After a 10-year hiatus, Gainesville-based label Nook & Cranny Records is back with a new album — celebrating the latest release with two days of live music this weekend.
The album, "The Power Blend Compilation," will be performed by eight of the 12 artists on the album on both Friday and Saturday at High Dive, located at 210 SW Second Ave.Single day tickets are $6 and a weekend pass can be purchased for $8. Tickets are available on Ticketfly.com
Guests can catch local band Shermy D & The Luscious Ones headlining Friday night. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show begins at 8:30 p.m. Saturday’s show will be headlined by rocksteady ska reggae locals The Duppies. Doors open at 9 p.m. and the show starts at 9:30 p.m.
"The Power Blend Compilation" is just like the compilation CDs released by Nook & Cranny in the past. It serves as a snapshot of the Gainesville music scene.
"This event is a really good cross section of local music, everything from hard rock, to reggae to hip hop," Pat Lavery, owner of Glory Days Presents, wrote in an email.
"I think it’s really representative of a certain scene within the Gainesville music scene," Lavery said. "One that is highly represented at High Dive, and appeals to a large group of music lovers."
Nook & Cranny Records is run by husband and wife team David and Vicki Sherman, who are longstanding members of the Gainesville music scene.
Lavery says they are "two of the nicest, most positive musicians and people in the Gainesville music scene." All of the effort they put into their projects comes from the right reasons, Lavery said.
"They aren’t looking to get famous or make money or be popular," Lavery said. "They do it because they love music, they love performing for and meeting good people, and they care about Gainesville."
For Nook & Cranny founder David Sherman, it’s all about creating an accurate representation of the music scene and spotlighting local bands.
"Where most labels have a sound, mine is very eclectic," Sherman said. "I mean there is hip-hop, there is punk, there is hard rock, there’s a little bit of psychedelia."
Documenting these bands on one album benefits all those involved and allows bands to cross market their fan bases, Sherman said.
It was this idea that led to the inception of Nook & Cranny.
Sherman said he was playing in a band called Fat Vacuum in 1994 and through his desire at the time to "make it" in the music industry, he thought a compilation CD would benefit local bands by helping expose each other.
During that time, Gainesville’s now-closed Hardback Cafe, was a venue where local bands got their start.
"Now it’s a piece of history, but at the time it was like, ‘We’re gonna make it, we’re gonna tour and do all this stuff," he said of the Hardback.
In a time before Spotify or iTunes, compilation CDs were one of the best ways for bands to get their music in the hands of new fans.
"Someone in another state can check out a band on the comp and: ‘Oh, I like this band’ and do some research and try to find out about them," Sherman said. "So it just supports everybody and helps get more exposure than if you’re just the one band."
The birth of the record label? During the early years, every penny Sherman had went to music. He looked into how much it would cost to have a CD made and then sent a proposal to a number of local bands on how much money they would need to contribute. The ones who were interested or could afford to later signed on to what would be the first Nook & Cranny compilation CD.
A friend of his created a website and the label and CDs became more reputable. After the first two albums, bringing bands on board became way easier, Sherman said.
"I kept learning how to do it better, you know," Sherman said. "I got better at my craft over time and then as time got on it got easier."
Sherman’s goal is for people to hear the music and to spotlight those who are contributing to the scene.
Sherman said it’s about supporting the scene.
"Exposing the bands and just people who love music...and get it."
FRIDAY, AUG 28
Sherman D & The Luscious Ones
Punk Indie Hip-Hop
One Drop
Hip-Hop Reggae
Dear Abbey
Hard Rock / Alt.
Gris Gris Boys
Extreme Rock & Roll
Shawn Manley
Singer / Songwriter
SATURDAY, AUG 29
The Duppies
Rocksteady Ska Reggae
Doom Patrol
"Rockin’ Doom-y, Patrol-y"
Gorilla Candy
Rock
Jenarchy
Pop Electronic / Indie Punk
Rock band Gorilla Candy, one of the 12 bands on Nook & Cranny Records’ latest compliation album, will be performing Saturday at High Dive, 210 SW Second Ave. The two-day live local music event will begin Friday at 8 p.m. and wil continue Saturday at 9 p.m. Tickets for both shows can be purchased for $8.
