Eugene residents can be sure winter is on its way out when Saturday Market reappears each year. Downtown emerges from its rain-induced slumber, the block surrounding Eighth Avenue and Oak Street comes alive with the voices of local vendors and shoppers mingling with the sweet aromas of international foods — all against a backdrop of lively music.
This year’s market opens Saturday, with festivities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and an eclectic lineup of musicians is scheduled to kick off the season. Fiddler Chip Cohen will open, followed by the middle school Cal Young Big Band, gypsy jazz band Hot Club Sandwich, Accordions Anonymous, and marimba group Jenaguru Marimba. Comedian Reverend Chumleigh will also appear on stage.
Saturday Market promotions manager Kim Still said there are six music slots every Saturday, and each musical group usually plays for about 45 minutes, save for the two “special” spots, which perform for an hour and a half — a children’s performance at 11 a.m. and a dance band at 3 p.m. Still added that all slots are currently booked through July.
Still said music has been an integral part of Saturday Market since its inception in 1970.
“Any place that people gather to hang out, there’s going to be someone with a musical instrument who wants to hang out, too,” she said.
Musicians who want to play at the market have two options. They can either send Still a demo tape or CD requesting a spot on stage, or they can simply “busk” — find an empty spot or corner to perform
for passersbys.
Jenaguru Marimba band member Craig LaFollette said the market is an ideal place for new musicians to gain exposure. Jenaguru Marimba, a high-energy group with stylings based on traditional Zimbabwean Shona music, has performed on the Market Stage about eight times and will occupy the 3 p.m. “dance band” slot Saturday.
LaFollette called the market a “family party” and said the event is a fun place to perform.
“Like a lot of venues, I think it is a really good opportunity for musicians to play,” he said. “There’s always a fun crowd, particularly on opening day.”
Still agreed.
“The thing that makes the market very different from a clubhouse or a bar is that it’s outdoors, where there is sort of an unusual, wide audience, from kids to grandparents,” Still said. “There are all ranges of income and interests.”
She added that bands can often build a fan base from their market performances.
“Your chances of finding someone who just loves your music are pretty good,” she said. “It always amazes me. … There’s always somebody. Sometimes lots of somebodies.”
Contact the Pulse editor
at [email protected].