For 15 years, Ruby Hsiao has been a patron to the city’s music scene as owner of The Melting Pot. However, she’s eyeing bigger stages with her new Encore Live series of tribute concerts.
“Every show has to have a story,” she explains. “We will provide detailed information about each topic and are trying to reach out to an older local audience.”
The series sprang out of last year’s successful concerts honoring James Brown and Whitney Houston at the Sennheiser Shanghai Concert Hall. It kicks off again on July 26 with a Hip Hop Timeline show at The Mixing Room.
“We want to build up a monthly Sunday evening concert series there,” Hsiao says. “On Monday, you have to work and Saturday, you already have a hangover.”
Popular soul duo Denise & Smokey are producing the show, which will chronologically explore the development of hip hop starting from the 1960s. Smokey expresses excitement that he can “rock some Adidas, break out the baggy pants and the Karl Kani suit I still own.” Taking a break from auditioning potential performers, he notes, “what we’re trying to do with Encore Live is showcase new talent as well.”
“The whole mission of Encore Live is to make local people more aware of musical of all genres from an international perspective,” adds musical partner Denise Mininfield. “We’re giving them a story to educate and entertain.”
The two got a taste of the power of the series when they tore the roof at last year’s Tribute to James Brown concert. Mininfield laughs about having to twist Smokey’s arm to perform, while he admits, “I was on stage the whole time playing guitar and watching all them cats sing. When it was my turn, I guess it all channeled through me.”
The tribute concerts were such a success that the prestigious venue plans to host seasonal Encore Live shows. The next one will be a Tribute to Stevie Wonder on November 20.
“The Sennheiser Shanghai Concert Hall has such a classical tradition and they thought this was the right type of pop music to add to the venue,” Hsiao explains. “Personally, I’m very excited because we are the first group to be accepted to build a regular pop show.”
Already, Encore Live has scheduled an Elvis Presley Memorial Concert at The Mixing Room on August 16. Plans are underway for tribute concerts to artists (Sade, Michael Jackson) and genre timeline shows (blues, jazz, Latin, goth).
“What I want is for us to do three or four shows a year that are professionally taped,” Hsiao says. “We want to have a product to reach out to big international companies. When they see these musicians doing a serious and good show, they will want to link with Encore Live.”
Those involved have already reaped the benefits. Smokey & Denise agree that the series attracts “more locals,” compared to their recurring gigs at venues like The Apartment and the Cotton Club.
“It’s also given me an opportunity to meet a lot of different talented artists,” Smokey adds. “We’re already talking about doing some projects together. It’s just a matter of finding time to do it.”
With up to 20 musicians participating in each show, Hsiao envisions Encore Live as a platform for these artists to get their names heard.
“All these musicians have no problems finding gigs and festivals,” she notes. “But there’s no identity. The music is great, but people don’t even know their names.”
We’re giving away a pair of tickets on our WeChat. For your chance to win, add Thats_Shanghai or scan the QR code.
// July 26, 7.30-8.30pm, RMB180-280 (presale), RMB220-320 or RMB2,000 for suite for six with food. The Mixing Room, tickets.
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