Howl in Lowell bursts on the local scene

This is truly BIG NEWS. Rita Savard and Caroline Gallagher are about to launch Howl in Lowell, an online arts and entertainment magazine celebrating the music, art and culture of Lowell. Howl in Lowell will debut next week on March 1, but its creators have given us a taste of what’s to come with this video, and an explanation of what they hope to accomplish in the letter that follows:
 

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Hello Lowell,

Something electric is in the air. Do you feel it? You should because you, dear readers, are the charge, the spark, the burst of energy lighting the way to a new era in our city.

Welcome to Howl in Lowell, an online arts and entertainment magazine celebrating the voice of a new generation – yours.

During the past seven years, I have worked as a full-time staff writer at The Sun newspaper and was often asked the same question: Why isn’t there more coverage of the city’s eclectic and flourishing arts scene?

The time to fill the void is now. I have left The Sun to team up with Caroline Gallagher, an experienced filmmaker, broadcast news veteran and webisode guru. With help from a very talented group of local writers, artists and art-lovers, we have created howlinlowell.com. Launching March 1, Howl in Lowell’s mission is bringing you the latest and greatest in entertainment news and reviews, and introduce the talent of tomorrow, today. Whether you’re an artist, musician, writer, photographer, filmmaker or simply an art-lover, Howl in Lowell is a portal for connecting people like you to the music, art and culture that inspires your world.

Check howlinlowell.com daily for news bites and feature stories spotlighting the names, faces and places making Greater Lowell a destination location for the arts. We’ll also be your tour guide for shows and events in the city and beyond. So come out and play.

The Howl in Lowell name stands for our strong desire to hear the city’s unique voices. Howl out, we want to hear you! Our name also gives a big salute to the Beat Generation, a period in time when the unique voices of a small but creative group of friends led to a movement that rocked the world. Lowell native Jack Kerouac, along with Allen Ginsberg and Neal Cassady, believed in stirring things up and living out loud. Their infusion of new ideas and talent dropped like a bombshell into staid 1950s America.

With your help, we’re here to shake up the Merrimack Valley. Our message: Open your mind, dream big, create, play and take an active part in a community cultivating culture.

Think of Howl in Lowell as the new Beats, improving quality of life through exposure to beauty. So, as Kerouac put it so brilliantly, let’s “burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes ‘Awww!’ ”

The centerlight is you. Keep your mind open, your heart full and follow your unique voice. It’s time to Howl!

Sincerely,

Rita Savard, Editor

Have a tip for us? Is there a local band we simply need to hear or an artist we should know about? Or maybe, you’d like to write forus. Please let us know at submissions@howlinlowell.com

15 Responses to Howl in Lowell bursts on the local scene

  1. George Koumantzelis says:

    WOW !!! … This is GREAT news. … Thank You, Richard, for spreading the word – and thanks to Rita and Caroline for starting this fantastic journey of aesthetic proliferation throughout Lowell and beyond. … BRAVO !! – George Koumantzelis : )

  2. Sharon Bisantz says:

    Archeological digs reveal that the one lasting presence in all civilizations are the Arts. I am hopeful that Howl will become part of Lowell’s rich artistic history.

  3. Anne says:

    So glad you’re dedicating yourself to this cause! It’s great to see a homegrown “Lowellian” picking up the pace and stepping up the love of the city. As someone who only came here in 2008, I’ve seen a different Lowell that doesn’t revolve around the self-hate that underpinned every article I’d read in the Lowell Sun (OK, fairly… not EVERY article… but the overall editorial bend seemed to send a message that Lowell was a horrible place to be.)

    I hope that your message reaches further than the online grasp of already tuned in people. I hope that it reaches the coffee shop counters, the restaurant entrances, and the theatre playbills. We operate on volunteers because we’re a bunch of young entrepreneurs and artists who are passionate about this city and what it has to offer- but one thing we always lacked was the homegrown roots that gave people the confidence to invest in us rather than thinking we were a flash in the pan. Good luck to you Rita and Caroline, if there’s any way we can help, just let us know.

  4. Steve says:

    I love the enthusiasm. No market campaign can generate that artificially.

    The video is top shelf in concept and execution. Jerry Bisantz is the man.
    Clint Eastwood couldn’t have done better.

  5. Jason Hantzis says:

    Tremendous ! I’ll get in line to help with whatever you need. You can reach me via George K.

  6. jdayne says:

    This will be a Howling success! What a terrific effort the YouTube teaser and soon-to-come “publication” represent. May Caroline, Rita and all involved have great success. Truly an effort where we all benefit as Howl moves the Lowell story forward. Looking forward to reading, seeing and enjoying more Howl.

  7. Caroline Gallagher says:

    Thank you all for your kind words and your encouragement. Wait til you see what we have in store for you! Please help spread the word by sharing this video on all of your networks. I agree with several of you – Jerry Bisantz did a great job and we hope to feature him regularly.

  8. Lisa Stott says:

    Love the video and am doing what I can to spread the word. Thanks for your passion and commitment to the arts, culture, and most importantly, to the great city of Lowell. It makes me so proud to be a resident!