[1] This Thursday, October 18th, folk trio ‘The Hart Strings [3]’ from Georgetown, IN will be hosting a benefit concert from 7pm-9pm in the Floyd Central High School [4] Auditorium. The show will be benefiting the Floyd Central High School Performing Arts Departments including choir, band, orchestra, and theatre. Also performing on the show bill are The River City Wrecks [5] and the Floyd Central Jazz Band. Louisville.com [6] had the privilege to talk to Ted Hartog of ‘The Hart Strings.’
Louisville.com: Your story really caught my attention because I actually attended Floyd Central High School and was very involved in the orchestra program. When I was in Tri-M Club we actually did a benefit concert. I can’t remember what charity it was for. That was 7 years ago.
Hartog: Really? That’s cool.
Louisville.com: Why did you guys decide to do this benefit concert?
Hartog: We are in the beginning stages of our band and new to booking concerts. We are learning how to get out and book shows. I got this idea a couple of months ago and presented it to the Theatre Director, Mr. Robbie Steiner. He thought it was a great idea.
Louisville.com: Have you had pretty good support from the faculty and staff?
Hartog: Mr. Steiner was very supportive and excited. He didn’t even make us audition. Teachers stop me and ask what it is. We’ve posted posters around the school. I’ve been surprised and overwhelmed by teachers’ interest in the concert. It’s all for a good cause and getting our name out there.
Louisville.com: This seems like an interesting approach to start booking shows.
Hartog: People love to give money to a good cause, and we thought a benefit concert would be a great way to get our name out and do some good. We can’t exactly play at bars or anything yet.
Louisville.com: Haha that’s a good point. I guess you all are too young to play the bar scene. Will this be your first gig or have you played other shows before?
Hartog: We’ve played a few shows. We play the open mics at Wick’s Pizza in New Albany every Tuesday. It works out well since we play acoustic and don’t have a whole lot of gear to move around. We played a couple times at Harvest Homecoming too.
(cont.)
Louisville.com: Do you all have a goal on the amount of money raised or number of people who attend?
Hartog: We don’t really have a goal. I don’t think the auditorium will be filled to capacity, but I think we’ll have the bottom level filled. Hopefully this will be a motivator for other bands in the future. There is a lot of up and coming talent.
Louisville.com: Sounds like it will be a fabulous show with great music. Speaking of the music, what bands influence your sound?
Hartog: The Avett Brothers, Mumford and Sons, The Lumineers. Mumford and Sons is a little darker and more dramatic. These bands all gave us a sense of confidence to play this type of music. Before the Folk Revolution, it wasn’t always comfortable to take a string instrument like a violin, cello, banjo on stage and play. It is honest music with a grassroots feel.
Louisville.com: That is great. I play fiddle in the folk rock band, Field of Kings [7], and there’s nothing like rocking out on a string instrument and watching the bow hairs fly. I’m really glad you guys are going out and playing this music. You are all seniors now. Do you guys already have plans for college laid out?
Hartog: I’ve been accepted to Belmont University to pursue Audio Engineering Technology. The other two (Jared Murray- cello, Gannon Yeaton- violin) are currently undecided, but plan on pursuing performance so they have quite a few options. They are both really talented. Hopefully this will be an event we can do each year, where if we do split up and go to different schools we can reunite to play a show.
Louisville.com: Belmont is a great school, and I wish you all the best on your future endeavors. Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers?
Hartog: We have a cd out on iTunes, and we will also be selling these at the concert.
Louisville.com: Thanks so much for talking with me. I hope to follow up on how the benefit concert goes.
Hartog: Thanks for your time!
Floyd Central High School is located at 6575 Old Vincennes Road, Floyds Knobs, IN. All attendees will want to enter through the Performing Arts entrance. There is a $5 or more suggested donation to attend the concert.
WHAT: FCHS Performing Arts Benefit Concert
WHEN: Thursday, October 18th, 7-9pm
WHERE: Floyd Central High School Auditorium- 6575 Old Vincennes Road, Floyds Knobs, IN
COST: $5
Photo: courtesy of Ted Hartog
Event Poster