Ruston's Music Scene

The sound of music doesn’t just come from the hills. No, the sound of music flows from the tracks in Ruston. From junior high students leading worship in church to college students branching out with their passions to the old-timers who just enjoy piddling on the weekends, a diverse community of people is bound together in one love: music. The music scene in Ruston is one that includes multiple settings for different kinds of music. These places are often easily accessible and very accommodating to the performers as well as providing comfortable atmospheres for music lovers.

The local coffee shops of Ruston are the typical venues for hosting open mics. They create not only a relaxing atmosphere for light audiences but also a simpler avenue for local musicians to introduce their art.

The Depot, a coffee shop owned and operated by First Baptist Church of Ruston, host live performances of bands looking for exposure. These performances are in addition to their regular once a month open mic night, Depot After Dark.

“Open mic night is simply calling and reserving a spot,” said Braden Hilton, the organizer of performances at The Depot. “The set bands, however, are contacted by myself. It is normally a pretty laid back atmosphere with a nice stage and sound equipment. We typically alternate between an open mic night and bringing in a band that is looking to get more exposure. Other than that, there are random groups that rent our space to do music events from time to time.”

Railway, another local coffee shop of downtown Ruston, is seeking to increase their number of music performances in order to promote their business along with supporting local musicians.

“We try to have at least one a quarter,” said Mallory McClure, event coordinator at Railway. “We would like to get to the point where we have it maybe once a month or so. We just love the connections we get to make with people by bringing them in to play. When they come, they bring business that we normally don’t receive and they receive recognition. So it’s like a win-win.”

Daniel Allen recently became the new owner of Parish Press, a local favorite in coffee and beignets. He said he loves the atmosphere created by the performers which brings an influx of customers and a serenade of relaxing music in the background.

“Typically the style of music is warmer and acoustic, matching our usual vibe,” Allen said. “Faster and stronger songs are a fun breath of fresh air. We can always tell just how much students who are studying and doing homework are into it because even though they don’t watch, you’ll still see the earbuds come out.”

Like The Depot, Parish Press hosts regular open mic nights as well as individual band performances.

Acquiring a spot in the line-up is no daunting task.

“I put a call out over social media and through word of mouth to alert the community of upcoming open mic nights, so they can prepare,” said Allen. “Sometimes we use a ‘soft’ signup sheet to insure everyone gets a time slot, but usually it’s unnecessary, and the lineup is casual. For single band performances, they come to us, and we agree on a night.”

The small bands and single musicians enjoy the simple atmosphere of these local coffee shops where they receive the added benefit of further exposure into the musical community.

“As a local band, getting yourself out there is extremely important, so we like to play anywhere any chance we get,” said Haidyn Long, lead singer of Whys of the Wise. “Open mic nights at coffee shops like Parish Press are awesome exposure. Each one kind of

has its own vibe and usual audiences too. It helps expose you to different people of different ages and get your music out in general.”

Local coffee shops are not the only venues that cater to these up-andcoming musicians. Small restaurants downtown, such as Sundown, also host local as well as well-known bands and musicians for the pleasure of their dining patrons.

“Having bands and musicians perform is fun, and our customers love it,” said Ella Guy, the general manager of Sundown. “We have a lot of local musicians, and so, we try to intermix them with those from out of town. We’ve actually had incredibly famous people play here, like Matthew Ryan, Pelander, Sara Tone, but then, we also have local artists, like Hank Dammit, play here.”

Alive By Sunrise, a band of Louisiana Tech students, has showcased their musical talents at Sundown and Railway, as well as Tech’s campus.

“We’ve had really great experiences and shows at all the venues we’ve played in Ruston,” Theodos said. “Each venue has its own cool factor, but playing at Tech has allowed us to play shows with some of our favorite bands like Colony house and Judah and the Lion.”

Even Ruston Farmer’s Market has entered the music scene, hiring local musicians to accompany the local produce of the community.

“We do our best to give up-andcoming or well-known local musicians an opportunity to showcase their talents in a casual, relaxed setting.” said Mallory Austin, assistant manager of the Farmer’s Market. “We believe that local music is the perfect compliment to local food. It helps to create an environment that brings a sense of community and togetherness.”

Hank Dammit is one band that has played in multiple of these locations in Ruston. They have experienced performing indoors as well as outdoors, finding that even this small difference can affect the atmosphere of a performance.

“We’ve played a pretty good handful of the places here in Ruston, including Sundown Tavern, The Back Bar, Garden Baby, Railroad Park, Ruston Farmers Market, Makers Fair/ Railroad Fest, various house parties, The Peach 99.3, and even going as far as playing on the streets,” said Jackson Faulkner, the bass player for Hank Dammit. “Makers Fair was by far one of my favorite places that we’ve played. The setting is outside when the weather is nice, and you get to be close to your audience as they walk by. It’s just very laid back and with all the makers there. The effect is electric on the music we make in that moment.

But I don’t think I really could choose one over another.”

Bethany Raybourn is a solo artist who agrees with Faulkner’s sentiment regarding venues. For her, rather than location, the enjoyment rests in the audience.

“My experiences as a performer depends on the crowd for sure,” said Raybourn. “I wouldn’t say I have a favorite venue. Instead, I’d say more of a favorite crowd. I like people who listen and are open to looking at music songwriting as an art form. Sometimes an audience just wants to hang and talk, but the best times of playing are when people are listening to and loving the music. Of course, I do turn on the entertainment factor for every

performance but just because that’s my personality.”

Of course, all of these venues and musicians are a mere taste of the larger symphony of music in Ruston. There are other avenues such as backyard concerts, like Susan’s Place and The Farm, and newer restaurants, like Utility Brewing Co., that will be showcasing even more local musicians.

The accessibility and enthusiasm of these venues for performances by local musicians and artists are attribute to the Ruston community’s love of music. Follow the sound of music and take a step into any of these venues to experience the beat of Ruston’s heart of music.

WORDS HANNAH JONES

PHOTOGRAPHY KALLIE CRAWFORD