Turner manages and books shows for his old friend, Jimmy Thackery, who plays Sunday at Nesselrod on the New's Sunken Gardens Sundays. Get details at Top Tickets. I'm not sure if anyone living around this region knows the ins and outs of the blues and roots music scene as well as Turner, a Salem native who has long lived in Botetourt County.
Bush and Sugarland come to Roanoke Civic Center on Friday night. Bush is a really interesting and definitely ambitious guy. He also seems like a pretty nice guy. Read story, get show information at http://www.roanoke.com/entertainment/wb/209292
Friday night will be a little crazy at Roanoke Civic Center. Pop-country hitmeisters Sugarland will headline the coliseum that night, and the Miss Virginia Pageant is happening at the performing arts theatre.
If folks show up at the rate they showed for Keith Urban and Dierks Bentley last month, it could get snarly with both pedestrian and vehicle traffic. The civic center has a few ideas to help make things go down smoother.
The civic center’s now regular Party on the Plaza starts at 5:30 p.m. Civic Center marketing director Corrie Prater said that people with Sugarland tickets can walk up to the plaza, get their tickets scanned in and chill to some DJ music, an adult beverages bar and a merchandise table — then walk into the venue for the show about 6:30 p.m.
Both the country show and the beauty pageant begin at 7:30 p.m.
Parking, shuttle, logistical information:
• Free parking at Elmwood Park Garage, Williamson Road and Tazewell Avenue.
• Free shuttles will begin running at 6 p.m.
• Civic center management encourages people to arrive early and enjoy the Party on the Plaza.
• Shuttles will run until all guests have been returned to their vehicles.
Event Information
Doors open to public: Sugarland —Party on the Plaza at 5:30 p.m.; doors to event at 6:30 p.m.; Holly Williams set begins at 7:30 p.m.
Miss Virginia — doors open at 6 p.m. Show begins at 7 p.m.
Approximate ending time: Sugarland ends about 10:30 p.m.; Miss Virginia ends about 9:30 p.m.
Prater said the civic center does not expect ticket troubles similar to those that plagued the Urban/Bentley show.
Highlights include Nu Groova, The Royal Greens, Electric Chameleon, Paul Brunett, The Dark Side Project, TK-421 and Crobar Cane.
Live Acoustic Entertainment Every Day For Lunch!!
Wed. July 1st - The Blue 5 Jam hosted by Hoppie Vaughan
Thur. July 2nd - Scott Perry & Front Porch Swing
Fri. July 3rd - Solrevolt
Sat. July 4th - The Rick Perdue Band
Wed. July 8th - The Blue Ridge Blues Society’s Meeting & Blues Jam
Thur. July 9th - The Good Sons
* Fri. July 10th - Eric Culberson
Sat. July 11th - The Fat Daddy Band
Wed. July 15th - The Blue 5 Jam hosted by Hoppie Vaughan
Thur. July 16th - The Lenny Marcus Trio
Fri. July 17th - James Pace’s B-3 Band
* Sat. July 18th – The Blue Ridge Blues & BBQ Fest After-Party hosted by Damon Fowler
Wed. July 22nd - The Blue 5 Jam hosted by Hoppie Vaughan
Thur. July 23rd - Tim Martin & Project 4
Fri. July 24th - The Ministers Of Soul
Sat. July 25th – The Cream of the Crop Blues Band
Wed. July 29th - The Blue 5 Jam hosted by Hoppie Vaughan
Thur. July 30th - Voice Of The Blue Ridge Fundraiser feat. The Elderly Brothers!!!
* Fri. July 31st - Kurt Crandall
* Sat. August 1st - Peter Karp
* - Denotes National Act
Running a bit behind on this. Sorry ...
ASTRID WILLIAMSON
"Here Come The Vikings"
(One Little Indian)
From her beginnings with the British band Goya’s Dress, Astrid Williamson has established herself as a seductive and sensitive vocalist whose flexible voice can soar to ethereal heights. Her previous work, particularly 2006’s "Day of the Lone Wolf," has tended to be lush and melancholy. But on her fourth solo album, "Here Come The Vikings," she often rocks out — to mixed success.
On the one hand, the jangly pop of "Sing The Body Electric" and the rumbling, reverberating "Slake" work well, as do the Tori Amos-like piano ballads that are more typical of Williamson’s prior work. But the buzzing "Shut Your Mouth" seems a willful ploy for modern-rock airplay, and Williamson’s weakness for lyrical cliches disrupts several songs. It’s hard to overcome awkward lines like "They say a little information can be a dangerous thing / but first impressions seldom are proved wrong," and "Falling Down" doesn’t.
— Steve Klinge, The Philadelphia Inquirer
DAVID SERBY
"Honkytonk and Vine"
(Harbor Grove)
If you didn’t surmise from the title of his new album that David Serby is from Southern California, then the music should provide more of a tipoff. Like his earlier work, it’s a classic style at the intersection of Buck Owens’ Bakersfield twang and the progressive traditionalism of more recent artists such as Dwight Yoakam and Gary Allan.
Serby manages to bring a fresh voice to it all, and why not? His life could be a country song — or several: put up for adoption at 6 months, a bad early marriage, finding out his biological father was also a country musician. Singing in a dry tenor, he digs into age-old country themes in crisp, catchy fashion, from revving up the barroom bonhomie with "Permanent Position" ("sittin’ in this honky-tonk ...") to wallowing in heartache with "I Only Smoke When I’m Drinking." Serby didn’t turn to music until after he hit 30, but this late bloomer has obviously found his calling.
—Nick Cristiano, The Philadelphia Inquirer
DIANA JONES
"Better Times Will Come"
(Proper American)
The hopeful note of the title song, which leads off Diana Jones’ new album, seems at odds with much of what follows: an adopted child (like herself) seeking family, a trapped miner expressing his love for his wife in his final hours, an abused wife threatening vengeance, a lament for a ravaged Appalachia. But it turns out to ring perfectly true, one element of the rich emotional tapestry that Jones weaves through this spare, spellbinding set.
The simple acoustic arrangements and Jones’ even, low-key delivery evoke old-time folk and mountain music, linking Jones to a long tradition. But with the brilliant economy and literate grace of her writing she creates vivid, breathing portraits, bringing out eternal truths that make this ancient style still resonate powerfully.
— N.C.
7.03.09 Funk Punch
7.04.09 Groova Scape (4th of July Party)
7.10.09 The Alliens
7.11.09 The Materia Project w/ Mighty Soul Empire
7.18.09 Big Lick Brass Band
7.24.09 PoeMack with Case Jones
7.25.09 Electric Chameleon
It's over, for now at least, for Range Da Messenga and Duality's open mic Sundays at 202 Market.
This particular open mic was my favorite around town, dating back to when I did a story about all the local jam nights. The band is funky, the singers are good and the vibes were really relaxed if raucous in a good way. But Range, nee Wayne Hancock, wrote in an e-mail that the open mic had become "something to do," and it was bringing in people who "bring their foolishness with them."
Hancock wrote: "sigh... ignorance... had a few incidences with folk acting up, fighting... we're letting it cool off for a minute. Hopefully, it's just a hiatus and we can get it back after a while. I'm just trying to get gigs for the band, working on recording an album with the band..."
I'm looking forward to anything they do next.
In its place on Sundays now is Jazz Night, beginning June 28. The 7 p.m.-10 p.m. shows will be free -- jazz night band member Greg Ayers encourages people to spend a little money in the joint, so they can keep the gig going.
Ayers will be on guitar, along with James Pace (keys) and Carlos Aranguren (drums). So that's a show, people. Go check it out.
Range and DJ Logician Mike will still be in the loft at 202 on Thursdays, doing R&B.
Well, it's only Northside High School's football stadium, but it's a gig. The first-ever Bandfest is looking for bands from local high schools to audition. Get details at the SwoCo blog.
It's always good to talk with Webb Wilder, who brings his band to the Coffee Pot on Friday night. He has a deep musical knowledge, and the skills to pay homage to greats on his records. But on his new record, "More Like Me," he's written five of the songs on his own. And they're good ones, too. Check out the 'cast for some of those tunes and conversation with Wilder. And just ignore the fact that I come off like a complete moron.
