Rochester Indie Musician Spotlight September Press Release

Rochester’s premiere music and interview show, the Rochester Indie Musician Spotlight, is proud to announce its brand new season, SEASON FOUR! Dan Gross, the show’s host, producer, director, sound engineer, and editor, is approaching SEASON FOUR with the same drive, determination, and dedication to quality episodes. The show’s crew is Jason Thibault, a local videographer, and producer of MyHometown – a TV show that features local businesses in a news-magazine format – and Stacey Baran, a videographer and long-time collaborator with Mr. Gross.

“I can’t wait to get started,” said Mr. Gross. “We have an excellent, inclusive, and entertaining first month of shows and episodes planned… Sharing music and interviews with rock bands, jazz groups, art pop outfits, and R&B and soul performers all in the same month couldn’t be more in line with our mission.”

The Spotlight, which began in the summer of 2016, has grown exponentially in terms of video and audio quality, depth, diversity, and reach since its beginnings. It began as just an interview show, but it has evolved into a unique hybrid format, containing elements of “Off Camera with Sam Jones,” and NPR’s Tiny Desk. Mr. Gross plans to do at least 10 “regularly scheduled” episodes, but expects at least two “Spotlight Specials,” which have different content and format, and look to expand the show’s normal programming.

The Spotlight continues its collaborations with beloved vinyl store Bop Shop Records, and has expanded its partnership with Bernunzio Uptown Music, now featuring a “First Fridays” interview and concert at the store. 

“We’re also looking to expand our partnerships and relationships beyond our two main sponsors,” Mr. Gross said. “We’re looking to build a community with the show. Beyond our guest alumni working together, we want to bring in concert venues, restaurants and bars, and other stores and businesses together for a common goal: helping local musicians, bringing their music to their fans, and strengthening our local arts scene. “

Each episode will now be shot in a interview and concert format, so each episode will run for 40 minutes to an hour. Guests of the show can bring along their fans to catch the interview and performance live before it’s posted on Dan Gross: Music and Journalism, Mr. Gross’s YouTube page, and dan-gross.com/spotlight, a week to two-weeks later.

Many other shows or “web series” will just feature music, but it’s Mr. Gross’s interviews that provide the show with it’s true character and substance. Each interviewee shares personal anecdotes, discusses their music and their process, and gets the opportunity to share what they love about Rochester. 

“To me, in addition to creating a positive, healthy, and strong music community, education is very important to me,” said Mr. Gross. “I do my best to balance entertainment and education on the show, but we make a concerted effort to make sure that anyone watching a shoot or the episode leaves with something to think about.”

Here’s the first month’s schedule:

Friday, September 1st at 7pm: The Mighty High and Dry (rock, soul) at First Fridays at Bernunzio Uptown Music

Wednesday, September 6th at 7:30pm: Danny Ziemann’s Going Away Party (jazz) at Bop Shop Records

Thursday, September 14th at 7:30pm: Jake Bellissimo (art pop, indie) at Bop Shop Records

Thursday, September 21st at 7:30pm: Timothy Mitchum (R&B, soul) at Bop Shop Records

Wednesday, September 27th at 7:30pm: Tart Vandelay (art pop, indie) at Bop Shop Records

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