By ANN ESCAMILLA, Staff Reporter.
Many big name artists and bands such as The Black Keys, The Strokes and Bob Dylan started off just like other musicians: playing small music venues. Picture your favorite band just starting off. Now, picture the small independent music venue they would play at.
Now think. Does Bay City, Saginaw or Midland have a small independent music venue that isn’t a bar? The answer is not really, but with the help of Ben Champagne, an artist from Saginaw and his business partner Curtis Dalton, also from Saginaw, that dream is becoming a reality.
Champagne and Dalton are collaborating to create Counter Culture which is intended to be a creative space in Saginaw, where live music, art galleries, lectures, films and much more can happen. It is a “safe house. We are kind of anti-drug and alcohol — not that we’re straight edge, though,” joked Champagne. It is a place for all ages and a place where people can be themselves, experience and learn new things with others.
Inspiration for Counter Culture came from the Mess Hall in Chicago and the Division Avenue Arts Collective (DAAV) in Grand Rapids.
“I would send out crazy punk rock phrases and counter culture was one I would always send out,” said Champagne. Counter Culture was once the name of a band Champagne was in. According to him people would say, “Hey, your music sucks but love the name.”
Both men hope their business will be a success and that people will be excited to do stuff within the space.
“We want people to come in with ideas, like ‘Hey I want to paint butterflies.’ We want to help people do what they want to do,” said Champagne.
They also are focused on filling the lack of music venues in the Tri-Cities by making them a bigger stop for musicians. “If the tri-cities acted together they would be a big city,” said Champagne.
Counter Culture is located at 316 South Hamilton St. in Saginaw. They are having a grand opening weekend starting April 9 from 6-10 p.m. with an art sampler featuring five local artists. Moving forward they will have a final performance of the band Cradle the Fall from Saginaw, MI April 10 from 6-10:30 p.m. For the full weekend of events you can check out their website at counterculturearts.org.