Why Reporting on Local Artists Matters

Last year, I attended the 39th Apple Harvest Festival with three of my closest friends. As sophomores who had never been to Apple Fest, we blindly explored the Ithaca Commons, not knowing what to expect. If there are any takeaways from the event last year its:

1. Parking at Apple Fest is tricky

2. Trying a caramel apple for the first time should’ve happened way earlier in my life

3. More people need to be aware of the local talent

First time at Apple Fest with my first caramel apple | Source: Brooke Vogel

As I walked around, caramel apple in hand, I could hear a band playing from a distance. Is it cliche to say it was music to my ears? Cliche or not, it was one of the first times hearing live music since the start of the pandemic, so it had been a long time. Naturally, the sound of the music gravitated my friends and I towards the Bernie Milton Pavilion.

I never got the chance to find out the name of the band that was performing, but all I knew was that they were a local band and more people needed to know about them.

With the 40th Apple Harvest Festival coming up, I wanted to base my next story not around the event itself, but the local artists who are set to perform. I want to learn about what led them to where they are at that moment, performing at Apple Fest.

When talking with Professor Frisch this morning, she said something profound about the art of interviewing: Many journalists try to plan out every little detail before they even get their interviews done. However, the interview is what’s going to help pave the way for what the news angle is actually going to be.

What I think is so interesting about reporting is that you could have one idea planned out to a tee (or no idea at all), but even just one conversation with someone could change your entire angle, and your whole personal perspective.

That being said, my plan is to talk to a few of the performers. What’s great about this year’s lineup is that there is a wide range in the music genres. There are singer/songwriters such as Rachel Beverly and Ariel Arbisser, jazz bands like the Firefly Jazz Quartet and the Ageless Jazz Band, and even a post-wave ska band, ¡Viva Mayhem!

I don’t want to merely talk to these performers about their time at Apple Fest, but their time as a performer. I want to know their motivations and inspirations, why they keep doing what they do.

I want to share the stories no one talks about when it comes to live performance.

If you're in the Ithaca area this weekend, comment what part of Apple Fest you're most excited for!