City Stages, B'ham, Ala. - June 19-21, 2009

The relationship began 10 years ago. I can’t explain it. It was love at first sight. And to think, I was actually discouraged from entering into the relationship.

The Pippens had moved to Birmingham in late June 1998 so our first date with City Stages did not come until a year later. Offhandedly at work one day in June, I mentioned that the Pippens were planning to venture downtown to attend City Stages. We were met with shocked looks and mouths agape in surprise.

What? Seriously?

I was told that people who live in Birmingham do not go to City Stages. It’s too crowded. It’s too hot. It’s too dangerous. The music stinks. The food is too expensive. True Birmingham folks get as far away from City Stages as possible.

Wow. But, guess what, we decided to go anyway. I’m glad we did, and we’ve been advocates for City Stages for 10 years. Yes, we’ve had our challenges. Our struggles. What relationships haven’t?

There have been hot years. There have been cold years. There have been dry years. There have been rainy years. There have been lean years. There have been scary crowded years.

We’ve been through a lot together and the relationship has only grown stronger. And, yet, people still ask year after year – why? Why do you like City Stages so much? What’s the deal?

And I’ll be honest, here, and say it’s hard to explain fully but I like the whole experience. Of course, the key piece of the puzzle is the music. Yes, I enjoy the headliners and sincerely hope each year that the big acts draw the crowds necessary to sustain the festival. But, for me, it’s the smaller acts. The ones that I would never get to see if it weren’t for City Stages.

One of our favorite activities is to put our chairs up at the singer/songwriter stage then wander. We’ve wandered into some good music. L’Angelus. Tift Merritt. Tony Joe Whie. Elizabeth Ball. Ashley Cleveland. Ralph Stanley.

That’s what draws me – what gets me there. The idea of having an opportunity to hear many different kinds of music all available to you on any given day within walking distance of a given point.

There are other aspects to the relationship. I enjoy seeing the same group of folks each year. There’s a certain core group of people who I see only at City Stages. Each year we wave, we nod and we acknowledge that we’re all here for the same purpose – to hear great music and just enjoy each other’s company.

Really, if you live in and around Birmingham, the question shouldn’t be: “Why do you go to City Stages?” The question should be: “Why would you not go to City Stages?”

I encourage all of you to attend City Stages the June 19-21. Visit citystages.org and check out the acts. Be sure to come early and catch some of the smaller acts.

Look for the Pippens. We’ll be the ones enjoying the music, enjoying the people, and relishing the joys of eating fried food on a stick.

Does it get any better than that?