infiniteways.bandcamp.com/

Finally, a national audience gets to see local act Barefoot West‘s work in the movie “Lake Effects,” which airs at 8 p.m. Sunday on the Hallmark Movie Channel. This movie, shot at Smith Mountain Lake, includes a bar scene with Forry and a past lineup of his band performing. The air date has been rescheduled recently, so there might have been a wee bit of confusion (allayed somewhat I’m sure by updates in the facebook0sphere), but if you want to see it, Sunday night is the time.

Funk Punch raised some nice cash on Saturday for the Blue Ridge Autism Center. The band and its bassist, Chris Eanes, hosted the all-day event at Martin’s Downtown, raising $2,500, band members said, money that will go to a new playground at the center. The band is planning a festival for the center, too. Stay tuned, and if you want to donate, drop by Martin’s any time it’s open — just mention that the donation is for “Rock Out for Autism,” according to the band.

John Pence recently left Savannah Shoulders and has released a two-track project under the name Infinite Ways — find it at infiniteways.bandcamp.com. It’s some well-written, well-performed pop rock featuring Savannah Shoulders’ Max Lee on bass and drummer Danny Ortiz. It’s quality stuff from some growing young musicians. The band should be playing out in June, said Pence, who will be traveling to Europe soon, Infinite Ways digital cards in his mitts. UPDATE (1:13 p.m. 5.2.12): Zach Wiley is playing drums on one of the tracks, “Can’t Make Me.” UPDATE (1:30 p.m. 5.2.12): Also on “Can’t Make Me” are J. Vander Warner, Camellia Delk, and Jay Aaman.

202 Market, once the home of some fantastic live music before becoming the place everyone watched as fights spilled out the door, is working on an image makeover these days. And that makeover includes some talented Roanokers playing live music. One of them, keyboardist Alan Watson, is a guy I’ve heard about for quite a while but have never actually heard. He’s leading a trio at 9:30 p.m. Fridays in 202′s “SpeakEasy” room. Collared shirts only, gentlemen, 202 says. Haha! And Cory Campbell is now doing the open mic on Mondays. Click the jump to see a fuller accounting of the goings-on, courtesy of 202 PR guy (and radio personality — you know, “disc jockey” always seemed so much cooler a title for that gig, but alas, no more disc to jock) Jo Jo Soprano.

202 market
Entertainment:

We have a strict dress code for 202 now and will not bend on the attire we require our guests wear.  The crowd has become a much more mature crowd.  The “bad” image that we may have picked up over the past couple years has been put behind us.  We have opened, what we are calling, the SpeakEasy in our backroom.  This is Roanoke’s Premier Adult Night Spot.  We require all gentlemen entering the SpeakEasy to wear a collared shirt.  On Friday Nights the Alan Watson Trio performs live Jazz music beginning at 930 and on Saturdays we have Latin Night also beginning at 930.  Here is a list of our weekly night events:

Monday – Open Mic Night hosted by Cory Campbell – all genres are welcome to come show off their talents!

Tuesday – 20-2uesday – anything goes!  Quest Entertainment hosts Karaoke and DJ Dance!

Wednesday – Local live bands

Thursday – Karaoke and Dance with Quest Entertainment

Friday – Jo Jo Soprano in the City Bar and the Alan Watson Trio in the SpeakEasy

Saturday – Guest DJs from all over the country in the City Bar and Loft and Latin Night in the SpeakEasy with DJ SammyXo

All of our nightly events begin at 930pm.