Music and Memories: Nuçi’s Space celebrates their 25th anniversary

Linda Phillips founded Nuci’s Space on Sept. 20, 2000 to commemorate her son, Nuçi Phillips after he took his own life. Since then, the organization has sought to prevent suicide, especially among musicians, and reduce the stigma surrounding the topic of mental health. 25 years later, Nuçi’s Space will celebrate their anniversary with a benefit concert on Dec. 12 at 7:30 pm at the Georgia Theater.

Nuçi’s Space has become a pillar Athens music community, with their various youth programs such as Camp Amped and their services for Athens musicians like rehearsal and recording studios as well as rental instruments.  

For their 25th anniversary Nuçi’s Space has partnered with Condor Chocolates to create a limited edition chocolate bar. The benefit concert will feature performances from 11 bands and artists: Patterson Hood, David Barbe, Kyshona, Modern Skirts, Claire Campbell, Willow Avalon, Annie Leeth, Elf Power, The Cut-Outs House band, Faye Webster and Kevn Kinney. All of the performers have connections with Nuçi’s Space or Athens in some way, chosen to showcase the culture of music in Athens.

Cedar Shoals High School Senior Carson Druppel has been participating in Camp Amped at Nuçi’s Space since their junior year of high school. They have found Nuçi’s Space to be helpful with both improving their musical abilities as well as building a sense of community. 

“I made a lot of friends through it. There were so many people that I wouldn’t have met because we go to different schools or they’re just completely out of my social circle,” Druppel said. “But I got to talk to them and play music with them, which is stuff we all like.”

Nuçi’s Space has gotten Druppel more involved in the Athens area. 

“I used to just stick to my side of town and go to school. But now I travel around a lot more because there are a lot more people I know that live around Athens and in the downtown area as well,” Druppel said. 

Druppel believes the mental health resources provided by Nuçi’s Space are important. 

“The whole purpose of it really is to help with mental health of young musicians.They’re doing it well,” Druppel said. 

Freshman Cy Perkins started getting involved with Nuçi’s Space when they were 11 years old, but their connection started much earlier. 

“It’s a generational space. My dad used to use the practice rooms, my sister used the practice rooms. There are people who frequent Camp (Amped) that know everyone in my family,” Perkins said. 

The communal roots that Nuçi’s Space is built on and creates helped Perkins with their transition to Cedar. 

“Before I got to Cedar, I already knew a bunch of people there, so it made the transition a lot easier, and it made it a lot easier to make friends,” Perkins said. 

In their time at Camp Amped, Perkins’musical abilities have improved significantly. 

“You’re surrounded by people who are better than you, which is really scary but really helpful, because everybody is also really nice, so it’s a really safe place to ask questions,” Perkins said. 

Nuçi’s Space is important to people in Athens and this year being its 25th anniversary shows the place it has made for itself in Athens. 

“It’s such a homemade small business,so it’s a really big deal that it has gotten this far and that it will continue because it has such strong roots in Athens,” Perkins said.