So here’s a mad idea for a new series that I thought I’d run by y’all today. Working title: “OneBand.”

Basically, it would work like this: Once a month, I’d post a three-song setlist. Anyone who wants to play those songs with me would sign up. And I mean anyone. Amateur musicians and professional players; newbies and veterans; hacks and savants. Any instrument; any skill level. The only qualifications would be a desire to play music with others, and a willingness to learn and perform three songs together on a stage.

One month, we might have three singers, four drummers, two accordionists, a pan flutist and a cellist. The next month, we might end up with 14 bass players and a yodeler.

It doesn’t matter, because the simple point of it all would be for diverse, passionate people to come together and create something fleeting and, perhaps every once in a while, beautiful. These days, I think we all might need a little more of that.

Charlotte’s creative community is a ceaseless source of similar inspiration to me. Look at Carla Aaron-Lopez’s LOCAL/STREET, Ricky Singh’s #BeattiesFordStrong movement, or Shafalee Patel’s Namaste Artists CLT. Just three examples of countless local projects in which creative Charlotteans rally around a vision – to stir their community and to feed their own souls.

What’s not to love?

So that’s it. One setlist. One rehearsal. One performance. OneBand — and all are welcome. Let me know what you think.

Matt Olin
Co-Founder & Emcee of Creativity
Charlotte Is Creative