Story and photos by Lisa Carolin
Guitars, basses, banjos, saxophones, and other musical instruments filled the lobby and main room of Chelsea First United Methodist Church Monday, March 4, when the Sounds & Sights auditions transformed the space into a series of stages.
Applicants for the upcoming Sounds & Sights season auditioned before judges on a particularly cold March evening offering a preview of the annual summer event.
Each performer had 5 minutes to show their stuff, and judges moved seamlessly around the room from one act to another wasting no time.
According to Bridget Favre of D& B Strategic Marketing, marketing coordinator for Chelsea Area Festivals & Events, there were a total of 42 live auditions, more than 100 electronic auditions, along with a pool of some 250 past performers to choose from.
Performers came from the Detroit suburbs, Kalamazoo, Jackson, Plymouth, and other locations.
Ocean Iris, a folk rock singer from Ann Arbor, has been writing material for 12 years and wants to share her music with people.
“Sounds & Sights is an event where visual arts and music collide in a fun way,” she said.
Nick Huffman, a folk rock singer from Milford, said, “Anytime you get to play in an outdoor venue or at a festival, it’s really magical.”
Judges base their decisions on a variety of factors.
Bob Pierce, one of the judges, said, “We want to know how they perform in a street environment with noise. We think about what stage is right, and want to give opportunities to strong musicians, young musicians, and get a mix of performers.”
Favre said, “Each stage location is unique and the committee matches bands to the stage location that will best showcase their act. Factors include the size of the band, genre of music, the audience, and the acoustics of a location.”
According to co-organizer Craig Common, owner of the Common Grill, “The regional exposure and popularity of Sounds & Sights attracts many new and highly talented performers each year. We are searching for innovative acts to enrich the experience of our spectators, and to bring the event to a whole new level.”
In early April, the lineup will be announced for the 2019 season of Sounds & Sights, which begins on June 6 and will run through Aug. 15, every Thursday from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The Sounds & Sights Festival, which is in its 43rd year, will take place on July 25-27.
