Manhattan isn't exactly known for having the strongest local music scene, but the Manhattan Music Coalition is working to change that.  The coalition put together two music festivals each year to really work on boosting and bolstering the music scene, according to its website: http://www.myspace .com/mmclive.

Aggiefest has been around for several years and will be September 21 and 22 this year.  Tickets will be for sale at Sisters of Sound as the event gets closer. Sarah Cunnick, owner of SOS, said they should be less than $20 for the whole weekend. 

The Konza Music Festival started this year with more than 100 bands at 14 different venues.  A portion of the festival proceeds was set to go to research and education of the Konza and Cunnick said she was thrilled they were able to give them a fat check.

"The Konza music festival went really, really well," she said.  "It was crazy.  We definitely had a lot more people at the Konza then we did last year at Aggiefest.  I think these things are just going to grow and grow and grow."
The Manhattan Music Coalition also posts a live music calendar for just about every venue in town, so it is a great resource if you are looking to see some local talent.

"I would really just recommend you keep an open mind when going to see a new band," Cunnick said.  "You may run across a band that you don't even realize you are going to love.  I always try to come to a show with a little extra cash in my pocket for a cd or a t-shirt."

Cunnick said she also is glad more places are getting in on the scene.  Most recently Bobby T's Bar & Grill on Kimball Avenue and Mel's Tavern on 3rd Street have started having live music.

"The more places we have, the better off everyone is," she said.  "The venues don't become so afraid to have a band and charge cover."

Cunnick said some places are afraid to charge cover because they think people won't pay to see a band. 

"But a lot of people will pay to see a band, even if it is something they've never heard before," she said.

Cunnick just advises music-lovers to protect their hearing by wearing ear plugs.
"I've been to lots of live shows for 20-plus years and I didn't even realize how bad it was at the time," she said.  "You want to save your hearing so you can rock out when you are 80."

Cunnick also recommends bands contact the coalition for more information about publicizing their shows.  She said the festivals are great for bands, too, because they get to learn from the more experienced bands.

"It is a great opportunity for them to just rub shoulders with other bands and learn from them," she said.  "I think it is just good for everybody, all around."
So regardless of whether you know all the local bands or are just getting into live music in the Little Apple, Sisters of Sound and the Manhattan Music Coalition are great resources.

"I've been here since '87 and I started going to see live music in '89 and this is definitely the best it has ever been," Cunnick said.  "There are so many good bands here in town now and the scene is just so receptive to them."
For more information on Aggiefest, go to http://www.myspace.com/mmcaggiefest or to http://www.myspace.com/mmckonza for
more information on the Konza Music Festival.