Downtown Corpus Christi turned into a massive outdoor concert Friday night as the fourth annual Music Walk brought more than 60 local artists together with the city’s First Friday Art Walk.<\/p>\n
Performers played on indoor and outdoor stages, along sidewalks and even on street corners from 6 to 10 p.m., with live music at downtown bars continuing later into the night.<\/p>\n
The free event featured a wide variety of music, including rock, country, mariachi, reggae, pop and classical performances.<\/p>\n
House of Rock owner Casey Lain said Music Walk is meant to show visitors just how much local talent Corpus Christi has to offer.<\/p>\n
“Corpus has such a rich music history, so it’s a variety,” Lain said.<\/p>\n
That variety included everything from a brass quintet from the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra to mariachi bands and local singer-songwriters.<\/p>\n
The event also featured performers who weren’t playing on traditional stages.<\/p>\n
“The rest of the stages are kind of speakers on sticks, kind of busking style, so it’s really almost every block downtown,” Lain said.<\/p>\n
One of those performers was Gus and the Controllers, led by 12-year-old drummer Gus Hawkins.<\/p>\n
Hawkins said he started playing drums after spending years listening to music.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been listening to music like a lot when I was a kid,” Hawkins said. “One day I just decided, ‘I want to do that.'”<\/p>\n
Bringing people downtown<\/p>\n
While Music Walk is a celebration of local music, organizers say the event was also created with a broader goal: bringing people downtown during a traditionally slower time of year.<\/p>\n
Four years ago, local business owners worked with the Corpus Christi Downtown Management District to create the event as a way to boost September visitation while giving local artists another opportunity to perform.<\/p>\n
September can be a slower month for downtown businesses after the summer tourism season and the start of the school year.<\/p>\n
Arlene Medrano, executive director of the Corpus Christi Downtown Management District, said Music Walk was created to address that slowdown while building on Corpus Christi’s designation as a Texas Music Friendly City.<\/p>\n
“Visitation to the September Art Walk has increased 500% in the last three years, so it’s working,” Medrano said.<\/p>\n
Medrano also said preliminary data indicates downtown had a stronger summer this year than last year, which she partly attributed to large crowds during holiday weekends.<\/p>\n
The event’s economic impact extends beyond local residents. Organizers said last year’s Music Walk drew more than 1,200 visitors from outside the area, defined as people who traveled at least 50 miles.<\/p>\n
One Sound<\/p>\n
The event also highlighted Corpus Christi’s local music education community.<\/p>\n
At First United Methodist Church, “One Sound” brought together college students and faculty members for a chamber music performance featuring a string quartet.<\/p>\n
Violinist Gideon Perkins said performers represented Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Del Mar College.<\/p>\n
“We have representation from everywhere, and that’s the representation of what this is all about,” Perkins said. “This is one sound, one community coming together.”<\/p>\n
Music Walk and First Friday Art Walk are both part of the effort to showcase downtown Corpus Christi while giving local artists, businesses and performers a chance to connect with thousands of visitors.<\/p>\n
While the street performances ended Friday night, live music continues at several downtown venues throughout the weekend.<\/p>\n
House of Rock is also scheduled to host the Golden Mic Showcase featuring 13 local musicians Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.<\/p>\n