WKCTC's Clemens Fine Arts Center will present another installment of their Backstage Pass series with local singer-songwriter, Dale Bickford. Bickford visits Sounds Good to discuss his musical philosophy and upcoming performance in Paducah.
Dale Bickford and his band, Dale & Co., will perform an intimate, stripped-down set of original music on the Clemens Fine Arts Center stage this weekend. Bickford calls himself "a conduit for the music...[translating] its language for the audience, whom he considers an important part of the "co."
"I don't play depressing music, but I play music for people that get depressed," Bickford says. "My goal is to help you get through the monotony of the day. It's gloomy, and it's raining for three days in a row. I like to be that person that you could listen to. That's what music is."
"Expanding on my philosophy...I call it translating music," Bickford continues. "It makes me feel a certain mood. I define the lyrics as a song-writer. That defines the mood of what the song is conveying to me. If they're congruent, then it's a good song. I didn't create that music. It's energy, and it's always existed. It will always exist without me. There is no ego to have. I'm just simply the conduit now."
The audience is seated onstage for the Backstage Pass performance, a unique experience Bickford encourages people to see while they can. "If I perform anywhere else or come here and perform or play at the Apple, it's not going to be the same show. It's going to be back to my show pony. I'm just going to have to perform because I'm getting paid as an artist. You have to make money. You have to pay bills. I have a mortgage," Bickford laughs. "This is either a giant leap or a one-time show. So either way, it's going to be awesome."
Dale & Co. will perform on Saturday, February 22nd, at 7:30 p.m in the Clemens Fine Arts Center on Western Kentucky Community and Technical College's campus. Tickets are available in advance for $8, at the door for $10, or $5 with a student ID.
For more information, visit the WKCTC website or call 270-534-3212.