In the upcoming months, Townsquare Coffee House will be hosting “First Fridaze,” a concert series that will consist of local bands performing concerts on the first Friday of every month. The concerts will typically begin around 7 p.m. and last between t
hree and four hours. These concerts and live music sessions are open to Northwestern students, the surrounding community and the public, as well anyone who appreciates the music of local bands. In addition to the concert, band merchandise will be for sale, along with drink specials.
“We want to create a consistent time for people to know that they can come to the shop and hear local music,” Townsquare Coffee House owner Steve Mahr said. “Creating and sustaining local culture isn’t easy. The musicians work hard to create the sound and message they want people to experience.”
Townsquare is hoping to have several local bands perform, including The Ruralists, The Aircraft and The Hiccups. The shop recently had a successful concert featuring the Winter Wayfarer and Community Trees, and the shop was packed with over two hundred students, locals and community members.
“If you are making music and want to play at the shop, hit us up,” Mahr said.
NW students are encouraged to attend these concerts as the musicians that perform at Townsquare work to create a fun and lively atmosphere so that people can truly appreciate the music they perform.
“It takes work to create a space for those musicians to play in,” Mahr said. “It takes people interested in music to sustain live music, or art of any kind. What is unique about any place is the relationship between local folks who create and those who are willing to engage in what is being created. This goes for food, music, theater, etc.”
Overall, the purpose of the “First Fridaze” concert series is to build a community and integrate arts and variety into the local community. On a typical concert evening, there is a wide variety of people who come to take in the music, and the event really brings out the community and personalities in the local area.
Townsquare wants to create an atmosphere where arts, music and variety is appreciated.
“At the end of the day, the reason we do anything at our shop is to continue in our vision of creating a space where all are welcome continues to take shape,” Mahr said.
