A sideman is someone who is musically accompanying the environment they are in , yet they are not the main attraction , which is why Bart Cannon calls himself “ The Sideman .” As he says , he is supporting the vendors at the Athens TX Farmers Market .
Others would comment a lot further and say that The Sideman is “ the sound of the ATXFM ” and that his music sets the tone and creates the atmosphere of the market .
When Cannon is absent from the market , which is rare , there is a noticeable hint of something missing . Although the vendors are the main ingredient to the market ’ s success , when The Sideman is playing , it just completes the ambience .
Most of the time , the acoustic fingerstyle guitar licks echoing from the middle area of the market will take patrons to a different time and place as The Sideman plays classic rock from the ‘ 60s and ‘ 70s . Having been influenced by both electric and acoustic guitar artists , his style has been described as both mellow and bluesy , but his repertoire covers a wide variety including some show tunes , jazz standards , classical , hymns , country , and more .
“ I ’ ve gotten to where my guitar has a lot to say ,” says The Sideman . “ There ’ s no telling what my guitar might throw at unsuspecting ears on a given day .”
Sometimes he says that patrons think
6 | Greater Athens Magazine | August 2022