With more and more traditional music retailers closing their doors and online-only sales dominating the music industry, Molten Music Technology founder and SOS contributor Robin Vincent has taken it upon himself to offer an alternative solution: Synth Picnic. The new venture is a free pop-up event that will take place at the Honesty Library in Norwich’s Castle Quarter, with the first event being held on Saturday 11 October between 10:30am and 4pm before returning on a monthly basis.
Aimed at newcomers and seasoned pros alike, Synth Picnic aims to provide a place for enthusiasts to meet up and discover new gear — an array of synths and modular kit will be available to play, with a team on hand to offer valuable advice to those looking to start their journey into electronic music. Exactly what’s available at any given event will vary, although there will be an emphasis on accessible and affordable gear. As things progress, the organisation plan to make a number of small Eurorack systems available for rent between events, allowing those who are just getting into modular the chance to try out some rigs before committing to expensive purchases.
Synth Picnic will also be partnering with retailer Signal Sounds, allowing attendees to purchase new gear and have it delivered to their doors within a few days.
Ask any musician and they’ll tell you how music shops were vital in igniting their passion for making music. They can be noisy and sometimes rude places, but they gave you access to instruments and gear you’d maybe never dream of affording. But over time, you’d save up and go and buy that first machine that opens you up to the possibilities of synthesisers, drum machines and audio gear. As music shops disappear, we are losing the opportunity to try things out and fall in love with these exciting, music-filled boxes. Watching review videos and buying a synth on the internet is not the same, and only appeals to people who already have an interest. If we want the synth industry to grow, we need it to be discovered by new people; we need to spark an interest in those who haven’t perhaps considered it before. That’s what music shops used to do and Synth Picnic hopes to pick up the slack." - Robin Vincent
More information can be found via the link below.
