This post was guest-written by Sarah Murry, a Dalton local and Marketing Director at the Creative Arts Guild. Thank you Sarah!
There’s no denying that our town has experienced a lot of growth over the past few years, and that growth has paved the way for Dalton to have our very own budding music scene. Back in the day, it seems like the only place to hear live music was at the bars (shoutout Dalton Depot), or you might have been one of the lucky ones to attend some of the shows that came through what was then called the Northwest Georgia Trade & Convention Center. Now, most of the restaurants downtown and a lot of places in the county book live music regularly – and most of these acts are from right here in town!
We have country artists on the rise. We have rock bands playing the anthems we all know and love. We have folk & Americana singer-songwriters weaving stories into songs. We have bands bringing regional Mexican music – Norteña, Cumbia, Banda, Sierreño, and more – right here to our backyard. We have passionate singers and players sharing their gifts with the community at church on Sundays. We have folks who have auditioned for American Idol. We have DJs filling up dance floors. We have artists creating and releasing original music into the world. I even saw a couple of announcements for metal shows pop up in my feed this summer!
“This year’s extended Off the Rails Summer Concert Series has definitely put the spotlight on a lot of our local talent. Every week of the 15 week series has included musicians from Dalton or Chattanooga – as an Off the Rails insider I can say that was done very intentionally.”
As momentum builds around having live music in town, it’s really important for us to do all we can to keep it going. Support these restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and taprooms that are hiring musicians and give them some business. If you hear something you like when you’re out, find that artist on social media, post a video and tag them, and give them a follow – or better yet, buy their music or some merch! Next time you’re planning an event, hire a local musician to bring that extra interest that will take your event to the next level – and pay them the rate they ask for.
Need some help finding out where you can go to hear your favorite local musician? The Creative Arts Guild posts a Weekend Entertainment Guide every Friday afternoon on their social media that’s a great resource for seeing who’s playing where. The Dalton Events calendar is also a great resource.
Get out there and catch some sets – music is medicine for the heart, mind, and soul!
