I’m not quite sure where to start here, as we at Everyday Joe’s are beaming with joy over news just received.
I’ve long recognized our dear friend and brother Aaron Strumpel as one of the hardest working musicians to ever enter the profession. I can remember almost 3 years ago when he was releasing his first album and he worked so hard to promote his release shows and his music…all on his own. No agents. No managers. No paid promoters. Just Aaaron Strumpel and his arsenal of gumption. Well, now we can officially say that hard work pays off.
Mr. Strumpel has been selected as the winner of the 2009 Calvin College BandSpotting competition, part of the Festival of Faith & Music. Not sure what most of the things in that last sentence are? Here are rundowns:
The Festival of Faith & Music at Calvin College is a biennial conference that brings together musicians, critics, journalists, musicians, artists, and listeners for three days of discussing and celebrating insightful music that explores, in some significant way, issues of faith. Please read our mission statement for more information.
Don’t worry, got you covered there:
Mission Statement
The Festival of Faith and Music is the gathering of a community of pilgrims who are on a journey to hear, promote and create the music of epiphany—music that catches our breath with its discovery of delight in the ordinary, eternity in the exceptional. We seek to revel in the mystery of the art form, comprehending it better through shared stories and experiences, allowing it to surround and teach us. We seek to discern the ways grace, love, compassion and the Christian faith are expressed in the world of popular music. We seek to be conscientious listeners, agents of renewal and prophets of the Light.
Now about the whole Bandspotting dealy:
In an effort to support newer bands and musicians, the Festival of Faith & Music is sponsoring bandspotting, a new music spotlight. Bandspotting is an opportunity for selected artists to receive feedback from respected critics, gain exposure to festival participants, and even perform at the festival itself.
The winner of the 2007 competition was Ryan Lott aka Son Lux who I would say I am absolutely ga-ga over. He had the opportunity to play a show at that year’s festy with the mighty Sufjan Stevens. This year, Strumps will have the opportunity to rub elbows with and blow the musical minds of David Bazan, Over The Rhine, Lupe Fiasco, The Hold Steady, and Vic Chesnutt to name a few.
In closing, here is a good looking picture of our newest hero:
If that isn’t a closing argument, I’m not sure what is. Way to be Aaron. We love you.
Further:
Popularity: 39% [?]
