Today is Sept 2nd my name is Tom Heath and you’re listening to “Life Along the Streetcar”. This week we discuss the new direction of 2nd Saturdays and the alluring rhythm that keeps crowds coming back to the corner of Stone and Congress.
It starts with bag pipes marching along Congress, weaving around artisan vendors and throngs of downtown visitors. 2nd Saturdays has accomplished it’s mission of bring people into our urban core. Now, as downtown is growing, the new mission is to incorporate more of the brick and mortar businesses and expand the footprint westward.
Cindy Williams of Desert Peach Management was recently brought on board to navigate this next phase. Cindy is Tucson Native with a marketing degree from the University of Miami and got her early experience in the Florida sunshine. She moved back to Tucson about 10 years ago and, as she tells it, jumped at the chance to be a part of 2nd Saturdays. She sees the future of this monthly event as a rebirth- a return to the original concepts of the founders to bring awareness and business to downtown by highlighting shop vendors and bringing in local artisans to make 2nd Saturdays a unique destination for those looking for all things Tucson.
We sat down with Cindy to get a sense of her vision and what makes 2nd Saturdays an iconic Tucson night.
In the extended interview, we get a bit more about Cindy’s background and specifics on what she means by returning 2nd Saturdays to its roots. There is also an introduction of the diverse board of directors, each member bringing a vital component to the event.
One of the stalwarts of 2nd Saturdays is an improvisational street drum band named One Heart Beat. Founded by Christa Keller, Black Man Clay, John, and Dave Holladay, Their mission is uniting our community with the spirit of the drums.
For over 20 years they’ve performed, paid and mostly Volunteer, at street fairs, schools, fundraisers and other events around town.
They are an inclusive group who invite the audience, kids, passerby’s, anyone really to join them. Maybe it’s just for a few beats of the drum and sometimes those passerby’s end up playing for years.
Every second Saturday night, one heartbeat lures people to the corner of Stone and Congress and holds them captive with the rhythm of the drum. I caught up with them and spoke to a couple of members- starting with one of the founders- John Holladay.
John referenced a performer, Ashitari, who’s been a long-term member after simply walking by on, what used to be downtown Saturday night. Unfortunately, her audio had technical issues and so we don’t have it to air. She told me a driving factor keeping her involved was engaging other woman and girls to join in. Drumming has a predominantly male image and she’s in the process of changing that. On the Saturday we were out, her mission was working- There were female drummers of varying ages- one, trying it for the first time.
You can see a video of a second Saturday performance on our Facebook Page Life Along the Street Car.
