A Whirlwind Weekend of Music

There are several musical events this weekend that I wish I could attend, but unfortunately I haven’t mastered the art of being in three places at once.

First, and closest to home, two bands that I have really enjoyed are playing up the road at Messiah College tomorrow night. The main act is The Decemberists. Their latest album, The Crane Wife, is considered one of the best albums of 2006, and has been in heavy rotation in my MP3 player for some time. Opening for the band will be My Brightest Diamond, which is a project of Shara Worden. She has the uncanny ability to mix a lot of different musical genres and styles into a fresh new sound. If you happened to see the Sufjan Stevens Illinoise tour, Shara was one of the cheerleader/singer/musicians that was part of that show. If you are in the central PA area, check this concert out. This is what pop music should be about.

Meanwhile, out in Michigan it’s the annual Calvin College Festival of Faith & Music. This conference always does a great job of attracting a top-notch lineup. Featured speakers this weekend include some of my favorite writers, such as Lauren Winner, David Dark, Steve Stockman, Brian Walsh, my friend Josh Jackson (Paste Magazine), Andy Whitman, Andrew Beaujon (Body Piercing Saved My Life), Adam Smith (RELEVANT Magazine), among others. The conference will include performances by Sufjan Stevens, Anathallo, Sarah Masen, Liz Janes, Emmylou Harris, and Neko Case. An amazing lineup. There will also be a performance by bandspotting discovery Son Lux. I’ve listened to his music online and really like what I hear.

And then across the country in California, it’s Biola University’s Journalism Conference: Music and Media: Where Does Faith Fit? This conference will address the issue of what "Christian Music" means, and whether it still exists as a "genre." It features speakers such as Tim Taber, John Fischer, Jay Swartzendruber, Mark Joseph, Lou Carlozo, and more.

This would be a good time to use those frequent flyer points….