By Kate Bartlett
Music is life for music aficionado Sue Porter Ottaway. She is well known in the area for promoting live music at various venues in and around the region on social media. Sue has been promoting artists and area venues for over 6 years, and is proud to announce her new column here in The Villager.
Sue grew up in “a house full of music” in Findley Lake. Her dad was in a bluegrass/country band, The Peak’n Mountain Boys. Her mother loved the big band music and had the old standards always playing on the living room stereo. From big band to jazz and bluegrass, her parents instilled their passion for music in Sue at a young age. She learned to play 5 string banjo and would frequent her dads shows and sit in often. “I loved every minute of it. Music has always been a huge part of my life.”
Sue felt a void in her life about 6 years ago following the passing of her dad and his band members. She starting frequenting summer music events, and when the weather turned, she visited the indoor venues. She began promoting the venues and helped make connections with bands. She started posting on social media, and her followers have grown steadily to the 3,000 strong it is today. “I love helping the musicians and bands get to be heard more. I also love promoting and supporting the venues who hire them. Plus, I get to be out listening to live music all the time while meeting and becoming friends with hundreds of fellow musicians. It’s great making connections with musicians, promotors, and agents and building bridges with them.”
Sue has traveled and promoted bands and venues spanning Western New York, including Buffalo, Chautauqua, Erie, Olean, Cattaraugus, Ellicottville, Jamestown and even into Pennsylvania. “Our region is unique in that we have a huge amount of great musical talent. The diversified array of genres represented makes it so everyone can go out and find LIVE music they love. These include Jazz, Pop, Country, Classic Rock, Oldies, Blues, Hip Hop, Southern Rock, Rap, Americana, Funk, the old Standards etc. plus stellar original bands of all kinds. Literally, something for everyone within reach.”
Sue is passionate about music and is a firm believer we need live music in our lives. “It’s healing in so many ways. Just remember what it was like during the pandemic without live music events. We all felt the void, and our lives where not as rich. Those bands and musicians you’re going out to hear now didn’t work for a year and a half. They need us as much as we need them. The true connection between a great live band or musician and their audience can be a truly magical thing.”
Over the past two years, Sue has seen a lot of changes in the music industry, especially as a result of the pandemic. “Due to being absent for almost 2 years, this Summer we saw the live music scene completely explode. People have realized how much they missed it. Jamestown’s music scene is a great example of venues realizing this. It seems everywhere I look businesses of many kinds, not just restaurants and bars, are now incorporating live music into their events. I am loving this and helping them in every way I possibly can. I’m not a booking agent; however, friends and acquaintances know if they need live music at the last minute or ideas on what particular band/musician would fit their specific need I’ll hook them up if I can.”
Sue reminds us to support local musicians in any and every way possible. “Please remember to tip the musicians and bands generously as you go out to enjoy. Although some do have other full-time jobs, they still came to depend on their gig/show money to help pay their bills. Some are full time musicians and lost their income completely during the past couple years. Most started doing things like giving lessons online to support themselves and their families. Performing live takes a lot of work: scheduling gigs, driving to and from the shows, setting up, tearing down, buying new equipment, maintaining their instruments and much more. They love to play for you; I know their passion because I am one of them. I’m a musician too. It’s in our blood. I also know the work involved in playing live as I watched my dad with his own band for his entire adult life. Show them you care. Tell them you loved hearing them. Let’s give back to them because of what they all so generously give to us.”
The Villager is thrilled to welcome Sue and help her share her passion for music in these pages. Sue will spotlight a venue and/or band in her weekly column to help connect us and get to know the venues and musicians in our area. Sues passion is a gift to us all, as we enrich our lives with the beat of the music.