Music in the Hall

When most people think of going to a concert, they picture a loud, smoky bar or a huge amphitheatre filled with people. Not anymore thanks to Daniel Morrow.

Morrow, also known as the “Oxford Music Snob” in reference to the blog he created to review local music acts, is a software developer in Oxford, Mississippi.

“I felt the need for more options for the crowd not wanting to necessarily go out, but wanting to go to an early show around seven or eight. I wanted to create a sit down environment where people listen, and I had the space,” Morrow said. “I also noticed that Oxford bands didn’t have high quality videos to support them.”

Music in the Hall is an intimate, grass-roots music series in the hallway of lawyer Steve McDavid’s office on the square. This building, with it’s wooden structure, has unbelievable acoustics. Music in the Hall is a great way to give Oxford musicians’ quality online videos to assist in expanding their audience. Each unique show is filmed and edited, posted online and then released as a DVD. The DVDs are available at the Music in the Hall series, Off Square Books and Holly’s Sweet Tooth.

Music in the Hall hosts a variety of performing acts including local favorites like Rocket 88, Jimbo Mathus, Mayhem String Band and Young Buffalo to members from the Drive-By Truckers and the North Mississippi All-stars. Membership is available for only $4.95 a month, including online access to the full shows at any time and other members-only content. Non-members are asked to pay ten dollars at the door for the shows to help with the production costs.

“I think that Music in the Hall is a great opportunity to listen to music outside of the bar. It has a good scene, a good community,” Molly Garland, an Oxford local, said.

Morrow has expanded this event to include Music in the Hall lunch series, taking place during lunchtime on Friday’s. This allows people to take a break from their busy workday and come enjoy an hour-long concert series while eating their lunch. The lunch series have been typically held at Bottletree Bakery, 208, Southside Gallery and the Lyric Theatre.

“I am looking forward to more lunch and early evening shows at places like Bottletree and Southside Gallery. These shows provide a great break during the workday,” Morgan Jones, Oxford local, said.

Be sure to check out the next Music in the Hall this Thursday, March 10th featuring Spirits of the Red City, Ironwood Bluff and the Spirit Family Reunion. The show starts at 7:45 p.m. and doors are at seven. RSVPs are encouraged, due to limited capacity. Cathead Vodka is proudly sponsoring this event. Additionally, one dollar from each purchase of Cathead Vodka in the next six months will go towards Mississippi Music. MITH has a free ten-day trial membership available online. For more information, go to musicinthehall.com.