Photography by Cre8Jax.
Little Alley Shows 2024 Update: We were thrilled to award a second round of funding to the Little Alley Show project given their roaring success! We asked the project team to learn how to match the funds by taking a grant writing, crowdfunding, or sponsorship course with us. Stay tuned for future event dates.
About Little Alley Shows: Starting June 8th, 2023, guests were invited to enjoy a series of small concerts in the alley behind concept shop Wolf & Cub. As part of this project, the alley was transformed into a beautiful community gathering place. Shows took place at 6 and 8 p.m. and required an RSVP due to limited seating. Guests entered at 45 West Adams Street and enjoyed local performances in a unique space.
Inspired by Tiny Desk Concerts from NPR, Wolf & Cub was excited to produce Little Alley Shows in Downtown Jacksonville. This project was a true community partnership that involved building owners, business owners, sponsorships, and Jacksonvillians coming together to make these events happen.
A long-forgotten alley set the stage for an intimate experience for music lovers as it was transformed into a magical space of community. Hidden amongst the historic brick walls of the Elks Club Building and The Carling, guests were immersed in the sounds of some of Jacksonville’s best musicians. The alley was transformed with lighting, seating, biophilic design, and whimsical art! These free performances were held as ticketed events to control crowd size but were open to all through littlealleyshows.com.
Little Alley Shows is the brainchild of Emily Moody, a third-generation Jacksonvillian with a passion for creating a vibrant arts and culture scene in her hometown. Since she moved back to Jacksonville in 2003 to make her she has been creating innovative business concepts, planning engaging events, and supporting Jacksonville-based artists and musicians every step of the way! She founded the beloved 5 Points boutique, Anomaly in 2006. The award-winning live music venue, Underbelly was born just a few years later in a magical, hidden backyard behind her 5 Points boutique. Underbelly quickly outgrew the space and was moved to its current location on Bay Street in Downtown Jacksonville. Although she is no longer involved in the business, it makes her so happy to see that her baby has lived on and is still bringing some of the best live music to Jacksonville. During her tenure in Jacksonville’s Riverside neighborhood, Moody founded First Friday in 5 Points (circa 2004) and also sat on the board of Riverside Avondale Preservation. As the Managing Event and Program Producer at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, she booked all the musical talent and brought to life a variety of special events to create a sense of place for people to come together and connect through the art and gardens. She is currently serving as the Director of Community Engagement with Phoenix Arts & Innovation District where she is working to create a 9+ acre regenerative neighborhood in the North Springfield area.
Little Alley Shows is a wonderful project that activates Downtown in an unexpected space while staying authentic to Jacksonville’s unique character by highlighting some of the most talented musicians in the city!