Musicians and those who produce musical events are stepping out of the box and offering live music in unique and unusual spaces. Take the Last Concert Café, for example. From the outside it looks as if guests are entering a café but once “inside” there is no ceiling. It is an outdoors café with tables, chairs, stage, lighting, bar, and foodservice. Another venue, a warehouse outfitted with artwork, chairs, appropriate lighting, a bar, and stage is churning out incredible musical experiences. A deserted train station in Paris is the backdrop for excellent live music. (see the blog from 9-12-19).  

Orchestra Baobab at the Philharmonic de Paris

This past April and early May, LMMF Artistic Director Leslie Drayton and I (Kathy Drayton) spent time in chilly, rainy Paris France.  Living as we imagined a Parisian would with a bit of tourism thrown in, we enjoyed the city and all it offered.  One highlight of the trip was our enjoyment of the music scene in the City of Lights, Paris. Jazz music is alive and well in the city.  

​The most amazing experience was in an abandoned train station that was given a second life as a jazz venue. After waiting in line for over 45 minutes, we had to push our way into the space. The venue, La Gare Jazz, boasted a stage, rugs, and carpet placed on the riser and ceiling for acoustic sound. There were no tables or chairs, there was standing room only.

Live Music Movement Foundation in conjunction with DuVin Pintor Gallery presented A Holiday Jazz Party with Leslie Drayton and Friends. The Foundation’s last event of the year ended on a high note, no pun intended. If you’ve attended any past events at the former venue, you’ll definitely understand how DuVin Pintor set a different tone for the holiday musical experience. Located in Downtown Houston, DuVin Pintor is an art gallery with loads of personality and an eclectic variety of art. The new venue will help LMMF accomplish its commitments to “develop a multicultural and multigenerational audience…where guests can relax and participate in the musical presentation.”

​Kickoff the holidays with a Holiday Jazz Party.

Live Music Movement Foundation hosted a series of impromptu, pop-up events this summer at Hoot’s Smokehouse in Magnolia Park. The events were on July 29th, September 9th, and September 30th respectively. This article will focus on the last two events. You can read about the first Down Home Day here.

The LIVE MUSIC MOVEMENT FOUNDATION will host the third and final ‘DOWN HOME DAY!’ pop up (DHD3) in our highly successful 2018 summer series.

Place: HOOT’S SMOKEHOUSE
7648 Canal St., Houston, TX 77012

Date: Sunday, September 30, 2018 

Time: 5pm-8pm

Admission: Free 

The LIVE MUSIC MOVEMENT FOUNDATION will host its second pop up event – DOWN HOME DAY 2 (DHD2).

Place: HOOT’S SMOKEHOUSE
7648 Canal St. Houston, TX 77012

Date: Sunday, September 9, 2018 

Time: 5pm-8pm

Admission: Free 

This summer Live Music Movement Foundation is hosting a series of impromptu, pop-up events that are accessible to people of all ages with the goal of building community goodwill and having some good old-fashioned fun. In partnership with Hoot’s Smokehouse, LMMF hosted its very first Down Home Day event on Sunday, July 29th and sent the month of July out with a bang. There was live music, great food, and loads of family-friendly fun.  The pop-up events are made possible by generous sponsors KAT’S KITCHEN, Anthony Brooks Plumbing Co., Priority Methodist Home Healthcare, LLC, Canal Healthcare Solutions, and Kathy Drayton, CPA. (Click Down Home Day Sponsors for more details.)