“Pop Pop!” Emerging Musician’s Incubator

Kentucky-based emerging musicians who are pursuing music and performance and interested in developing skills related to a musical career and building a supportive community.

EMERGING MUSICIAN’S INCUBATOR

What is this?

An incubator program facilitated by Rebel Rebel Studio & Lounge and supported by a grant by Live Music Society, designed to help emerging musicians in Kentucky develop the skills and experience to help them succeed in their own musical careers while also building a supportive musical community. This will be a small cohort of musicians, who meet twice monthly for skills workshops led by industry professional (covering topics like running sound, building a brand, grant writing, social media, creative career planning, activism in the arts, etc) followed by guest-hosting the open mic, and one curated night of music a month featuring musicians from the cohort.

Who is this program for?

Kentucky based emerging musicians who are pursuing music and performance who are interested in developing personal and professional skills beneficial  to a career in music while  building a supportive community. 

It’s hard to define what makes a working musician, so we know this is open to interpretation - you know best what your commitment to music is and if this will be a helpful step for you in your journey. As such, this application is more an assessment of what your needs currently are, and less about you proving to us what you’ve already accomplished.

Dates to know:

You must be able to commit to orientation AND three of the five professional development workshops, that will be held from 5-6:30pm on Tuesdays, followed by Rebel Rebel Open Mic at 6:30pm : *Jan 28, Feb 11, Mar 11, Apr 8, May 13, Jun 10

And at least three of the four Saturday performances below for this session : Feb 22, Mar 29, Apr 26, **Jun 28

(*mandatory orientation, **mandatory showcase finale)

Applications due Jan 20, 2025. - please email rebelrebelberea@gmail.com if you have any questions. 

Application Form

Meet our Musicians!

  • Meet A'ja Haynes, whose journey began on the Caribbean island of Antigua. Aja's music is characterized by a silken, high tenor voice and introspective, deeply meaningful lyrics. Aja recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in music and is currently working on an EP, channeling his life's experiences and emotions into his art.

  • Born in Owen County, the daughter of musicians, Anna Harrod was raised ripping and running around barn dances, old time stringband festivals, and picking parties throughout Kentucky and the Appalachian region. She now plays fiddle and sings with the Possum Queens.

  • Hunter Hicks is an acoustic solo artist who specializes in raw, emotional songs. He has been self releasing and recording music since he was 16, and he is also a member of independent shoegaze band Calvary.

  • Singer Songwriter Sistah LaLa is trading in her operatic training to pursue a solo career as an Independent Artist. Sistah LaLa is looking to explore musical collaborations with Roots & Souls and Folk Artists.

  • Berea-based, Ollie Wren, has been songwriting and performing their own material for the last year and delighting Rebel Open Mic. They are a member of shoegaze band, Calvary.