Making 3RG The ‘Grid of Live Music’

by Zinnia Frenzy

I was gobsmacked… I hate the word because it’s not used appropriately most of the time but there was no other word for it under these circumstances.

I had been paddling around as a Volunteer on 3RG as a sort of ‘odd job person’ nominally looking after the ‘Welcome Centre’ and the volunteer greeters. A very important and satisfying job; for somebody not able to build much; script or even change a stream of music.

But what I could do was organize things, and show a friendly face to newcomers to the grid and hope that they were given enough information to enjoy their experience. It’s a tiring job and I felt I had done as much as I could with my limited skills. 

It was time for a change. Always a lover of all types of music my role changed one Robstock weekend when faced with three days of amazing live music for the charity Médecins Sans Frontières, I discovered my mission.

To make 3RG the grid of ‘Live Music’ With Laz Pooraka’s experience and my perseverance we would ‘make it so’ 

After a bit of a reshuffle I dived into my new ‘job’ with gusto chasing up old contacts from sl and Laz calling in favours. I expected it to be hard, but before I knew it I had performers queuing up to join us in our quest to be the best music grid in the metaverse. But it couldn’t just be any old artists’ – it had to be the best of them all.

I started chasing Russell Eponym and Woodsong Zapatero, both favourites of mine who were willing to step on board. Russell into a regular Monday spot, and Woodsong happy to play for us,when work commitments allowed him. We settled them nicely into Aero SoundShell, soon to be followed by a Saturday weekly spot by BG Singer.

Then along came the lovely Kitzie Lane, ‘The Fabulous Wailers’ and the unique Torben Asp who were all happy to share their music with us. Torben building his own Ethereal Space Station above Aero; to compliment the amazing particle effects that are very much a part or what he plays- ‘Recreative Music.’

Rosedrop Rust and Chip Takas joined us, both amazing musicians and vocalists, and we found we had to open up some new spots to accommodate all our performers. I stole Madmax Huet and brought him down from ROB'S ROCK N' BLUES BAR, to play after Russell on Mondays, making (in my opinion) one of the best Monday line-ups upon any grid. Max still playing his usual Thursday spot in U.S.A time, at ROBs, only fair I thought!

New to our regular performers, we have just signed up Declan G the vocalist and saxophonist to play two weekly in the Starlight Ballroom on Hunter. To manage this we had to open up a Wednesday spot. Another very different genre of music especially suited to our formal art deco ballroom.  

We have room for a few more if you have the talent … all you need to do is ask. We particularly want to give new performers a chance to play and help nurture their talent on the grid. I am happy to help promote your acts and whip up an audience when I can, but true talent will shine through.

So what brings people here to play? Well it’s not money… because we don’t pay- we are a community run outfit and I don’t have any money. It’s not audience sizes and fantastic tips – we are a small grid. We tip as well as we can and sometime much more than in some of the larger venues. 

I would like to think our musicians enjoy coming back because they find an appreciative audience who share a love of music and a community spirit second to none. In one of our artists own words, ‘it’s like coming home.’ You can take off your shoes pop on your slippers and you will find within a few weeks you will know most of the audience by name, where they live and what they do. They, as musicians, become part of the 3RG family of valued friends.

So that (in a nutshell) is the growing live music scene on 3RG. We may be small but we are perfectly formed and willing to embrace whatever kind of music or poetry comes our way … as long as it’s the best. If you want to join us on our grid as a performer contact me at Zinniafrenzy@gmail.com. Or just join us as part of the audience and have a great night out – by staying in with us on 3RG. You won’t regret it. Just don’t forget to tip – those guitar strings cost money.

Zin