Since September, a Beverly resident has tapped into the region's fertile music scene to cultivate a band to play an end-of-year concert at a local restaurant.
Chris Mitchell of Crush City Entertainment, along with the owners of The Farm Bar and Grille in Essex, devised Farming the Band, a weekly contest during which musicians of all skill levels are invited to try out for a group that will play a special New Year's Eve show at the eatery.
Mitchell, along with staff from the restaurant and local musicians, has served as a judge, notifying musicians a couple of days after the contest to inform them if they made it to the next level.
The contest takes place at the restaurant on Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. It ends Nov. 24, when final decisions are made.
"Farming the Band is a call to all musicians, (but) the contest is winding down, so it's really time to make decisions," said Mitchell, who has assessed dozens of musicians, looking for talent, along with commonality and chemistry with other players.
At this point, a bass player, a guitarist and two singers are in the running to be in the yet-to-be-named band, according to Mitchell, who added that he's yet to find a drummer who fits in.
"Some people have been seasoned veterans, and others had never performed in a band in their lives," Mitchell said about the range of musicians who have tried out so far. Besides funk, bluegrass, R&B, gospel and soul singers, he's seen guitarists and bassists, a horn player, and even someone with a didgeridoo, an indigenous Australian wind instrument.
Contestants have ranged from teenagers to one singer in his 60s, according to Mitchell, 30, himself an emcee, rapper and singer.
Another common trait Mitchell looks for is dedication. Players are not paid, and they are expected to show every week as they advance through the contest.
"I want people to be passionate about music," he said.
When final choices are made, the members will have five weeks to rehearse for the New Year's Eve show. The music they play is their decision.
"Its really up to the band; they have total creative control," Mitchell said.
For more information, go to www.farm bargrille.com.
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Staff writer Larry Claflin Jr. writes his Music Notes column regularly. Reach him at lclaflin@salemnews.com or 978-338-2681.
