Main Street McMinnville Looking For Musicians

If you’re a local musician, you can add to the ambience of downtown McMinnville during the community’s Second Saturday programs, set to kickoff the year this weekend.

Main Street McMinnville Director Jennifer Flatt Meredith said local stores started opening late on the second Saturday night of each month several years ago, and the event has grown from there.

“We just feel like it’s a kind of cool little ambiance where you can come listen to music, you can shop late, you can eat downtown,” Flatt Meredith said. “And so that’s what we’re kind of looking for. We’re looking kind of for single or duos, people who maybe just want to, like, pick a guitar, you know, just do some, you know, original music or just do something that’s kind of low key.”

Flatt Meredith said she encouraged high school and college-aged musicians to apply, as the organization wants to encourage the arts. She said the non-profit cannot afford to pay a lot, but can provide a lot of support.

The events happen each second Saturday through December, from 5pm-8pm each month. Flatt Meredith said the Second Saturday event has proved beneficial to the downtown community.

“I know sometimes that some say ‘I don’t know when a store is open downtown or I don’t know, you know, what, what their hours are,'” Flatt Meredith said. “And because some of these are small, smaller, you know, small. And, you know, mom and pop businesses, they do have some of their own hours, but this kind of creates a great night for you to be able to come do something, do something in your community, do something downtown McMinnville, come eat and actually shop in these stores, have some time to spend, and then just enjoy the atmosphere of our downtown. And it really helps a lot of our downtown shops that participate.”

Musicians can reach out through Main Street McMinnville’s website and social media. Flatt Meredith said the monthly music helps foster the special musical heritage that exists in Warren County.

“It’s been great when we’ve had a second Saturday event,” Flatt Meredith said. “If you’re out walking around our beautiful downtown and you’re shopping and then you get to hear live music and eat great food, it’s just a fun experience overall.”