9 posts tagged “artnext”
March is Women's History Month, and ArtNext is hosting a performance that features local women singers, dancers, actors, and poets. Performers include yours truly, singer/songwriter Sarah McKay, poet/dancer Kristie Culler, Equinox Dance Company, actresses from the Maryland Ensemble Theatre, and more! Admission is FREE and open to the public. For more information, call 301-662-4190 or email info@frederickartscouncil.org.
Gallery open M-F, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and by special appointment
Cultural Arts Center, 15 N. Market St., Frederick
Also in March, the Cultural Arts Center will be home to a nationally touring photo exhibit called "Changing the Face of Power: Women in the U.S. Senate." The exhibit, sponsored by the Frederick Arts Council and the Frederick County Commission for Women, features photography by Seattle-based photojournalist Melina Mara ... This image (above) takes my breath away, so I can't wait to see the others.
Chapter 12, "The Power of Place," was one of the best so far. When I got to the section about "Authenticity," my highlighter almost ran out of ink. I'm already a complete fanatic when it comes to supporting local music, and this section just added fuel to the fire.
Basically, it provides an economist's spin to what's already pretty obvious to anyone who knows anything about the music business. Independent musicians, especially those with active touring schedules, can live and work (and pay taxes) anywhere they want. There's no reason to live in an unsupportive environment that offers few opportunities for inspiration and collaboration. If a city wants to reap the benefits of a vibrant music scene, all the stakeholder groups (musicians, non-profits, government, businesses) must do everything in their power to create an environment that provides opportunities for local musicians.
Some of the best passages:
"Music is a key part of what makes a place authentic, in effect providing a sound or "audio identity." Audio identity refers to the identifiable musical genre or sound associated with local bands, clubs and so on that make up a city's music scene: blues in Chicago, Motown in Detroit, grunge in Seattle, Austin's Sixth Street. This is what many people know about these cities ... it is also the way these cities promote themselves.
"... it's hard to think of a major high-tech region that doesn't have a distinct audio identity. In addition to Seattle and Austin, consider the San Francisco Bay Area. It was home to perhaps the most creative music scene of the 1960s with the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Mamas and the Papas, Haight-Ashbury and the seminal Monterey Pop Festival. Chapel Hill, North Carolina, at the heart of the Research Triangle, was recently named as having one of the best local music scenes in the country. Technology and the music scene go together because together they reflect a place that is open to new ideas, new people and creativity. And it is for this reason that frequently I like to tell city leaders that finding ways to help support a local music scene can be just as important as investing in high-tech business and far more effective than building a downtown mall."
Please, somebody, send my local elected officials a copy of this book. Lord knows they need to read it.
Of course, this book is not just about music. In fact, it's mostly about other things. If you have any interest in economic & community development, creativity & creative industries (including graphic design, industrial design, research & development, information technology, biotechnology, and many others), this book is a must-read.
This message went out to my email list today. Here's the latest:
Just yesterday, I spent some time chatting with Barb and Mike Campbell at Studio 11, a photography and framing business in downtown Frederick. For the past few months, they've been bringing the First Saturday Gallery Walk to Court Street by opening their doors to locals, visitors, and art lovers of all kinds. The studio is beautiful, and the atmosphere is friendly ... Luckily, it's also an ideal spot for a solo, unplugged performance. If you're out and about during gallery walk, make sure you stop by. I'd love to see you, wish you a Happy New Year, and introduce you to Barb and Mike!
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Studio 11, 19 N. Court St., Suite 102, Frederick, MD
I'll be playing a solo, unplugged performance throughout First Saturday Gallery Walk
, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Studio 11 will also be celebrating the opening of the "Flashes of Life" photography exhibit by Chris Kolobow
FREE (CDs for sale)
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Music Cafe,
26528-B Ridge Road, Damascus, MD
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
With Bill Gardner (bass) and Art Krum (percussion)
Soups, salads, sandwiches, coffee, and smoothies available for purchase - Come enjoy dinner & music!
FREE (CDs for sale, and we'll probably set out a tip jar)
Monday, February 4, 2008
Brewer's Alley (Upstairs), 124 N. Market St., Frederick, MD
8:20 p.m. (Stick around for Kenny Meek's set at 8:40!)
I play a 3-song set as part of this weekly songwriter showcase, hosted by Ron Goad and sponsored by SAW and BSA
FREE
(CDs for sale -- The event organizers collect donations for the main
act, who will play a longer set at 9:00)
Also coming up ...
A featured guest spot on FNP@3 Artist Spotlight & a show at
Cafe Nola ... Dates & details TBA. Stay tuned for details!
In the works ...
Word
has it that a steel guitarist is joining us at our next rehearsal --
This whole "band" thing is really picking up steam! Also, I'll finally be
recording some of my newer material in 2008. And I'm spearheading a
compilation CD project for ArtNext, spotlighting the best of
Frederick's local music scene.
Speaking of local music ...
NoMa
Lounge, the ArtNext show at the CAC on November 23rd, was a HUGE
success -- There were 150 people who fought off the annual Thanksgiving
tryptophan overdose and came out to support local music! We were able
to raise some much-needed funds for ArtNext (a social network of creative people, initiated by the Frederick Arts Council). In mid-February, ArtNext will
celebrate its one-year anniversary, and we're gearing up for a NoMa Lounge birthday
bash, which will again feature local bands. Get ready to rock! More
details in the next update.
Show us how you're spending the day after Thanksgiving.
Shopping at malls and plazas on Black Friday is ... well ... not fun. The Frosty Friday shoppers at the Holiday Artists Market (an ArtNext event at the Cultural Arts Center) found plenty of locally crafted, unique gifts. Bonus: No waiting in line to check out. There were a few free gift-wrapping stations downtown, and I volunteered at the one inside the Artists Market from 10:00-12:30.
After that, I met up with Katie and Adam for lunch at the Double T Diner. I had matzoh ball soup and a turkey & bacon panini. (Yes, I'm fully aware of the irony of eating matzoh ball soup and then having bacon on my sandwich.) The staff at the diner got into the holiday spirit by giving everyone free dessert. I had a few bites of the oreo cheesecake, even though I was completely stuffed.
I spent the afternoon getting all my music gear assembled for NoMa Lounge, then I headed over to the CAC around 5:00. J Marinelli went on first, at 8:30. After a somewhat tumultuous sound check, Bill & Art & I took to the stage at 9:30. We played three original tunes and two covers ... After the sound system kinks got worked out on the first song, we were able to get in the groove. The audience was catcalling and swaying to the music by the end of the set, so, mission accomplished! I stuck around to listen to Jaws Hoffa's set at 10:30 and The Stops at 11:30. We had a decent crowd, and everyone had a great time. Thanks to everyone who came out for the show!
Looking for more NoMa Lounge photos? There are some here and here on FredRocks.net. (Thanks, guys!) There were a LOT of photographers there ... If you have photos from the event, let me know. I'll link them up and tell everyone how fabulous you are.
Now it's time to eat some of my Double T leftovers, then head over to the CAC to help with the NoMa Lounge cleanup efforts. Cheers!
Enter FredRocks.net. Networks like this may not be the ideal way to spread your message to the far corners of the world, but it's a great place to stay connected to local people and events. The good folks at FredRocks.net have also been very supportive of ArtNext and NoMa Lounge, which makes them tops in my book.
If you live in the Frederick area and have any interest whatsoever in arts, culture, and nightlife, you'll want to pay a visit. While you're there, check out my new profile.
This is from the email I sent to my mailing list last night:
This Friday is Black Friday in most of America, but here in Frederick, it's Frosty Friday. That means the shops and restaurants downtown open early, offer discounts, serve special breakfast menus, and generally do their best to make sure we have a delightful alternative to the nightmare that is holiday shopping at the mall. The Downtown Frederick Partnership has all the details regarding parking, discounts, etc.: Click here to visit the Frosty Friday web site.
So, you'll spend the day shopping and dining. In the evening, you can go back home to Uncle Bob, the cousins, and the turkey leftovers ... Or you can do something much more fun. Luckily, this is something with which I can help. Here are the details:
NoMa Lounge (sponsored by ArtNext)
Friday, November 23, 2007
At the Cultural Arts Center (15 N. Market St., Frederick, MD - map)
Lounge opens at 7 p.m. | Bands start at 8 p.m.Tickets: $5.00 (18 & older)
Available at Cafe Nola, Structures Salon, and the Cultural Arts Center
For more information, call 301.662.4190 or email info@frederickartscouncil.org
In the Market Street studio space, Plaeground will be spinning a unique mix, described as "danceable ambient turntablism with robot programming" ... Did I mention they supplement the audio with a live video installation, manipulated in real time? It's going to be really, really interesting. We'll have lots of comfy furniture, and Cafe Nola is setting up a coffee and wine bar.
In the larger room, four different bands are playing half-hour sets:
- J Marinelli
(and his angry young one-man band) has the first set. This is like Dick
Van Dyke's one-man band thing in Mary Poppins, except punk rock.
- Zaminy Hibbard
(that's me!) plays the second set. This is my debut with a band, and
I'm incredibly stoked. Bill Gardner (formerly of Pros and Cons)
is playing bass, and Art Krum is playing drums. These guys are
top-notch and a lot of fun. Even though we've only had a few practice
sessions, we'll be ready to rock at our first gig. We'll be playing some originals, as well as a
couple of tasty covers. I've still got the acoustic soul-folk flavor,
but Bill and Art add a lot of groove and energy. Most of you are
well-acquainted with my music, but if not, check out these audio samples from a solo show.
- The Stops are third ... Lo-fi, gritty rock-n-roll. (Sorry, I looked for a web site and couldn't find one.)
- Jaws Hoffa ends the show with some high-energy rock.
It's been a while (again), but what can I say ... I've been busy rockin' out with a NEW BAND and making plans for our debut show. Be there or be somewhere else. But I promise you'll have more fun with us.
This will be my first public performance with the wonderfully fun and talented Bill Gardner (bass) and Art Krum (percussion). Here are the details:
Friday, November 23, 2007
NoMa Lounge opens at 7 pm - Bands start at 8 pm
Cultural Arts Center - 15 N. Market St., Frederick, Md.$5.00 - 18 & older - Tickets available at the CAC, Structures Salon, Cafe Nola
Wine & coffee by Cafe Nola, Beer by ArtNext
More info: Call 301.662.4190 or email info@frederickartscouncil.org
Yep, it's been a while. Perhaps you're wondering what I've been up to? This should bring us pretty much up-to-date:
Things at work have been pretty busy. This past week, I was enjoying the weather at an outdoor business card exchange at Ston'Art Galleria in Frederick. The owners are Brazilian, so the decor, food, and music all had Brazilian flavor. There was an excellent trio of live musicians who kept the atmosphere lively. I snapped a photo of them, on the left.
At home, Christopher and I have been enjoying the late-season garden and the produce that comes along with it. With such a dry season, a lot of our edible plants didn't do as well as we had hoped. However, the basil and the delicata squash (pictured at left) were very successful!
Waaaaaaay back in early August, we enjoyed a trip to Damariscotta, Maine. We were on our own in the farmhouse for part of the week, then spent time with Christopher's family over the weekend and attended the famous annual "Cousins Party." I also had a chance to play at the North Star Music Cafe in Portland, as part of their Maine Songwriters Association showcase & open mic. The gig itself wasn't great, but the venue was really nice.
Oh, by the way ... I got a new camera! With the exception of the Maine photos, all these shots are with my new Nikon Coolpix L12. I still love my old camera (Nikon Coolpix 4300) and I'm keeping it around, but the L12 has some major advantages that I'm enjoying ... Namely higher resolution photos, rechargeable AA NiMH batteries, and easily adjustable exposure, all in a much smaller package.
So ... That's all the news I can recall. I solemnly swear I will post more frequently in the coming weeks.
Here's what's scheduled so far ...
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Cultural Arts Center, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick, MD
Gallery opening and performances from 5-9 pm
I'll play a set around 7 pm at this indoor "artists market" event!
FREE (Concession sales and donations benefit ArtNext)
Thursday, August 9, 2007
North Star Cafe, 225 Congress St., Portland, ME
Maine Songwriters Association Showcase begins at 7 pm
I'm hoping to grab a spot in the open mic - begins at 9:30 pm
FREE (I think)
Monday, August 20, 2007
Brewer's Alley, 124 N. Market St., Frederick, MD
Songwriters showcase begins at 8 pm
My 3-song set is at 8:45 pm
FREE (But donations are strongly encouraged)
