123 to celebrate MYEP’s 100th show

Local music promotion company Music to Your Ears Productions will celebrate its 100th show Sunday night at 123 Pleasant Street.

The company, which is run by promoter Adam Payne, has brought dozens of esteemed artists to Morgantown during the past two years, and this show will mark a monumental achievement for the business.

"It’s been a great two years for Music to Your Ears," Payne said. "GLOWfest, Arts Alive, Lotus, Rusted Root, Fishbone, EOTO, Kill Devil Hill, Freeway, Dumpstaphunk and Larry Keel and Natural Bridge are definitely some of my highlighted events."

Payne noted that while the general perception is that music promoters are in the business solely for financial prosperity, he personally feels a connection to the music and the artists that inhabit the local scene.

"The perception is that promoters make a lot of money, but the truth is that all of what I do is out of my love for music," Payne said. "I love all genres of music and strive to help them find their place in Morgantown."

To make the night at 123 Pleasant Street a special, can’t-miss event, Payne enlisted the talents of Bloomington, Ind. post-funk group The Main Squeeze, and three of Morgantown’s hottest acts in Aristotle and the Like Minds, Gnarwahl and DuoGrove, a stripped-down version of local favorites Fletcher’s Grove.

"The Main Squeeze is another can’t-miss act," Payne said. "This post-funk act has a huge future ahead of them, and they are the complete musical package."

Since their inception in 2009, The Main Squeeze quickly won over the hearts (and ears) of music lovers across the nation. Thanks to their high-energy, groovy blend of funk, rock, electro and jazz, The Main Squeeze has earned slots at storied music festivals like Bonnaroo, Summer Camp, Equifunk, Big Pig and GLOWfest.

Adding to the night’s appeal, Payne is also holding a special raffle for everybody who comes to the show.

After paying a $5 cover charge, concertgoers will receive a raffle ticket that will then be entered to win a "golden ticket" through Music to Your Ears Productions.

This prize will provide access to all Music to Your Ears shows for the semester, including Big Gigantic at the Metropolitan Theatre and acts such as Bernie Worrell, The Werks, Cosby Sweater, Freeway and many more at 123 Pleasant Street and Fat Daddy’s Bar and Grill.

For the local music enthusiast, the possibility of winning the golden ticket provides a little extra incentive to come out and support one of Morgantown’s hardest working promoters.

The night’s festivities will begin at 5 p.m., and the final act will close its set around 11:30 p.m.