So one day a local mom decided to start holding rock concerts in her backyard.
She wanted to hear more good, live music, and she wanted to expose her kids to the same. What do I mean by “good, live
music”? According to the official Rock-N-Romp Web site,
“We’re mostly selfish in booking bands that we like. Deb can’t always get to the Black Cat and Paige isn’t able to head down to The Parish at the drop of a hat, so why not bring them to us? Think indie-type stuff: punk, bluegrass, power-pop — stuff you don’t hear on the radio. Sometimes there’s acoustic stuff, but for the most part we prefer plugged in guitars and well-beaten snares.”
This is a perfect example of Creative DC – a creative offering for creative people, and something someone started because she wanted to see it happen. If you wish DC had a bigger indie film production scene: pull together a team and start shooting a film. Rock-N-Romp also shows that other members of the creative community may be very interested in whatever you cook up – note that Deb feels bands enjoy playing her backyard as much as they do a packed club (and check out a list of bands from past romps). The bottom line: don’t assume no one wants to connect with you.
To learn more about Rock-N-Romp, check out their site:
-Frequently asked questions
-Schedule of upcoming shows
Thanks to my friend Trish for telling me about this – in response to reading about what I was trying to do with this blog, she wrote to tell me how her friends (who she described as “old punks who want to raise their kids creatively”) were living “DIY arty lifestyles” in the area, and she mentioned Rock-N-Romp as one example.
If you’re an artsy mom, tell me about your pursuits – how do you find time for your art? How do you connect with an artistic community? What services do you wish someone offered?
And to everyone: are there other groups or events like Romp-N-Romp that you think other Creative DC readers should know about? Something someone runs out of their home, for example, that provides a way for like-minded people to connect?
Let me know!