What's Next? Communion Philly

NEW LIVE INITIATIVE THIS OCTOBER IN NORTH AMERICA
On the heels of the success of the 2012 “Austin to Boston Tour” (featuring Ben Howard, Nathaniel
Rateliff, The Staves and Bear’s Den) and ongoing residencies in New York City and Nashville, Communion will launch a new platform for developing, emerging and established bands to tour.
Operating as a string of monthly club nights—modeled on the legendary Communion night in Notting Hill, London where the company was born—the new initiative will bring different artists to nine cities each month: New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Bloomington, Louisville, Nashville, Minneapolis, Madison and Rock Island.
The first series, beginning in October, will feature Rubblebucket, Roadkill Ghost Choir, Willy Mason, Australian duo Yacht Club DJs and additional support from local artists. The second series will return the next month with a new lineup to be announced. 

Taking a look at Communion Philadelphia, of course I thought to focus on one of the local Philly artists on the lineup!  So here's a look in at a conversation with Birdie Busch!



So.., Communion.... On one side you see a project started by Ben Lovett (Mumford & Sons), Kevin Jones (Bear's Den) and producer Ian Grimble that has grown through the years from a club night in London to a club tour!  Helping bands such as Michael Kiwanuka, Daughter and Gotye get their big boost.  On another side, the current lineup is strong with Rubblebucket, Willy Mason, Yacht Club DJ's, and Roadkill Ghost Choir on the tour with showcase slots for local artists!  How did you get involved in the tour and what was the impetus that gained the "YES"! 
I got a call from Chris Ward at Johnny Brenda's asking if I was interested. Not sure if he suggested the pairing to them or what, but I was immediately excited about the eclectic nature of the bill and the high bar of quality.  Philadelphia is such a difficult city to crack, with national acts coming through twice a tour and everyone else hitting town at least once a year; local bands are forced to find and make more opportunities to play.

What are you hoping to showcase with your showcase slot? 
I find that those acts coming through just provide more shows for us to join up. Most shows we play are with an out of town act. Like we just played Union Transfer with Junip and it was a blast, one of my favorite shows we've had ever. Playing on a Communion show with bands from all over really helps us spread our music without having to go through all the gas and costs of touring. I hope that we can showcase how passionate we are about what we do and represent all of us here in Philly who put in tons of time and love into making our music. And then hopefully those bands and new ears in the audience will take our music and the experience with them and let others know we exist.

What have been some of your biggest successes to date? 
I'm proud of the Philly Opry I put on once a year at Johnny Brenda's. I curate a night of a couple out of town acts and we headline and decorate the place and make it a special universe for the night. I'd like to think people can come to it regardless of knowing the bands ahead but knowing it's gonna be great.

The last festival I caught you at, you were DJ Slowpoke?  What's the story behind the alter ego?
I am known amongst friends as being particularly slow-moving in both my manner of talking and speech and just my vibe, so slow-poke seemed like an apt name.

If Communion called you, not to invite you to the tour, but to ask for your expert advice on who to pick?  (Cruel question right??) Who would have been your suggestion to play?
I would have suggested Dave Hartley's Nightlands. The bass player in War on Drugs and also the The Lindsey Buckingham Appreciation Society I'm in, he makes these really lovely dreamy soundscapey songs in a sort of bedroom style way and plays it live with a bunch of other crack musicians. I'd check it out folks.



Kicking off #CommunionPHL will be:
Yacht Club DJs
Rubblebucket
PROWLER
Roadkill Ghost Choir
Willy Mason
Birdie Busch

PLUS: DJs (TBA)

DOORS: 7pm
TICKETS: $12 advance/$15 at the door