Grounds For Thought to host ‘Open Mind Record Grind’ Feb. 28 | Arts & Culture

BOWLING GREEN, OH (PRESS RELEASE) - Bowling Green coffee house Grounds For Thought will welcome music fans on February 28 for the first “Open Mind Record Grind”.

“The Grind” is a free two-hour community listening party. Participants can bring one piece of music, and are welcome to make a short comment about why they love it or think it’s important. Music can be played from most any format: 45 and 33 RPM records, CDs, iPods, even cassettes. And any genre of music is welcome, with the caveat that any selection should be less than ten minutes. That length, organizers say, allows more classical and jazz fans to present their favorites.

The idea of the event came from a growing number of listening parties around the world, usually accompanied by blogs that describe what was played at the event. Glenn Burris, owner of Exponent Events in Bowling Green, says that these get-togethers are spurred not just by a love of music, but also by a fear that ‘active’ listening is becoming a thing of the past. “These days, recorded music always seems to be a background feature,” says Burris. 

“People download a lot of music, and many of us even still buy records and CDs. But the listening session is getting lost. We always seem to be doing something else, rather than just listening to what we’re playing and getting the most of it.” Listening parties, he says, allow people to share music personally, and “Gets us away from the Internet networking for a while and into real social spaces”.

Another organizer, Kurt Doles of the BGSU College of Musical Arts, says most listening events focus on a specific album. The Open Mind Record Grind will spotlight songs instead. “Listening to an LP end-to-end is terrific, but this way, more people can have a say in what we play,” Doles says.

The organizers approached Kelly Wicks at Grounds For Thought, for a spot on the store’s schedule of events. “Music is a big part of our store,” said Wicks. “We sell used LPs and host a lot of free concerts. This is a place where people can get closer to live music and great recordings, too. The Open Mind Record Grind lets people hear new music, and share a favorite with others.”

Wicks promises a discount for the event: Two-for-one pricing on all used LPs. “Anyone with an iPhone can walk up, play a song, and get a great deal on a couple of records, too.”

The Open Mind Record Grind is from 7:30 to 9:30 PM on Tuesday, February 28. Grounds For Thought is located at 174 South Main Street in Bowling Green. A $2 donation to the Black Swamp Arts Fair is recommended. For more information, visit the organizers’ Facebook page at ‘BG Record Grind’. 

Anyone who would like to bring a selection to play should contact the Record Grind Organizing Committee at recordgrind@rocketmail.com.