The Plaza Songwriter Series is a monthly concert event held at the Plaza Media Arts Center in Patchogue, New York organized and operated by the volunteer team of Aaron Palmadessa and Bryan Gallo. is a small independent movie theater that is part of the Artspace Apartment Complex in what is one of the many corner stones of the quickly growing Arts movement in Patchogue. On the second Wednesday of e
ach month, instead of showing a film, three singer-songwriters are featured in an intimate setting where the focus is solely on the performers and their original material. The venue is a true gem for both the performers and concert goers. For the performers, it's a place where they are truly allowed to be artists, as it allows them to perform material that would likely be ignored or become background music in the noisy bars and busy restaurants around this very musical town. They get a chance to connect with their audience in ways that aren't always available to singer-songwriters at other Long Island venues, as the 60 seat venue still manages to feel like performing for someone in their living room. For the audience members, it's one of the rare places on Long Island where they are able to hang on the singer's every last word with minimal distractions. Some attendees who have attended one show for an act they were familiar with have quickly become "monthly regulars" because of their positive experiences at the series. Many cite the great sound, inexpensive admission ($10, comparable to the cost of a film) and the ability to know that they are fostering local independent talent as reasons to return whenever they're able to. The New York Metro and Long Island area has a long history of being home to many incredible songwriters since the beginning of the last century, but a lot of that rich history will become just that if there is no support of the ample supply of talented musicians and songwriters that call this area home. The Plaza Songwriter Series works on many levels to keep the the singer-songwriter tradition alive and present it as a living breathing art, something that is often forgotten in the digital age.
