ALL-PLAY!
What is an All-Play? An All-Play is a structured gathering for musicians at all ages and levels to play cover tunes together. It all started in 2011 when we realized our young kids didn’t know what we meant when we said “Side A”. So we decided to play Abbey Road, one song at a time, roping the kids into the songs, eating some dinner between side A and side B.
Each all-play the songs are chosen by attendees based on the theme chosen by the organizer that year. There is no audience at an all-play, so at some point in the evening, everybody plays. If you agree to come, you agree to play (or sing), or help someone else play or sing on that year’s theme, while also be an encouraging and supportive audience member. Inter-generational, all-levels, with everyone finding the bravery they require, or their generosity of spirit.
We’ve co-hosted 28 all-plays, and what we have discovered is that there are some key ingredients to make it work. Pick a cozy location, pick a song theme, cajole your friends, badger the kids, get practicing!
LENNY collective musicians are open to helping you start an All-Play in your community. Contact me to see how it might work, and for a list of FAQs assembled by the Charlottesville All-Play folks.
