Sundance Film Festival is well known for promoting movies, but Visit Salt Lake is promoting a music scene to attract locals and tourists to Salt Lake.
Visit Salt Lake, a nonprofit organization that promotes Salt Lake as a convention and travel destination, decided to sponsor the Sundance Film Festival Café to promote local artists as well as provide entertainment in Salt Lake.
“We started the Sundance Film Festival Café in Salt Lake seven years ago to expand the presence of Sundance and the movie screenings down here,” Michael Mack, vice president of service for Visit Salt Lake, said.
Mack said they usually approach local groups who are on the radar to perform at the café during the festival. This year, however, Danielle French, a Canadian contemporary folk and pop artist, approached Visit Salt Lake and expressed interest in performing at the café. Her assertiveness paid off, and French will be performing on Sunday, Jan. 20.
Among the local groups performing at the café is an upcoming garage rock band from Salt Lake called Color Animal. The band consists of four members from the area. On Jan. 25, the group will have an album release party at The Garage, a venue in Salt Lake.
Andrew Shaw is the main songwriter, singer and guitarist for Color Animal. He is looking forward to the opportunity to be a part of the festival by performing at the Sundance Film Festival Café.
“I feel like the best part about playing at the Beehive is that we’re trying to help create that festival atmosphere for Salt Lake City,” Shaw said.
The group will be playing at The Beehive Tearoom on Tuesday, Jan. 22.
The Moth and the Flame is another group from Provo. Brandon Robbins, the guitarist and vocalist, said the group has toured the Midwest in places such as Chicago and Cincinnati as well as the West Coast in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
“We released our debut album in November 2011,” Robbins said. “Since then, we have been trying to break out and do some tours and other things.”
This five-member band produces indie art rock and has performed at a number of local art installations. Robbins said he was excited The Moth and the Flame was chosen to participate in the Sundance Film Festival Café.
The Moth and the Flame will perform at The Beehive Tearoom on Saturday, Jan. 26.
Other groups that will perform include the Clarksdale Ghosts, Stak O’Lee and the Folka Dots.
Performances will be held nightly at The Beehive Tearoom Friday, Jan. 19 through Saturday, Jan. 26.
For more information and a performance schedule, visit The Beehive Tearoom’s Website.
