PAY IT FORWARD ARTIST: KIM CHIN-GIBBONS WITH SUNSET MISSION

August 2022

Sunset Mission, an eight-piece progressive rock band that hails from throughout New England, incorporates a unique and modern blend of prog, funk, metal, folk, and even some elements of classical, and electronic music. Following a three day practice-intensive at CitySpace, the band shared about their experiences with their with complex counterparts, five singers, and up to three keyboards and guitars playing simultaneously. This unforgettable experience manifested with members of Sunset Mission sharing more about the band, the residency, and the music in a talkback session with Steve Waksman, musician and Associate Professor of Music and American Studies at Smith College, following the live show.  

"We discovered things about our tech and performances I didn't think we would for months and maybe years. It was the perfect place to control all of our variables and grow as musicians and people."

— Kim Chin-Gibbons

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ABOUT

Sunset Mission began writing its music in 2016. In their first five-piece studio lineup, the group released their debut album, “Journey to Lunar Castellum” in 2019. After years of lineup changes in the band throughout pandemic times, Sunset Mission had their first show last January. The band now includes Dana Goodwin on drums, keyboard and vocals, Jan Schwartz on guitar, Colin Stevens on guitar, Kim Chin-Gibbons on guitar and vocals, Douglas Appleman on keyboard and vocals, Jesse Mattison on keyboard and vocals, Lilah Asbornsen on vocals, and Nate Porter on bass.

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The Pay It Forward pilot program provides complimentary venue access to CitySpace’s Blue Room, a performance and incubator space located in Old Town Hall in Easthampton, MA. The program offers Western Massachusetts artists of all kinds a venue to incubate, create, present and perform. The short-term residencies include financial support, and venue access for public performances and events. Further, recipients are provided with artist-tailored workshops, peer-learning cohorts, and one-on-one coaching to deepen their practice, build new skills and relationships, and explore new ideas.

CitySpace's Pay It Forward pilot is made possible with the generous support by