Lookin' good, Big E!

Dear Epcot,
How are you? Have you lost weight? Oh, right – you lost the red “Epcot” sign on top of Spaceship Earth. It makes you look younger.

Anyway, I just wanted to mention briefly that the artists playing your Epcot International Flower and Garden Concert Series are irrelevant and yawn-inducing.

I would spend the money and travel to Florida from my home in the northeast specifically to see a great act perform at Epcot. As of right now I’m not planning on making such a destination trip. I’m not one of those guys who look for any little thing to complain about at Walt Disney World. I realize it’s difficult being a theme park, so I’m willing to cut you some slack. Here are a few small suggestions for music groups and artists that I think would make for a fantastic lineup during the Flower Power series.

First – I’d ditch the “Flower Power” theme. I know it fits in well with the event, but it limits who you invite to perform. I mean, what’s next, “The Electric Alarm Clock Featuring a Guy That Used to Mow The Singer’s Lawn?” It’s really an under-utilized part of the festival. And I can only assume the artist’s fee has to match up with your budget. So you’ve got to aim for great artists who won’t break the bank.

First: Did you know that the music of Bela Fleck and Flecktones can be heard in Roaring Forks at the Wilderness Lodge? It’s true. The Flecktones are a genre-busting group of gifted musicians who defy categorization. Their leader, Bela Fleck, has won more Grammys in more categories than any other artist in the history of the awards. But for the sake of argument, we’ll say they’re jazz.

Don’t be put off by the description. Every member of the band – Bela, Jeff Coffin, Victor Wooten and Futureman – is redefining their respective instrument entirely. Picture having and entire band of Jimi Hendrixes. That’s what you’ve got in the Flecktones. And yet they’re incredibly accessible. Best of all, it’s a style of music that appeals to a wide range of guests. Plus Victor is revered among young musicians as one of the finest bass guitar players in the history of the instrument.

Check out “Big Country” – a song that is among those serenading those dining at Roaring Forks:

Next: Well-known artists that fit in with the World Showcase theme of a sort-of world’s fair. Successful acts, not massive, yet still part of current pop culture.

Great Big Sea (Canada);

The Young Dubliners (UK);

Die Toten Hosen (Germany – and yes maybe that’s pushing it a little, but I can’t come up with a current German artist at the moment. And I felt like listening to this tune.);

Old Crow Medicine Show (American Adventure);

Yann Tiersen (France – music that was used in Serveur Amusant until fairly recently)…

You can figure out the rest. You’re Epcot.

See where I’m going though? Each of these artists is relevant, and most importantly, not annoying. Think about it.

Finally, use what you’ve already got. I attended a press event six years ago for the opening of Soarin’. There was a piece of music there that blasted me right between the eyes. I have never forgotten it. It’s a piece of music by a musician named Grayson Wells. He was a composer who worked for Disney, and he also filled-in when someone from Off-Kilter was away. Sadly, he succumbed to cancer not too long ago. He was far-too young. But this piece of music is uplifting, majestic and perfectly embodies the spirit of Epcot. This is the only small piece of it I was able to capture on my rather less-than-awesome digital camera that day. I stood in awe, watching the skydivers descend, but truly transfixed by a piece of music that has stayed with me until this day. Use it.

Until then, have a nice winter, and I’ll see you in a few months.

Your friend, Bill