By Augusta Statz
Alex Townsend, a second-year at SCAD, passed away last Valentine’s Day due to a car accident. In honor of Alex and his love for Savannah and music, many friends and family of Alex’s have organized a music-filled event called A-Town Get Down.
A-Town Get Down will feature regional bands including The Malah, Word of Mouth and Walter Parks & Swamptronics.
“One of our goals is to showcase new talent from our amazing local artist’s community. This event will hopefully give people the opportunity to see the work of and meet local artists face to face. We’d like to see people become more involved with our local artists, hopefully becoming more inspired to support and expand on their understanding of the arts both locally and globally,” said Sean Rush, a friend of Townsend’s.
Tom Townsend, Alex’s father, explains Alex’s involvement with the Savannah music scene:
“He was starting to network with local musicians. He was a drummer, and he’d play whenever he had the chance. He was always looking for music and jumped on it whenever he found it,” he said.
“My fondest musical memories of Alex would be jamming to MGMT, or gangster rap in Jill’s car, when everyone lived near the Turner dorms or listening to The Allman Brothers off Alex’s computer in Tyler, Brett and Alex’s dorm room. They had a sweet music set up,” remembered Heather Locke, a friend of Alex’s.
Townsend hopes A-Town Get Down becomes an annual festival in Savannah.
“I wanted to do something that would not just be a one-time memorial to him; I want this to be a legacy from him. The difference between a memorial to him and a legacy from him would be that with a memorial to him, people would come and appreciate his life, but afterwards, go on. But, if it could be a yearly festival, even if a year or two down the road people may not know where it started, if they continue at the festival, then he’s lived a legacy that will keep on living,” he said.
Townsend also speaks about what he wants people to take away from the festival:
“I would like to think that they would take away, first of all, ‘That was so cool, I can’t wait to do it again next year,’ and two, whether they knew Alex Townsend or not, ‘He sure must have been an incredible influence on the people around him.’”
Locke says that she hopes that people gain “an understanding of love, of friendship, of art, of music, and how all of these things work together with no limits.” She said, “I want people to see the world as Alex saw it—full of possibilities. I also want people to walk away knowing there is a rad annual music festival in Savannah, and yes, it will live, grow, and be full of music.
“He loved the community that he got himself in down there, it being so artistic, and you might say, open,” said Townsend.
The school that Alex loved so much has been involved in the promotion of this event.
“The A-Town Get Down was entirely conceived, planned and produced by Alex’s parents along with many of Alex’s friends here at SCAD. SCAD is simply playing a small role to help the Townsends connect with existing SCAD student media outlets to promote the event among the SCAD community,” said Sam Anderson, the Director of External Relations for SCAD.
“All of us at SCAD and in Savannah are privileged to be part of an idyllic, creative community in which to study, work and live. The ‘A-Town Get Down’ is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the inspiring qualities of our community that continue to make Savannah a haven for students, artists, and designers,” Anderson said.
“SCAD students and Savannahians are passionate supporters of arts and culture, and that is why I believe Alex Townsend felt so at home here. Alex’s parents wish to create an annual event to celebrate our unique community, and to create an opportunity to give back to it by channeling the proceeds of the event to Savannah-based nonprofit organizations,” he said.
When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26
Where: Savannah Station
Concert tickets are available for purchase at www.a-towngetdown.com or by visiting the Savannah Box Office. Ticket prices are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. The public is urged to buy tickets in advance as it is expected the concert will sell out.
All profits go to America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia.
Editor’s note: This article has been revised to reflect the following changes: Alex Townsend’s year at SCAD was incorrect.
