Photo: Courtesy of Umbrella Arts Center
CONCORD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Jon Batiste is performing at the Umbrella Arts Center in Concord, Mass. Wednesday night. But the show isn’t about the award-winning musician; it’s about the openers.
Non-profit Salt Lick Incubator works to help young emerging artists jump start their music careers. One way they do that is through the annual Umbrella Concert Series. They do three concerts a year, including one that features a big headliner, like Jon Batiste.
“The Umbrella Arts Center in Concord have been incredible partners for us,” Salt Lick Incubator President Liza Levy said. “One of the things when we first started working with emerging artists was, across the board, everyone was looking for more live performance opportunities.”
Salt Lick also awards grants up to $15,000 to applicants who are not signed to a label.
“And with that comes our extended team of industry professionals to help support them in their careers and whatever they are trying to accomplish,” Levy said.
Batiste is on Salt Lick’s artist advisory board. “So, he’s not only helped choose our grant winners, but he has selected the three artists who will be opening for him,” Levy said.
Those artists include singer-songwriter Farayi, New York- based indie band Melt, and Boston-based band Couch.
Beyond the Umbrella Concert Series, the non-profit also has a YouTube series called the Salt Lick Sessions, where artists perform in-studio live, “raw and stripped back,” according to Levy.
Salt Lick also holds writing and wellness retreats. “The idea is all ships rise when we have collaboration,” Levy said.
The show featuring Jon Batiste Wednesday night is sold out, but you can join the waiting list here.
Listen to WBZ NewsRadio’s Drew Moholland’s (@DrewWBZ) conversation with Salt Lick Incubator President Liza Levy: