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June 26, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels April 16, 2004 St. Clair looks to raise capital with benefit By Steve Zimmerman Ashland Daily Tidings Ariella St. Clair has been promoting concerts in Ashland for 10 years. But recently her business, as with much of the country's concert business, has fallen on hard times. The help pay some old bills and keep bringing quality music to Ashland, St. Clair will be holding a benefit concert Saturday at the Unitarian Universalist Center, 4th and C Street. Tickets are $10 in advance for adults, and $6 for youth 5-17 and SOU college students. Advance tickets are available at the Music Coop or by calling St. Clair Productions at 535-3562. Tickets are $12 at the door. St. Clair explained what will happen during the evening. "We will have a silent auction beginning at 6:30 p.m. and music will start at 7:30 p.m.," she said. "We have Michael 'Hawkeye' Herman, best known as the writer of the music for Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 'The Handler' and 'El Paso Blues.' "Then I have Montana Soul, a duo of Anne Christianson and Tom Kleinfelter, and then after the break there will be Back Porch Swing Jazz so everyone is encouraged to come and dance." St. Clair said the concert business soured after 9/11. "After 9/11, when the economy went down, attendance has fallen off across the board," she said. "It has really hurt the attendance at St. Clair Productions shows so I have some past bills to pay and have a little cushion in the bank for next year's concert series." St. Clair said this is the toughest period she has gone through in her 10 years as a promoter. "People always say there is so much competition for the entertainment dollar," she said. "But there has always been a lot of competition for the entertainment dollar and I was still able to fill the concert hall. The Unitarian Center holds 300 people and most of my concerts in the past would be from 125 to over 300. This season only one concert has gone over 300, one hit 200 and all the rest have been under 100 people." St. Clair said she is heartened by the feedback she receives from her concerts. "Everyone appreciates what I do," she said. "People stop me on the street all the time with people telling me to keep doing what I am doing and that the concerts really add to the atmosphere in the Valley." St. Clair added that she chooses artists for her concert series that come from many different musical universes. She especially likes to bring in world music and singer-songwriters. Her next show is May 8, and features the "Cosmic Comic," Swami Beyondananda. The Swami is currently on his "World Win Tour" and is also running for president. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams