The Independent Music Collective (IMC) is a student organization at the University of South Alabama that works together with USA faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the broader community in an effort to enrich Mobile's music scene. Founded in 2009, the IMC has two main endeavors:
1) The IMC sponsors a listening-room concert series that features roots musicians and Americana acts. As it is our
goal to augment the local scene, we strive to book national performers who otherwise might not play in Mobile. Over the past decade, the IMC’s concert series has become one of the premier listening-room stopovers in the Southeast. We've hosted numerous nationally acclaimed musicians, including Richard Buckner, Will Johnson, Tim Easton, Eef Barzelay, Charlie Parr, Kevin Gordon, Scott H. The IMC typically holds six to eight concerts per year and is a "collective" in the sense that everyone contributes something, from the sound guy who donates his time to the venue that volunteers the space. (Thanks, Satori!) In an effort to provide affordable entertainment and increase participation, we admit South Alabama students for free and request a donation of only $5 from all others.
2) In addition to our concert series, the IMC also coordinates with local venues, promoters, and organizations to help publicize and promote other Mobile-area music events. The 2020/21 IMC officers are Mikey Rinehart (president), Sydney Parker (vice president), Abi McCormick (treasurer), Ian Montes de Oca (secretary), and Mary Moore (recruitment). The officers are assisted by the IMC advisory board, led by Dr. Justin St. Clair (IMC faculty adviser). Other 2020/21 advisory board members include Dr. Steven Almquist (Spring Hill College), Austin Ray, Aria Lopuhovsky, and Elle McCluskey.
