Musicians who moved to Rochester, not necessarily to “make it”

By Patrick Hosken,

Published August 5, 2024 at 1:43 PM EDT

Four people wearing headphones sit at a table in a radio talk studio: the man on the far left has short light hair and is wearing an open light blue long sleeved button down shirt, a green t-shirt, jeans and grey socks; the woman on the near left has long blonde hair and is wearing an orange sleeveless top; the man on the near right has short brown hair and is wearing a beige long sleeved button down shirt; the man on the far right has short brown hair and is wearing glasses, an open blue long sleeved button down shirt with a red pattern, a red t-shirt with white writing, dark jeans and brown boots — (foreground) DM Stith, (background) Kate Rogers and Jack Washburn with guest host Patrick Hosken on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Monday, August 5, 2024

A smiling man sits in front of a microphone in a radio talk studio: he has short brown hair and is wearing glasses, a blue long sleeved button down with a red pattern and a red t-shirt with white writing. — Patrick Hosken guest hosting "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Monday, August 5, 2024

Rochester boasts a spirited, greatly varied and thriving music scene. But what about musicians who move here for reasons other than finding their big break?

Creative work has become harder to sustain as a full-time gig, thanks in part to the lingering effects of COVID and the streaming economy. A community like Rochester, with its comparatively low cost of living and access to surrounding green regions, could be a place to put down safe roots while maintaining a creative focus.

This hour, CITY Magazine arts writer Patrick Hosken talks to several artistic transplants who moved here from much larger musical markets about why they’ve stayed.

Our guests:

Kate Rogers, singer/bassist of Bad Bloom
DM (David) Stith, singer-songwriter, composer and designer
Jack Washburn, guitarist of Remember Sports