The Bama Theatre’s Acustic Night is designed to support new and upcoming singers and songwriters from around the country. This week the show will feature the artists Blaine Duncan, Some Dark Holler and The Bear and will be located in the Greensboro room with a full service bar on Friday, Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Tuscaloosa native Blaine Duncan got his start playing in the Guerrilla Theatre, where local musician Ham Bagby scouted him and was then recruited to play at an open mic night Bagby hosted.
In addition to performing solo and with a band, Duncan said he allows for each set to have different sounds.
“The full band songs are in a period of rearrangement and revision, so I don’t know what they’ll sound like yet,” Duncan said. “My solo shows are just songwriter stuff you’d consider folk but with a lot of country in it, if country had a lot of cussing.”
Duncan said he likes to draw inspiration from both individuals and other artists’ shows. Such artists he admires include Ham Bagby, Lee Bains III, who Duncan said is always honest about his material and Elliott McPherson from The Dexateens.
“Quality music makes me want to write more just to see if I can do it,” Duncan said.
Some Dark Holler, one of the accompanying acts of Acoustic Night, will be performing an original mix of Americana music.
Band member Chris Porter, who has been in the Birmingham music scene for about 10 years and on the road since 2008, said the band has recently spent a lot of time setting a mood for their music.
Porter said he would describe Some Dark Holler’s music as creaky and dark with fiddles and occasional banjos.
“It’s absolutely southern dark and real,” he said.
When looking for inspiration, Porter draws from local folktales, newspaper clippings and episodes of cops. He said he also takes cues from Doc Dailey, Matt Woods and Jody Nelson when working on new material.
As a songwriter, Porter said he is particular about who he steals from and does not tend to listen to a lot of music when making a record but instead makes calls to other artists to get their opinions on his work.
The third performance will feature The Bear. Originally started as a duo in 2006, The Bear now consists of six members.
Although some label The Bear’s style as folk-inspired, the band members said they like to draw inspiration from other genres as well to provide an eclectic mix.
Cover charge for Acoustic Night is $5, with all proceeds going to the artists. Doors open 30 to 45 minutes before the show. For more information, visit bamatheatre.org.
