MAY JUNE 2017

Safety Harbor
Songfest
2 Days! Live Music! Let’s Meet the Artist!
The very first SongFest was held in 2014 with
hopes to raise money and awareness for the
Safety Harbor Art & Music Center. With its
success, Debbie Sutton, Brenda Shirer, Bobbie
Dusenberry, Todd Ramquist along with a strong
team keep it going to celebrate all types of art and
music of all genres. Now in its fourth year, the
weekend of April 1st was loaded with live music
performed by nationally touring musicians. Live
art performances, a multitude of Tampa Bay's
renowned food trucks, craft beer and the spirit of
community were in full support as they packed the
Safety Harbor Waterfront Park.
The weekend began with morning yoga followed
by Joe Craven who performed on the Waterfront
stage. Joe is a unique artist from northern
California. He can make music out of things you
wouldn’t normally think of being an instrument,
such as a tin can, cookie tins and even shoelaces.
“I was raised in community theater and I learned
about improvisation where historically that is
where improvisation comes from. It doesn’t come
from music, it comes from an idea. Having a basic
framework for something and telling the story
differently with that framework every time it’s
presented, which is basically the architecture of
what came into music, especially when it has
nothing to do with being scripted,” Joe describes his
inspiration. “That spirit of being in the moment and realizing
it’s not the car, it’s the driver, which means music lives with
me and not the tools. So if I can learn to be musical on a waste
can or a bed pan, that keeps me in touch with the essence of
what music is all about.”
Joe is also known to reach out to schools and other
organizations to work with kids of all ages through his Arts,
Education and Outreach program. “To get involved in any of
the classes I offer, I encourage you to visit my website to learn
more. Sometimes I do community workshops that you can be
part of. If I come to an area to do a concert, I’ll offer a
workshop as well. I call it a bundle where it’s a performance
and an education side to do it too. You can learn more at
www.joecraven.com.
BUZZ Magazine May-June 2017 29