How Venues are Helping to Develop Fort Collin’s Music Scene
A major part of what allows Fort Collins to host such a vibrant music scene are the businesses that provide stages where it can be put on display. Scotty Van Tatenhove is member of Fort Collins Musicians Associations board of directors and was kind enough to speak with me about some of the many ways these local venues are helping to develop the music community.
Tyler Weston: So Scotty, what do you do with the Fort Collins Musicians Association?
Scotty Van Tatenhove: I am a member of the Board of Directors and the Education Director.
TW: And how have those roles involved you in the local music scene?
SVT: I teach in the Poudre School District, I’ve been a teacher for about 18 Years. I created a History of Rock and Roll program and taught that through the high-schools here and I also try to incorporate a Little Kids Rock program throughout the district and support that.
TW: How has that connected you with venues in the area?
SVT: We try to make all the connections for students that are up and coming musicians or students that are in middle school, or elementary school even that are interested in modern band versus traditional band, we try to find venues for them to experience music in that venue.
TW: That’s fantastic. So, in working with venues for that sort of thing, who do you find has been most helpful?
SVT: Sometimes it’s outdoor venues, when the weather is nice, the downtown stage has worked. At Bohemian Nights you’ll find students doing an all kids stage that’s based out of Little Kids Rock. At the Fort Collins Music eXperiment (FoCoMX) festival we try to incorporate the school bands that are willing to play, this year I know there are at least three Poudre School District bands that will be performing at this years festival, possibly more. So, we try to get them into professional venues so they can have that real experience of playing at a venue that actually has a PA and a sound guy, and an audience as well.
TW: Through your experience with Fort Collins Musicians Association how have you seen venues impacting this local scene?
SVT: Venues have a huge part to play, they also need to make money and be the venue and get nationally touring acts. So when they’re doing their talent buying and helping route tours through Fort Collins, whoever you can get to pack your venue is important, but if you’re willing to take opening acts and work with the local scene that’s always great. And getting bands to realize you can’t do the same set every time, you know you’ve gotta keep your music fresh. That idea that you can’t do the same songs every time you’re opening as a local musician.
TW: Right, well the same 45 minutes recycled over doesn’t last very long huh?
SVT: Yeah, and it also helps teach local bands that you can’t just play the same venue over and over again. We have a pretty captive audience here in northern Colorado for our venues and if one band is opening for three touring bands they have to change things up a little bit, and I like that. I think the venues are very supportive of the local festivals, particularly our FoCoMX festival, we can’t do it without the venues. They donate their space to us and they’re really looking for the opportunity for the bands to play at a venue that they may not usually play at for the rest of the year, and that’s always helpful. They’re willing to sacrifice a weekend for the local music scene, I don’t think you’d see that in many other communities. So many venues and so many bars that aren’t even venues but like the idea of being a venue just for that weekend just to be a part of it. There’s all kinds of great support we get from the venues and not even just the traditional music venues.
TW: So, one last question, as a music listener and fan, do you have a favorite venue to attend and see shows at?
SVT: I like a few of them, I just went to Washington’s on opening night, and for a quality venue that seats 950, I think that’s fantastic. I’m a big Surfside fan, I’m a guy who really likes loud, fast and rock n’ roll so I’ll always be at Surfside listening to hard rock. I was at Road 34 the same night as the Washington’s opening, it was great. So, we got to see Trombone Shorty then a whole carload of us headed over to Road 34 to see Wire Faces, which is one of our best local bands and that was a great set up too. So again, more of a non-traditional music venue. The Aggie is great and Hodi’s, always a go to, but I think you’ll find me at Surfside for most of my shows.
