Symphony violinist, Dixon's Violin, will be performing on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at Ziggy's in Ypsilanti. The performance will begin at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7 p.m. for guests. The show will be part of his 116-stop HUMANKINDness tour.
As a former director of technology for two startup companies in Lansing, Dixon left his career to follow his violinist dreams full-time. He eventually came to invent a new music genre in which he now improvises on a 5-string electric violin with a looping system. Dixon developed this to create an all-live one-man symphony, guided by his personal story of life transformation. He has been performing as a one-man symphony for 12 years.
It was a trip to Burning Man that changed everything for the violinist.
“A liberating trip to a Burning Man festival in Nevada in 2005 changed everything for me," Dixon said. "It was my spiritual awakening. It was my catalyst. That was the thing that told me I had been living in my head and not my heart. I started looking at life a whole new way."
Dixon then knew this was what he wanted to do next in life.
“After living my life only using my head, when I realized the power of sharing from the heart, and the soul-moving, even spiritual experiences you can share through music, I knew I had to do this full time,” Dixon said.
Dixon's life mission is to inspire people and spread human kindness. In his career, he's given five TED talks and performances, performed performed at Burning Man and has had radio, TV, and film appearances.
“Human kindness is the blending of humankind and kindness,” Dixon said. “I believe we are all connected and we can honor each other with compassion and care.”
Dixon performs in listening rooms, outdoors in nature and at festivals. The musician is based in Ann Arbor, but plays all over the United States, primarily in Michigan and Ohio.
“This year, we have debuted in some exciting new markets -- which is a good sign of growth for us," Kevin Alan Lamb, Dixon’s agent and manager, said. "This includes Greenville, S.C., Richmond, Va., Chattanooga, Tn., Washington D.C., Thomas, W.Va., Madison, Wis., Milwaukee, Wis. to name a few. We are hoping to perform more internationally in the coming years."
This is Dixon’s second time performing at Ziggy’s, he performs in Ypsilanti at least twice a year. Dixon also does a summer show at Frog Island Amphitheater each year.
"Bits and pieces of all of the above factors help make a show special, but most often it's those we are making music for and with that leave us feeling most grateful for this life we lead," Lamb said. "Sometimes, all it takes is reaching one person in an audience who is brought to tears to be reminded what a blessing this journey is."
For more information on Dixon's Violin upcoming performances, visit his website.
