Ed Strange is trying to encourage outdoor country music free to all at least one Saturday each month at his Country Music Store in Atlanta.
Young or old, all one need do is show up 6 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month and bring one's instrument to play or chair to sit in.
"The point is to give musicians a place to play," Strange said. "I don't think there's another outdoor setting for music in the region. It's important to give the older player a chance to keep up his or her skills and the younger musician gets the chance to learn."
Strange is speaking from experience. He's part of a family tradition going back to 1983 when the Strange Family Blue-Grass Festival took place on State Highway 59 just north of Atlanta.
Such music making is all just fun, he continues.
"And everyone gets along. It's like being a part of a family. It's what makes music a universal language."
The music making takes place on the back porch of the Country Music Store on U. S. Highway 59 near the western city limit of Atlanta. Sound equipment is provided for the performers and grass to sit on is provided for the listeners. Applause at the end of each song is usually expected.
Strange opened the first program last week. Some 25 to 30 showed up. The gathering has no name just yet. Strange said just to call it, "The Pickin' Place."
The back porch of the Country Music Store on U.S. Highway 59 is highly decorated for the area’s free first Saturday outdoor music making festival. The music will begin around 6 p.m. each first Saturday in the month. (Photo by Neil Abeles)
With guitars in hand, Bugs and Linda Vaughan are waiting their turn to join in the music making at the first Saturday outdoor “pickin’ place” event at the County Music Store in Atlanta. (Photo by Neil Abeles)