On Wednesday, Ohio University students and Athens' locals gathered at The Union for "Locals Only" night, a night dedicated to bands and artists from Athens County.
The show marked the first of four scheduled local band nights, designed to give emerging musicians a chance to perform in an increasingly crowded scene. Entry to each show costs $5.
Myke Linscott, event coordinator at The Union, said the idea came from a simple problem: demand is outpacing availability.
“We have more people who are interested in playing than we have dates,” Linscott said. “We also have a number of new bands in town that haven’t had an opportunity to perform yet.”
Linscott said newer or emerging bands in Athens have struggled to find performance opportunities, as The Union is booked months in advance. Linscott said the venue is fully booked through May 1, showing the demand for stage time.
Planning events at The Union, Linscott said, requires balancing long-standing campus traditions with new programming ideas. Annual events and partnerships take precedence each semester, which limits the dates available for live music.
To address the ongoing issue, Linscott said The Union had the idea to begin using available Wednesday dates to spotlight local artists. Wednesday’s show was the first of a four-date series, with different local bands scheduled for each night.
The goal of the series, Linscott said, is exposure rather than profit. After production costs at a 15% venue cut, remaining ticket sales go directly to the performers.
“On a night like tonight, they’re going to split that evenly between the bands,” Linscott said. “If the show bombs, the show bombs, that happens.”
Linscott said the local band nights are meant to serve as an entry point rather than a final destination. He emphasized that musicians do not need to follow a traditional path to be supported in the Athens music scene.
For local musicians, that exposure can be just as valuable as the money. Colter Mathis, the drummer for the band Airbag, who performed Wednesday, said breaking into the Athens music scene has become increasingly difficult.
“There have been more out-of-town bands coming in and playing, which has made it tough,” Mathis said.
Mathis said the sheer number of talented local bands also contributes to the challenge, but performing more frequently helped his band gain momentum, even if the financial return is small.
“The more shows we play, the easier it gets,” Mathis said. “I love that The Union is doing a locals only show … It’s a really great opportunity for those amazing local bands to play more and get out there.”
Isaac Kurtz, lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the band Less Marbles, was also on the bill for Wednesday’s show and echoed Mathis’ sentiments. Kurtz said overbooking is making it especially hard for newer bands to find opportunities.
“People are booking a whole semester in advance, or even five or six months in advance,” Kurtz said.
While Kurtz acknowledges how out-of-town bands often receive priority due to travel demands, he said nights like The Union’s "Locals Only" series helps balance the scale.
“Tonight is something that’s really special,” Kurtz said. “It’s giving local bands the opportunity to come and play.”
Linscott said The Union’s "Locals Only" series is designed to respond to the growing number of student musicians on campus. As more students arrive at the university with prior music experience, Linscott said venues must adapt to support a larger and more diverse creative community.
Creating equitable access to performance opportunities became increasingly important to Linscott as competition increased. With limited space on calendars and growing interest from out-of-town acts, Linscott said intentional programming is necessary to ensure local musicians are not overlooked.
Linscott said the local band nights are a part of a broader effort by The Union to create multiple entry points for musicians, alongside open mic and genre-specific events. His hope, he said, is that The Union can serve as a steppingstone for artists ready to move beyond house shows or open stages.
“When you're ready to move out of an open stage or a house show, we would like to be there to help you,“ Linscott said.
The next "Locals Only" nights are Feb. 25, March 25 and April 8.
