Nuçi's Space offers live music in May

By: BARON BROWN For The Red & Black

Posted: 5/1/07

The month of May proves to be a fine time for musical performances, especially as over a dozen bands gear up for live sets at Nuçi's Space, Athens' leading resource for independent musicians.

Many of the artists on the performance roster are Nuçi mainstays, having spent much time practicing in the rehearsal rooms. This resource is just one of many the organization offers.

However, there is also a group of newer artists less familiar to Nuçi's Space, which seeks to celebrate the young and old with the series.

"Mainly we wanted to focus on some of the bands that have been practicing here the past few years but not all of them have played here before, so we wanted to get them on stage as well," said Bob Sleppy, executive director of Nuçi's Space. "So what we try to do is get a good mix of bands who will draw a good audience."

The upcoming concert series features the contributions of different musical styles, such as rock, Brit pop, rap, hip-hop and acoustic jazz.

The program was created not to garner commercial profit but to celebrate the unique mission behind Nuçi's Space. That mission is to provide counseling and support for independent artists in need of a helping hand.

'MUSIC FROM THE SPACE'

May 5 at 8 p.m - Fabulous Bird, Heath Tolleson, Adam Klein
May 11 at 8 p.m. - Gus D with Crete Fam
May 18 at 9 p.m. - Bloodkin, Bros. Marler, Part Bear
May 25 at 9 p.m. - Thunderchief, Television Buzz, Carrabelle
More Information: (706) 227-1515 or visit www.nuci.org

One of the performing acts, Peter Alvanos of the group Fabulous Bird, had much to say in support of the organization.

"Nuçi's Space is very close to my heart," Alvanos said. "What they have to offer musicians is amazing. It's genuine and sincere, and [the artists] are fortunate to have been provided with a place like this."

Alvanos has much history with the music support center. He has even turned down jobs in order to spend time fine-tuning his talents.

Also speaking on behalf of Nuçi's Space's nonprofit mission is Will Kiser, booking agent and volunteer coordinator for the organization.

"We're doing this promotion where we're trying to look at ways that we could kind of thank people that have been supporting us since the beginning," Kiser said.

"Basically the thing about May is there are not as many people, but it's not about a way to promote bands. This is our way of saying, 'We have a stage, we have a space,' so it's a way to take some young bands and give a thank you to those who stand by us."