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Small Stages

 Pack up your lawn chairs and bring a beverage if you’d like.
Slow down but save the chit chat for later because Small Stages is about a true musical experience, about taking the time to hear, feel and fully absorb the music sung and written by traveling, original acoustic musicians who play to intimate house crowds around the Birmingham area.

The idea behind Small Stages is pretty simple, really, but the response has been significant. It all started in early 2007 when David Bernard, Joni Barnett, Steve Norris and Keith Harrelson began talking about the idea that became the reality of Small Stages, filling a niche that had remained empty since Harrelson’s Moonlight Music Café in Vestavia Hills closed a few years back. Since March 2007, about once a month, a musician is chosen, a venue is found (a home, restaurant, art gallery, coffee shop and church have all been used), a $10 to $15 donation is accepted at the door to pay the performer and sometimes to raise money for a chosen charity (Small Stages is itself incorporated as a nonprofit and associated with the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance), and an averaged-size group of 50 folks enjoy a two-hour show that feels like a special private concert but is available to anyone.

Of course, the four board members have different talents they bring to ensure the shows go on. They each have a slightly different taste in music and their own perspectives as to what Small Stages means to them and why others have embraced it as well. They describe their shows as: “adult friendly, an almost spiritual experience, out of the mainstream, a flesh and blood experience, a place where everyone is really sitting and listening, not trying to out shout each other.”

The love of the music and the desire to see it continue bind the founding board members together. They hope to build an ongoing audience for their music and that other venues, radio stations and individuals will become advocates for original acoustic music as well. But the goal for Small Stages is to remain true to their name and original intentions. Jokes Bernard, “The selfish way to put it is that we wanted a place to go see concerts. We didn’t have a place to go so we started putting them on.”

Adds Harrelson, “The main reason we do this is that we’re interested in the artists and their determination to continue doing what they do. We appreciate that and respect it and want to help them accomplish what they’re doing in spite of all the challenges. Try one show, once people try one they love it.”

For information about upcoming shows, visit smallstages.com and sign up for regular email announcements. While official reservations aren’t accepted, the Small Stages folks ask that you email to let them know you’ll attend a show so they can make adequate preparations.

—MEMS

Paralympic Athletes at Lakeshore Foundation

On any given day, some of the world’s best Paralympic athletes are training right here in Birmingham.

In fact, since 1988 Lakeshore Foundation has sent 36 athletes and coaches to the Paralympic Games, the most from any single organization in the United States. This September, Lakeshore Foundation expects to send five staff members and as many as 11 athletes to compete in the Paralympic Games in Beijing, China. Lakeshore President Jeff Underwood was also selected as Chef de Mission to Team USA and will accompany them to China, attend events and competitions and march in the opening ceremonies.

We might not hear as much about the accomplishments of these worthy individuals—like Jen Armbruster (women’s goalball), Aimee Bruder (swimming), Bryan Kirkland (wheelchair rugby), Mike Dickey (shooting), Joel Wilmoth (wheelchair rugby), Jennifer Schuble (cycling) and Ron Williams (cycling)—but these Lakeshore athletes have already earned their spot on the U.S. Paralympic team, many returning for their third and fourth Paralympics as former gold, silver or bronze medalists. Track and field hopefuls from the Birmingham area include: Mallerie Badgett, Carlos Leon, Josh Roberts and Scott Winkler.

Underwood explains that this lack of recognition is slowly changing. Other countries equally promote Olympians and Paralympians and the United States Olympic Committee is taking strides to do so as well. The change is largely due to the growing number of injured military personnel now training to become Paralympians. Two veterans, Scott Winkler and Carlos Leon, who have spent the last few months living and training at Lakeshore, hope to have earned their spots on the Paralympic track and field team by the time you’re reading this story. Winkler says competing in Paralympic sports has been important to him because he says, “it gives me a chance to put a uniform back on.” Leon adds. “Unfortunately the war is producing great [Paralympic] athletes. You have to have the drive to move forward. We already have the training.”

Visit lakeshore.com for information about the 2008 Paralympic Games, Sept. 6 to 17.
—MEMS

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January Birmingham, Alabama

  

 
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