AIM D’AMARO – TALKING LOCALPALOOZA AND THE N.E. MUSIC SCENE

By Ralph Beauchamp

Aim D’Amaro is a mainstay in the New England music community. She runs Adventures in Music which is a production company that caters to local bands and artists. D’Amaro‘s big event is the annual Localpalooza Music and Arts Festival that’s currently in its eleventh year. Aim balances both established bands and artists with up and coming talent. She also hosts events throughout the year at different venues. In addition, she’s on the staff of Bigger Beast Records.

The talent performing at this year’s edition of Localpalooza is incredible. The festival is slated for June 14th and is being held at Three Saints Park in Bethany, CT. Aim D’Amaro has made sure that the music is diverse and the audience will have an amazing time. The line-up includes the Fairfield School of Music, Flynn Ayers, North Country Band, Jennifer Hill (who AMP has previously featured), The Midnight Anthem, Fleming Jenkins Band, Eight To The Bar and Two Days Gone. On the acoustic stage you have Space Drum 71, Fortunes Gale and Zach Andersen.

Aim D’Amaro was kind enough to sit with AMP to discuss Localpalooza and the N.E. music scene.

AMP: Can you give our readers a brief history of the Localpalooza Festival? How did it all start?

AIM: I had started to videotape live performances of some of the local bands that I knew in 2009 and, in 2010 I began curating small shows at various venues. In 2014, I decided that we should have a full day to celebrate our local CT musicians and artists and shine a light on their original works. So, in May of 2015, we held the inaugural CT Localpalooza Music & Art Festival.

AMP: Your production company is Adventures In Music. What other events do you create or work on?

AIM: In addition to CT Localpalooza being held at Three Saints Park in Bethany, we have had some smaller concerts there throughout the years with just one or two bands sharing their music for us.

Last fall, I also produced our first Hootenanny at Holy Ghost Park in Shelton. This is a day of acoustic music with 4-5 acts on the stage from 1pm until about 9pm. Much like CT Localpalooza, we have a lot to do for all ages throughout the day, including a scavenger hunt and, we invite those attending this event to bring instruments along and take part in our end of the night fireside jam which is hosted by local musician D’Pew. And, if you don’t have or play an instrument, just bring your voice and sing along with us!

This year, I have started a collaboration with the great folks at The Recording Den in Bethany. This is a wonderful listening room with a capacity of 40. So far this year, we have held two Muses Rising shows; this is an all-female show with some of the most talented female songwriters in CT sharing their songs and the stories behind them.

I love this collaboration with The Recording Den, and we will do at least one more Muses Rising show this year with them and, hopefully one or two male singer-songwriter shows there as well. Most recently, I have also started producing ‘murder mystery’ events. These are also original works as we have a great local writer, Michael Wood who writes them. These events are a lot of fun, we incorporate live music into these productions as well and we get the audience involved.

AMP: Your Localpalooza line-ups are always quite eclectic. How do you select the artists to perform?

AIM: I have to tell you, the selection process isn’t always easy! There is so much talent in CT and we only have time for 8 bands on our main stage and 3 on the acoustic stage.

The vision when I started the festival was to showcase not only musicians that are veterans on the CT music scene but, also up and coming, younger musicians that may just be starting out. A few years back we started working with Fairfield School of Music. This will be their 3rd year bringing 2-3 of their young, talented musicians to showcase on our main stage. I like to fill our second time slot with a young singer-songwriter that may not have venues to play their original music or may just want an opportunity to play their first music festival.

I try to get out for live music often and I will sometimes find a band that I know will fit perfectly on our stage this way or, I will often get emails asking if there is any availability and then check out the band. The main goal is to have a variety of genres and diversity on our stage so that those attending can discover new talent and hopefully see someone playing a genre of music that they already love.

AMP: This is the 11th year of the festival. Any good (or crazy) stories that are relatable from past editions?

AIM: That is a loaded question! I think any event organizer that has planned an outdoor event will tell you that many challenges can come up. My staff and I have been through skunked dogs, rainy weather, a tornado hitting our venue a few days before the festival and navigating through COVID. There have been schedule and band changes only a few short weeks before due to circumstances beyond everyone’s control but, we have learned to pivot well, and I have a solid and dedicated (also all volunteer) crew that always stands by and helps to make sure it all happens!

AMP: What drives you to produce these showcases?

AIM: Community! There is nothing better than watching people come together through music and supporting our local musicians and artists. And CT Localpalooza is a very family friendly event; I love to be able to provide a special day for families to share and have fun.

AMP: Do you feel that the New England music scene is on an upswing?

AIM: I don’t know that the New England music scene was ever on the downswing! There are so many great musicians to still be discovered. With the many events and people working behind the scenes to keep it all going, I see nothing but more support and more of a sense of community coming for the New England music scene.

AMP: You have a good pulse on the local music culture. Are there any bands or artists you feel will break out any time soon?

AIM: There are so many! Two that will be on our main stage this year, North County Band and The Midnight Anthem are really making waves. And there are so many young musicians out there really working hard, making music, producing new records and they are just ready to be heard! Just to name a few… Riley Johnson, Remy Adair, Sofia Nunzia, Jake Kulak.

AMP: Is there something special you would like the readers to know about this year’s Localpalooza?

AIM: For me, CT Localpalooza is always special! Last year, we had Mighty Purple play a reunion set on our main stage; it was the first time that the original lineup had all played together in over 5 years. This year, we will have the band Two Days Gone playing together for the first time in almost 30 years, their drummer is flying up from Texas to play this gig! AND, we have the legendary Eight to the Bar also playing… this band is celebrating 50 yrs this year and I’m so excited to have them with us!

AMP: On personal note, do you have a favorite musical genre?

AIM: There isn’t much that I won’t give a listen to but, I would say that I listen to much more folk, acoustic, singer-songwriter type music these days.

AMP: Any last words?

AIM: Besides to always please support local, just that I hope everyone will join the CT Localpalooza family this year on Saturday, June 14th at Three Saints Park in Bethany, CT! Advance tickets are $25 and can be bought at https://adventuresinmusicproduction.ticketspice.com/ct-locapalooza-music-art-festival-xi Tickets will be $30 the day of and, kids 12U are always free!