Greg Allen

June 21–25 @ Various Community Venues

originally published June 18, 2008

When hundreds of bands descend on downtown for AthFest, it's easy for non-AthFest performers to get lost in the shuffle. Ask folk singer-songwriter Greg Allen, though, and he'll say clamoring to play these traditional bars, clubs and stages is far too limiting. Allen is the founder of SongSharing, a program that pays musicians to play at unconventional, community-oriented venues. The primary source of funding for this project has come from auctioning off donated autographed items from such artists as R.E.M., David Wilcox and Dolly Parton. It's about more than just cash money, though. When Allen plays nursing homes and children's hospitals, he gets paid in what he calls "soul currency" - a deeper connection with a truly appreciative audience. With soul currency, explains Allen, "If you play at a community venue and there are 30 people there, then you get paid 30 times."

His venture started in 1995 as Songs for Seniors and soon expanded to other community groups under the umbrella name SongSharing. While he has to leave the amps and electric equipment behind for many of these shows, Allen wants other musicians to know that they can play these types of venues, get paid and leave feeling satisfied.

Of course, for him satisfaction is not in achieving fame, but rather spending time playing for a receptive crowd - an audience that is too often over-looked, and is in fact, craving music. The generous donations of auction items suggests to Allen that these major artists support his cause. "My point to musicians is, your brethren approve of this… sitting in my office is a 10-year-old Baldwin piano that Billy Joel autographed."

Allen will perform around Athens from June 21–25 as a thank you to R.E.M. for supporting SongSharing. He plans to stop by the Athens Heritage Home, Arbor Terrace and Iris Place.

Ann Cantrell & Michelle Gilzenrat