MONROE - Beyond polka, Monroe doesn't have a reputation as a hotbed for music.
That may be about to change.
The organizers of a music festival in Monroe this weekend, June 20-22, are hoping the first-time event can grow the area's music scene and stimulate artistic creativity in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
Wisconsin Music Arts Festival, boosted by a $33,000 state tourism grant, seeks to draw musicians and music-lovers alike to the city for a weekend of performances and workshops at venues across town. Headliners are the BoDeans, Livingston Taylor, Pieta Brown and Michael Perry.
The region is thirsting for this, according to organizer Richard Daniels, director of the Monroe Arts Center.
"There are pockets of musical talent and interest, and this is the time to mobilize those pockets into something more," he said.
Songwriting unifies the lineup of folk, Americana and roots rock performers at the festival.
"All write their own music," Daniels said. The decision to call it a "Music Arts" festival is intentional. "We wanted to focus on the art of composition."
Incidentally, this fits in with Green County's new slogan, "There's an art to it" - a destination marketing campaign that links the artistry behind the county's industries, from beer to cheese to robotics.
The origins of the festival go back years. It has been a longtime dream of several locals. One was Terry Hollenbach, an herb farmer and "music festival aficionado" who regularly hosted concerts in his barn, Daniels said. Hollenbach has since moved out of the area, but he was one of the first to plant the idea for a Monroe festival focused on songwriting.
Local painter Tina Duemler also lobbied for the festival, Daniels said.
"She imagines a music festival that includes the visual arts," he said, adding that visual arts aren't part of this weekend's lineup but it's under consideration for the future.
Roy Elkins, a New Glarus resident, was also influential in planting the idea for a festival, Daniels said. Elkins founded Broadjam, a service for independent musicians to license and market their work, and is one of several presenting at workshops Friday afternoon at the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center.
Workshops Saturday include tutorials on songwriting, lyrics and structure, making videos, getting radio airplay and "getting the biggest bang from your recording sessions."
Beth Kille, a Madison-based songwriter who worked as a physical therapist at Monroe Clinic before pursuing music fulltime, helped organize the lineup of workshops, Daniels said.
The festival has a lot of competition on a busy summer weekend, including other music festivals around the state, but Daniels is still planning on hundreds descending on Monroe over the weekend.
"We're thinking we could have 700 to 800, maybe 1,000 people," he said. "We're hoping this is the inauguration of a festival that will grow for Monroe."
That may be about to change.
The organizers of a music festival in Monroe this weekend, June 20-22, are hoping the first-time event can grow the area's music scene and stimulate artistic creativity in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
Wisconsin Music Arts Festival, boosted by a $33,000 state tourism grant, seeks to draw musicians and music-lovers alike to the city for a weekend of performances and workshops at venues across town. Headliners are the BoDeans, Livingston Taylor, Pieta Brown and Michael Perry.
The region is thirsting for this, according to organizer Richard Daniels, director of the Monroe Arts Center.
"There are pockets of musical talent and interest, and this is the time to mobilize those pockets into something more," he said.
Songwriting unifies the lineup of folk, Americana and roots rock performers at the festival.
"All write their own music," Daniels said. The decision to call it a "Music Arts" festival is intentional. "We wanted to focus on the art of composition."
Incidentally, this fits in with Green County's new slogan, "There's an art to it" - a destination marketing campaign that links the artistry behind the county's industries, from beer to cheese to robotics.
The origins of the festival go back years. It has been a longtime dream of several locals. One was Terry Hollenbach, an herb farmer and "music festival aficionado" who regularly hosted concerts in his barn, Daniels said. Hollenbach has since moved out of the area, but he was one of the first to plant the idea for a Monroe festival focused on songwriting.
Local painter Tina Duemler also lobbied for the festival, Daniels said.
"She imagines a music festival that includes the visual arts," he said, adding that visual arts aren't part of this weekend's lineup but it's under consideration for the future.
Roy Elkins, a New Glarus resident, was also influential in planting the idea for a festival, Daniels said. Elkins founded Broadjam, a service for independent musicians to license and market their work, and is one of several presenting at workshops Friday afternoon at the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center.
Workshops Saturday include tutorials on songwriting, lyrics and structure, making videos, getting radio airplay and "getting the biggest bang from your recording sessions."
Beth Kille, a Madison-based songwriter who worked as a physical therapist at Monroe Clinic before pursuing music fulltime, helped organize the lineup of workshops, Daniels said.
The festival has a lot of competition on a busy summer weekend, including other music festivals around the state, but Daniels is still planning on hundreds descending on Monroe over the weekend.
"We're thinking we could have 700 to 800, maybe 1,000 people," he said. "We're hoping this is the inauguration of a festival that will grow for Monroe."