Local Musicians Encouraged to Play for 'Real Music'

You’ve heard the ads, you’ve read the slogan: “Real Food, Real People.” Starting next month, the customers at Rohnert Park-based Oliver’s Markets will be able to place yet another homegrown product in their shopping carts: Real Music.

The three-store chain  is taking its homegrown concept to a new level with the launch of  Sonoma County Real Music, a multi-faceted campaign that promotes local music and musicians.

At the cornerstone of the program is a series of compilation CDs that will be sold at Oliver’s Markets starting next month, with profits benefiting the Redwood Empire Food Bank. Submissions are now being accepted for The Sonoma County Real Music Compilation Vol. 1, the first of three slated for 2012.

"While our local music scene is vibrant and really diverse, there are too few ways for musicians to bring their music to the attention of the public," said musician/community advocate Frank Hayhurst. "Real Music is a wonderful opportunity for local musicians to get the recognition they deserve.”

Along with Hayhurst, the program’s coalition of supporters includes Doug Jayne of The Last Record Store, Blair Hardman of Zone Recording, and radio station The Krush 95.9 FM.

"Local music is important to our community and well-being, just like local food," said Tom Scott, the architect of the program and Oliver's  Vice President and General Manager. "It's a natural extension of the Oliver's family to embrace and celebrate the diversity and creativity of our home-grown musicians."

The sampler CD is expected to feature 14 acts and become available for purchase at Oliver’s Markets by April 20.  Self-written and performed songs will be favored, or blues, folk and other traditional songs in the public domain.

Submissions received by the end of March will be reviewed for inclusion in the first CD, but those that don’t make the cut, and later submissions as well, will also be considered for subsequent releases.

Submissions for the compilation CDs should be emailed to Hayhurst, and include a short biography, contact information, and an MP3 of a song from a currently available CD. All types of music are welcome. See the Sonoma County Real Music page on the Oliver's website.

The Real Music program will offer live performances at Oliver's Markets, release parties for the compilation CDs at The Last Record Store in Santa Rosa, and a series of workshops for musicians at Zone Recording in Cotati. The CDs themselves will be integrated into the music mix at all Oliver’s Markets, and promoted via local radio and websites. Oliver’s Markets will also sell CDs produced by a selection of local recording artists.

“The Real Music project will benefit real local people in need of food assistance, and help us end hunger in our community,” said David Goodman, executive director of the Redwood Empire Food Bank. “About 78,000 of our neighbors rely on our organization every month for food, and we rely on homegrown innovators like Tom Scott of Oliver’s Markets.”