M3

In Egypt in 1918 archeologists discovered a papyrus fragment from the 3rd century AD. And on that scrap of ancient paper was inscribed the earliest known Christian hymn to contain both lyrics and musical notation. It’s called the Oxyrhynchus hymn, and it’s the first known church music! This is the tune that will be playing… Read more

Emily Skirvin has to be in the range of 5 feet tall, give or take an inch, but when you hear her sing you’d swear her big, bold sound was coming from a much larger person. And it’s not just her voice that’s outsize, she has the spirit and the heart to match.  “I remember… Read more

Raise your hand if you know what a CNC Router is? It’s basically a wood-cutting tool (router) mounted to a big Etch-A-Sketch, controlled by a computer. You create a design on the computer (a lettered sign or some kind of picture) then you lay down a piece of wood and the computer moves the router… Read more

Whenever I see Bill Barnes walking between his house and his office at the Community Foundation I think to myself, “There goes a guy who is winning at life!” Let’s total up his score, shall we?  Dream job at a non-profit, check! Dream house in an historic and quaint downtown city, just 200 steps from… Read more

You know how there can be something going on right under your nose but you are unaware for some reason? And then you discover it and it’s just the coolest thing! That’s what happened to me when I interviewed Susan Mason Scott about her poetry. First let me tell you how I met her, and… Read more

There’s a saying my friends and I frequently use to describe the entertainment scene in Madison … “You can’t do it all!” It’s always a bit daunting to pack in all the music and fun options, but it’s especially true around the holidays. Fear of missing out (FOMO) is very real when you live in… Read more

I had the pleasure of attending a meeting this morning and sitting next to a very interesting gentleman from Salem, Ind. He is a successful businessman, and he is contemplating an investment in a new venture here in Madison. (Complete details in the Courier, if the deal goes through). But during our conversation, he struck… Read more

This week’s story is about an exciting upcoming event, but it’s also about the local person who facilitated and nurtured the event, without whom it would never have gotten off the ground at all. First, the details.  This Saturday at Red Bicycle Hall is a motion picture experience entitled “King of the Kongo”. The show… Read more

Writing these weekly columns is really a 3-step process. Step 1: Identify a subject individual who contributes to the creative fabric of our town, musically, artistically, or just intrinsically. Step 2: Interview the person, preferably in person but over the phone in a pinch. Step 3: Write the column and submit it to my editor… Read more

As Madison continues to build its brand at Indiana’s Music City, our festivals play a crucial role in the success of the effort. Our music events create visibility and impact far beyond our city limits, showcasing what is special and fun about our town to a larger outside audience. The annual MadHop Fest is a… Read more