Organic grass-fed music

Lindsey Treffry | rawr

Music flows through the aisles of tofu and gluten-free breads. The espresso grinder whizzes and cashiers ring up groceries, filling empty green bags. Groups of people sit near round tables with soups and salads fresh from the deli, all facing a man with a guitar. It’s just another Tuesday night at the Moscow Co-op for the music series.

The free, live music performances are from 5 to 6:30 p.m. year-round and are led by Co-op music coordinator Chelsey Bryd Lewallen.

“It’s a good place to come relax and take a break from homework, (and) to unwind after a busy Tuesday,” Lewallen said.

Lewallen is in charge of booking all the gigs. She recruits new musicians and asks previous performers to return. She said she often goes to Bucer’s or One World Cafe to find new musicians.

“I have a big list of 50 musicians,” Lewallen said.

David Roon is one of them. The University of Idaho fish and wildlife and biology professor performed his Celtic folk-rock music on Oct. 4 at the Co-op. Roon plays guitar and sings original songs and covers.

“(The Co-op musicians) are extremely talented and there is lots of UI community,” Roon said.

Roon will be taking over Lewallen’s position, while she is on leave for the end of her pregnancy.

“We’re interested in a wide range of performers,” Roon said. “It’d be great to set students in here to do sets.”

Lewallan said interested musicians can drop off their demos to her on Tuesdays or during the week to any cashier.

“A lot of people enjoy playing,” Lewallan said. “They get a Co-op gift card and a $5 deli voucher.”
Performers can play outside, but since the recent change of weather, they have been set up in the front corner of the Co-op, near the deli.

UI microbiology and medical graduate student, Chuck Schultz, said he comes to the Co-op once in a while, but didn’t know it was Music Tuesday.

“It’s open and no one’s doing anything that music would take away from,” Schultz said.

Schultz said he comes for the food, where a slice of bread and tea costs a total of $1.85.

The remaining performances for October include Dan Faller, a contemporary country artist, and Bart Budwig who plays alternative country and blues.

As seen in the Oct. 14 issue of rawr.