Feature Article Yankton’s music scene Co-written By Katelyn Schramm and Yankton Mayor Nathan Johnson, Guest Writers As Yankton continues to evolve and dig deep to unveil the treasure along the Missouri River, it is no coincidence that the music scene has exploded throughout the community. Many cities around the world boast musical attractions. Visitors flock to the Sydney Opera House in Australia and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN. Why? What causes people to spend thousands of dollars and countless hours chasing harmonies? Perhaps it is visceral, the way the music makes one feel. Perhaps it is intellectual, the way the music inspires one’s mind. Perhaps it is coincidental, and the music happens to find a wayward traveler on a quest. Whether planned or happenstance, a brush with music invokes a certain sense of transcendentalism. For a moment, listeners leave their circumstances and become part of a new, shared experience with fellow listeners, and the group is forever bonded in this rhythm of life. After one powerful musical experience, participants have no choice but to seek another and another and another, following a melody wherever it goes. The Yankton City Commission recently adopted a new mission statement for the City of Yankton. It is to provide exemplary experiences, services, and spaces that create opportunities for everyone to learn, engage, and thrive. Wow! Does that not scream MUSIC?! As Yankton continues to evolve and dig deep to unveil the treasure along the Missouri River, it is no coincidence that the music scene has exploded throughout the community. 24 | Yankton Visitors Guide | www.VisitYanktonSD.com Currently, one does not have to do too much digging to find a musical attraction in Yankton. On select Thursday nights in the summer, the banks of the Missouri River near the Meridian Bridge create a stage where regional, national, and international artists play free concerts on The Lawn. Brought together by the music, people gather around The Lawn for the Market at the Meridian and enjoy fresh produce, crafts, and other homemade goods. On nights when Music at the Meridian and Bragging Rights on Thursday Nights overlap, auto-lovers can enjoy the music in the background while participating in a car show in downtown Yankton. Those that fancy visual art can delight in the opportunity to create their own shared experience by painting a tile that ultimately joins with hundreds of other tiles to create a community mural. Walking further into the Meridian District (Downtown Yankton), music lingers from inside establishments like Ben’s Brewing Co., Happy Hourz, and The Landing, as well as others. Occasionally, there are even live musicians playing on the streets. From bars and restaurants to the streets and onward into local churches, music fills the summer air in Yankton.