The Playlist Sessions Overview

Welcome to The Playlist Sessions

The Playlist Sessions are the studio-based alternative to Festival of Friends live event programming offering recreational musicians (vocalists too) opportunities to play classic songs from a range of iconic bands and artists without the pressure of a live show environment. The Playlist Sessions offer a fun and convenient way to mix up the music-making routine by connecting like-minded musicians; playing various styles of music and songs they might otherwise not have the opportunity to do so in a group setting.

If you're new to Festival of Friends Events these sessions are a fun and easy way to get involved in our bandshare programming and become a part of our growing community of local recreational musicians. If you're already involved in the community, The Playlist Sessions are yet another reason to band together. We look forward to your participation!

How It Works

Register by choosing your session date from the published list below.
Guitarists, bassists, drummers, keyboardists and vocalists are welcome to participate (available instrumentation for a session is material dependent).
Sessions are made up of the following band-centered activities over the 2.5 hour session:
- Set-up, sound checks and pizza social (30 minutes)
- Playlist Run-Through (30 minutes per band)
- Studio Performances (20 minutes per band)
Both session set lists are curated around an overarching musical theme (e.g. Metal, New Wave, Garage Rock, etc) with each session concluding with two different (three-song) studio performances by the session bands.
Participating musicians register for the 3-song session band they'd like to be a part of (on their primary instrument).
Using original studio tracks as reference points each registered musician learns their respective playing and/or vocal parts prior to arrival.
Studio space is back lined with drums, amps, mics and PA with guitarists, bassists and keyboardists bringing their own instruments. Drummers can bring in cymbals, thrones, pedals to mix w/the house kit if they'd prefer.

Who You Are

The Playlist Sessions are for:

Armchair musicians as well as routine players with an intermediate to advanced-level skill set (even if its been a while and you're just looking to kick off the rust).
Who can learn session material on their own and readily-apply it in a band setting. There are no formalized rehearsals prior to the session.
The only requirements for participating musicians is to come to the session ready to play (i.e., know the songs and your parts accurately), be respectful to your session band mates and have lots of fun!

What are the benefits of participating?

Simple, convenient and low-pressure way to play in a band with new faces and old friends.
Improve your overall playing through focused, goal-oriented practice time and studio-based performances.
Try out new musical styles you might otherwise not have considered or had the opportunity to explore.
Spend less time organizing a band and more time applying your passion and skills.
Band together and be part of a growing recreational musician community.

Get Involved / Band Together

Participants are required to learn and know their respective playing parts prior to arriving to their session and must be ready to play and/or sing their respective parts with the full band.

Don't worry we don't take ourselves too serious at these sessions but we do ask that participants show up prepared as a courtesy to your session band mates. Remember, we're all in this together. And while we might not get things perfect we're definitely gonna have fun trying!