Festival of Friends Events

Festival of Friends (FoF) Events mission is to foster the development and growth of community between adult recreational musicians who are passionate about making music without the constraints, pressures or judgment of the professional music scene. 

FoF shifts the playing experience for recreational players and performers from the living room to the studio and the stage and believes the best music is the music we make together. 
Playlist Roulette Series / In-Studio Sessions
​Playlist Roulette is a single session oriented and in-studio based (no live show component or scheduled group rehearsals leading up to a session) community programming format that offers Festival of Friends musicians a fun and low-key obligation for group music-making opportunities outside of the Festival of Friends live event series and programming formats (i.e., Songmixers and Bandmixers).

Playlist Roulette sessions will provide FoF community member musicians with predictable, on-going opportunities (pre-scheduled, bi-weekly sessions) to band together in a studio-based playing environment at our new community hub and rehearsal studio space.

​We're excited to kick things off with our inaugural Playlist Roulette sessions in May!

​See below for more details
​If you're new to Festival of Friends Community, Playlist Roulette sessions are a great way to easily get involved in our year-round programming mix and participate in our growing community of local recreational musicians. Playlist Roulette sessions offer all FoF musicians a fun way and low-key obligation to step into the community playing mix minus the pressure of a live event.

​So whether you're newly involved, considering getting involved or are a long-standing community member, Playlist Roulette offers everyone in the community another exciting way to conveniently connect and make music together over the course of an evening.
Playlist Roulette Sessions are great for:
  • New and existing community member musicians with an early-intermediate to advanced-level skill set (even if it's been a while and you're just looking to kick off the playing rust in a band-oriented setting).
  • Who can accurately learn/practice/and dare we say perfect, assigned session material on their own (or w/the help of your instructor) and readily apply it in a studio-based band setting. There are no formalized rehearsals prior to the session - so early preparation is key.
  • Participating musicians are required to come to the session ready to play (i.e., accurately know the songs and your respective parts), be kind and respectful to your session band mates and please have lots of fun together!

What are the benefits of participating?
  • Simple, fun and low-pressure way to play in a band in an organized and convenient 2.5-hour evening session. 
  • Explore and improve your overall playing through focused, goal-oriented at home practice time paired with studio-based band sessions.
  • Try out new musical styles you may have otherwise not have considered or had the opportunity to explore on your own or with your band.
  • Band together with new faces and old friends and continue expanding your musical interests within our growing recreational musician community.

Playlist Roulette Series

How To Get Involved.

Enter The Pool.

Playlist Roulette format is simple: community musicians, a mix of instrumentalists and vocalists sign up, in advance, for a "Playlist Roulette" musician pool (there's no fee to enter the pool) with up to 24 of you matched-up to participate in a game of musical chance by randomly participating in 1 of 4 pre-scheduled in-studio Playlist Roulette sessions. Each Playlist Roulette band will be provided (4 weeks in advance of the scheduled session) with their assigned genre and curated 3-song set. 

Get Matched.

 Once session groups are solidified, band mates are united and band genre-themes and songs are announced at a Roulette Reveal happy hour. From there, each Playlist Roulette band is provided with a 2.5-hour facilitated, in-studio session to play through their assigned material with the final 30 minutes of each session dedicated to running the band's song selections as an in-studio "performance" set with each band member allowed to invite one guest to the band's in-studio performance.

Band Together.

Playlist Roulette series programming will bring together many facets of our musician community that on the surface, might seem incompatible, or those musicians whose interests might conflict. However, the challenge for these musicians is to go beyond any musical differences and band together to create a unified group that represents the overall style and personality of the collective band members while honoring the band's assigned genre-theme and song selections. Let's Band Together! 
​NOTE: Entering the Playlist Roulette musician pool DOES NOT guarantee your selection to one of the upcoming Playlist Roulette sessions listed below - selection is somewhat dependent upon number of pool submissions and overall spots available.

​ ​If you receive a notification to participate in an upcoming (pre-scheduled) session, an individual session registration fee will apply ($60) and includes:
​
  • Roulette Reveal ("All Bands") Happy Hour Social.​
  • Band member organization and session facilitation.
  • Committed and practiced, session band mates.
  • 2.5 hour in-studio Playlist Roulette session (first 30-minutes, *pizza and social).
  • 3-song in-studio performance set (one outside guest allowed in to watch per band member).
  • Roomy back-lined studio space w/Tama drum kit, bass rig w/head, Shure mics/stands/cables, PA/mixer with both floor wedge and elevated monitors.
  • ​*Complimentary pizza & drinks for all session musicians.

Important Pool Eligibility & Information for May 2025 Sessions:

To be eligible for the inaugural round of the Playlist Roulette sessions happening in May you MUST be initially available on at least one or more of the following studio session dates/times listed below upon entering the pool.
  • ​Roulette Reveal "All Bands" Gathering Hour: ​Thursday, May 1, 2025 (5:30pm-7:30pm, location TBA) / Session band member introductions made along w/assigned genre and song selection assignments.
  • May 2025 - Scheduled Playlist Roulette Sessions (note: you must be available for the dates you select initially as this information is used for placement consideration options):​
    • Session 1: Wednesday, May 21 - 6:30pm to 9pm - First 30 minutes of session reserved for complimentary pizza, drinks and social time for session musicians. 
    • Session 2: Wednesday, May 28 - 6:30pm to 9pm - First 30 minutes of session reserved for complimentary pizza, drinks and social time for session musicians. 
Next Step > Enter The Pool
Playlist Roulette: Take a chance on new musical encounters.
Ready to try Playlist Roulette? You can access the May 2025 pool registration form at the button below beginning Saturday, April 12. If you are selected for one of the May sessions, we will notify you via email on Sunday, April 27 regarding your participation status.
May 2025 Playlist Roulette Sessions 'Musician Pool' Opens on Saturday, April 12 at 8am.
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