This past Spring, Creative Sonoma, a division of Sonoma County’s Economic Development Board, hosted the second annual Next Level Conference for local musicians and those in the business. With that daylong event of keynote talks and panel discussions with industry professionals also came the opportunity for Sonoma County bands and musicians to apply for a Next Level Grant worth $2,5000. All told, Creative Sonoma awarded grant money to five bands, and they recently announced the recipients.
In no particular order, the 2017 Next Level Grantees are world music makers DyaTribal Band, indie rockers Manzanita Falls, funk act Marhsall House Project, eclectic folk outfit Oddjob Ensemble and jazz artist and instructor Alan Hall. Funds will be used for projects ranging from new recordings, touring, video projects and album promotion. These grants will also be paired with ten hours of one-on-one consulting with music experts to help each recipient make the most of their funds.
This program is made possible with grant funds from the William J. and Flora Hewlett Foundation with additional support from Lagunitas Brewing Company. For more information on the Next Level conference and grant program, watch the video below.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgf1UGXBPwQ[/youtube]
.Five Sonoma County Bands Receive Next Level Grants
