Market Music
At one of the first markets I attended as a vendor, a young woman asked if she could play her fiddle with her instrument case open for tips. We had never encountered such a request and to date, the only other musician to play was another vendor’s boyfriend who occasionally visited. Little did we know she was the star of a summer stock show at a local playhouse, the same one where John Travolta got his start.
She sang and played her heart out for the entirety of the market. Patrons hung out to listen and the music made the time pass enjoyably for the vendors. Everyone was in a joyful mood. Even better, when we all did our numbers, everyone’s sales were up for the day. There’s a reason grocery stores play easy listening to their demographic.
The following week, the entire cast of the Johnny Cash Review showed up at the market again, all of them wanting to perform because their theatermate had told them what a fantastic time she had the week before at our little town’s market.
Over the years I have noticed that all the good markets have great music and sometimes if you’re paying attention you might catch performances from GRAMMY nominated artists (and even a few winners) or neighborhood residents who play for major metropolitan orchestras having a casual morning at the farmers market doing what they do best. And if you are super lucky, a superstar will grab the microphone with one song with the band before continuing with their shopping.
Central Farm Market hosts a variety of musicians, from high school groups to octogenarians. There is jazz, bluegrass, Broadway, and brass. Last week I heard everything spanning the Beatles to Gnarls Barkley from guitarist Calvin Thomas. What a treat! This talented young man must have been peeking at my playlist. He was hitting all my favorites.
When I sneaked away from my stand to catch a glimpse of the live performance, I realized I was not the only one enjoying the music. The market provides seating along with tables and chairs under shade tents. The audience was filled with patrons who were not only shopping for food but enjoying the morning with their families and visiting neighbors. The dancing toddlers are always a favorite. They have the right idea—we should all dance more at the farmers market.