Two years ago Skip Gorman had an epiphany, and Friday night he brings it to Bass Hall.
The traditional musician runs Camp Backup, a training program for accompanying musicians, but will take the lead with the Camp Backup All-Stars, a band made up of its faculty to perform at the Monadnock Center’s historic facility.
“I started Camp Backup because I realized there was not enough of a focus on accompanying music,” Gorman said. “I had an epiphany, a light bulb went on in my head.”
He has noticed a resurgence in the past few years in the fiddle, mandolin and banjo, but knows from playing all of those how difficult it is to find people to play backup.
When asked what audience members should expect on Friday, he said, “Some very good traditional music in a number of different genres.”
He highlighted bluegrass, Motown, celtic and others, saying that the show would mostly be from music “in the traditions.”
The concert at Bass Hall is happening because of a little serendipity, according to Gorman.
“Last year we did a little concert at Sargent Camp [in Hancock, where Camp Backup is held] with the faculty,” he said. “This year we were thinking of inviting the public and it just so happened that the group that was playing Bass Hall that night backed out.”
Doors open at the Monadnock Center Friday, Nov. 11, at 8 p.m. Admission is $18, or $15 for Monadnock Center members, seniors, and students. For more information or reservations, visit MonadnockCenter.org
“We’re really looking forward to it,” Gorman said. “Things don’t usually work out so perfect like this.”