So, what does the conclusion of beta testing mean? After following the usage of Gignest since it’s release in mid July, we have evaluated the necessary steps to make the site more useful and intuitive for users across the board. For starters, we are developing a site wide face-lift equipped with a live feed stream making posting links and media a hell of a lot easier than it used to be. More forums and groups will be added (users are also able to create these on their own). Musicians will additionally be able to upload their music, photographs, set lists, and event calendars. Basically this year is about making Gignest Fayetteville as awesome as possible but we need your help!

The big call 2010:

• Writers: we’re on the hunt for wielders of words. If you have writing chops and enjoy supporting local musicians, Gignest is waiting for your touch! Music snobs definitely  welcomed.

• Designers & Developers: for those of you who would like to get your hands dirty with the innards social media and poke your head underneath the hood of Gignest, we are looking for Fayetteville peeps to help keep the site fresh and tidy. That means you will be assisting in developing new additions to the site from the ground level. Mad scientists with an infinitely deck playlist required.

• Photographers: whether you’re equipped with a Holga (sweet) or one of those fancy digital things, your documentation is needed. Remember that band Underground Muse Project circa 2003? Yeah, they were awesome. Think how awesome it would be if we could locate them in the Gignest Fayetteville photo archive credited to your name? Just throwing that out there. We also need photographers for the “Buzz Notes.” Can’t forget those.

• Musicians: let us remember why Craigslist is totally fin. It is flooded with spammers, overpriced gear, and the site design is prehistoric. We won’t even get started with MySpace. Gignest caters only to Fayetteville. Why? Because this place is chock-full of talent and creating a network amongst like-minded neighbors is what this dojo is all about. Your participation will only make it better. So go ahead. Let’s continue to trade some gear, form new projects, and share our finest jams.

If you are interested in contributing to any of those listed above, or if you have any questions/comments, drop us a line at info@gignest.com

To those of you who have participated and tested out the Gignest stomping grounds, thank you for your support and feedback. Here’s to another exciting year of local music in Fayetteville!

At 6:30 the seasoned ‘Guta’ will take the stage, compliments of Fayetteville’s Sound Warehouse. Front man, Teddy Sablon, and his cast of stellar musicians have been touring the East Coast for nearly a decade and they now frequent little nest here in Northwest Arkansas. Tonight will feature Teddy Sablon  (guitars and vocals), Christian Mara (drums), and Drew Packard (bass). According to Randy Thomas of Sound Warehouse, Guta has been featured in Billboard and was by ranked number one by Relix Magazine in its 10 Best Kept Secrets list. Sablon described the band as a bit like Paul Simon meets Bob Dylan meets Bob Marley meets The Grateful Dead meets Steely Dan. Sweet!

Opal Fly and gang will be set to perform just before the showing of “War Eagle.” Fire dancers, ukuleles, jazz-gypsy-madness, you all know the drill! If you aren’t able to catch Opal Fly early this evening she will be posting up at the Smoke and Barrel for the late night.

Have you seen “War Eagle” yet? If not, tonight you will have your chance. A personal friend and colleague, Will Churchill, wrote and performed the soundtrack to the film that has been the buzz of the nation. Churchill grew up in Central Arkansas and was a graduate of Hendrix College. Something about his songs just make you want to load up the car and head towards your favorite Arkansas’ swimmin’ hole. The soundtrack is true mastery and recommended to anyone who has not yet watched the film. All of the events at First Thursday are free and open to the public. Hope to see you there!

We are working to keep this information accurate as possible. If you know something we don’t regarding the venue and booking details or if your venue is not listed above, e-mail us at info@gignest.com and we will be sure to accommodate the changes. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: William Collins | will@archetypeproductions.org | 479.466.8581

GIGNEST.COM, SOCIAL NETWORK “HARDLY STRICTLY FOR MUSICIANS,” LIVE

Fayetteville, Ark., July 14, 2009 – Heralded by a 2:22 a.m. tweet to @gignest followers and a 2:58 a.m. Facebook invite to existing Gignest friends, www.gignest.com is live with 10 members and growing. Part of the hyperlocal movement that is sweeping Fayetteville with the likes of Local540.com and the Fayetteville Independent Business Alliance, Gignest Fayetteville is a smooth, user-friendly and localized social network with all of the functions of Facebook and based on open-source applications WordPress and BuddyPress.

According to the site’s “How to use Gignest” tutorial, using the site is “as simple and exciting as Arkansas’ homemade pie.” The sign-up process is quick and painless. After confirming one’s email address, a Gignest member has instant access to a dashboard where he/she can upload an avatar and customize a profile, add member tags, join music-centric groups like “Giggin’ for a good cause” or “Gear Swap,” create a blog, add gigs, archive band listings, add friends, send messages or post updates to member “wires” (as opposed to Facebook “walls”).

Regular site features include Gignest daily wire updates on gigs about town and Buzz Notes, video spotlight profiles of local Fayetteville musicians. The inaugural Buzz Note is featured on the site’s home page and documents a shared summer morning with seasoned Fayetteville performer Drew Packard, who has played with outfits like the Claudia Burson Trio, Fayetteville Funk Ensemble, the 1-Oz. Jig and Souled Out and more over the last 8 ½ years. The video features photography by www.mtaylorlong.com and production by Archetype Productions (www.archetypeproductions.org).

Founded by local musician and graphic designer Will Collins (“Will-4-Real” of Hardaway and the Commoners – www.commonersband.com), Gignest.com is completely free and now open for membership. Collins hopes the web site will be a clearinghouse for all things music in Fayetteville, allowing musicians to freely promote their projects as well as network for collaborations, gear swapping, recording, etc.

Answer Gignest’s clarion call to “Dig local music.” Sign up for a free account at http://www.gignest.com to join the newly launched online music community.