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Here's a Sunday and Monday special (all the way through Monday night) of small screen tributes, remembrances and commemorations honoring our veterans and those lost on too damn many battlefields.
LIVE MUSIC — FESTIVALS & CONCERTS 'n such, and MUSIC NEWS — are in the May 27th edition, right here on the site at a separate click.
This is a SEPARATE edition, with
MEMORIAL DAY TV PROGRAMMING...
Plus, repeated from the May 27th edition,
"REMEMBERING WHY IT'S MEMORIAL DAY" following the tv listings.
4:30-7:30 pm "INSIDE WORLD WAR II" (2013) brings firsthand accounts with archival footage for more than 50 testimonies from American, British, German, and Soviet servicemembers. On NatGeo.
6-7:15 pm "GLORY" (1989) is a classic and a fine tribute to the African-American US "Colored Troops" in the Civil War. Without commercials on Turner Classic Movies.
5:30 pm "FALLUJAH: ART, HEALING, AND PTSD" (2016) is the story of former Marine Christian Ellis, whose experiences in Iraq i 2004 inspired the opera "Fallujah." Presented as an episode of "Artbound." On KCET.
6-7 pm "HEROES ON DECK: WORLD WAR II" (2016) chronicles the US Navy training operation on Lake Michigan where 15,000 pilots trained to land and take-off from makeshift aircraft carriers. On KLCS. (Also on other channels at other times.)
6-9 pm-midnight "MIDWAY" (1976) is the big screen rendition of the miraculous WW II naval victory by vastly outnumbered US forces against the Japanese juggernaut. A fictional subplot with Charlton Heston is rather silly. Otherwise quite accurate. On Sundance West.
★★★★ 7:15-10:15 pm "THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES" (1947) is without question the ultimate movie for Memorial Day. You must see this film. Without commercials on Turner Classic Movies.
7:40-8 pm "SANDS OF WAR" (2015) is the overlooked story of the Desert Training Center, established by General George Patton in the Mojave Desert to prepare one million soldiers to enter the battle and win World War II. On KCET.
7:30-10 pm "RED TAILS" (2012) is the big-budget movie about the pioneering breakthrough by African-American fighter pilots in WW II, when black service members were relegated to menial jobs. The movie was panned by critics, but if you don't know the story, you should. On NatGeo.
8-9:30 pm "NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT" (2016) is this year's musical extravaganza tribute from Washington, DC. On KOCE, aka PBS SoCal.
9 pm-midnight "MIDWAY" (1976) is the big screen rendition of the miraculous WW II naval victory by vastly outnumbered US forces against the Japanese juggernaut. A fictional subplot with Charlton Heston is rather silly. Otherwise quite accurate. On Sundance.
9:30-11 pm "NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT" (2016). Late repeat on KOCE, aka PBS SoCal.
9-10:30 pm "INTO HARM'S WAY" (2011) chronicles the West Point class of 1967, which was thrown into the meat grinder of Vietnam. On KCET.
10:15 pm-12:30 am "M*A*S*H" (1970) is the film from the book that unintentionally launched the tv series. Without commercials on Turner Classic Movies.
10:30-11:30 pm "HEROES ON DECK: WORLD WAR II" (2016) chronicles the US Navy training operation on Lake Michigan where 15,000 pilots trained to land and take-off from makeshift aircraft carriers. On KCET. (Also on other channels at other times.)
11 pm-midnight "HALLOWED GROUNDS" (2009) is a tour of WW I and WW II US military cemeteries overseas, with stories and photos of men and women who rest in them. On KOCE, aka PBS SoCal.
Midnight-1:30 am (Monday) "RED TAILS" (2012). Latenight repeat, on NatGeo.
Midnight-3 am (Monday) "MIDWAY" (1976). Latenight repeat on Sundance West.
★★★★ 12:30-3:15 am (Monday) "THE BIG PARADE" (1925) is an early film classic and a landmark anti-war statement on par with "The Red Badge of Courage" and "All Quiet on the Western Front." You must see this film. Without commercials on Turner Classic Movies.
12:40-2 am (Monday) "INTO HARM'S WAY" (2011). Latenight repeat on KCET.
1:30-2 am (Monday) "EYEWITNESS WAR" (2013) is about a small group of US troops in Afghanistan. On NatGeo.
2-3 am (Monday) "DICK WINTERS: HANG TOUGH" (2012) profiles the genuine WW II hero of "Band of Brothers" who lived 1918-2011. On PBS+.
2-6 am (Monday) "BATTLE FOR THE ATLANTIC" (2010) id a four-episode marathon of the WW II naval series. On Smithsonian Channel.
2-3 am (Monday) "HEROES ON DECK: WORLD WAR II" (2016). Latenight repeat on KCET.
3-4 am (Monday) "ESCAPE IN THE PACIFIC: 1943" (2014) recounts the the 1943 escape from a brutal Japanese POW camp. On PBS+.
3-4 am (Monday) "ULTIMATE WARFARE" (2013) is an episode of the series, this one about US Marines under dirge for 77 days at Khe Sanh, Vietnam in 1968. On AmHeroesCh.
3:15-6 am (Monday) "BATTLE CRY" (1955) is adapted from Leon Uris novel of Marines in WW II. Critics hated it. The public loved it. Without commercials on Turner Classic Movies.
4-5 am (Monday) "D-DAY: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM" (2007) brings five veterans back to Omaha Beach, where 9,387 of their comrades are buried. On PBS+.
4-5 am (Monday) "ULTIMATE WARFARE" (2013) is an episode of the series, this one an analysis of thr WW II Battle of the Bulge. On AmHeroesCh.
5-6 am (Monday) "OMAHA BEACH: HONOR AND SACRIFICE" (2015) brings veterans discussing D-Day. On PBS+.
5 am-6 pm (Monday) "WORLD WAR II IN COLOR" (2009) is a marathon of the entire series. On AmHeroesCh.
★★★★ 6-8:30 am (Monday) "SERGEANT YORK" (1941) won the Best Actor Oscar for Gary Cooper as real-life WW I Conscientious Objector hero Alvin York who singlehandledly captured 132 Germans in one day. You must see this film. Without commercials on Turner Classic Movies.
6-7 am (Monday) "NAVY HEROES OF NORMANDY" (2009). On PBS +.
7-8 am "D-DAY 360" (2014) is a documentary that uses LiDAR technology for battlefield archaeology. On PBS+.
8-11 am "AMERICAN WAR STORIES: VIETNAM" (2016) is all three parts of the series. On PBS+.
8:30-11:15 am "55 DAYS AT PEKING" (1962) tells the epic story of a multinational occupying military force besieged by indigenous Chinese in the 1900 Boxer Rebellion. Strangely resonates with today's conflicts. Without commercials on Turner Classic Movies.
11 am-5 pm REPEATS of various programs already listed. On PBS+.
11:15 am-2:15 pm "THE GREAT ESCAPE" (1963) is an absolutely classic war movie. Without commercials on Turner Classic Movies.
2:15-5 pm "THE GUNS OF NAVARONE' (1961) is considered a war classic, but it's an improbable plot with a lot of shooting and explosions. Without commercials on Turner Classic Movies.
4-5 pm (Monday) "DEBT OF HONOR: DISABLED VETS" (2015) chronicles how the US has treated our veterans from the Revolutionary War to the present. On PBS World.
★★★★ 5-6 pm "JEREMIAH" (2015) is the story of POW hero Jeremiah Denton who underwent repeated torture. On PBS World.
5-7:46 pm ""WHERE EAGLES DARE" (1969) is considered a war classic, but it's predictable with a lot of shooting and explosions. Without commercials on Turner Classic Movies.
6-8 pm (Monday) "STORMING NORMANDY" (2015) is both parts of the series about D-Day, the allied invasion to liberate Europe from the Nazis. On AmHeroesCh.
7:45-10:15 pm "KELLY'S HEROES" (1970) is a goofy romp that projects Vietnamesque characters into WW II. Without commercials on Turner Classic Movies.
8-9 pm (Monday) "WORLD WAR II IN COLOR" (2009) is a repeat of the final episode of the series. On AmHeroesCh.
9-11 pm (Monday) "STORMING NORMANDY" (2015) repeats. On AmHeroesCh.
10:15 pm-12:30 am (Monday-Tues) "DARBY'S RANGERS" (1958) is the tale of the pioneering US commandos who spearheaded the WW II Allied invasion at Anzio, Italy. Without commercials on Turner Classic Movies.
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(Repeated from the May 27th edition)
# 11 news feature...
REMEMBERING WHY IT'S MEMORIAL DAY
Let's take at least a moment to remember the men and women who wear uniforms and put their lives on the line. While we can argue, quite reasonably, about whether any given conflict should have happened, those in uniform must answer the call when it comes.
It has always been so. Thus, the forerunner of Memorial Day came about to honor Civil War dead. And then all those who followed them. Now, we are rapidly losing the remaining members of "the Greatest Generation" who fought and won World War II. Many alive this Memorial Day will not see next year's.
All the veterans of World War I have passed. Those who endured and survived Vietnam are joining their dead comrades.
We must never again confuse a war with the warriors who entered into their contract of military service because they were willing to risk their lives to keep us safe. It doesn't always turn out that way, given boneheaded actions on the international stage and greed and quests for power by those who should not have it.
But that must never stop us from honoring all our living veterans and all those who died in battle. And those lost in unresolved turmoil of an unseen, unending battle that continued in their mind. Or who have passed after doing their duty to military service, and then in civilian life.
We always like to take this occasion to honor all those who do faithful service in any uniform. Firefighters, law enforcement. Park and forest rangers. And all who have fallen doing those jobs, as well.
Thank you for your service.
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More music news is in numerous recent editions. More coming soon, on additional topics.
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The Guide brings you frequent editions covering MUSIC NEWS, arts and industry events, and ticket alerts, available right here on the Guide's Blogspot site.
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♪ The ACOUSTIC AMERICANA MUSIC GUIDE endeavors to bring you NEWS and views of interest to artists everywhere, more specifically to musicians and the creative community and music makers and fans of acoustic and Folk-Americana music, both traditional and innovative forms. From the deepest roots to today’s acoustic renaissance, that’s our beat. We provide a wealth of resources, including a HUGE catalog of acoustic-friendly venues, and schedules and inside info on FESTIVALS and select performances in Southern California in venues monumentally large and intimately small and cozy. We cover workshops and other events for artists and folks in the music industry, and all kinds o’ things in the world of acoustic and Americana and accessible classical music. From washtub bass to musical spoons to oboe to viola to banjo to squeezebox, from Djangostyle to new-fangled-old-time string band music, from sweet Cajun fiddle to bluegrass and pre-bluegrass Appalachian mountain music to all the roots of the blues and where the music is headed now.
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The Acoustic Americana Music Guide. Thanks for sittin' a spell.
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Sunday, May 29, 2016
Friday, May 27, 2016
Memorial Day Music: Festivals, Concerts, plus News, 'n all kinds a things!
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MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND EDITION
In addition to being the culturally unofficial start of summer, the big three-day weekend brings THREE FESTIVALS to Southern California.
We have the deets on that, plus CONCERTS & such, Friday through Monday, plus news of freshly added events at some top venues, a lil' music news, "Words & Music from the Campaign Trail," AND a tribute for Memorial Day.
Let's get started.
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In this edition...
(Stories on festivals are first)
1) SIMI CAJUN & BLUES FESTIVAL, SAT & SUN
2) ORANGE COUNTY SCOTTISH FEST, SAT & SUN
3) TOPANGA DAYS FAIR, SAT-SUN-MON
4) TWO BLUEGRASS FESTS COMING IN JUNE
5) WORKSHOPS THIS WEEKEND
6) CONCERTS 'N SUCH, FRIDAY THRU MONDAY
7) Focus: UPCOMING FRET HOUSE SHOWS
8) Focus: ARCADIA BLUES CLUB SHOWS
9) Focus: McCABE's NEWLY ADDED SHOWS
10) WORDS & MUSIC & THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
11) REMEMBERING WHY IT'S MEMORIAL DAY
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# 1 news feature...
SIMI CAJUN & BLUES FESTIVAL, SAT & SUN
The 27th Annual "SIMI VALLEY CAJUN & BLUES FESTIVAL" brings a gumbo bowlful of Southern Louisiana music, food of the region, and assorted cultural trappings, with kids activities, Mardi Gras Parades, and more. It's Saturday & Sunday at the Rancho Santa Susana Community Park, 5005 Los Angeles Av, Simi Valley 93063; www.simicajun.org; much more at http://cajunbluesblog.com/
Sponsored the Rotary Club Simi-Sunrise, the festival benefits local charities.
Tix: $20/day, either day; $35 two-day pass.
Tix info: http://wl.flavorus.com/event/Simi-Valley-Cajun-and-Blues-Music-Festival/313317?afflky=RotaryClubofSimiSunrise
Sat, May 28, 10:30 am–8 pm:
• BLUES STAGE - Guy Martin, Barbara Morrison, Rebirth Brass Band, Eric Burdon & The Animals, Dwayne Dopsie.
• CAJUN – ZYDECO STAGE - Bayou Brothers, Dwayne Dopsie, Doug Kershaw with Steve Riley, Chubby Carrier, Mark St. Mary.
Sun, May 29, 10:30 am–8 pm:
• BLUES STAGE - Kelly’s Lot, Alvon Johnson, Booker T, Leon Russell, Reverend Tall Tree.
• CAJUN–ZYDECO STAGE - Bonne Musique Zydeco, Jo-El Sonnier, Chubby Carrier, Doug Kershaw with Steve Riley, Dwayne Dopsie.
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# 2 news feature...
ORANGE COUNTY SCOTTISH FEST, SAT & SUN
The annual "ORANGE COUNTY SCOTTISH FEST" is Southern California's largest Scottish Fair and Highland Games, with plenty of Celtic music, food, and more, at the Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa 92626; www.scottishfest.com
Tix info: we could not get their website to open at press time.
Featured music acts:
Bad Haggis, Christopher Yates, Highland Way, Neil O’Neil, The Ploughboys, Scottish Fiddlers of Los Angeles, Sligo Rags, Wicked Tinkers, and others.
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# 3 news feature...
TOPANGA DAYS FAIR, SAT-SUN-MON
The 43rd Annual "TOPANGA DAYS FAIR" is the only local music fest that runs all three days. It has two stages, one indoors, a big kids zone, lots of food choices, beer, and more, at the Topanga Community Club Fairgrounds, 1440 N Topanga Canyon Bl, Topanga 90290; 310-455-1980; http://topangadays.com
Tix: $25/day adults, $15 kids.
Military w/i.d. gets in free on Monday.
Tix info: http://topangadays.com/ticketing/
The road closes for three hours Monday morning for the parade through the heart of Topanga Canyon. So get in and parked EARLY on Monday for that.
Good newspaper story:
www.dailynews.com%2Farts-and-entertainment%2F20160525%2Ftopanga-days-appeals-to-a-sense-of-nostalgia-that-isnt-lost-on-steve-berlin
Scheduled music acts...
Sat, May 28, 11 am-6 pm: Masanga Marimba, Fishtank Ensemble, Topanga Ukulele Revival, Lilt’n’tang & The Regulars, plus others.
Sun, May 29, 11 am-6 pm: Blame Sally, Incendio, Los Lobos, Melanie Kareem Belly Dancers, plus others.
Mon, May 30, 11 am-6 pm: Calico the Band, Venice, Murphy’s Flaw, plus others.
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# 4 news feature...
TWO BLUEGRASS FESTS COMING IN JUNE
Set aside these dates, 'cause you'll want to take the extra days off to add to the weekends and not miss anything.
First up, the annual "Huck Finn Jubilee Bluegrass Festival" is going strong since its move from Victorville to Ontario and change of sponsorship to the Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau. This year's festival is June 10-12, with a great line-up.
Next, there's the newer annual "Route 66 Bluegrass Festival" out in Victorville, because the desert folks just couldn't lose their taste for banjo and all the visitors who brought one. Or a fiddle. Or a mandolin. It happens the following week, June 16-19.
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# 5 news feature...
WORKSHOPS THIS WEEKEND
Saturday, 6:30 pm in L.A., there's a PERCUSSION WORKSHOP with BRANDON TERZIC & NACHO ARIMANY at the Markaz, 5998 W Pico Bl, in Los Angeles 90035. Call for info and to reserve your spot: 323-413-2001.
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# 6 news feature...
CONCERTS 'N SUCH, FRIDAY THRU MONDAY
Reminder to also check the festivals listings. Here's what's up in the performance venues around Southern California's acoustic and Folk-Americana scene.
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FRIDAY, MAY 27 Concerts, etc.:
6-10 pm Weekly "MONROVIA FAMILY FESTIVAL" is FREE, with plenty of music, some of it acoustic, including the weekly "KATTYWOMPUS CONCERT & JAM" at 8 pm, which goes out live on the web, from Dollmakers Kattywompus, 412 S Myrtle Av, Monrovia 91016; 626-357-1091. Info, call Jennifer Ranger, 626-357-1091.
6-8 pm Fri.: Monthly "MOUNTAIN MUSIC JAM" at Joel's Canyon Shack, on Silverado Canyon Road, Silverado (OC).
7 pm Fri.: TODD MOSBY plays SOHo Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State St, Santa Barbara 93101; 805-962 7776.
7 & 9 pm Fri.: Acoustic Bluesmaster DOUG MacLEOD plays two shows at Alva’s Showroom, 1417 W 8th St, San Pedro 90732; 310-519-1314.
7:30 pm Fri.: PAT DONOHUE of "A Prairie Home Companion" fame plays the first of three shows in different OC venues for the "Lord Of The Strings Concert Series," this one at the Dana Point Community House, 24642 San Juan St, Dana Point 92629; tix, 949-842-2227 or 949-244-6656.
8 pm Fri.: PRESTON SMITH & THE CROCODILES, plus BOBBY BLUEHOUSE, play the Arcadia Blues Club, 16 E Huntington Dr, Arcadia. Less than a mile S of the 210 Fwy, Santa Anita offramp. Discount advance tix at:
http://arcadiabluesclub.ticketleap.com
8 pm Fri.: TARA LOUISE plays the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations (10 am-10 pm, 7 days) 626-798-6236.
8-11 pm Fri.: THE PLOUGHBOYS play their weekly Friday residency at the Tam O' Shanter Ale & Sandwich Bar Lounge, 2980 Los Feliz Bl, Los Feliz 90039; 323-664-0228 or 818-507-8445.
8-11 pm Fri.: Monthly "ROOTS MUSIC NIGHT" at Alex's Bar, 2913 E Anaheim St, Long Beach 90804; 562-434-8292.
10 pm Fri.: WE THE FOLK play the Hotel Café, 1623 1/2 N Cahuenga Bl (1st blk S of Hollywood Bl), Hollywood 90038; 323-461-2040. Check the venue's website to see if one price is good for the full evening from as early as 7 pm; that varies: www.hotelcafe.com
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SATURDAY, MAY 28 Concerts, etc.:
Noon Sat.: CLIFF LATIMER & LAURA OSBORN play Cody's Viva Cantina, 900 Riverside Dr, Burbank 91506; 818-845-2425. Free with menu or bar item purchase. Park free at Pickwick Bowl.
1-4 pm Sat.: Monthly "OLD TIME MUSIC / TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN FIDDLE & BANJO JAM" outdoors beneath big trees at the Audubon Nature Center in Debs Park, 4700 N Griffin Av, Highland Park (L.A.); off the 110 Fwy in 90031; 323-221-2255.
2 pm Sat.: "CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE & LEGEND OF MERLE HAGGARD" is a multiartist event at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations a must, it'll sell-out, call 10 am-10 pm, 626-798-6236.
5-6:45 pm Sat.: Monthly "LIVING TRADITION FOLK MUSIC JAM" is free at the Anaheim Downtown Community Center, 250 E Center St, Anaheim.
6:30 pm Sat.: THE LUMINEERS play the Santa Barbara Bowl, 1122 N Milpas St, Santa Barbara 93103; 805-962-7411.
6:30-10:30 pm Weekly "BLUEGRASS CONCERTS" series at Me-n-Ed's Pizza Parlor, 4115 Paramount Bl, Lakewood 90712; 562-421-8908.
7 pm Sat.: PAT DONOHUE of "A Prairie Home Companion" fame plays the second of three shows in different OC venues for the "Lord of the Strings Concert Series," this one at the Mission Viejo Civic Center 100 Civic Center Dr, Mission Viejo 92691; tix, 949-842-2227 or 949-244-6656.
7 pm Sat.: GONZALEZ FAMILY and LA VICTORIA play "Caminos Y Canciones" ("Roads and Songs") with Gabriel & Martha Gonzalez of the Quetzal Band; Claudia Gonzalez-Miranda of the Cava Band; Mary Alfaro on guitar; Vaneza Calderón on guitarrón; and Rosalie Rodriguez on violin; at the Japanese American Community & Cultural Center, in thr Aratani Theatre, 244 S San Pedro St, downtown Los Angeles 90012; 213-628-2725.
7 pm Sat.: THE BURGANS & THOLO CHAN return to the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations (10 am-10 pm) 626-798-6236.
7:30 pm Sat.: BERKLEY HART play the AMSD Concerts series in the Laura R. Charles Theater at Sweetwater High School, 2900 Highland Av, National City 91950.
7:30-10:30 pm Sat.: GRATEFUL DUDES BLUEGRASS plays their twice-monthly free show at Vincenzo's Pizza, 24500 Lyons Av (near the I-5 offramp), Newhall 91350.
8 pm Sat.: "WIZARDS OF THE WEST COAST HARP," plus BOBBY BLUEHOUSE, play the Arcadia Blues Club, 16 E Huntington Dr, Arcadia. Less than a mile S of the 210 Fwy, Santa Anita offramp. "Wizards of the West Coast Harp" are Rod and Honey Piazza, Billy Watson, Jacob Walters, Barry G, and a special guest. Discount advance tix at:
http://arcadiabluesclub.ticketleap.com
8 pm Sat.: PHRANC plays McCabe’s, 3101 Pico Bl, Santa Monica 90405; 310-828-4497. Also see the feature on upcoming shows at McCabe's.
8 pm Sat.: THE SALTY SUITES take a break from the festival circuit to play their high energy folk, traditional, and original tunes (http://thesaltysuites.com) at the Fret House, 309 N Citrus Av, Covina 91723; 626-339-7020. Also see the feature on upcoming shows at The Fret House.
9 pm KEN O'MALLEY plays his monthly residency of authentic and original Irish music at Griffins of Kinsale, 1007 Mission St, South Pasadena; 626-799-0926.
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SUNDAY, MAY 29 Concerts, etc.:
9:30 am- 2:30 pm Sun.: Weekly "BLUEGRASS BRUNCH" at Urban Solace, 3823 30th St, San Diego 92104; 619-295-6464.
3 pm Sun.: PAT DONOHUE of "A Prairie Home Companion" fame plays the third of three shows in different OC venues for the "Lord of the Strings Concert Series," this one at LCA Wine at SOCO Center, 3303-3323 Hyland Av, Costa Mesa 92626; tix, 949-842-2227 or 949-244-6656.
3 & 7 pm Sun.: JIM & ANNE CURRY play their acclaimed "Tribute to the Music Of John Denver" for two shows at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations a must (it always sells-out), 626-798-6236 (10 am-10 pm, 7 days).
4-7 pm Sun.: Weekly "TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSION" at the Auld Dubliner, 71 S Pine Av, Long Beach 90802; 562-437-8300.
6 pm Sun.: PETER FELDMANN & BLAINE SPROUSE play a House Concert in Goleta (near Santa Barbara). Reservations get directions at 805-688-9894.
6:30 pm Sun.: Monthly "FOLK MUSIC OPEN MIC" at the Folk Music Center, 220 Yale Av, Claremont 91711; 909-624- 2928.
7 pm Sun.: JIM & ANNE CURRY play their acclaimed "Tribute to the Music Of John Denver" for two shows (3 & 7 pm) at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations a must (it always sells-out), 626-798-6236 (10 am-10 pm, 7 days).
7:30-11 pm Sun.: Weekly "IRISH MUSIC SESSION" at O'Brien's Irish Pub & Restaurant, 2226 Wilshire Bl, Santa Monica 90403; 310-829-5303.
7:30 pm Sun.: WE THE FOLK play their weekly residency at the Culver Hotel, 9400 Culver Bl, Culver City; 310-558-9400; info from Sean O'Hara 925-216 8993, wethefolkmusic@gmail.com
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MONDAY, MAY 30 Concerts, etc.:
Late addition...
8 pm Mon.: GUY DAVIS with MATT CARTSONIS at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations, 626-798-6236 (10 am-10 pm, 7 days). Matt Cartsonis, former Austin Lounge Lizard and wonderfully adept multi-instrumentalist, tells us: "Guy’s a great bluesman, as well as an accomplished actor and activist. The son of Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, and if that rhymes, that’s because he just naturally inspires that sort of thing. He’s full of songs and stories and history, and I promise you’ll dig the hell out of him. Also: This is a MONDAY. People don’t, especially in L.A., tend to go out on Mondays. We know that. But Guy’s here on his way North, and this was our one chance to do something, and we’re doing it. Defy convention (and news about the convention). Have some fun on a Monday night. You won’t be out that late, and you’ll hear some great stuff. Come see us, and support, early in the week, live music in your town! We want to see YOU! Thanks,M.C."
More at: http://guydavis.com/wp/bio
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# 7 news feature...
Focus: UPCOMING FRET HOUSE SHOWS
This basement concert room is literally an underground music scene of great local renown.
The Fret House, 309 N Citrus Av, Covina 91723; 626-639-7020; frethouse@earthlink.net; www.frethouse.com
Here's what's up:
√ Sat. May 28, 8 pm - The Salty Suites - High energy Folk & traditional - http://thesaltysuites.com
√ Sat. June 11th - Rick Shea / Ernest Troost - acoustic/singer/songwriters - www.rickshea.com and www.ernesttroost.com
√ Sat. June 18th -Corrina Carter - local favorite,new album - https://www.reverbnation.com/corrinacarter $15
√ Sat. June 25th - Phil Salazar & Mark Heyes - Folk & Bluegrass originals & favorites - http://markandphilmusic.com/
All showtimes 8 pm, doors at 7:30. Tix are $20 except where noted The first Sat of the month there is open mic night.
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# 8 news feature...
Focus: ARCADIA BLUES CLUB SHOWS
It's a fun venue, all ages, full bar, good food with generous portions (two can share). But bring earplugs. Seriously. Located at 16 E Huntington Dr, Arcadia. Less than a mile S of the 210 Fwy, Santa Anita offramp.
The splendid house band, BOBBY BLUEHOUSE, occupies the stage at the opposite end from the headlining guest band. So there is never much of a break in the action. Always a good time here, and there are bar specials if you ask. Doors at 7 for seats, food, bar, and pool tables. Live music starts at 8 pm.
√ Fri, May 27: Preston Smith & the Crocodiles. Tix $10 adv, $15 door.
√ Sat, May 28: "Wizards of the West Coast Harp" are Rod and Honey Piazza, Billy Watson, Jacob Walters, Barry G, and a special guest. Tix $15 adv, $20 door.
√ Fri, Jun 3, 8 pm: Ray Goren. Tix $10 adv, $15 door.
√ Sat, Jun 4, 8 pm: Orphan Jon & the Abandoned. Tix $5 adv, $10 door.
√ Fri, Jun 17, 8 pm: Alastair Green. Tix $5 adv, $10 door.
√ Sat, Jun 18, 8 pm: Jason Ricci & the Bad Kind. Tix $10 adv, $15 door.
√ Fri, Jun 24, 8 pm: James Intveldt. Tix $15 adv, $20 door.
√ Sat, Jun 25, 8 pm: Guitar Shorty. Tix $20 adv, $25 door.
Discount advance tickets available for all concerts at:
http://arcadiabluesclub.ticketleap.com
More info at:
www.arcadiabluesclub.com
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# 9 news feature...
Focus: McCABE's NEWLY ADDED SHOWS
The concert hall behind McCabe's Guitar Shop, at 3101 Pico Bl, Santa Monica, is justifiably famous. Here's what's up there.
UPCOMING AT McCABE's...
McCabe's June 17 show with Sarah Jarosz has been sold out for a while now, but she's got a show at the Troubadour the night before on June 16. McCabe's is helping them out by getting the word out about this show.
NEWLY-ADDED AT McCABE's...
They're adding new shows to their upcoming roster all the time:
• Be Good Tanyas founders Jolie Holland and Samantha Parton on Jul 23.
• "The Titan of The Telecaster" Bill Kirchen on Aug 28.
Tickets for these two shows went on sale Friday.
Tix & info:
www.mccabes.com
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# 10 news feature...
WORDS & MUSIC & THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
A few weeks ago, we did a feature story on the role of music in various presidential campaigns, including how some candidates have gotten in deep doo doo by using music by artists who have taken great issue with being identified with certain candidates.
Let's take a moment to consider that none of us should get lost in the trivial, and to realize that, for an artist, that kind of thing is not trivial.
This Barnum & Bailey election is representative of plenty of very real-life concerns. Riding the MTA busses throughout Los Angeles since the economic collapse of 2008, we have come to know plenty of people riding between a multiplicity of low-wage, part-time jobs. We cheered when the "Fight for Fifteen" succeeded first in L.A. and San Francisco, and then statewide in California. We've spotted some stalwart troubadours at demonstrations here and on tv. But there's a long way still to go.
Nearly eight thousand McDonald's workers have set up an "occupation" camp outside the burger purveyor's corporate headquarters in Oak Park, Illinois. They're just in time for the big annual shareholder's meeting. The workers are demanding a fifteen-dollar hourly minimum wage, in conjunction with the national, multi-industry "Fight for Fifteen," which the company's former CEO has called "nonsense." Of course, that ex-exec is set for life, and now his successor, the company's present CEO is making millions a year in the position. But, somehow, that's not "nonsense."
Little wonder the "occupying" McDonald's employees are also fighting for the right to unionize. And corporate media seems to be ignoring them. Which is disgraceful.
One presidential candidate has marched with striking workers fighting for a fifteen dollar wage. He has marched with striking Verizon workers seeking to protect their hard-won health and retirement benefits that their employer seeks to take from them, even in the face of record profits. The Guide has endorsed that candidate. His name is Bernie Sanders.
We attended one of his Southern California rallies this week. The canned music appropriately conveyed the "Feel the Bern" theme, with "Burnin' for You" by Blue Oyster Cult, the old disco tune "Burn, Baby Burn," and plenty of folk music by Bob Dylan and Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
Here's a little about the rest of the event.
While waiting outdoors in a very long line, one parked car revealed itself to contain Trumpsters, protesting. They chain smoked in the sustained and gusty wind, trying to hold onto their signs. They were such a novelty that a few people took selfies with them, one remarking, "Nobody who knows me would ever figure I'd be in the same photo with a Trump sign. Especially at a Bernie rally! I'll have fun with that!"
The best crowd line of that or any Bernie rally was directed at the Trumpsters, huddling behind their open car doors in the wind, with cigarettes and signs: "You're driving an '03 Hyundai. You're voting for the wrong guy!"
Cracked up everyone in earshot.
People had to get processed-in, past metal detectors, by Secret Service and TSA. Long before we reached the door, it was evident the line was enormous. It disappeared off somewhere into the distance in S-curves that looked like multicolored streamers, after wrapping all the way around the huge fairgrounds parking lot. It mudt have been more than a mile long.
Bernie was very late getting to the venue. He probably started speaking about 7:15-7:20. He spoke an hour, then did a big ropeline meet'n greet where he was as popular as a rock star.
He covered every conceivable topic of domestic and economic policy and had the crowd cheering throughout.
And that was quite a feat, because people were exhausted after waiting outdoors in that very strong wind for two to three hours or more, then waiting indoors where it was too cramped for all but a few to sit on the floor.
It was absolute capacity. The crowd was mostly youthful, interspersed with people whose ages ranged to elderly. There were fsr more women and girls than men and boys. They were black, white, brown. Asian heritage from throughout that continent. Pacific Islanders. Latinos. African Americans. Packed together, radiant smiles, thrilled to share the moment.
Speaker towers were set-up outdoors for the overflow, and a kid next to me had a message from his friend outside that there were hundreds more there. An employee at the venue — a huge exhibit hall — later said it had never been at capacity with so many choosing to remain outside in somewhat harsh conditions for any other event.
Bernie Sanders electrifies a crowd. Simply by talking sense and talking hope for ways to build a future we can all share, where our hard work and perseverance is rewarded.
He never even mentioned Hillary Clinton. He had no reason to. He laid out his programs and agenda. It leaves hers in the dust.
Once outside, the t-shirt and hat and hot dog vendors were doing a land-office business. With so many there, it took quite a while for traffic to clear. Think sports stadium with one gate.
Notably, everyone was polite getting to the road. There is a residual positive energy, a genuine hope in the midst of so much electile dysfunction.
Even leaving, it wasn't over. From a closed car, you could hear the cheer emanating from rolled-down windows, continuing from the rally: "Go Bernie!" over the music of radios playing everything from pop to country to folk to rap to hip-hop. Improbable but true: positive hope in 2016.
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# 11 news feature...
REMEMBERING WHY IT'S MEMORIAL DAY
Let's take at least a moment to remember the men and women who wear uniforms and put their lives on the line. While we can argue, quite reasonably, about whether any given conflict should have happened, those in uniform must answer the call when it comes.
It has always been so. Thus, the forerunner of Memorial Day came about to honor Civil War dead. And then all those who followed them. Now, we are rapidly losing the remaining members of "the Greatest Generation" who fought and won World War II. Many alive this Memorial Day will not see next year's.
All the veterans of World War I have passed. Those who endured and survived Vietnam are joining their dead comrades.
We must never again confuse a war with the warriors who entered into their contract of military service because they were willing to risk their lives to keep us safe. It doesn't always turn out that way, given boneheaded actions on the international stage and greed and quests for power by those who should not have it.
But that must never stop us from honoring all our living veterans and all those who died in battle. And those lost in unresolved turmoil of an unseen, unending battle that continued in their mind. Or who have passed after doing their duty to military service, and then in civilian life.
We always like to take this occasion to honor all those who do faithful service in any uniform. Firefighters, law enforcement. Park and forest rangers. And all who have fallen doing those jobs, as well.
Thank you for your service.
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♪ The ACOUSTIC AMERICANA MUSIC GUIDE endeavors to bring you NEWS and views of interest to artists everywhere, more specifically to musicians and the creative community and music makers and fans of acoustic and Folk-Americana music, both traditional and innovative forms. From the deepest roots to today’s acoustic renaissance, that’s our beat. We provide a wealth of resources, including a HUGE catalog of acoustic-friendly venues, and schedules and inside info on FESTIVALS and select performances in Southern California in venues monumentally large and intimately small and cozy. We cover workshops and other events for artists and folks in the music industry, and all kinds o’ things in the world of acoustic and Americana and accessible classical music. From washtub bass to musical spoons to oboe to viola to banjo to squeezebox, from Djangostyle to new-fangled-old-time string band music, from sweet Cajun fiddle to bluegrass and pre-bluegrass Appalachian mountain music to all the roots of the blues and where the music is headed now.
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The Acoustic Americana Music Guide. Thanks for sittin' a spell.
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MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND EDITION
In addition to being the culturally unofficial start of summer, the big three-day weekend brings THREE FESTIVALS to Southern California.
We have the deets on that, plus CONCERTS & such, Friday through Monday, plus news of freshly added events at some top venues, a lil' music news, "Words & Music from the Campaign Trail," AND a tribute for Memorial Day.
Let's get started.
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In this edition...
(Stories on festivals are first)
1) SIMI CAJUN & BLUES FESTIVAL, SAT & SUN
2) ORANGE COUNTY SCOTTISH FEST, SAT & SUN
3) TOPANGA DAYS FAIR, SAT-SUN-MON
4) TWO BLUEGRASS FESTS COMING IN JUNE
5) WORKSHOPS THIS WEEKEND
6) CONCERTS 'N SUCH, FRIDAY THRU MONDAY
7) Focus: UPCOMING FRET HOUSE SHOWS
8) Focus: ARCADIA BLUES CLUB SHOWS
9) Focus: McCABE's NEWLY ADDED SHOWS
10) WORDS & MUSIC & THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
11) REMEMBERING WHY IT'S MEMORIAL DAY
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# 1 news feature...
SIMI CAJUN & BLUES FESTIVAL, SAT & SUN
The 27th Annual "SIMI VALLEY CAJUN & BLUES FESTIVAL" brings a gumbo bowlful of Southern Louisiana music, food of the region, and assorted cultural trappings, with kids activities, Mardi Gras Parades, and more. It's Saturday & Sunday at the Rancho Santa Susana Community Park, 5005 Los Angeles Av, Simi Valley 93063; www.simicajun.org; much more at http://cajunbluesblog.com/
Sponsored the Rotary Club Simi-Sunrise, the festival benefits local charities.
Tix: $20/day, either day; $35 two-day pass.
Tix info: http://wl.flavorus.com/event/Simi-Valley-Cajun-and-Blues-Music-Festival/313317?afflky=RotaryClubofSimiSunrise
Sat, May 28, 10:30 am–8 pm:
• BLUES STAGE - Guy Martin, Barbara Morrison, Rebirth Brass Band, Eric Burdon & The Animals, Dwayne Dopsie.
• CAJUN – ZYDECO STAGE - Bayou Brothers, Dwayne Dopsie, Doug Kershaw with Steve Riley, Chubby Carrier, Mark St. Mary.
Sun, May 29, 10:30 am–8 pm:
• BLUES STAGE - Kelly’s Lot, Alvon Johnson, Booker T, Leon Russell, Reverend Tall Tree.
• CAJUN–ZYDECO STAGE - Bonne Musique Zydeco, Jo-El Sonnier, Chubby Carrier, Doug Kershaw with Steve Riley, Dwayne Dopsie.
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# 2 news feature...
ORANGE COUNTY SCOTTISH FEST, SAT & SUN
The annual "ORANGE COUNTY SCOTTISH FEST" is Southern California's largest Scottish Fair and Highland Games, with plenty of Celtic music, food, and more, at the Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa 92626; www.scottishfest.com
Tix info: we could not get their website to open at press time.
Featured music acts:
Bad Haggis, Christopher Yates, Highland Way, Neil O’Neil, The Ploughboys, Scottish Fiddlers of Los Angeles, Sligo Rags, Wicked Tinkers, and others.
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# 3 news feature...
TOPANGA DAYS FAIR, SAT-SUN-MON
The 43rd Annual "TOPANGA DAYS FAIR" is the only local music fest that runs all three days. It has two stages, one indoors, a big kids zone, lots of food choices, beer, and more, at the Topanga Community Club Fairgrounds, 1440 N Topanga Canyon Bl, Topanga 90290; 310-455-1980; http://topangadays.com
Tix: $25/day adults, $15 kids.
Military w/i.d. gets in free on Monday.
Tix info: http://topangadays.com/ticketing/
The road closes for three hours Monday morning for the parade through the heart of Topanga Canyon. So get in and parked EARLY on Monday for that.
Good newspaper story:
www.dailynews.com%2Farts-and-entertainment%2F20160525%2Ftopanga-days-appeals-to-a-sense-of-nostalgia-that-isnt-lost-on-steve-berlin
Scheduled music acts...
Sat, May 28, 11 am-6 pm: Masanga Marimba, Fishtank Ensemble, Topanga Ukulele Revival, Lilt’n’tang & The Regulars, plus others.
Sun, May 29, 11 am-6 pm: Blame Sally, Incendio, Los Lobos, Melanie Kareem Belly Dancers, plus others.
Mon, May 30, 11 am-6 pm: Calico the Band, Venice, Murphy’s Flaw, plus others.
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# 4 news feature...
TWO BLUEGRASS FESTS COMING IN JUNE
Set aside these dates, 'cause you'll want to take the extra days off to add to the weekends and not miss anything.
First up, the annual "Huck Finn Jubilee Bluegrass Festival" is going strong since its move from Victorville to Ontario and change of sponsorship to the Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau. This year's festival is June 10-12, with a great line-up.
Next, there's the newer annual "Route 66 Bluegrass Festival" out in Victorville, because the desert folks just couldn't lose their taste for banjo and all the visitors who brought one. Or a fiddle. Or a mandolin. It happens the following week, June 16-19.
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# 5 news feature...
WORKSHOPS THIS WEEKEND
Saturday, 6:30 pm in L.A., there's a PERCUSSION WORKSHOP with BRANDON TERZIC & NACHO ARIMANY at the Markaz, 5998 W Pico Bl, in Los Angeles 90035. Call for info and to reserve your spot: 323-413-2001.
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# 6 news feature...
CONCERTS 'N SUCH, FRIDAY THRU MONDAY
Reminder to also check the festivals listings. Here's what's up in the performance venues around Southern California's acoustic and Folk-Americana scene.
÷ ÷ ÷
FRIDAY, MAY 27 Concerts, etc.:
6-10 pm Weekly "MONROVIA FAMILY FESTIVAL" is FREE, with plenty of music, some of it acoustic, including the weekly "KATTYWOMPUS CONCERT & JAM" at 8 pm, which goes out live on the web, from Dollmakers Kattywompus, 412 S Myrtle Av, Monrovia 91016; 626-357-1091. Info, call Jennifer Ranger, 626-357-1091.
6-8 pm Fri.: Monthly "MOUNTAIN MUSIC JAM" at Joel's Canyon Shack, on Silverado Canyon Road, Silverado (OC).
7 pm Fri.: TODD MOSBY plays SOHo Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State St, Santa Barbara 93101; 805-962 7776.
7 & 9 pm Fri.: Acoustic Bluesmaster DOUG MacLEOD plays two shows at Alva’s Showroom, 1417 W 8th St, San Pedro 90732; 310-519-1314.
7:30 pm Fri.: PAT DONOHUE of "A Prairie Home Companion" fame plays the first of three shows in different OC venues for the "Lord Of The Strings Concert Series," this one at the Dana Point Community House, 24642 San Juan St, Dana Point 92629; tix, 949-842-2227 or 949-244-6656.
8 pm Fri.: PRESTON SMITH & THE CROCODILES, plus BOBBY BLUEHOUSE, play the Arcadia Blues Club, 16 E Huntington Dr, Arcadia. Less than a mile S of the 210 Fwy, Santa Anita offramp. Discount advance tix at:
http://arcadiabluesclub.ticketleap.com
8 pm Fri.: TARA LOUISE plays the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations (10 am-10 pm, 7 days) 626-798-6236.
8-11 pm Fri.: THE PLOUGHBOYS play their weekly Friday residency at the Tam O' Shanter Ale & Sandwich Bar Lounge, 2980 Los Feliz Bl, Los Feliz 90039; 323-664-0228 or 818-507-8445.
8-11 pm Fri.: Monthly "ROOTS MUSIC NIGHT" at Alex's Bar, 2913 E Anaheim St, Long Beach 90804; 562-434-8292.
10 pm Fri.: WE THE FOLK play the Hotel Café, 1623 1/2 N Cahuenga Bl (1st blk S of Hollywood Bl), Hollywood 90038; 323-461-2040. Check the venue's website to see if one price is good for the full evening from as early as 7 pm; that varies: www.hotelcafe.com
÷÷÷
SATURDAY, MAY 28 Concerts, etc.:
Noon Sat.: CLIFF LATIMER & LAURA OSBORN play Cody's Viva Cantina, 900 Riverside Dr, Burbank 91506; 818-845-2425. Free with menu or bar item purchase. Park free at Pickwick Bowl.
1-4 pm Sat.: Monthly "OLD TIME MUSIC / TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN FIDDLE & BANJO JAM" outdoors beneath big trees at the Audubon Nature Center in Debs Park, 4700 N Griffin Av, Highland Park (L.A.); off the 110 Fwy in 90031; 323-221-2255.
2 pm Sat.: "CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE & LEGEND OF MERLE HAGGARD" is a multiartist event at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations a must, it'll sell-out, call 10 am-10 pm, 626-798-6236.
5-6:45 pm Sat.: Monthly "LIVING TRADITION FOLK MUSIC JAM" is free at the Anaheim Downtown Community Center, 250 E Center St, Anaheim.
6:30 pm Sat.: THE LUMINEERS play the Santa Barbara Bowl, 1122 N Milpas St, Santa Barbara 93103; 805-962-7411.
6:30-10:30 pm Weekly "BLUEGRASS CONCERTS" series at Me-n-Ed's Pizza Parlor, 4115 Paramount Bl, Lakewood 90712; 562-421-8908.
7 pm Sat.: PAT DONOHUE of "A Prairie Home Companion" fame plays the second of three shows in different OC venues for the "Lord of the Strings Concert Series," this one at the Mission Viejo Civic Center 100 Civic Center Dr, Mission Viejo 92691; tix, 949-842-2227 or 949-244-6656.
7 pm Sat.: GONZALEZ FAMILY and LA VICTORIA play "Caminos Y Canciones" ("Roads and Songs") with Gabriel & Martha Gonzalez of the Quetzal Band; Claudia Gonzalez-Miranda of the Cava Band; Mary Alfaro on guitar; Vaneza Calderón on guitarrón; and Rosalie Rodriguez on violin; at the Japanese American Community & Cultural Center, in thr Aratani Theatre, 244 S San Pedro St, downtown Los Angeles 90012; 213-628-2725.
7 pm Sat.: THE BURGANS & THOLO CHAN return to the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations (10 am-10 pm) 626-798-6236.
7:30 pm Sat.: BERKLEY HART play the AMSD Concerts series in the Laura R. Charles Theater at Sweetwater High School, 2900 Highland Av, National City 91950.
7:30-10:30 pm Sat.: GRATEFUL DUDES BLUEGRASS plays their twice-monthly free show at Vincenzo's Pizza, 24500 Lyons Av (near the I-5 offramp), Newhall 91350.
8 pm Sat.: "WIZARDS OF THE WEST COAST HARP," plus BOBBY BLUEHOUSE, play the Arcadia Blues Club, 16 E Huntington Dr, Arcadia. Less than a mile S of the 210 Fwy, Santa Anita offramp. "Wizards of the West Coast Harp" are Rod and Honey Piazza, Billy Watson, Jacob Walters, Barry G, and a special guest. Discount advance tix at:
http://arcadiabluesclub.ticketleap.com
8 pm Sat.: PHRANC plays McCabe’s, 3101 Pico Bl, Santa Monica 90405; 310-828-4497. Also see the feature on upcoming shows at McCabe's.
8 pm Sat.: THE SALTY SUITES take a break from the festival circuit to play their high energy folk, traditional, and original tunes (http://thesaltysuites.com) at the Fret House, 309 N Citrus Av, Covina 91723; 626-339-7020. Also see the feature on upcoming shows at The Fret House.
9 pm KEN O'MALLEY plays his monthly residency of authentic and original Irish music at Griffins of Kinsale, 1007 Mission St, South Pasadena; 626-799-0926.
÷÷÷
SUNDAY, MAY 29 Concerts, etc.:
9:30 am- 2:30 pm Sun.: Weekly "BLUEGRASS BRUNCH" at Urban Solace, 3823 30th St, San Diego 92104; 619-295-6464.
3 pm Sun.: PAT DONOHUE of "A Prairie Home Companion" fame plays the third of three shows in different OC venues for the "Lord of the Strings Concert Series," this one at LCA Wine at SOCO Center, 3303-3323 Hyland Av, Costa Mesa 92626; tix, 949-842-2227 or 949-244-6656.
3 & 7 pm Sun.: JIM & ANNE CURRY play their acclaimed "Tribute to the Music Of John Denver" for two shows at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations a must (it always sells-out), 626-798-6236 (10 am-10 pm, 7 days).
4-7 pm Sun.: Weekly "TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSION" at the Auld Dubliner, 71 S Pine Av, Long Beach 90802; 562-437-8300.
6 pm Sun.: PETER FELDMANN & BLAINE SPROUSE play a House Concert in Goleta (near Santa Barbara). Reservations get directions at 805-688-9894.
6:30 pm Sun.: Monthly "FOLK MUSIC OPEN MIC" at the Folk Music Center, 220 Yale Av, Claremont 91711; 909-624- 2928.
7 pm Sun.: JIM & ANNE CURRY play their acclaimed "Tribute to the Music Of John Denver" for two shows (3 & 7 pm) at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations a must (it always sells-out), 626-798-6236 (10 am-10 pm, 7 days).
7:30-11 pm Sun.: Weekly "IRISH MUSIC SESSION" at O'Brien's Irish Pub & Restaurant, 2226 Wilshire Bl, Santa Monica 90403; 310-829-5303.
7:30 pm Sun.: WE THE FOLK play their weekly residency at the Culver Hotel, 9400 Culver Bl, Culver City; 310-558-9400; info from Sean O'Hara 925-216 8993, wethefolkmusic@gmail.com
÷÷÷
MONDAY, MAY 30 Concerts, etc.:
Late addition...
8 pm Mon.: GUY DAVIS with MATT CARTSONIS at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations, 626-798-6236 (10 am-10 pm, 7 days). Matt Cartsonis, former Austin Lounge Lizard and wonderfully adept multi-instrumentalist, tells us: "Guy’s a great bluesman, as well as an accomplished actor and activist. The son of Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, and if that rhymes, that’s because he just naturally inspires that sort of thing. He’s full of songs and stories and history, and I promise you’ll dig the hell out of him. Also: This is a MONDAY. People don’t, especially in L.A., tend to go out on Mondays. We know that. But Guy’s here on his way North, and this was our one chance to do something, and we’re doing it. Defy convention (and news about the convention). Have some fun on a Monday night. You won’t be out that late, and you’ll hear some great stuff. Come see us, and support, early in the week, live music in your town! We want to see YOU! Thanks,M.C."
More at: http://guydavis.com/wp/bio
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# 7 news feature...
Focus: UPCOMING FRET HOUSE SHOWS
This basement concert room is literally an underground music scene of great local renown.
The Fret House, 309 N Citrus Av, Covina 91723; 626-639-7020; frethouse@earthlink.net; www.frethouse.com
Here's what's up:
√ Sat. May 28, 8 pm - The Salty Suites - High energy Folk & traditional - http://thesaltysuites.com
√ Sat. June 11th - Rick Shea / Ernest Troost - acoustic/singer/songwriters - www.rickshea.com and www.ernesttroost.com
√ Sat. June 18th -Corrina Carter - local favorite,new album - https://www.reverbnation.com/corrinacarter $15
√ Sat. June 25th - Phil Salazar & Mark Heyes - Folk & Bluegrass originals & favorites - http://markandphilmusic.com/
All showtimes 8 pm, doors at 7:30. Tix are $20 except where noted The first Sat of the month there is open mic night.
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# 8 news feature...
Focus: ARCADIA BLUES CLUB SHOWS
It's a fun venue, all ages, full bar, good food with generous portions (two can share). But bring earplugs. Seriously. Located at 16 E Huntington Dr, Arcadia. Less than a mile S of the 210 Fwy, Santa Anita offramp.
The splendid house band, BOBBY BLUEHOUSE, occupies the stage at the opposite end from the headlining guest band. So there is never much of a break in the action. Always a good time here, and there are bar specials if you ask. Doors at 7 for seats, food, bar, and pool tables. Live music starts at 8 pm.
√ Fri, May 27: Preston Smith & the Crocodiles. Tix $10 adv, $15 door.
√ Sat, May 28: "Wizards of the West Coast Harp" are Rod and Honey Piazza, Billy Watson, Jacob Walters, Barry G, and a special guest. Tix $15 adv, $20 door.
√ Fri, Jun 3, 8 pm: Ray Goren. Tix $10 adv, $15 door.
√ Sat, Jun 4, 8 pm: Orphan Jon & the Abandoned. Tix $5 adv, $10 door.
√ Fri, Jun 17, 8 pm: Alastair Green. Tix $5 adv, $10 door.
√ Sat, Jun 18, 8 pm: Jason Ricci & the Bad Kind. Tix $10 adv, $15 door.
√ Fri, Jun 24, 8 pm: James Intveldt. Tix $15 adv, $20 door.
√ Sat, Jun 25, 8 pm: Guitar Shorty. Tix $20 adv, $25 door.
Discount advance tickets available for all concerts at:
http://arcadiabluesclub.ticketleap.com
More info at:
www.arcadiabluesclub.com
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# 9 news feature...
Focus: McCABE's NEWLY ADDED SHOWS
The concert hall behind McCabe's Guitar Shop, at 3101 Pico Bl, Santa Monica, is justifiably famous. Here's what's up there.
UPCOMING AT McCABE's...
McCabe's June 17 show with Sarah Jarosz has been sold out for a while now, but she's got a show at the Troubadour the night before on June 16. McCabe's is helping them out by getting the word out about this show.
NEWLY-ADDED AT McCABE's...
They're adding new shows to their upcoming roster all the time:
• Be Good Tanyas founders Jolie Holland and Samantha Parton on Jul 23.
• "The Titan of The Telecaster" Bill Kirchen on Aug 28.
Tickets for these two shows went on sale Friday.
Tix & info:
www.mccabes.com
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# 10 news feature...
WORDS & MUSIC & THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
A few weeks ago, we did a feature story on the role of music in various presidential campaigns, including how some candidates have gotten in deep doo doo by using music by artists who have taken great issue with being identified with certain candidates.
Let's take a moment to consider that none of us should get lost in the trivial, and to realize that, for an artist, that kind of thing is not trivial.
This Barnum & Bailey election is representative of plenty of very real-life concerns. Riding the MTA busses throughout Los Angeles since the economic collapse of 2008, we have come to know plenty of people riding between a multiplicity of low-wage, part-time jobs. We cheered when the "Fight for Fifteen" succeeded first in L.A. and San Francisco, and then statewide in California. We've spotted some stalwart troubadours at demonstrations here and on tv. But there's a long way still to go.
Nearly eight thousand McDonald's workers have set up an "occupation" camp outside the burger purveyor's corporate headquarters in Oak Park, Illinois. They're just in time for the big annual shareholder's meeting. The workers are demanding a fifteen-dollar hourly minimum wage, in conjunction with the national, multi-industry "Fight for Fifteen," which the company's former CEO has called "nonsense." Of course, that ex-exec is set for life, and now his successor, the company's present CEO is making millions a year in the position. But, somehow, that's not "nonsense."
Little wonder the "occupying" McDonald's employees are also fighting for the right to unionize. And corporate media seems to be ignoring them. Which is disgraceful.
One presidential candidate has marched with striking workers fighting for a fifteen dollar wage. He has marched with striking Verizon workers seeking to protect their hard-won health and retirement benefits that their employer seeks to take from them, even in the face of record profits. The Guide has endorsed that candidate. His name is Bernie Sanders.
We attended one of his Southern California rallies this week. The canned music appropriately conveyed the "Feel the Bern" theme, with "Burnin' for You" by Blue Oyster Cult, the old disco tune "Burn, Baby Burn," and plenty of folk music by Bob Dylan and Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
Here's a little about the rest of the event.
While waiting outdoors in a very long line, one parked car revealed itself to contain Trumpsters, protesting. They chain smoked in the sustained and gusty wind, trying to hold onto their signs. They were such a novelty that a few people took selfies with them, one remarking, "Nobody who knows me would ever figure I'd be in the same photo with a Trump sign. Especially at a Bernie rally! I'll have fun with that!"
The best crowd line of that or any Bernie rally was directed at the Trumpsters, huddling behind their open car doors in the wind, with cigarettes and signs: "You're driving an '03 Hyundai. You're voting for the wrong guy!"
Cracked up everyone in earshot.
People had to get processed-in, past metal detectors, by Secret Service and TSA. Long before we reached the door, it was evident the line was enormous. It disappeared off somewhere into the distance in S-curves that looked like multicolored streamers, after wrapping all the way around the huge fairgrounds parking lot. It mudt have been more than a mile long.
Bernie was very late getting to the venue. He probably started speaking about 7:15-7:20. He spoke an hour, then did a big ropeline meet'n greet where he was as popular as a rock star.
He covered every conceivable topic of domestic and economic policy and had the crowd cheering throughout.
And that was quite a feat, because people were exhausted after waiting outdoors in that very strong wind for two to three hours or more, then waiting indoors where it was too cramped for all but a few to sit on the floor.
It was absolute capacity. The crowd was mostly youthful, interspersed with people whose ages ranged to elderly. There were fsr more women and girls than men and boys. They were black, white, brown. Asian heritage from throughout that continent. Pacific Islanders. Latinos. African Americans. Packed together, radiant smiles, thrilled to share the moment.
Speaker towers were set-up outdoors for the overflow, and a kid next to me had a message from his friend outside that there were hundreds more there. An employee at the venue — a huge exhibit hall — later said it had never been at capacity with so many choosing to remain outside in somewhat harsh conditions for any other event.
Bernie Sanders electrifies a crowd. Simply by talking sense and talking hope for ways to build a future we can all share, where our hard work and perseverance is rewarded.
He never even mentioned Hillary Clinton. He had no reason to. He laid out his programs and agenda. It leaves hers in the dust.
Once outside, the t-shirt and hat and hot dog vendors were doing a land-office business. With so many there, it took quite a while for traffic to clear. Think sports stadium with one gate.
Notably, everyone was polite getting to the road. There is a residual positive energy, a genuine hope in the midst of so much electile dysfunction.
Even leaving, it wasn't over. From a closed car, you could hear the cheer emanating from rolled-down windows, continuing from the rally: "Go Bernie!" over the music of radios playing everything from pop to country to folk to rap to hip-hop. Improbable but true: positive hope in 2016.
++++++++++
# 11 news feature...
REMEMBERING WHY IT'S MEMORIAL DAY
Let's take at least a moment to remember the men and women who wear uniforms and put their lives on the line. While we can argue, quite reasonably, about whether any given conflict should have happened, those in uniform must answer the call when it comes.
It has always been so. Thus, the forerunner of Memorial Day came about to honor Civil War dead. And then all those who followed them. Now, we are rapidly losing the remaining members of "the Greatest Generation" who fought and won World War II. Many alive this Memorial Day will not see next year's.
All the veterans of World War I have passed. Those who endured and survived Vietnam are joining their dead comrades.
We must never again confuse a war with the warriors who entered into their contract of military service because they were willing to risk their lives to keep us safe. It doesn't always turn out that way, given boneheaded actions on the international stage and greed and quests for power by those who should not have it.
But that must never stop us from honoring all our living veterans and all those who died in battle. And those lost in unresolved turmoil of an unseen, unending battle that continued in their mind. Or who have passed after doing their duty to military service, and then in civilian life.
We always like to take this occasion to honor all those who do faithful service in any uniform. Firefighters, law enforcement. Park and forest rangers. And all who have fallen doing those jobs, as well.
Thank you for your service.
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
More music news is in numerous recent editions. More coming soon, on additional topics.
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
The Guide brings you frequent editions covering MUSIC NEWS, arts and industry events, and ticket alerts, available right here on the Guide's Blogspot site.
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Direct to the current editions /
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Contents copyright © 2016, Lawrence Wines & Tied to the Tracks. All rights reserved.
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♪ The ACOUSTIC AMERICANA MUSIC GUIDE endeavors to bring you NEWS and views of interest to artists everywhere, more specifically to musicians and the creative community and music makers and fans of acoustic and Folk-Americana music, both traditional and innovative forms. From the deepest roots to today’s acoustic renaissance, that’s our beat. We provide a wealth of resources, including a HUGE catalog of acoustic-friendly venues, and schedules and inside info on FESTIVALS and select performances in Southern California in venues monumentally large and intimately small and cozy. We cover workshops and other events for artists and folks in the music industry, and all kinds o’ things in the world of acoustic and Americana and accessible classical music. From washtub bass to musical spoons to oboe to viola to banjo to squeezebox, from Djangostyle to new-fangled-old-time string band music, from sweet Cajun fiddle to bluegrass and pre-bluegrass Appalachian mountain music to all the roots of the blues and where the music is headed now.
.
The Acoustic Americana Music Guide. Thanks for sittin' a spell.
.
<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>
.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Remembering Guy Clark ...
.
.
Remembering Guy Clark: Goodbye to a Great One You Never Knew
By Larry Wines
Guy Clark, an unquestionably influential artist, has left us. Johnny Cash was the first to record one of his songs. Next, Bobby Bare made the top-40 with another. All en-route to a number-one by Ricky Scaggs with a third. There were more. And it wasn't just his writing. He received two Grammy nominations for albums of his own, and there was a Grammy nom for the two-disc tribute by lots of big names singing from his deep catalog of originals.
I interviewed him twice, once for print, once on live radio, where he sang with his guitar and longtime side man, Verlon Thompson, and rang the phones off the wall. Both occasions were truly memorable. We'll get to that.
"His songs were recorded by Johnny Cash, Ricky Skaggs, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Bobby Bare, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and legions of others," notes one writer.
His songs celebrated the struggles of life in our time, especially those of the working class, they grasp the universality of bittersweet thoughts of love and lost times and those still hoped for, all the way to the simple joys of eating what you can grow in your own garden. There is always a freshness to a Guy Clark song.
Folkies still love singing his decades-old "Homegrown Tomatoes," recorded and sung on big concert tours by everyone from John Denver to John Prine. And we could have cited a dozen similar examples of other artists doing the same with his other songs.
If you don't know Guy Clark's name, you should. Your life will be better for discovering his music.
Don't bother with the so-called "entertainment news" today. You aren't likely to find coverage of his legacy or, for that matter, of any respected artist there who is vibrantly working or recently dead and immediately missed. Not there, where they've never been featured amidst the drivel of the self aggrandizing, excruciating annoying, inscrutably pampered famous-for-being-famous, whose tantrums, pet monkeys, my-publicist-says-it's-time-for-some-bad-behavior, practioners of wholly artless antics who own that turf for absolutely no justifiable reason.
Let's talk about a real artist.
"Like Desperadoes Waiting for a Train," a beloved Willie Nelson - Kris Kristofferson hit, was a Guy Clark song. It originally debuted on Clark's first album in 1975 when he was a 34-year-old performing songwriter who looked impossibly young compared to how most of us envision him. It was one of so very, very many songs from his albums of originals that others would also record and propel. "L.A. Freeway" was another. We'll get to more, including some that rode into lofty places on the charts.
And mentioning the music charts reminds me of a second meaning of the word, because Guy Clark did his writing on graph paper, longhand.
That's one of the bits I must organize from the Gestaltic flood of so much about him that comes with learning of his passing.
In and out of major news sources last night, I suddenly encountered and immediately read the sad news of the death of Guy Clark and immediately thought , "No, not him. Not this kind of news again. Not such a great and greatly influential musician. Not that gruff ol' folkie who had been so generous to me with his time, so willing to exchange thoughts." It was a bit later that I realized the trust it represented that he had done that sharing and not taken the opportunities he was given to ease me out.
Last night, I had been otherwise occupied with the results of the Oregon and Kentucky Democratic primaries, focused on Bernie Sanders and whether America was more or less likely to achieve that future we can believe in.
But Guy Clark was dead. Someone whose music and outlook was expressed so lyrically through his prolific catalog of originals. And it was all there, derailing something else, as his music was always able to do. Through good times and bad — for me, for him, for those he knew and plenty he didn't — for the history and culture and events of the times. And through plenty of select songs penned by others to which he imparted deeper meaning than the original versions.
All of it just brings anything else you're doing to a complete halt.
Early this morning, I found a latenight message from a friend in politics and music who must have felt very much the same thing.
_______
That message reads:
"Guy Clark November 6, 1941 - May 17, 2016
That dash held a lot of life and love and music."
Then, some quoted lyrics:
"'Oh Susanna, don't you cry, babe
Love's a gift that's surely handmade
We've got something to believe in
Don't you think it's time we're leaving'
"Thanks for the music and the memories, Guy. We will miss you.
"Rest his soul."
_______
Indeed. Those lyrics are a tribute to his wife, who died in 2012. She was hugely important as the love of his life and source of inspiration. Both of them were painters whose work included front-cover album art for iconic musicians.
Guy and wife Susanna "were ringleaders in a Nashville roots music circus that included luminaries," notes the Nashville "Tennessean," a force that includes Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, Mickey Newbury, Billy Joe Shaver, and so many more.
“The patron saint of an entire generation of bohemian pickers, Guy Clark has become an emblem of artistic integrity, quiet dignity and simple truth,” wrote Robert K. Oermann more than two decades ago for the liner notes in Clark’s 1995 “Craftsman” CD.
Into recent years and even as his health failed, Guy Clark's world was an amazing mix of interacting with the energetic innovative now of young songwriters and keeping the past vital and alive. For decades, Guy Clark did so very much to make sure the musical legacy of Townes Van Zandt continued to be played and talked about and recorded and heard. Townes was Guy's closest friend, and "T'ooow-enns," as Guy sometimes drawled for effect, had died way too early.
The most known Townes Van Zandt song,
"If I Needed You," was one he wrote in the spare bedroom of the Clarks’ home on Chapel Avenue in East Nashville. Guy and Susanna were great pals of Townes seen together in Music City venues.
Later there was similar esteem expressed on stage by Guy in his adoption of the songs of Verlon Thompson.
Guy didn't need to do anything for either Townes Van Zandt or Thompson, since his own superb songwriting brought so many top artists to record HIS songs. Plus, his strong performance ability, which in later years included anecdotes, banter and stories that brought favorable comparisons to Mark Twain — were enough to take him to any stage, anywhere.
He was, indeed, the soul of that entire Golden Age of Texas-based rootsy folk music, when Austin was the center of gravity. Even though he was based in Nashville for four decades, influencing a generation of artists and writers there.
His first album "was received really well, right from the start," he told The Nashville "Tennessean" newspaper in 2009. He noted, “I got this great review in ‘Playboy,’ and Willie Nelson’s ‘Red Headed Stranger’ got kind of panned in that same issue.”
Writing yesterday, that newspaper's Peter Cooper added, "History would protect the good name of 'Red Headed Stranger,' and it would also confirm Mr. Clark’s significant place in the songwriting continuum."
When he died yesterday he was only 74 — "only," because he seemed to have always been there, and the effects of his infamously incessant smoking which gave him the cancer that eventually killed him -- had, years earlier contributed to his weatherbeaten appearance, famously gravelly singing (and speaking) voice, and skin that looked like dessicated old leather.
I remember shaking hands with him was a bit like a brillo pad, but he gave you just the right amount of lingering grasp and focused eye contact so you knew he was focusing the moment on interacting with YOU.
That's something every performer could learn — a true essence of making a fan or a music journalist or anyone else feel special, giving them a personally important memory that's forever after involuntarily recalled, at any mention of his name or recorded note of his music.
Aside from translating to sales of concert tickets and CDs, it is the essentially fundamental stuff that propels that contextual fame based on musical prowess into the building blocks of music legend: making fans and sealing the deal, meaningfully, one at a time.
I got to interview him for over an hour in 2002, in the reasonably quiet backstage of a huge Canadian music festival. That interview ran in a long-extinct publication, and my reporter's notebook was stolen a few years later with most everything else I owned. So all I have is memories. (Though I should go see if I ever quoted from or referenced it in the Acoustic Americana Music Guide, or in FolkWorks, or anywhere else with an archive.)
I just can't compile a complete list of all who recorded his songs. A partial has to include Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Ricky Skaggs, Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Bobby Bare, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, John Denver, John Prine, Mickey Newbury, Billy Joe Shaver — and surely that still omits some genuine luminaries.
When I was privileged to have him as a performance-interview guest on my "Tied to the Tracks" radio show in the late double-aughts, he performed his own "Boats to Build" and "Homegrown Tomatoes," a couple of Townes Van Zandt songs, and a couple by Verlon Thompson.
I was sure he didn't remember our hour-plus spent together in that 2002 interview in Canada, but he assured me he did, and that was why he wanted to do the radio show. That was more flattering than is obvious, because he had received so many journalists for interviewd in his basement room at home where he built guitars and wrote his songs — longhand, on his ubiquitous graph paper.
Otherwise, I have abiding memories of that radio performance and our live on-air chat, which in no way diminish the time he so generously gave me backstage at that festival.
Just he and I, both times. In Canada, he chased out Thompson — twice — who came to rescue him after predetermined intervals. "No, no, I'm fine," he had said, the second time adding, "I'm enjoying this," all rather contrary to his gruff image.
Indeed, it was a widely-ranging conversation in which he both spoke my name and called me "pardner" several times — some in agreement, some as a challenge in the way you dialog when you care what someone else thinks. And of course, I have and treasure the memories of seeing him performing on those and even more occasions, including at the Stagecoach Festival in Indio.
I'm sure the "Austin City Limits" online video archive will get heavily trafficked today for the shows he did with them over the years.
And there is this: highly recommended, unusually thorough, it's an obit tribute by Peter Cooper in the Nashville Tennessean. Do yourself a favor and go read it:
http://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/05/17/guy-clark-dead-74/80932338/
His song, "That Old Time Feeling," begins,
"That old time feeling
Goes sneaking down the hall
Like an old grey cat in winter
Keepin’ close to the wall.”
The cat's out, somewhere, probably fixated on a butterfly. Winter's past. No need for sneaking or staying close to walls in the wind. But there's plenty of that old time feeling.
Adios, Guy. Vaya con Dios. And if your old guitar is nowhere to be found, we'll know where it's gone.
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
The Guide brings you frequent editions covering MUSIC NEWS, arts and industry events, and ticket alerts, available right here on the Guide's Blogspot site.
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Direct to the current editions /
MOBILE-DEVICE-FRIENDLY
editions load quickly at
.
www.acousticamericana.blogspot.com
.
<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>
.
CONTACT US at / send Questions / Comments to: . Tiedtothetracks (at) Hotmail (dot) com
.
<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>
Contents copyright © 2016, Lawrence Wines & Tied to the Tracks. All rights reserved.
<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>
.
♪ The ACOUSTIC AMERICANA MUSIC GUIDE endeavors to bring you NEWS and views of interest to artists everywhere, more specifically to musicians and the creative community and music makers and fans of acoustic and Folk-Americana music, both traditional and innovative forms. From the deepest roots to today’s acoustic renaissance, that’s our beat. We provide a wealth of resources, including a HUGE catalog of acoustic-friendly venues, and schedules and inside info on FESTIVALS and select performances in Southern California in venues monumentally large and intimately small and cozy. We cover workshops and other events for artists and folks in the music industry, and all kinds o’ things in the world of acoustic and Americana and accessible classical music. From washtub bass to musical spoons to oboe to viola to banjo to squeezebox, from Djangostyle to new-fangled-old-time string band music, from sweet Cajun fiddle to bluegrass and pre-bluegrass Appalachian mountain music to all the roots of the blues and where the music is headed now.
.
The Acoustic Americana Music Guide. Thanks for sittin' a spell.
.
<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>
.
.
Remembering Guy Clark: Goodbye to a Great One You Never Knew
By Larry Wines
Guy Clark, an unquestionably influential artist, has left us. Johnny Cash was the first to record one of his songs. Next, Bobby Bare made the top-40 with another. All en-route to a number-one by Ricky Scaggs with a third. There were more. And it wasn't just his writing. He received two Grammy nominations for albums of his own, and there was a Grammy nom for the two-disc tribute by lots of big names singing from his deep catalog of originals.
I interviewed him twice, once for print, once on live radio, where he sang with his guitar and longtime side man, Verlon Thompson, and rang the phones off the wall. Both occasions were truly memorable. We'll get to that.
"His songs were recorded by Johnny Cash, Ricky Skaggs, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Bobby Bare, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and legions of others," notes one writer.
His songs celebrated the struggles of life in our time, especially those of the working class, they grasp the universality of bittersweet thoughts of love and lost times and those still hoped for, all the way to the simple joys of eating what you can grow in your own garden. There is always a freshness to a Guy Clark song.
Folkies still love singing his decades-old "Homegrown Tomatoes," recorded and sung on big concert tours by everyone from John Denver to John Prine. And we could have cited a dozen similar examples of other artists doing the same with his other songs.
If you don't know Guy Clark's name, you should. Your life will be better for discovering his music.
Don't bother with the so-called "entertainment news" today. You aren't likely to find coverage of his legacy or, for that matter, of any respected artist there who is vibrantly working or recently dead and immediately missed. Not there, where they've never been featured amidst the drivel of the self aggrandizing, excruciating annoying, inscrutably pampered famous-for-being-famous, whose tantrums, pet monkeys, my-publicist-says-it's-time-for-some-bad-behavior, practioners of wholly artless antics who own that turf for absolutely no justifiable reason.
Let's talk about a real artist.
"Like Desperadoes Waiting for a Train," a beloved Willie Nelson - Kris Kristofferson hit, was a Guy Clark song. It originally debuted on Clark's first album in 1975 when he was a 34-year-old performing songwriter who looked impossibly young compared to how most of us envision him. It was one of so very, very many songs from his albums of originals that others would also record and propel. "L.A. Freeway" was another. We'll get to more, including some that rode into lofty places on the charts.
And mentioning the music charts reminds me of a second meaning of the word, because Guy Clark did his writing on graph paper, longhand.
That's one of the bits I must organize from the Gestaltic flood of so much about him that comes with learning of his passing.
In and out of major news sources last night, I suddenly encountered and immediately read the sad news of the death of Guy Clark and immediately thought , "No, not him. Not this kind of news again. Not such a great and greatly influential musician. Not that gruff ol' folkie who had been so generous to me with his time, so willing to exchange thoughts." It was a bit later that I realized the trust it represented that he had done that sharing and not taken the opportunities he was given to ease me out.
Last night, I had been otherwise occupied with the results of the Oregon and Kentucky Democratic primaries, focused on Bernie Sanders and whether America was more or less likely to achieve that future we can believe in.
But Guy Clark was dead. Someone whose music and outlook was expressed so lyrically through his prolific catalog of originals. And it was all there, derailing something else, as his music was always able to do. Through good times and bad — for me, for him, for those he knew and plenty he didn't — for the history and culture and events of the times. And through plenty of select songs penned by others to which he imparted deeper meaning than the original versions.
All of it just brings anything else you're doing to a complete halt.
Early this morning, I found a latenight message from a friend in politics and music who must have felt very much the same thing.
_______
That message reads:
"Guy Clark November 6, 1941 - May 17, 2016
That dash held a lot of life and love and music."
Then, some quoted lyrics:
"'Oh Susanna, don't you cry, babe
Love's a gift that's surely handmade
We've got something to believe in
Don't you think it's time we're leaving'
"Thanks for the music and the memories, Guy. We will miss you.
"Rest his soul."
_______
Indeed. Those lyrics are a tribute to his wife, who died in 2012. She was hugely important as the love of his life and source of inspiration. Both of them were painters whose work included front-cover album art for iconic musicians.
Guy and wife Susanna "were ringleaders in a Nashville roots music circus that included luminaries," notes the Nashville "Tennessean," a force that includes Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, Mickey Newbury, Billy Joe Shaver, and so many more.
“The patron saint of an entire generation of bohemian pickers, Guy Clark has become an emblem of artistic integrity, quiet dignity and simple truth,” wrote Robert K. Oermann more than two decades ago for the liner notes in Clark’s 1995 “Craftsman” CD.
Into recent years and even as his health failed, Guy Clark's world was an amazing mix of interacting with the energetic innovative now of young songwriters and keeping the past vital and alive. For decades, Guy Clark did so very much to make sure the musical legacy of Townes Van Zandt continued to be played and talked about and recorded and heard. Townes was Guy's closest friend, and "T'ooow-enns," as Guy sometimes drawled for effect, had died way too early.
The most known Townes Van Zandt song,
"If I Needed You," was one he wrote in the spare bedroom of the Clarks’ home on Chapel Avenue in East Nashville. Guy and Susanna were great pals of Townes seen together in Music City venues.
Later there was similar esteem expressed on stage by Guy in his adoption of the songs of Verlon Thompson.
Guy didn't need to do anything for either Townes Van Zandt or Thompson, since his own superb songwriting brought so many top artists to record HIS songs. Plus, his strong performance ability, which in later years included anecdotes, banter and stories that brought favorable comparisons to Mark Twain — were enough to take him to any stage, anywhere.
He was, indeed, the soul of that entire Golden Age of Texas-based rootsy folk music, when Austin was the center of gravity. Even though he was based in Nashville for four decades, influencing a generation of artists and writers there.
His first album "was received really well, right from the start," he told The Nashville "Tennessean" newspaper in 2009. He noted, “I got this great review in ‘Playboy,’ and Willie Nelson’s ‘Red Headed Stranger’ got kind of panned in that same issue.”
Writing yesterday, that newspaper's Peter Cooper added, "History would protect the good name of 'Red Headed Stranger,' and it would also confirm Mr. Clark’s significant place in the songwriting continuum."
When he died yesterday he was only 74 — "only," because he seemed to have always been there, and the effects of his infamously incessant smoking which gave him the cancer that eventually killed him -- had, years earlier contributed to his weatherbeaten appearance, famously gravelly singing (and speaking) voice, and skin that looked like dessicated old leather.
I remember shaking hands with him was a bit like a brillo pad, but he gave you just the right amount of lingering grasp and focused eye contact so you knew he was focusing the moment on interacting with YOU.
That's something every performer could learn — a true essence of making a fan or a music journalist or anyone else feel special, giving them a personally important memory that's forever after involuntarily recalled, at any mention of his name or recorded note of his music.
Aside from translating to sales of concert tickets and CDs, it is the essentially fundamental stuff that propels that contextual fame based on musical prowess into the building blocks of music legend: making fans and sealing the deal, meaningfully, one at a time.
I got to interview him for over an hour in 2002, in the reasonably quiet backstage of a huge Canadian music festival. That interview ran in a long-extinct publication, and my reporter's notebook was stolen a few years later with most everything else I owned. So all I have is memories. (Though I should go see if I ever quoted from or referenced it in the Acoustic Americana Music Guide, or in FolkWorks, or anywhere else with an archive.)
I just can't compile a complete list of all who recorded his songs. A partial has to include Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Ricky Skaggs, Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Bobby Bare, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, John Denver, John Prine, Mickey Newbury, Billy Joe Shaver — and surely that still omits some genuine luminaries.
When I was privileged to have him as a performance-interview guest on my "Tied to the Tracks" radio show in the late double-aughts, he performed his own "Boats to Build" and "Homegrown Tomatoes," a couple of Townes Van Zandt songs, and a couple by Verlon Thompson.
I was sure he didn't remember our hour-plus spent together in that 2002 interview in Canada, but he assured me he did, and that was why he wanted to do the radio show. That was more flattering than is obvious, because he had received so many journalists for interviewd in his basement room at home where he built guitars and wrote his songs — longhand, on his ubiquitous graph paper.
Otherwise, I have abiding memories of that radio performance and our live on-air chat, which in no way diminish the time he so generously gave me backstage at that festival.
Just he and I, both times. In Canada, he chased out Thompson — twice — who came to rescue him after predetermined intervals. "No, no, I'm fine," he had said, the second time adding, "I'm enjoying this," all rather contrary to his gruff image.
Indeed, it was a widely-ranging conversation in which he both spoke my name and called me "pardner" several times — some in agreement, some as a challenge in the way you dialog when you care what someone else thinks. And of course, I have and treasure the memories of seeing him performing on those and even more occasions, including at the Stagecoach Festival in Indio.
I'm sure the "Austin City Limits" online video archive will get heavily trafficked today for the shows he did with them over the years.
And there is this: highly recommended, unusually thorough, it's an obit tribute by Peter Cooper in the Nashville Tennessean. Do yourself a favor and go read it:
http://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/05/17/guy-clark-dead-74/80932338/
His song, "That Old Time Feeling," begins,
"That old time feeling
Goes sneaking down the hall
Like an old grey cat in winter
Keepin’ close to the wall.”
The cat's out, somewhere, probably fixated on a butterfly. Winter's past. No need for sneaking or staying close to walls in the wind. But there's plenty of that old time feeling.
Adios, Guy. Vaya con Dios. And if your old guitar is nowhere to be found, we'll know where it's gone.
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
The Guide brings you frequent editions covering MUSIC NEWS, arts and industry events, and ticket alerts, available right here on the Guide's Blogspot site.
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Direct to the current editions /
MOBILE-DEVICE-FRIENDLY
editions load quickly at
.
www.acousticamericana.blogspot.com
.
<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>
.
CONTACT US at / send Questions / Comments to: . Tiedtothetracks (at) Hotmail (dot) com
.
<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>
Contents copyright © 2016, Lawrence Wines & Tied to the Tracks. All rights reserved.
<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>
.
♪ The ACOUSTIC AMERICANA MUSIC GUIDE endeavors to bring you NEWS and views of interest to artists everywhere, more specifically to musicians and the creative community and music makers and fans of acoustic and Folk-Americana music, both traditional and innovative forms. From the deepest roots to today’s acoustic renaissance, that’s our beat. We provide a wealth of resources, including a HUGE catalog of acoustic-friendly venues, and schedules and inside info on FESTIVALS and select performances in Southern California in venues monumentally large and intimately small and cozy. We cover workshops and other events for artists and folks in the music industry, and all kinds o’ things in the world of acoustic and Americana and accessible classical music. From washtub bass to musical spoons to oboe to viola to banjo to squeezebox, from Djangostyle to new-fangled-old-time string band music, from sweet Cajun fiddle to bluegrass and pre-bluegrass Appalachian mountain music to all the roots of the blues and where the music is headed now.
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The Acoustic Americana Music Guide. Thanks for sittin' a spell.
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Saturday, May 14, 2016
Saturday Special edition... May 14 Quickie, 2016...
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Just two LATE ADDITION events and a quick bit o' news for you here. Everything else is in the full May 12 edition.
And we invite you to read our ENDORSEMENT FOR PRESIDENT in the California Primary. It has a good analysis of what's really going on in this insane election, along with our pick, and WHY we are making our recommendation
But here? Just that news bit and two late picks for tonight.
We'll see you tomorrow — "Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY!" — at the annual Topanga Banjo•Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival" where the Guide's founding editor returns as an emcee!
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Saturday's
Late
Additions
++++++++++
NEWS...
The annual "Claremont Folk Festival" has been showing "sold out" on the sponsor's site for weeks, but you CAN still get tickets! Go to:
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2527695
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Saturday's
Late
Added
Events...
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"ANNUAL FREE CONCERT BY PASADENA SYMPHONY & POPS": Sat, May 14; 6 pm for gates & food trucks, 8 pm concert, outdoors at Pasadena City Hall. Hear your favorites from the Great American Songbook, Broadway, and Beyond, in a FREE full symphony performance. "Music Under the Stars" concert welcomes Broadway legend Norman Large, known for major roles from "Les Misérables," to "La Cage Aux Folles," and "Phantom of the Opera." We can't wait to hear him perform Phantom's "All I Ask of You" with fellow Phantom alum Dale Kristien, who played the lead role of Christine Daae for a record-breaking 4 1/2 years. The program has something for everyone from the romance of "West Side Story" to playful hits like "Anything You Can Do" and “Happy Days Are Here Again”.
It's an evening of fun for the whole family with pre-concert activities starting at 6 pm with family-style picnicking and gourmet food trucks. Bring the kids to discover the wonder of creating their own music at the instrument “petting zoo" where they can try out the instruments of the symphony orchestra. Free except what you buy to eat.
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"2nd SATURDAY CONTRADANCE": Sat, May 14, 7:30 pm, at Woman’s Club of South Pasadena, 1424 Fremont Av, South Pasadena 91030. John Rogers calling, music by the Mariposa Stringband, Briana Bandy om fiddle; Emil Olguin on guitar.
Instruction for new dancers at 7:30 pm.
Contradance, 8-11 pm.
Adults, $12
Students over age 18 w/ ID, $7.
Under age 18, free.
CDSS members: $1 off. Info,
www.caldancecoop.org
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For MUCH more, today, tonight, Sunday, and beyond... plus MUSIC NEWS...
Click those next two MOST RECENT editions.
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CONTACT US at / send Questions / Comments to: . Tiedtothetracks (at) Hotmail (dot) com
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Contents copyright © 2016, Lawrence Wines & Tied to the Tracks. All rights reserved.
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Just two LATE ADDITION events and a quick bit o' news for you here. Everything else is in the full May 12 edition.
And we invite you to read our ENDORSEMENT FOR PRESIDENT in the California Primary. It has a good analysis of what's really going on in this insane election, along with our pick, and WHY we are making our recommendation
But here? Just that news bit and two late picks for tonight.
We'll see you tomorrow — "Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY!" — at the annual Topanga Banjo•Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival" where the Guide's founding editor returns as an emcee!
++++++++++
Saturday's
Late
Additions
++++++++++
NEWS...
The annual "Claremont Folk Festival" has been showing "sold out" on the sponsor's site for weeks, but you CAN still get tickets! Go to:
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2527695
++++++++++
Saturday's
Late
Added
Events...
++++++++++
"ANNUAL FREE CONCERT BY PASADENA SYMPHONY & POPS": Sat, May 14; 6 pm for gates & food trucks, 8 pm concert, outdoors at Pasadena City Hall. Hear your favorites from the Great American Songbook, Broadway, and Beyond, in a FREE full symphony performance. "Music Under the Stars" concert welcomes Broadway legend Norman Large, known for major roles from "Les Misérables," to "La Cage Aux Folles," and "Phantom of the Opera." We can't wait to hear him perform Phantom's "All I Ask of You" with fellow Phantom alum Dale Kristien, who played the lead role of Christine Daae for a record-breaking 4 1/2 years. The program has something for everyone from the romance of "West Side Story" to playful hits like "Anything You Can Do" and “Happy Days Are Here Again”.
It's an evening of fun for the whole family with pre-concert activities starting at 6 pm with family-style picnicking and gourmet food trucks. Bring the kids to discover the wonder of creating their own music at the instrument “petting zoo" where they can try out the instruments of the symphony orchestra. Free except what you buy to eat.
++++++++++
"2nd SATURDAY CONTRADANCE": Sat, May 14, 7:30 pm, at Woman’s Club of South Pasadena, 1424 Fremont Av, South Pasadena 91030. John Rogers calling, music by the Mariposa Stringband, Briana Bandy om fiddle; Emil Olguin on guitar.
Instruction for new dancers at 7:30 pm.
Contradance, 8-11 pm.
Adults, $12
Students over age 18 w/ ID, $7.
Under age 18, free.
CDSS members: $1 off. Info,
www.caldancecoop.org
++++++++++
For MUCH more, today, tonight, Sunday, and beyond... plus MUSIC NEWS...
Click those next two MOST RECENT editions.
.
<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>-<^>
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CONTACT US at / send Questions / Comments to: . Tiedtothetracks (at) Hotmail (dot) com
.
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Contents copyright © 2016, Lawrence Wines & Tied to the Tracks. All rights reserved.
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Friday, May 13, 2016
Friday the 13th, an' not creepy a'tall...
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We told you.
Our editions don't go away. But this one would. It did.
See the next two. (What was here was just a little of what's still there. In those two editions.)
See you Sunday at Topanga Banjo•Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival
.
We told you.
Our editions don't go away. But this one would. It did.
See the next two. (What was here was just a little of what's still there. In those two editions.)
See you Sunday at Topanga Banjo•Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Festivals, Concerts, Music News, Film, Planets, and More... May 12 edition, 2016...
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There are two new editions today. THIS ONE has all the weekend festivals, recommended events, music and arts news, and — Ground control to Major Tom — news of over 1200 fresh extraterrestrial discoveries(!)
THE OTHER new edition is the Guide's first-ever endorsement for President of the United States. Seriously. It's right here at a separate click and we hope you'll take time to read it.
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Contents / In this edition...
1) FESTIVALS: IMPENDING FUN!
2) CATCH LIVE FOLK CONCERTS ON THE WEB
3) ROOTSY SONGSTRESS SARA PETITE HAS LOCAL DATES
4) RECOMMENDATIONS: A MISCELLANY OF MUSICALITY — CONCERTS, ETC.
5) WORKSHOPS COMING SATURDAY, MAY 21st
6) OUTWEST CONCERT SERIES RETURNS MAY 26
7) CHAMPION COMEDIC BANJO PLAYER HAS UPCOMING L.A. SHOW
8) WANNA MEET EINSTEIN?
9) MUSIC FILM RECOMMENDATION: "RUDDERLESS"
10) GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TOM: NASA ANNOUNCES 1,284 NEW PLANETS FOUND
Jump right in. The water's fine.
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# 1 news feature...
FESTIVALS: IMPENDING FUN!
There are FOUR festivals this weekend, including Topanga Banjo•Fiddle on Sunday. Here's the lowdown on all the hoedowns.
√ 11th Annual ("11th Ever") "L.A. OLD TIME SOCIAL" runs Thu-Sat, May 12-14, at various venues and with emphases that range from concerts to dances to workshops. It's an immersion in the good time roots music that preceded bluegrass. Details, tix, registration at:
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www.oldtimeisagoodtime.com
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• It kicks off Thu at 8 pm, doubling as the weekly "Honky Tonk Hacienda" at El Cid, 4212 Sunset Bl, Los Angeles 90029. Performances by Echo Mountain String Band, Squirrel Butter, High Life Cajun Band.
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• Fri night's concert, May 13, at 8 pm, is Earl & Adrian White, Tom Marion with Frank Fairfield, The Canote Brothers, and intermission music by Sausage Grinder, at the Velaslavasay Panorama, 1122 W 24th St, Los Angeles 90007.
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• Sat, May 14, brings a huge schedule, noon-11 pm. Workshops run noon-6 pm, for: Fiddle, Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin, Square Dance Calling, Singing, & Clogging. At 6:30, the Family Dance & Cake Walk happen. Then at 8 pm is the Square Dance with callers Susan Michaels and Charmaine Slaven, and bands Hollywood Boll Weevils, Earl White Stringband, Squirrel Butter, and The Canote Brothers. All Sat events are at American Legion Post 206, 227 N Ave 55, Los Angeles 90042.
√ Annual "JOSHUA TREE MUSIC FESTIVAL" runs Thu-Sun, May 12-15, at Joshua Tree Lake Campground, 2601 Sunfair Rd, Joshua Tree 92252. It used to be Folk-Americana friendly, but not so much anymore. Performances Thu by Dam-Funk & the Light, Gene Evaro Jr., & Tomas de la Noche; on Fri by Dakhabrakha, The Main Squeeze, Adobe Collective, Sunsquabi, Trevor Green, Stone Soul, The Rainbow Girls, Todo Mundo, Denmantau, Bearcoon, & TryStates; on Sat by Empresarios, Little Hurricane, Greener Grounds, Dumpstaphunk, All Good Funk Alliance, Cactus Wine Experience, Royal Jelly Jive, Del Corazon, Dani Bell & the Tarantist, Desert Rhythm Project, & Jim Maloney; on Sun by Hamsa Lila, Dhara World Music, The Accidentals , Wondem, 3rd Ear Experience, Gene Evaro Jr., Vir, Inkx & Evan, Melaena Cadiz, & Megan Hutch.
√ Annual "ELECTIC MUSIC FESTIVAL": Sat, May 14, it's South Pasadena's FREE big one-day fest, on 12 Stages, much of it acoustic music with great sound systems, spread around the charming downtown. Performances by Albert Lee, Doug MacLeod, Barbara Morrison, Rick Shea, Dale LaDuke, Wild Mountain Mystics, Tim Tedrow & John Michael Kaye, Rebecca Stout, Whiskey Sunday, and more. Free. Ride the Gold Line Light Rail and avoid looking for parking.
√ Annual "TOPANGA BANJO•FIDDLE CONTEST & FOLK FESTIVAL" Sun, May 15, 9 am-6 pm, at Paramount Ranch, 2903 Cornell Rd, Agoura Hills 91301; 818-382-4819; in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, near Agoura. For years, the best one-day folk fest anywhere. In addition to being dazzled by the contest competitors, there are scheduled performances on multiple stages by Ragged Union, The Americans, Canote Brothers, Evie Ladin Band, Hollow Trees, Joellen Lapidus, LA Dulcimer Club, Scottish Festival of Los Angeles, Ventucky String Band, G Burns Jug Band, Mike Mahaney & Friends Western Music Roundup, The Sweet Potatoes, Squirrel Butter, and folk "singer-songfighter" Ross Altman. Also, plenty of participatory dance: Clogging, Contra, & Square.
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Full info & advance tix online at:
www.topangabanjofiddle.org
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NEXT WEEKEND...
√ Annual "CLAREMONT FOLK FESTIVAL" Sun, May 22, is already SOLD-OUT.
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WORKSHOPS: 11 am-2 pm, at the Folk Music Center, 220 Yale Av, Claremont 91711.
• Introduction to Banjo: Kent Besocke
• Mountain Dulcimer: Leo Kretzner
• Songs of a Red Diaper Baby Boomer: Ross Altman
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FESTIVAL CONCERTS: 3-10 pm, at the Sontag Greek Theater at Pomona College, 300 E Bonita Av, Claremont 91711.
• 4 pm Quetzal
• 5:15 pm Yuval Ron Ensemble
• 6:30 pm Tom Morello
• 8 pm David Lindley
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909-624-2928
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# 2 news feature...
CATCH LIVE FOLK CONCERTS ON THE WEB
We've reported before on "SONGWRITERS AT PLAY," Steve Key's multivenue series. It has PLENTY of live web simulcasts weeknight evenings and weekends, plus the occasional radio streaming simulcast, all from the Central Coast. Not all these stream online, most do. And we encourage you to attend a concert when you're in the area. Or make a road trip, since some venues are wineries (one with its music hall in the old Southern Pacific Railroad depot!) Details at:
www.songwritersatplay.com
Here's the current schedule (MOST have web simulcasts)...
• Tue, May 10, tune in at 5 pm to hear Gayle Skidmore, Sugar Still, and Winne Brave. Airs on The Krush 92.5 FM, streams free worldwide at www.krush925.com. Repeats Thu, May 12, 9 am.
• Wed, May 11: The Salty Suites, with special guest Phil Lee, at the "Wine Down Wednesday" concert series at Sculpterra. $15 tix available at the door, or at Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo, or online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2527536. Sculpterra Winery, 5015 Linne Rd, Paso Robles; 805-226-8881. Food and wine available for purchase, including half-off the price of selected bottles.
• Thu, May 12: 9 am. Streaming radio repeat of the Tue, May 10, performance by Gayle Skidmore, Sugar Still, and Winne Brave. Airs on The Krush 92.5 FM, streams free worldwide at www.krush925.com.
• Thu, May 12: Dead Frets, plus Nick Brittan, Christiana Newcomb, Oliviero, Shining in the Dark. Show begins at 6:30 pm. Shell Cafe, 1351 Price St, Pismo Beach; 805-773-8300. All ages. Free. Co-production with Madeline Royal of "Love Live Music."
• Fri, May 13: Phil Lee, Ragged Company. Trevor McSpadden opens at 7 pm. Reservations strongly recommended: 805-227-6800. D'Anbino Cellars, 710 Pine St, Paso Robles. $12 cover. All ages OK. D'Anbino has cheese plates & desserts, but OK to bring your own food.
• Sun, May 15: Trevor McSpadden, plus PJ Robertson, Lars Mortensen. 1-4 pm, rain or shine year-round at Sculpterra Winery, 5015 Linne Rd, Paso Robles; 805-226-8881. No cover charge, all ages.
• Mon, May 16: Roy Schneider & Kim Mayfield,plus Stereo Chickens, Karyn Ann, Noach Tangeras, Lars Mortensen. Otter Rock Cafe, 885 Embarcadero, Morro Bay; 805-772-1420. 6:30 pm start. No cover charge, tip bucket for the featured act. All ages. Full dinner menu and great sunset views.
• Tue, May 17: Roy Schneider & Kim Mayfield, plus Craig McNichols, Max MacLaury, Devin Wallace, Lars Mortensen. Starts 6:30 pm, at Bang The Drum Brewery,950 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo; 805-242-8372. No cover charge, all ages.
• May 19: Roy Schneider & Kim Mayfield, plus Jennifer Martin, Amie Richie, Charles Motley. Show begins at 6:30 pm. Shell Cafe, 1351 Price St, Pismo Beach; 805-773-8300. All ages. Free.
• Sun, May 22: Reeves 'n Zat,plus Desiree trio, Rebecca & Gary Parks, Caitlin Anne Webster, Elizabeth Etta. 1-4 pm, rain or shine year-round at Sculpterra Winery, 5015 Linne Rd, Paso Robles; 805-226-8881. No cover charge, all ages.
• Mon, May 23: Reeves 'n Zat, plus Bearcoon, John Nowel, Randall Lamb, Caitlin Anne Webster, Janine Rose. Otter Rock Cafe, 885 Embarcadero, Morro Bay; 805-772-1420. 6:30 pm start. No cover charge, tip bucket for the featured act. All ages. Full dinner menu and great sunset views.
• Tue, May 24: "Bob Dylan Tribute" with Bear Market Riot, James Lee Stanley, The Agreeables, Noach Tangeras, Brian Rozendal, Girls & Boys, Cat Zebron, Ben Justus, Steve Fort. Tickets $12, available at the door; for the best seats, make dinner reservations at 805-962-7776. All ages OK. Doors open 6:30, show begins at 7:30 pm. SOhO Restaurant & Music Club,1221 State Street #205, Santa Barbara.
• May 27, "Bob Dylan Tribute." Starts at 7 pm. Reservations strongly recommended: 805-227-6800. D'Anbino Cellars, 710 Pine St, Paso Robles. $12 cover. All ages OK. D'Anbino has cheese plates & desserts, but OK to bring your own food.
• Jun 8: Jill Knight at the "Wine Down Wednesday" concert series at Sculpterra. $15 tix available at the door, or at Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo, or online at www.brownpapertickets.com. Sculpterra Winery, 5015 Linne Rd, Paso Robles; 805-226-8881. Food and wine available for purchase, including half-off the price of selected bottles.
• Jun 10, new trio Point Conception and Portland's Just People. Starts at 7 pm. Reservations strongly recommended: 805-227-6800. D'Anbino Cellars, 710 Pine St, Paso Robles. $12 cover. All ages OK. D'Anbino has cheese plates & desserts, but OK to bring your own food.
• Tue, Jun 21: Ynana Rose, plus David Trull, Jennifer Martin, Matt Yaki. Starts 6:30 pm, at Bang The Drum Brewery,950 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo; 805-242-8372. No cover charge, all ages.
• Jun 24, "Merle Haggard Tribute." Starts at 7 pm. Reservations strongly recommended: 805-227-6800. D'Anbino Cellars, 710 Pine St, Paso Robles. $12 cover. All ages OK. D'Anbino has cheese plates & desserts, but OK to bring your own food.
• Jul 13: CC Riders with Louie Ortega & Dorian Michael at the "Wine Down Wednesday" concert series at Sculpterra. $15 tix available at the door, or at Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo, or online at www.brownpapertickets.com. Sculpterra Winery, 5015 Linne Rd, Paso Robles; 805-226-8881. Food and wine available for purchase, including half-off the price of selected bottles.
• Aug 10: Bear Market Riot at the "Wine Down Wednesday" concert series at Sculpterra. $15 tix available at the door, or at Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo, or online at www.brownpapertickets.com. Sculpterra Winery, 5015 Linne Rd, Paso Robles; 805-226-8881. Food and wine available for purchase, including half-off the price of selected bottles.
• Sep 14: Jody Mulgrew Band at the "Wine Down Wednesday" concert series at Sculpterra. $15 tix available at the door, or at Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo, or online at www.brownpapertickets.com. Sculpterra Winery, 5015 Linne Rd, Paso Robles; 805-226-8881. Food and wine available for purchase, including half-off the price of selected bottles.
More tributes:
• June 14 Merle Haggard
• July 12 Jackson Browne
• Aug 30 Van Morrison
• Sep 13 Buddy Holly
• Oct 11 John Lennon
• Nov 22 Gordon Lightfoot
Full info and web simulcast links at:
www.songwritersatplay.com
More at:
www.facebook.com/songwritersatplay
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# 3 news feature...
ROOTSY SONGSTRESS SARA PETITE HAS LOCAL DATES
The Guide's founding editor was an early fan of Sara Petite, who has gone on to earn serious music prizes, do national tv, and open for headliners that include Ralph Stanley, Marty Stuart, Dave Alvin, and plenty more.
We like it when other music journalists rave about somebody after we do.
"There is no medical evidence to prove that Lucinda Williams, Nanci Griffith and Carrie Rodriguez joined forces to mother a fully-grown musician daughter. But if they did, San Diego singer-songwriter Sara Petite would be the likely outcome.” — George Varga, San Diego Union Times.
“She could sing a buzzard off a slop wagon.” — Mojo Nixon.
"A true original, Sara's music does not conveniently fit into any one musical genre or sub-category, but rather traces her influences in country, bluegrass, rock and folk, and emerges into a sound completely her own. As welcome in senior citizen centers as she is in biker bars, nightclub venues and festivals, Sara is as American as apple pie and Harley Davidson. She is gritty, she is wild, she is tender with a soul of a child." — Kim Grant.
Sara Petite is a gifted singer-songwriter who possesses a very real ability to reach the hearts and souls of fans young and old. She has that rare gift of crafting songs that appeal equally to, but are interpreted differently by, fans of diverse perspectives. This is amply evidenced as you watch the audiences at her live performances.
Petite has toured all over the U.S. and Europe. She has some local dates, including a free show in the most intimate of venues, the Cinema Bar in Culver City, at 9 pm on May 25th (1867 N Sepulveda Bl, Culver City. It's the size of a postage stamp, barstool seating is competitive; 21+ venue; come early to get in.) See below for more dates and venues.
Her new album, "The Road Less Traveled," is slated for August 2016 release.
Transplanted to San Diego from a tulip farming town in Washington, she cites her influences as artists as diverse as Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, and June Carter, to Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and John Mellencamp. That'll prepare you a bit for that new record.
Catching her live... Southern Cal. & Central Coast Road Dates:
√ May 10: "Merle Haggard Tribute" night at the Belly Up, Solana Beach.
√ May 12: 7 pm, no cost, at Otter Cafe, 885 Embarcadero, Morro Bay.
√ May 20: 6 pm, no cost, at Wynola Red Barn, 4355 Hwy 78, Julian (inland San Diego Co.)
√ May 25: 9 pm, no cost, at the Cinema Bar, 1867 N Sepulveda Bl, Culver City.
√ May 27 & 28: 8 pm, no cost, at Pappy & Harriet's, 53688 Pioneertown Rd, Pioneertown 92268 (a famous remote venue in the eastern desert, a detour from 29 Palms.)
Sometimes, you can catch Sara Petite & the Sugar Daddies, her full band. Other times, it's her rootsy 3-piece Classic Country, swampy-sounding ensemble, Sara Petite & the Sweet Pea Possums. Or it's Sara and her guitar. All three options are formidable.
Touring as a solo artist, Sara has opened for many greats, including Ralph Stanley, Marty Stuart, Lonestar, Todd Snider, Dave Alvin, Josh Turner, Ol' 97s, John Eddie, Richie McDonald, Trent Tomlinson, Steve Poltz, and more.
Sara Petite's awards and accolades include:
• Winner, 3 times, San Diego’s Best Country/Americana Band
• Grand Prize Winner of Portland’s Songwriting Contest
• San Diego Songwriting Contest Winner
• International Songwriting Finalist
• In 2012, Petite won second place in the prestigious "Chris Austin Songwriting Contest" at the huge "Merlefest."
More info: www.sarapetite.com
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# 4 news feature...
RECOMMENDATIONS: A MISCELLANY OF MUSICALITY — CONCERTS, ETC.
There's a cosmic convergence of musicality these next few days. The concert scene is simply wonderful. These listings are in addition to events discussed in the other features in this edition. We aren't repeating ourselves with parallel listings. So be sure to check the festivals and other features, too.
Here are our recommendations, Thursday through Sunday...
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Thursday, May 12...
√ FORTUNATE SON, acclaimed Creedence tribute band: Thu, May 12, 2 pm matinee, at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations (10 am-10 pm, 7 days) at 626-798-6236.
√ EVIE LADIN: Thu, May 12, 7 pm, House Concert in Claremont 91711. Reservations get directions from Don Breyer at 909-626-8666 or debreyer@gmail.com.
√ STORYTELLING CONCERT: TY FANCE & JAMIE BRIDGERS: Thu, May 12, 7:30 pm, at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations (10 am-10 pm, 7 days) at 626-798-6236.
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Friday, May 13...
√ BLACK MARKET TRUST: Fri, May 13, 7 pm, at Squashed Grapes, 2351 E Main St, Ventura 93003.
√ EVIE LADIN BAND: Fri, May 13, 7:30 pm, at the "San Diego Folk Heritage" concert series at Templars Hall in Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Rd, Poway (San Diego Co) 92064; 858-566-4040.
√ JOHN PRINE, JASON ISBELL, & AMANDA SHIRES: Fri, May 13, 7:30 pm, a formidable bill at the Greek Theatre, 2700 N Vermont, Griffith Park, Los Angeles 90027; 213-480-3232.
√ JIM GUSTIN & TRUTH JONES, plus CROOKED EYE TOMMY, and BOBBY BLUEHOUSE: Fri, May 13, 8 pm, at Arcadia Blues Club, 16 E Huntington Dr, Arcadia. Fun club, good food (generous portions), full bar, free street parking; bring esrplugs - seriously. Tix, $10, discounted to $5 online advance, at: http://www.arcadiabluesclub.com/schedule.htm
√ DIRK HAMILTON: Fri, May 13, 8 pm,at McCabe’s Guitar Shop, 3101 Pico Bl, Santa Monica 90405; 310-828-4497.
√ THE LUCKYS: Fri, May 13, 8 pm, at the Camarillo Café Concert Series, 1605 Burnley St, Camarillo 93010.
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Saturday, May 14...
√ QUATTROSOUND: Sat, May 14, 12:30 pm matinee at the Old Ranch Country Club, 3901 Lampson Av, Seal Beach 90740.
√ HOMEMADE JAM: Sat, May 14, 3 pm matinee, at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations (10 am-10 pm, 7 days) at 626-798-6236.
√ "ROSS ALTMAN Presents Songs of the ‘60s": Sat, May 14, 3 pm matinee, at the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Bl, Santa Monica 90401. Sponsored by the Topanga Banjo•Fiddle Contest, which holds its annual festival tomorrow, May 15th. See festival section.
√ SLIGO RAGS: Sat, May 14, 7 pm, at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations (10 am-10 pm, 7 days) at 626-798-6236.
√ ALICE WALLACE: Sat, May 14, 8 pm. The truly outstanding artist plays "Russ and Julie’s House Concerts" series in Oak Park (Agoura Hills/Westlake Village area). Reservations get directions at 818-707-2179 or rsvp@houseconcerts.us
√ RAGGED UNION, Bluegrass band from Colorado: Sat, May 14, 8 pm, at Boulevard Music, 4316 Sepulveda Bl, Culver City 90230; 310-398-2583.
√ COCO MONTOYA, plus BOBBY BLUEHOUSE: Sat, May 14, 8 pm, at Arcadia Blues Club, 16 E Huntington Dr, Arcadia. Fun club, good food (generous portions), full bar, free street parking; bring esrplugs - seriously. Tix $25, discounted online advance to $20, at: http://www.arcadiabluesclub.com/schedule.htm
√ JANIVA MAGNESS: Sat, May 14, 8 pm, at McCabe’s Guitar Shop, 3101 Pico Bl, Santa Monica 90405; 310-828-4497.
√ RICHARD THOMPSON: Sat, May 14, 9 pm, plays solo and with his trio, at the Teragram Ballroom, 1234 W 7th St, Los Angeles 90017; 213-689-9100.
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Sunday, May 15...
There are entitely too many truly outstanding possibilities that are perfect for your post-Topanga Banjo•Fiddle Fest on Sunday...
√ PEANUT plays the "Matinee Kids' Show" series: Sun, May 15, 11 am, at McCabe’s Guitar Shop, 3101 Pico Bl, Santa Monica 90405; 310-828-4497.
√ DUSTBOWL REVIVAL: Sun, May 15, at 6 pm. It's the "Ojai Concert Series" at Dancing Oak Ranch, on Hwy 150 / 4585 Casitas Pass Rd, Ventura 93001; 805-649-5189.
√ "A TRIBUTE TO MERLE HAGGARD": Sun, May 15, 6 pm, at Cody's Viva Cantina , 900 Riverside Dr, Burbank 91506; 818-845-2425. Performances by Cody Bryant, Susie Glaze, Tony Gilkyson, Craig Elkins, Cary Park, Lisa Finnie, Ronnie Mack, Tonya Watts, Groovy Rednecks, & Rick Shea. It's this month's installment of "THE MESSAROUND" with a very formidable lineup!
√ RAGGED UNION, Bluegrass band from Colorado: Sun, May 15, 7 pm, at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations (10 am-10 pm, 7 days) at 626-798-6236.
√ "SONGWRITER'S SQUARE": Sun, May 15, 7 pm, brings PHIL WARD (delightfully comedic folksinger & Trough Records artist), ERIC KUFS (from folk band COMMON ROTATION), NORMANDIE WILSON (cabaret singer), and host BILL BERRY, for Phil's first post-root-canal concert "despite looking like a chipmunk," at Lyric-Hyperion Theatre & Cafe, 2106 Hyperion Av, Silver Lake (L.A.) 90027. Get $12 tickets at:
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2545558 using the code word Phil. (The show's at 7 pm, not 7 am, despite what that web site says) Or pay $15 at the door if you mention Phil's name.
√ ROSEMARY BUTLER: Sun, May 15, 7:30 pm, at SOHo Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State St, Santa Barbara 93101; 805-962 7776.
√ DANIEL BACHMAN: Sun, May 15, 7:30 & 9:30 pm, at the Museum of Jurassic Technology, 9341 Venice Bl, Culver City 90232; 310-836-6131; events@mjt.org
√ DARRYL PURPOSE with PAUL ZOLLO: Sun, May 15, 8 pm, at McCabe’s Guitar Shop, 3101 Pico Bl, Santa Monica 90405; 310-828-4497. The Guide just brought you a rave review (May 7) of the brand-new Darryl Purpose new album, with songs written by Paul Zollo. This'll be a big night.
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# 5 news feature...
WORKSHOPS COMING SATURDAY, MAY 21st
A pair of workshops spaced far enough apart you could make both. If you play fiddle and guitar.
√ "CAPE BRETON FIDDLE WORKSHOP" with ANDREA BEATON: Sat, May 21, 11:30 am, at La Crescenta Presbyterian Church, 2902 Montrose Av, La Crescenta 91214. Google it.
√ "FINGERSTYLE GUITAR WORKSHOP" with ADAM MILLER: Sat, May 21, 4 pm, at Boulevard Music, 4316 Sepulveda Bl, Culver City 90230; 310-398-2583.
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# 6 news feature...
OUTWEST CONCERT SERIES RETURNS MAY 26
Before we talk about who's performing, let's talk a moment about this series. It's in the Old Newhall district of Santa Clarita. It has grown to genuine event status in a comfortable theatre from a start, a few years back, in a western wear store. Along the way, it's gained sponsorship of local cable tv, which does a live shoot of every concert. And it's still put together by that store, which is named OutWest.
If you get your ticket in time for the next concert, happening May 26, you'll enjoy a performance by JENNIFER LIND, a wonderful singer and entertainer. It's at Repertory East Playhouse, 24266 Main St, Newhall. Jennifer blends western and mainstream folk styles. She has two albums out, and is now a member of the NEW CHRISTY MINSTRELS.
Evening begins in the theatre's lounge at 7 pm; concert at 8 pm. Tix are $25. Call 661-255-7087 to reserve your seats.
You owe it to yourself to become familiar with this series and with the living legacy of Western music.
L.A. doesn't offer a lot of real Western music, apart from the annual "Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival" that happened last month. Once in a while, the Autry National Center (Autry Museum of the American West) does something nicely tuneful. And Cody's Viva Cantina in Burbank works a good number of Western Swing bands into their nightly mix. Plus there's the fine lineup at the Coffee Gallery Backstage up in Altadena. And a few times a year, there's this series.
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# 7 news feature...
CHAMPION COMEDIC BANJO PLAYER HAS UPCOMING L.A. SHOW
Bet you think we're talking about Steve Martin. Not this time. We're talking about the winner of the coveted "Three Weeks Award" at Scotland's "Edinburgh Fringe Festival."
We're talking about Daniel Cainer.
"Call him a comedian, a spinner of tales, a homespun philosopher — beneath the rapid-fire delivery there lurks a warm Jewish soul and a quality Jews might call 'heimish', a feeling of comfort, of home. One laughs with, not at, the whimsy. A rare quality."
— Theodore Bikel, the late folksinger and actor.
Cainer has enjoyed sold-out shows around the world. His collection of stories in song reveals a master songwriter and performer.
"He shines light in lots of dark corners, family secrets, feuding tailors making their way from Lodz to London, and much more. You'll laugh, you'll cry. What's not to like?" — Jeannine Frank, event producer.
An "Edinburgh Fringe Festival" (Scotland) favorite each year, Cainer's compositions and topical songs are performed regularly on BBC London.
Check out a review from the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festival: "Always Best of the Fest!" --
http://fringereview.co.uk/review/edinburgh-fringe/2015/daniel-cainer-21st-century-jew
Now, the tricky part. You CAN see Daniel perform while he's in L.A. But you need to contact Jeannine to get a ticket. She will even get you a nice discounted ticket. But she is the one with the details, at:
jeannine@frankentertainment.com
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# 8 news feature...
WANNA MEET EINSTEIN?
"It's all relative -- so bring all yours to enjoy EINSTEIN, where humor, history & dazzling equations collide!" That's the clever promo. The rave reviews are more... intelligent:
HUFFINGTON POST: "This is a unique American premiere worth investigating.... Fry's portrait captures iconic mathematician as you might not have imagined him before..."
RANDOM LENGTHS NEWS: "... a glorious evening's entertainment, a personal triumph for Jack Fry and for the reality of science we know so little about."
It's one night only...
Tue, May 24, at 7:30 pm, at the Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St (a few doors S. of Wilshire Bl), Santa Monica.
Tickets $35 ($25 for Guide readers through promoter Jeannine Frank, at: jeannine@frankentertainment.com )
Explore more at:
www.einsteintheplay.com
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# 9 news feature...
MUSIC FILM RECOMMENDATION: "RUDDERLESS"
"RUDDERLESS" (2014) is now playing on Starz cable and Netflix. It doesn't seem to have ever gotten the usual round with critics, and that's too bad. It is an engaging music fable with catchy singer-songwriter material, some developed for full band performances.
It marks the directorial debut of veteran actor William H. Macy, who has a cameo, and it stars Billy Crudup.
The central plot line is handled with a good mix of necessary introspective character development and enjoyable music performances. And that's saying a lot, because the opening incident would be impossibly disturbing, even a deal-breaker, were it not adequately handled by the writing and cast.
The story gives us a skillful weaving of multiple generations, linked by the universality, redemptive power, and escapism of music. Yep, all three.
The moments — and a couple of entire scenes — of awkwardness are characteristic enough of the youth of some of the characters that it narrowly escapes being an eye-roller.
A very folky performance venue — half coffee-house, half bar — and a music store threatened with closing, along with scenes at a lake, all work to create believable surroundings and look like New England. But all are in Oklahoma; the film was made in Guthrie, Edmond, Oklahoma City, and at that lake. Each location becomes comfortably familiar and helps the plot work.
An especially strong reason to watch? Anyone who has ever been in a band (at any age), or worked the goofy jobs necessary to sustain chasing a music career, will relate to the many nicely crafted little "musician moments," perhaps finding them downright reminiscent. That includes a couple of over-the-top, alcohol-fueled parabolic arcs.
Language, and that opening incident and its eventual resolution, make it unsuitable for small fry. Recommended for everyone else. Especially everyone who spends some portion of their life involved in making music.
Co-stars Anton Yelchin; Laurence Fishburne, Felicity Huffman, and Selena Gomez also have roles.
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# 10 news feature...
GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TOM: NASA ANNOUNCES 1,284 NEW PLANETS FOUND
The $60 million Kepler Space Telescope mission keeps delivering huge dividends. With the NASA announcement today, May 10, the number of known planets orbiting stars other than our own just increased by a whopping 60 percent.
Already, scientists have determined that nine of those 1,284 planets are "rocky" rather than gaseous or iceballs, and they orbit their suns in the "goldilocks zone."
That refers to the right distance for water to remain liquid without permanently freezing or boiling away into vapor. Of course, the distance of that zone is different with each star, based on how big and how hot it is. And we're observing from distances so great that all this detection capability would have been thought impossible just a few years ago.
Venus could be in our sun's goldilocks zone, if it didn't have a runaway greenhouse effect that keeps it surface hot enough to melt lead. In fact, planetary scientists believe Venus once had oceans of liquid water. Which should give us caution. Not only about those distant rocky worlds. But about the accelerating global warming on our own. It's not wise to abuse mother nature.
Read about those 1,284 newly found planets at:
www.space.com/32850-nasa-kepler-telescope-finds-1284-alien-planets.html
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More music news is in numerous recent editions. More on upcoming FESTIVALS and events is in the April 16 edition, available at a separate click.
Much more, soon, on additional topics.
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The Guide brings you frequent editions covering MUSIC NEWS, arts and industry events, and ticket alerts, available right here on the Guide's Blogspot site.
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♪ The ACOUSTIC AMERICANA MUSIC GUIDE endeavors to bring you NEWS and views of interest to artists everywhere, more specifically to musicians and the creative community and music makers and fans of acoustic and Folk-Americana music, both traditional and innovative forms. From the deepest roots to today’s acoustic renaissance, that’s our beat. We provide a wealth of resources, including a HUGE catalog of acoustic-friendly venues, and schedules and inside info on FESTIVALS and select performances in Southern California in venues monumentally large and intimately small and cozy. We cover workshops and other events for artists and folks in the music industry, and all kinds o’ things in the world of acoustic and Americana and accessible classical music. From washtub bass to musical spoons to oboe to viola to banjo to squeezebox, from Djangostyle to new-fangled-old-time string band music, from sweet Cajun fiddle to bluegrass and pre-bluegrass Appalachian mountain music to all the roots of the blues and where the music is headed now.
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The Acoustic Americana Music Guide. Thanks for sittin' a spell.
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There are two new editions today. THIS ONE has all the weekend festivals, recommended events, music and arts news, and — Ground control to Major Tom — news of over 1200 fresh extraterrestrial discoveries(!)
THE OTHER new edition is the Guide's first-ever endorsement for President of the United States. Seriously. It's right here at a separate click and we hope you'll take time to read it.
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Contents / In this edition...
1) FESTIVALS: IMPENDING FUN!
2) CATCH LIVE FOLK CONCERTS ON THE WEB
3) ROOTSY SONGSTRESS SARA PETITE HAS LOCAL DATES
4) RECOMMENDATIONS: A MISCELLANY OF MUSICALITY — CONCERTS, ETC.
5) WORKSHOPS COMING SATURDAY, MAY 21st
6) OUTWEST CONCERT SERIES RETURNS MAY 26
7) CHAMPION COMEDIC BANJO PLAYER HAS UPCOMING L.A. SHOW
8) WANNA MEET EINSTEIN?
9) MUSIC FILM RECOMMENDATION: "RUDDERLESS"
10) GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TOM: NASA ANNOUNCES 1,284 NEW PLANETS FOUND
Jump right in. The water's fine.
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# 1 news feature...
FESTIVALS: IMPENDING FUN!
There are FOUR festivals this weekend, including Topanga Banjo•Fiddle on Sunday. Here's the lowdown on all the hoedowns.
√ 11th Annual ("11th Ever") "L.A. OLD TIME SOCIAL" runs Thu-Sat, May 12-14, at various venues and with emphases that range from concerts to dances to workshops. It's an immersion in the good time roots music that preceded bluegrass. Details, tix, registration at:
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www.oldtimeisagoodtime.com
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• It kicks off Thu at 8 pm, doubling as the weekly "Honky Tonk Hacienda" at El Cid, 4212 Sunset Bl, Los Angeles 90029. Performances by Echo Mountain String Band, Squirrel Butter, High Life Cajun Band.
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• Fri night's concert, May 13, at 8 pm, is Earl & Adrian White, Tom Marion with Frank Fairfield, The Canote Brothers, and intermission music by Sausage Grinder, at the Velaslavasay Panorama, 1122 W 24th St, Los Angeles 90007.
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• Sat, May 14, brings a huge schedule, noon-11 pm. Workshops run noon-6 pm, for: Fiddle, Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin, Square Dance Calling, Singing, & Clogging. At 6:30, the Family Dance & Cake Walk happen. Then at 8 pm is the Square Dance with callers Susan Michaels and Charmaine Slaven, and bands Hollywood Boll Weevils, Earl White Stringband, Squirrel Butter, and The Canote Brothers. All Sat events are at American Legion Post 206, 227 N Ave 55, Los Angeles 90042.
√ Annual "JOSHUA TREE MUSIC FESTIVAL" runs Thu-Sun, May 12-15, at Joshua Tree Lake Campground, 2601 Sunfair Rd, Joshua Tree 92252. It used to be Folk-Americana friendly, but not so much anymore. Performances Thu by Dam-Funk & the Light, Gene Evaro Jr., & Tomas de la Noche; on Fri by Dakhabrakha, The Main Squeeze, Adobe Collective, Sunsquabi, Trevor Green, Stone Soul, The Rainbow Girls, Todo Mundo, Denmantau, Bearcoon, & TryStates; on Sat by Empresarios, Little Hurricane, Greener Grounds, Dumpstaphunk, All Good Funk Alliance, Cactus Wine Experience, Royal Jelly Jive, Del Corazon, Dani Bell & the Tarantist, Desert Rhythm Project, & Jim Maloney; on Sun by Hamsa Lila, Dhara World Music, The Accidentals , Wondem, 3rd Ear Experience, Gene Evaro Jr., Vir, Inkx & Evan, Melaena Cadiz, & Megan Hutch.
√ Annual "ELECTIC MUSIC FESTIVAL": Sat, May 14, it's South Pasadena's FREE big one-day fest, on 12 Stages, much of it acoustic music with great sound systems, spread around the charming downtown. Performances by Albert Lee, Doug MacLeod, Barbara Morrison, Rick Shea, Dale LaDuke, Wild Mountain Mystics, Tim Tedrow & John Michael Kaye, Rebecca Stout, Whiskey Sunday, and more. Free. Ride the Gold Line Light Rail and avoid looking for parking.
√ Annual "TOPANGA BANJO•FIDDLE CONTEST & FOLK FESTIVAL" Sun, May 15, 9 am-6 pm, at Paramount Ranch, 2903 Cornell Rd, Agoura Hills 91301; 818-382-4819; in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, near Agoura. For years, the best one-day folk fest anywhere. In addition to being dazzled by the contest competitors, there are scheduled performances on multiple stages by Ragged Union, The Americans, Canote Brothers, Evie Ladin Band, Hollow Trees, Joellen Lapidus, LA Dulcimer Club, Scottish Festival of Los Angeles, Ventucky String Band, G Burns Jug Band, Mike Mahaney & Friends Western Music Roundup, The Sweet Potatoes, Squirrel Butter, and folk "singer-songfighter" Ross Altman. Also, plenty of participatory dance: Clogging, Contra, & Square.
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Full info & advance tix online at:
www.topangabanjofiddle.org
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NEXT WEEKEND...
√ Annual "CLAREMONT FOLK FESTIVAL" Sun, May 22, is already SOLD-OUT.
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WORKSHOPS: 11 am-2 pm, at the Folk Music Center, 220 Yale Av, Claremont 91711.
• Introduction to Banjo: Kent Besocke
• Mountain Dulcimer: Leo Kretzner
• Songs of a Red Diaper Baby Boomer: Ross Altman
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FESTIVAL CONCERTS: 3-10 pm, at the Sontag Greek Theater at Pomona College, 300 E Bonita Av, Claremont 91711.
• 4 pm Quetzal
• 5:15 pm Yuval Ron Ensemble
• 6:30 pm Tom Morello
• 8 pm David Lindley
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909-624-2928
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# 2 news feature...
CATCH LIVE FOLK CONCERTS ON THE WEB
We've reported before on "SONGWRITERS AT PLAY," Steve Key's multivenue series. It has PLENTY of live web simulcasts weeknight evenings and weekends, plus the occasional radio streaming simulcast, all from the Central Coast. Not all these stream online, most do. And we encourage you to attend a concert when you're in the area. Or make a road trip, since some venues are wineries (one with its music hall in the old Southern Pacific Railroad depot!) Details at:
www.songwritersatplay.com
Here's the current schedule (MOST have web simulcasts)...
• Tue, May 10, tune in at 5 pm to hear Gayle Skidmore, Sugar Still, and Winne Brave. Airs on The Krush 92.5 FM, streams free worldwide at www.krush925.com. Repeats Thu, May 12, 9 am.
• Wed, May 11: The Salty Suites, with special guest Phil Lee, at the "Wine Down Wednesday" concert series at Sculpterra. $15 tix available at the door, or at Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo, or online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2527536. Sculpterra Winery, 5015 Linne Rd, Paso Robles; 805-226-8881. Food and wine available for purchase, including half-off the price of selected bottles.
• Thu, May 12: 9 am. Streaming radio repeat of the Tue, May 10, performance by Gayle Skidmore, Sugar Still, and Winne Brave. Airs on The Krush 92.5 FM, streams free worldwide at www.krush925.com.
• Thu, May 12: Dead Frets, plus Nick Brittan, Christiana Newcomb, Oliviero, Shining in the Dark. Show begins at 6:30 pm. Shell Cafe, 1351 Price St, Pismo Beach; 805-773-8300. All ages. Free. Co-production with Madeline Royal of "Love Live Music."
• Fri, May 13: Phil Lee, Ragged Company. Trevor McSpadden opens at 7 pm. Reservations strongly recommended: 805-227-6800. D'Anbino Cellars, 710 Pine St, Paso Robles. $12 cover. All ages OK. D'Anbino has cheese plates & desserts, but OK to bring your own food.
• Sun, May 15: Trevor McSpadden, plus PJ Robertson, Lars Mortensen. 1-4 pm, rain or shine year-round at Sculpterra Winery, 5015 Linne Rd, Paso Robles; 805-226-8881. No cover charge, all ages.
• Mon, May 16: Roy Schneider & Kim Mayfield,plus Stereo Chickens, Karyn Ann, Noach Tangeras, Lars Mortensen. Otter Rock Cafe, 885 Embarcadero, Morro Bay; 805-772-1420. 6:30 pm start. No cover charge, tip bucket for the featured act. All ages. Full dinner menu and great sunset views.
• Tue, May 17: Roy Schneider & Kim Mayfield, plus Craig McNichols, Max MacLaury, Devin Wallace, Lars Mortensen. Starts 6:30 pm, at Bang The Drum Brewery,950 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo; 805-242-8372. No cover charge, all ages.
• May 19: Roy Schneider & Kim Mayfield, plus Jennifer Martin, Amie Richie, Charles Motley. Show begins at 6:30 pm. Shell Cafe, 1351 Price St, Pismo Beach; 805-773-8300. All ages. Free.
• Sun, May 22: Reeves 'n Zat,plus Desiree trio, Rebecca & Gary Parks, Caitlin Anne Webster, Elizabeth Etta. 1-4 pm, rain or shine year-round at Sculpterra Winery, 5015 Linne Rd, Paso Robles; 805-226-8881. No cover charge, all ages.
• Mon, May 23: Reeves 'n Zat, plus Bearcoon, John Nowel, Randall Lamb, Caitlin Anne Webster, Janine Rose. Otter Rock Cafe, 885 Embarcadero, Morro Bay; 805-772-1420. 6:30 pm start. No cover charge, tip bucket for the featured act. All ages. Full dinner menu and great sunset views.
• Tue, May 24: "Bob Dylan Tribute" with Bear Market Riot, James Lee Stanley, The Agreeables, Noach Tangeras, Brian Rozendal, Girls & Boys, Cat Zebron, Ben Justus, Steve Fort. Tickets $12, available at the door; for the best seats, make dinner reservations at 805-962-7776. All ages OK. Doors open 6:30, show begins at 7:30 pm. SOhO Restaurant & Music Club,1221 State Street #205, Santa Barbara.
• May 27, "Bob Dylan Tribute." Starts at 7 pm. Reservations strongly recommended: 805-227-6800. D'Anbino Cellars, 710 Pine St, Paso Robles. $12 cover. All ages OK. D'Anbino has cheese plates & desserts, but OK to bring your own food.
• Jun 8: Jill Knight at the "Wine Down Wednesday" concert series at Sculpterra. $15 tix available at the door, or at Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo, or online at www.brownpapertickets.com. Sculpterra Winery, 5015 Linne Rd, Paso Robles; 805-226-8881. Food and wine available for purchase, including half-off the price of selected bottles.
• Jun 10, new trio Point Conception and Portland's Just People. Starts at 7 pm. Reservations strongly recommended: 805-227-6800. D'Anbino Cellars, 710 Pine St, Paso Robles. $12 cover. All ages OK. D'Anbino has cheese plates & desserts, but OK to bring your own food.
• Tue, Jun 21: Ynana Rose, plus David Trull, Jennifer Martin, Matt Yaki. Starts 6:30 pm, at Bang The Drum Brewery,950 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo; 805-242-8372. No cover charge, all ages.
• Jun 24, "Merle Haggard Tribute." Starts at 7 pm. Reservations strongly recommended: 805-227-6800. D'Anbino Cellars, 710 Pine St, Paso Robles. $12 cover. All ages OK. D'Anbino has cheese plates & desserts, but OK to bring your own food.
• Jul 13: CC Riders with Louie Ortega & Dorian Michael at the "Wine Down Wednesday" concert series at Sculpterra. $15 tix available at the door, or at Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo, or online at www.brownpapertickets.com. Sculpterra Winery, 5015 Linne Rd, Paso Robles; 805-226-8881. Food and wine available for purchase, including half-off the price of selected bottles.
• Aug 10: Bear Market Riot at the "Wine Down Wednesday" concert series at Sculpterra. $15 tix available at the door, or at Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo, or online at www.brownpapertickets.com. Sculpterra Winery, 5015 Linne Rd, Paso Robles; 805-226-8881. Food and wine available for purchase, including half-off the price of selected bottles.
• Sep 14: Jody Mulgrew Band at the "Wine Down Wednesday" concert series at Sculpterra. $15 tix available at the door, or at Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo, or online at www.brownpapertickets.com. Sculpterra Winery, 5015 Linne Rd, Paso Robles; 805-226-8881. Food and wine available for purchase, including half-off the price of selected bottles.
More tributes:
• June 14 Merle Haggard
• July 12 Jackson Browne
• Aug 30 Van Morrison
• Sep 13 Buddy Holly
• Oct 11 John Lennon
• Nov 22 Gordon Lightfoot
Full info and web simulcast links at:
www.songwritersatplay.com
More at:
www.facebook.com/songwritersatplay
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# 3 news feature...
ROOTSY SONGSTRESS SARA PETITE HAS LOCAL DATES
The Guide's founding editor was an early fan of Sara Petite, who has gone on to earn serious music prizes, do national tv, and open for headliners that include Ralph Stanley, Marty Stuart, Dave Alvin, and plenty more.
We like it when other music journalists rave about somebody after we do.
"There is no medical evidence to prove that Lucinda Williams, Nanci Griffith and Carrie Rodriguez joined forces to mother a fully-grown musician daughter. But if they did, San Diego singer-songwriter Sara Petite would be the likely outcome.” — George Varga, San Diego Union Times.
“She could sing a buzzard off a slop wagon.” — Mojo Nixon.
"A true original, Sara's music does not conveniently fit into any one musical genre or sub-category, but rather traces her influences in country, bluegrass, rock and folk, and emerges into a sound completely her own. As welcome in senior citizen centers as she is in biker bars, nightclub venues and festivals, Sara is as American as apple pie and Harley Davidson. She is gritty, she is wild, she is tender with a soul of a child." — Kim Grant.
Sara Petite is a gifted singer-songwriter who possesses a very real ability to reach the hearts and souls of fans young and old. She has that rare gift of crafting songs that appeal equally to, but are interpreted differently by, fans of diverse perspectives. This is amply evidenced as you watch the audiences at her live performances.
Petite has toured all over the U.S. and Europe. She has some local dates, including a free show in the most intimate of venues, the Cinema Bar in Culver City, at 9 pm on May 25th (1867 N Sepulveda Bl, Culver City. It's the size of a postage stamp, barstool seating is competitive; 21+ venue; come early to get in.) See below for more dates and venues.
Her new album, "The Road Less Traveled," is slated for August 2016 release.
Transplanted to San Diego from a tulip farming town in Washington, she cites her influences as artists as diverse as Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, and June Carter, to Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and John Mellencamp. That'll prepare you a bit for that new record.
Catching her live... Southern Cal. & Central Coast Road Dates:
√ May 10: "Merle Haggard Tribute" night at the Belly Up, Solana Beach.
√ May 12: 7 pm, no cost, at Otter Cafe, 885 Embarcadero, Morro Bay.
√ May 20: 6 pm, no cost, at Wynola Red Barn, 4355 Hwy 78, Julian (inland San Diego Co.)
√ May 25: 9 pm, no cost, at the Cinema Bar, 1867 N Sepulveda Bl, Culver City.
√ May 27 & 28: 8 pm, no cost, at Pappy & Harriet's, 53688 Pioneertown Rd, Pioneertown 92268 (a famous remote venue in the eastern desert, a detour from 29 Palms.)
Sometimes, you can catch Sara Petite & the Sugar Daddies, her full band. Other times, it's her rootsy 3-piece Classic Country, swampy-sounding ensemble, Sara Petite & the Sweet Pea Possums. Or it's Sara and her guitar. All three options are formidable.
Touring as a solo artist, Sara has opened for many greats, including Ralph Stanley, Marty Stuart, Lonestar, Todd Snider, Dave Alvin, Josh Turner, Ol' 97s, John Eddie, Richie McDonald, Trent Tomlinson, Steve Poltz, and more.
Sara Petite's awards and accolades include:
• Winner, 3 times, San Diego’s Best Country/Americana Band
• Grand Prize Winner of Portland’s Songwriting Contest
• San Diego Songwriting Contest Winner
• International Songwriting Finalist
• In 2012, Petite won second place in the prestigious "Chris Austin Songwriting Contest" at the huge "Merlefest."
More info: www.sarapetite.com
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# 4 news feature...
RECOMMENDATIONS: A MISCELLANY OF MUSICALITY — CONCERTS, ETC.
There's a cosmic convergence of musicality these next few days. The concert scene is simply wonderful. These listings are in addition to events discussed in the other features in this edition. We aren't repeating ourselves with parallel listings. So be sure to check the festivals and other features, too.
Here are our recommendations, Thursday through Sunday...
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Thursday, May 12...
√ FORTUNATE SON, acclaimed Creedence tribute band: Thu, May 12, 2 pm matinee, at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations (10 am-10 pm, 7 days) at 626-798-6236.
√ EVIE LADIN: Thu, May 12, 7 pm, House Concert in Claremont 91711. Reservations get directions from Don Breyer at 909-626-8666 or debreyer@gmail.com.
√ STORYTELLING CONCERT: TY FANCE & JAMIE BRIDGERS: Thu, May 12, 7:30 pm, at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations (10 am-10 pm, 7 days) at 626-798-6236.
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Friday, May 13...
√ BLACK MARKET TRUST: Fri, May 13, 7 pm, at Squashed Grapes, 2351 E Main St, Ventura 93003.
√ EVIE LADIN BAND: Fri, May 13, 7:30 pm, at the "San Diego Folk Heritage" concert series at Templars Hall in Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Rd, Poway (San Diego Co) 92064; 858-566-4040.
√ JOHN PRINE, JASON ISBELL, & AMANDA SHIRES: Fri, May 13, 7:30 pm, a formidable bill at the Greek Theatre, 2700 N Vermont, Griffith Park, Los Angeles 90027; 213-480-3232.
√ JIM GUSTIN & TRUTH JONES, plus CROOKED EYE TOMMY, and BOBBY BLUEHOUSE: Fri, May 13, 8 pm, at Arcadia Blues Club, 16 E Huntington Dr, Arcadia. Fun club, good food (generous portions), full bar, free street parking; bring esrplugs - seriously. Tix, $10, discounted to $5 online advance, at: http://www.arcadiabluesclub.com/schedule.htm
√ DIRK HAMILTON: Fri, May 13, 8 pm,at McCabe’s Guitar Shop, 3101 Pico Bl, Santa Monica 90405; 310-828-4497.
√ THE LUCKYS: Fri, May 13, 8 pm, at the Camarillo Café Concert Series, 1605 Burnley St, Camarillo 93010.
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Saturday, May 14...
√ QUATTROSOUND: Sat, May 14, 12:30 pm matinee at the Old Ranch Country Club, 3901 Lampson Av, Seal Beach 90740.
√ HOMEMADE JAM: Sat, May 14, 3 pm matinee, at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations (10 am-10 pm, 7 days) at 626-798-6236.
√ "ROSS ALTMAN Presents Songs of the ‘60s": Sat, May 14, 3 pm matinee, at the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Bl, Santa Monica 90401. Sponsored by the Topanga Banjo•Fiddle Contest, which holds its annual festival tomorrow, May 15th. See festival section.
√ SLIGO RAGS: Sat, May 14, 7 pm, at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations (10 am-10 pm, 7 days) at 626-798-6236.
√ ALICE WALLACE: Sat, May 14, 8 pm. The truly outstanding artist plays "Russ and Julie’s House Concerts" series in Oak Park (Agoura Hills/Westlake Village area). Reservations get directions at 818-707-2179 or rsvp@houseconcerts.us
√ RAGGED UNION, Bluegrass band from Colorado: Sat, May 14, 8 pm, at Boulevard Music, 4316 Sepulveda Bl, Culver City 90230; 310-398-2583.
√ COCO MONTOYA, plus BOBBY BLUEHOUSE: Sat, May 14, 8 pm, at Arcadia Blues Club, 16 E Huntington Dr, Arcadia. Fun club, good food (generous portions), full bar, free street parking; bring esrplugs - seriously. Tix $25, discounted online advance to $20, at: http://www.arcadiabluesclub.com/schedule.htm
√ JANIVA MAGNESS: Sat, May 14, 8 pm, at McCabe’s Guitar Shop, 3101 Pico Bl, Santa Monica 90405; 310-828-4497.
√ RICHARD THOMPSON: Sat, May 14, 9 pm, plays solo and with his trio, at the Teragram Ballroom, 1234 W 7th St, Los Angeles 90017; 213-689-9100.
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Sunday, May 15...
There are entitely too many truly outstanding possibilities that are perfect for your post-Topanga Banjo•Fiddle Fest on Sunday...
√ PEANUT plays the "Matinee Kids' Show" series: Sun, May 15, 11 am, at McCabe’s Guitar Shop, 3101 Pico Bl, Santa Monica 90405; 310-828-4497.
√ DUSTBOWL REVIVAL: Sun, May 15, at 6 pm. It's the "Ojai Concert Series" at Dancing Oak Ranch, on Hwy 150 / 4585 Casitas Pass Rd, Ventura 93001; 805-649-5189.
√ "A TRIBUTE TO MERLE HAGGARD": Sun, May 15, 6 pm, at Cody's Viva Cantina , 900 Riverside Dr, Burbank 91506; 818-845-2425. Performances by Cody Bryant, Susie Glaze, Tony Gilkyson, Craig Elkins, Cary Park, Lisa Finnie, Ronnie Mack, Tonya Watts, Groovy Rednecks, & Rick Shea. It's this month's installment of "THE MESSAROUND" with a very formidable lineup!
√ RAGGED UNION, Bluegrass band from Colorado: Sun, May 15, 7 pm, at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 N Lake Av, Altadena 92675; reservations (10 am-10 pm, 7 days) at 626-798-6236.
√ "SONGWRITER'S SQUARE": Sun, May 15, 7 pm, brings PHIL WARD (delightfully comedic folksinger & Trough Records artist), ERIC KUFS (from folk band COMMON ROTATION), NORMANDIE WILSON (cabaret singer), and host BILL BERRY, for Phil's first post-root-canal concert "despite looking like a chipmunk," at Lyric-Hyperion Theatre & Cafe, 2106 Hyperion Av, Silver Lake (L.A.) 90027. Get $12 tickets at:
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2545558 using the code word Phil. (The show's at 7 pm, not 7 am, despite what that web site says) Or pay $15 at the door if you mention Phil's name.
√ ROSEMARY BUTLER: Sun, May 15, 7:30 pm, at SOHo Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State St, Santa Barbara 93101; 805-962 7776.
√ DANIEL BACHMAN: Sun, May 15, 7:30 & 9:30 pm, at the Museum of Jurassic Technology, 9341 Venice Bl, Culver City 90232; 310-836-6131; events@mjt.org
√ DARRYL PURPOSE with PAUL ZOLLO: Sun, May 15, 8 pm, at McCabe’s Guitar Shop, 3101 Pico Bl, Santa Monica 90405; 310-828-4497. The Guide just brought you a rave review (May 7) of the brand-new Darryl Purpose new album, with songs written by Paul Zollo. This'll be a big night.
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# 5 news feature...
WORKSHOPS COMING SATURDAY, MAY 21st
A pair of workshops spaced far enough apart you could make both. If you play fiddle and guitar.
√ "CAPE BRETON FIDDLE WORKSHOP" with ANDREA BEATON: Sat, May 21, 11:30 am, at La Crescenta Presbyterian Church, 2902 Montrose Av, La Crescenta 91214. Google it.
√ "FINGERSTYLE GUITAR WORKSHOP" with ADAM MILLER: Sat, May 21, 4 pm, at Boulevard Music, 4316 Sepulveda Bl, Culver City 90230; 310-398-2583.
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# 6 news feature...
OUTWEST CONCERT SERIES RETURNS MAY 26
Before we talk about who's performing, let's talk a moment about this series. It's in the Old Newhall district of Santa Clarita. It has grown to genuine event status in a comfortable theatre from a start, a few years back, in a western wear store. Along the way, it's gained sponsorship of local cable tv, which does a live shoot of every concert. And it's still put together by that store, which is named OutWest.
If you get your ticket in time for the next concert, happening May 26, you'll enjoy a performance by JENNIFER LIND, a wonderful singer and entertainer. It's at Repertory East Playhouse, 24266 Main St, Newhall. Jennifer blends western and mainstream folk styles. She has two albums out, and is now a member of the NEW CHRISTY MINSTRELS.
Evening begins in the theatre's lounge at 7 pm; concert at 8 pm. Tix are $25. Call 661-255-7087 to reserve your seats.
You owe it to yourself to become familiar with this series and with the living legacy of Western music.
L.A. doesn't offer a lot of real Western music, apart from the annual "Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival" that happened last month. Once in a while, the Autry National Center (Autry Museum of the American West) does something nicely tuneful. And Cody's Viva Cantina in Burbank works a good number of Western Swing bands into their nightly mix. Plus there's the fine lineup at the Coffee Gallery Backstage up in Altadena. And a few times a year, there's this series.
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# 7 news feature...
CHAMPION COMEDIC BANJO PLAYER HAS UPCOMING L.A. SHOW
Bet you think we're talking about Steve Martin. Not this time. We're talking about the winner of the coveted "Three Weeks Award" at Scotland's "Edinburgh Fringe Festival."
We're talking about Daniel Cainer.
"Call him a comedian, a spinner of tales, a homespun philosopher — beneath the rapid-fire delivery there lurks a warm Jewish soul and a quality Jews might call 'heimish', a feeling of comfort, of home. One laughs with, not at, the whimsy. A rare quality."
— Theodore Bikel, the late folksinger and actor.
Cainer has enjoyed sold-out shows around the world. His collection of stories in song reveals a master songwriter and performer.
"He shines light in lots of dark corners, family secrets, feuding tailors making their way from Lodz to London, and much more. You'll laugh, you'll cry. What's not to like?" — Jeannine Frank, event producer.
An "Edinburgh Fringe Festival" (Scotland) favorite each year, Cainer's compositions and topical songs are performed regularly on BBC London.
Check out a review from the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festival: "Always Best of the Fest!" --
http://fringereview.co.uk/review/edinburgh-fringe/2015/daniel-cainer-21st-century-jew
Now, the tricky part. You CAN see Daniel perform while he's in L.A. But you need to contact Jeannine to get a ticket. She will even get you a nice discounted ticket. But she is the one with the details, at:
jeannine@frankentertainment.com
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# 8 news feature...
WANNA MEET EINSTEIN?
"It's all relative -- so bring all yours to enjoy EINSTEIN, where humor, history & dazzling equations collide!" That's the clever promo. The rave reviews are more... intelligent:
HUFFINGTON POST: "This is a unique American premiere worth investigating.... Fry's portrait captures iconic mathematician as you might not have imagined him before..."
RANDOM LENGTHS NEWS: "... a glorious evening's entertainment, a personal triumph for Jack Fry and for the reality of science we know so little about."
It's one night only...
Tue, May 24, at 7:30 pm, at the Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St (a few doors S. of Wilshire Bl), Santa Monica.
Tickets $35 ($25 for Guide readers through promoter Jeannine Frank, at: jeannine@frankentertainment.com )
Explore more at:
www.einsteintheplay.com
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# 9 news feature...
MUSIC FILM RECOMMENDATION: "RUDDERLESS"
"RUDDERLESS" (2014) is now playing on Starz cable and Netflix. It doesn't seem to have ever gotten the usual round with critics, and that's too bad. It is an engaging music fable with catchy singer-songwriter material, some developed for full band performances.
It marks the directorial debut of veteran actor William H. Macy, who has a cameo, and it stars Billy Crudup.
The central plot line is handled with a good mix of necessary introspective character development and enjoyable music performances. And that's saying a lot, because the opening incident would be impossibly disturbing, even a deal-breaker, were it not adequately handled by the writing and cast.
The story gives us a skillful weaving of multiple generations, linked by the universality, redemptive power, and escapism of music. Yep, all three.
The moments — and a couple of entire scenes — of awkwardness are characteristic enough of the youth of some of the characters that it narrowly escapes being an eye-roller.
A very folky performance venue — half coffee-house, half bar — and a music store threatened with closing, along with scenes at a lake, all work to create believable surroundings and look like New England. But all are in Oklahoma; the film was made in Guthrie, Edmond, Oklahoma City, and at that lake. Each location becomes comfortably familiar and helps the plot work.
An especially strong reason to watch? Anyone who has ever been in a band (at any age), or worked the goofy jobs necessary to sustain chasing a music career, will relate to the many nicely crafted little "musician moments," perhaps finding them downright reminiscent. That includes a couple of over-the-top, alcohol-fueled parabolic arcs.
Language, and that opening incident and its eventual resolution, make it unsuitable for small fry. Recommended for everyone else. Especially everyone who spends some portion of their life involved in making music.
Co-stars Anton Yelchin; Laurence Fishburne, Felicity Huffman, and Selena Gomez also have roles.
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# 10 news feature...
GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TOM: NASA ANNOUNCES 1,284 NEW PLANETS FOUND
The $60 million Kepler Space Telescope mission keeps delivering huge dividends. With the NASA announcement today, May 10, the number of known planets orbiting stars other than our own just increased by a whopping 60 percent.
Already, scientists have determined that nine of those 1,284 planets are "rocky" rather than gaseous or iceballs, and they orbit their suns in the "goldilocks zone."
That refers to the right distance for water to remain liquid without permanently freezing or boiling away into vapor. Of course, the distance of that zone is different with each star, based on how big and how hot it is. And we're observing from distances so great that all this detection capability would have been thought impossible just a few years ago.
Venus could be in our sun's goldilocks zone, if it didn't have a runaway greenhouse effect that keeps it surface hot enough to melt lead. In fact, planetary scientists believe Venus once had oceans of liquid water. Which should give us caution. Not only about those distant rocky worlds. But about the accelerating global warming on our own. It's not wise to abuse mother nature.
Read about those 1,284 newly found planets at:
www.space.com/32850-nasa-kepler-telescope-finds-1284-alien-planets.html
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More music news is in numerous recent editions. More on upcoming FESTIVALS and events is in the April 16 edition, available at a separate click.
Much more, soon, on additional topics.
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The Guide brings you frequent editions covering MUSIC NEWS, arts and industry events, and ticket alerts, available right here on the Guide's Blogspot site.
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♪ The ACOUSTIC AMERICANA MUSIC GUIDE endeavors to bring you NEWS and views of interest to artists everywhere, more specifically to musicians and the creative community and music makers and fans of acoustic and Folk-Americana music, both traditional and innovative forms. From the deepest roots to today’s acoustic renaissance, that’s our beat. We provide a wealth of resources, including a HUGE catalog of acoustic-friendly venues, and schedules and inside info on FESTIVALS and select performances in Southern California in venues monumentally large and intimately small and cozy. We cover workshops and other events for artists and folks in the music industry, and all kinds o’ things in the world of acoustic and Americana and accessible classical music. From washtub bass to musical spoons to oboe to viola to banjo to squeezebox, from Djangostyle to new-fangled-old-time string band music, from sweet Cajun fiddle to bluegrass and pre-bluegrass Appalachian mountain music to all the roots of the blues and where the music is headed now.
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The Acoustic Americana Music Guide. Thanks for sittin' a spell.
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For President, the Guide Endorses...
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Welcome to this very serious consideration of our shared future. Thanks for joining us. Let's get started.
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FOR PRESIDENT, THE GUIDE ENDORSES...
We know. This excruciatingly endless election year has everyone wondering the same thing:
"Are Rod Serling and Franz Kafka at the door?"
"Are we living in some Groundhog Day of a Saturday Night Live sketch?"
In fact: America may be looking at the lowest percentage of voters in a November general-election in our history. But we're not there yet. And nothing says we need to be.
The Guide is doing this — something unprecedented for our music and arts journal — because it matters. Hugely.
If too much tv has you believing otherwise, we're especially glad you're reading this. Because your vote in California matters more than it has in years. Get registered to vote for the candidate of your choice. If you are disgusted with all of them, we hope to influence that.
Registration for the California Primary closes May 23rd.
We decided to offer this endorsement not as some flippant 140-word quip, but thoroughly, seriously, and comprehensively, as a worthwhile use of your time as one of the intelligent, thoughtful folks who comprise our readership. Thank you for joining us here to read this.
OUR ENDORSEMENT IS...
The Guide is endorsing Bernie Sanders in the California Primary on Tuesday, June 7th. We'd like to share with you the most compelling reasons why.
WHY YOUR VOTE MATTERS — REALLY MATTERS
These days, neither party can claim the largest plurality of the American electorate. As the 2016 election cycle began, 42 percent of all registered voters were independents.
Independents will certainly determine the outcome in November. In California, independents will almost certainly make the difference in the state's June 7th primary.
But be careful: in California, that means being registered "No Political Party Preference" — checking the tiny box on the voter registration form that is all by itself, way off to the right of all the other choices. Anyone being quick instead of careful might blunder into checking what they think is "independent," but it's the box for the "American Independent Party" — an ultraconservative political party(!) with no other option. (If you are not sure, go online and check your registration now. Google "registrar of voters" with your county name.)
You can take a Democratic Primary ballot at your polling place, and vote for Bernie Sanders, ONLY if you are registered "No Political Party Preference" or you are a registered Democrat.
Now, let's emphasize the next thing: corporate mainstream media has done a disgraceful disservice to democracy. It is they who would have you believe that voting in the remaining primaries — including the California Primary — simply doesn't matter. That's outrageously untrue. It does matter. And we'll say it again — Hugely. In Califonia especially, because of its delegate numbers, and in every other remaining primary because this is very close.
Given the rancor and ugliness and childish stupidity that has characterized so much of this excruciatingly lengthy presidential campaign, you may question the wisdom of our venturing into it at all, and especially this late. Those reasons, right here in this paragraph, are exactly why we are doing it.
WHO CAN VOTE, HOW, AND WHY
Many Republicans have no desire or willingness to vote for the presumptive Republican Party candidate.
If that's you, you still have time to re-register "No Political Party Preference" and gain the option to vote a June ballot to stop both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
If you're a Democrat and that statement gives you heartburn, stop and recognize that the majority of Americans are not comfortable with Hillary Clinton. And every Californian has a choice.
If you are registered as a Democrat OR registered "No Political Party Preference," you can vote for Bernie Sanders on June 7th.
Yes, independents can vote for Bernie Sanders — as long as they're registered in time as "No Political Party Preference," by May 23rd.
It's important that everyone knows that and spreads the word.
With so much general revulsion for the antics and process of the 2016 election; with such a thoroughly repulsive Republican candidate; and with one extremely unpopular Democratic candidate, in Secretary Clinton, who a majority of respondents in every poll deems "untrustworthy"; we believe it is our duty as a public service to make you aware of the wonderfully attractive alternative and how to act on that opportunity, and we believe that obligates us to offer the reasons why we believe you should.
THE REAL DELEGATE NUMBERS
The California Primary will determine 475 Pledged Delegates to the Democratic Party convention. That's the largest number from any state. Your vote determines how that number is allocated as nominating votes at the convention in Philadelphia.
If big corporate mainstream media has you believing this is already over, you have been deluded. Their insistence on combining Pledged Delegate votes, earned in primaries and statewide caucuses, with nebulous estimates of Superdelegate party hacks and elective office holders — whose votes are not guaranteed — is a baffling disservice to the American people.
There are 1,054 delegate spots STILL REMAINING to be chosen.
It takes 2,383 delegate votes to secure the nomination as the majority of the total of 4,765 delegates. Though, curiously, all three of those numbers, along with the number of California's delegate votes, can increase. We'll get to that.
First, the most important thing. Big media insists on showing a composite of somewhere north of 2,200 Clinton delegates, knowing it's a sham.
Yes, we are calling them out. Big media anonymously homogonizes Superdelegates. Except where the public understands, they don't play that game. In a revolt against party rules, Maine Democrats voted last week to strip their state's Superdelegates of power, making a big splash in the Chicago Tribune but going unreported nearly everywhere else.
It is a byzantine process. On Tuesday, Sanders won West Virginia over Clinton by double-digits. Yet he picked up only 18 of that state's 29 Pledged Delegates and only one Superdelegate. And California's delegation can quietly increase from 548 to 601 if a "20 percent bonus" formula is invoked by the Democratic Party.
But the most basic wackiness is the unquestioned, essentially fraudulent use of a composite number that adds earned Pledged Delegates to Superdelegates who can do whatever they want.
In fact, THESE are the Democratic Convention delegate numbers, with 10 states still to vote, including two of the biggest, California and New Jersey.
Pledged Delegates (guaranteed votes):
Hillary Clinton 1,710
Bernie Sanders 1,440
Superdelegates (discretionary votes, as they are presently expected to be cast):
Hillary Clinton 523
Bernie Sanders 39
LET'S TALK SUPERDELEGATES
So, as we just saw, Superdelegates may change their votes as they please.
There is good reason to believe that by this summer's nominating convention in late July, many will decide to change.
Such things as Secretary Clinton's $100,000 to $333,000 per-couple fundraisers have been advertised as benefitting state party organizations and Democratic candidates up-and-down the ballot. In fact, nearly all the money (after being moved around) ends up in the H-arrow campaign. And the state parties and down-ballot campaigns are left with no money from big donors who are maxed-out and cannot be tapped again.
That might be okay if she had "coattails" that would carry those other candidates into office. But her unfavorability ratings are over 50 percent.
Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders is the ONLY candidate with a positive nationwide rating.
In campaign finance terms? His campaign collects millions of small donations — famously averaging $27 — from people who can be approached over and over for more small donations, with probable capacity to support those down-ballot campaigns, as well.
If Secretary Clinton's approval ratings continue to plunge and Senator Sanders continues to score upset wins as he did in West Virginia, Indiana, and earlier in Michigan, those Superdelegates are hardly in the bag for Hillary.
And — not as some smear, but as a developing reality — there is the growing possibility she could yet face damaging fallout, if not federal indictment, in the ongoing federal investigation being conducted by FBI Director James Comey with 130 agents and a non-interference pledge from the White House. Her campaign calls it "a security review" but it's clearly much more. It may be examining favors done by her US State Department for foreign and domestic financiers and industrialists who contributed to the Clinton Foundation. Don't think it can be dismissed as "dirty politics." It's serious.
Any or all these factors may become straws on the camel, or could become bombshells as voters in the remaining ten states head to the polls. So California and its massive number of Pledged Delegates matters both for its direct part in the additive total to nominate, and for its influence on those whose convention votes for the nominee can be cast as they think best. It's "yuge."
CALIFORNIA'S DELEGATE MATH
California's delegate haul represents almost 20 percent of the 2,383 delegates needed to secure the Democratic nomination and almost 12 percent of the 4,038 pledged delegates up for grabs in 2016.
Despite those percentages, actual numbers are quite squirrely.
In California's Democratic primary, 475 Pledged Delegates are at stake, more than any other state in the Democratic nominating process. But that number can become 528 Pledged Delegates, if the "20 percent bonus" formulas all work with the rather odd numerology of the state party's May and June machinations. (For our mathematician readers, the equation, and enough to discern the odd process, is at http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P16/D-Alloc.phtml ).
The Democrats also award those infamous Superdelegates in California. Initially, that was set at 70. It's now 73.
In California, both Democrats and Republicans award most of their delegates by congressional district. Even politically-savvy residents of California's state capital needed to have it explained.
“So you’re gonna essentially have 53 small campaigns around the state,” says Paul Mitchell, who runs one of California’s most respected political data companies. For example, he says, coastal Democrats don’t vote like inland Democrats. And in some districts, more people vote early by mail.
“Those kind of mechanical differences are gonna be extremely important when you’re talking about potentially somebody’s entire presidential campaign resting on being able to eke out a dozen delegates here, a dozen delegates there, going into the conventions.”
And another twist: Republican delegates are winner-take-all in each district; Democrats award delegates proportionally based on how well each candidate does. Both parties also award extra delegates based on the statewide vote. So now you see why Trump is all but anointed and why the Democratic Party contest is very much up for grabs — despite the media's calls for you to believe otherwise.
(Thanks to Ben Adler of KQED, Capital Public Radio, for those interview quotes.)
ONCE THE NUMBERS FINALLY ADD-UP
The nominee — either Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton — will be chosen by vote of the delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, PA, happening July 25th-28th.
Donald Trump will officially become the GOP nominee at the Republican National Convention, held July 18-21, in Cleveland, OH.
Beyond the Democratic Convention? If Senator Sanders is not on the general election ballot in November, you'll hear from us again, with an analysis of third-party options.
BUT HOLD ON! THERE'S THAT "SOCIALIST!" THING
Okay, let's get real about that. Have you checked-out a book from the public library? Walked your dog in a city park? Driven on a freeway? Hiked a mountain trail? Spent a day at the beach? Gone camping in Yosemite or Sequoia or the High Sierras or Grand Canyon? Glad those places can't be bought by the rich and everyone else — including you — kept out, or charged more than you can afford?
Are you glad you can call the fire department to save your abode, or the cops if somebody is being beaten to a pulp?
Then you're a socialist. Period. Get over it. If you believe that people should not suffer or die from untreated injuries or diseases without losing their houses, or because they haven't got a lot of money, then you're a socialist. In fact, the way Jesus did things during his time on Earth, there really isn't any question. He was a socialist.
Besides, look where end-game cutthroat capitalism has gotten us. Taxpayer funded bailouts used to pay multimillion dollar bonuses to the bloated fatcats who broke the economy in the first place? Publicly owned beaches and forests and National Parks and freeways and libraries are a much better idea. So is health care for all and tuition-free public colleges and universities that enable people to improve themselves and make our society more competitive against highly educated foreign competitors.
In fact, the notion of a democracy with pure capitalism is impossible. The rich would buy-up everything, and where would you go? We'll take democratic socialism.
THE GUIDE DOES MAKE ENDORSEMENTS, YES, BUT MUSIC, NOT POLITICS...
We have no idea if this will bring us readers or cost us readers. It should do neither, but we are aware that it could. And that's fine.
The Guide is an arts journal. Throughout our history, we have reliably reported in detail and made countless endorsements — well, recommendations — on events to attend, music buy to buy, artists to watch (and listen to)...
We have kept you abreast of, and sometimes recommended, new gear, venues, workshops, ways to support music education, wonky topics liked by artists and music fans, and more. We've covered trends — critically, and we've certainly not always been complimentary. We've even issued warnings of some real stinkers.
But politics?
We've covered the historic and still vital role of folk music and advocated for its influence in civil rights, worker rights, gender equality, and protecting wild lands and cultural and historic sites. We've advocated for artists and activists who've gifted us with their legacies, and emphatically advocated for the role of music and the arts in our obligation to leave a meaningful legacy to the future. We've noted and honored sacrifices made by some as integral to that legacy. And that's arguably political.
Our tech and science coverage? Along with music gear tech and instrument tech, we occasionally get into some science and engineering topics that range from preserving art and old recordings to archaeology and saving the art and architecture of ancient monuments — whether or not they have 3,000-year-old mosaics of lute players.
We've written about taking guitars out to do dendrochronology graphs in the field from ancient trees. That's the science of documenting climate going back over 8,000 years using rings in living trees more than 4,000 years old, and dead ones lying alongside them. Which is political to someone whose creationist religious beliefs demand a 6,000 year-old-Earth that came with fossils "laminated in."
We even get to a little astrophysics, planetary exploration, and understanding threats to natural systems and safeguarding Mother Earth. And because one of the two major political parties in America expends so much ignorant hot air denying what science can so easily prove, that, again, makes our presentations political.
A cardinal tenet
We advocate for mindfulness by artists that they — you, and we — have influence, and use it wisely and intentionally. And political dimensions can sometimes be found there.
We're told from time to time by various folks that they have written lyrics after finding ideas and inspirations in some of our news and feature stories on these broadly ranging topics, and that always makes us proud.
While offering plenty of sage advice from music masters in their areas of expertise, plus more humble editorial positions, and sharing viewpoints about controversial arts-related topics, our purpose has always been to spread light rather than heat. Even in fields as passionate as the arts.
Thus, we have made plenty of recommendations and posited some cautions. We have been critical — sometimes scathingly critical — of trends that shouldn't be monopolizing all the attention of arts & entertainment media and seeking to take your money. And we have raved with joy and encouragement to support everything from revivals of styles and traditional instruments and long-lost musical genres to innovators who expand the appeal of Folk-Americana and today's new acoustic music, including accessible classical music.
We could go on, through our ongoing celebrations and recommendations of music festivals, film festivals, and landmark concerts, to exploring songs and lyrics that are changing the world, to making picks of new releases and rediscovered old ones. So there have been countless endorsements. We have celebrated famous, contextually famous, and obscure PEOPLE in the arts who have changed the world in big or small but important ways.
We have covered a great many topics in and out of music where our endorsements are implied if not specifically given.
But we have never endorsed a candidate for political office. Until now.
WE'RE ENDORSING BERNIE BECAUSE...
√ Most of the Guide's readership is in California. Our metrics, happily, do include a truly global audience, and that is part of why we keep doing this: to expand knowledge of the music and musicians and broaden their reach and appeal. We can do what we do because it all comes to us. California is crossroads and nexus for live performance, recording, tv, filmmaking, and so much more.
√ California is also the biggest treasure trove of delegates for each political party's nominating convention. Nearly always, California votes so late that it's over before the plodding march of primary elections reaches the Golden State. This time it matters here, and California can be the game-changer for Bernie Sanders.
√ There is a thoroughly meaningful battle for the heart and soul of the Democratic Party and the future of the progressive movement. Beyond the rhetoric and the maddening focus of big media on trivia and a few overblown aspects to the exclusion of everything else, this is serious.
√ Income inequality in America is a widening gulf and the disparity is accelerating. The banksters, bailed-out by the taxpayers after they broke the economy in 2008, have taken the lion's share of profitability in the US economy for themselves. The middle class is increasingly joining the struggling and impoverished classes.
√ Health care is still not affordably available to all. Ending America's bizarre, uniquely cruel system that requires an investor make a profit before a patient is treated? That is a chief priority for Bernie Sanders.
√ Campaign finance reform, in the wake of Supreme Court rulings, has become the essential requirement to defeat the growing corporatocracy and its plutocratic masters. Other candidates may call for overturning Citizens United. Bernie Sanders would do that and eliminate the cause of such outrageous court rulings by ending the doctrine of corporate personhood — the idea that a corporation is immortal and has never-ending rights of citizenship, even when it pays no taxes and cannot be executed for killing people.
√ College and university education is increasingly out of reach. He will enable state-sponsored colleges and universities to be tuition-free, and fully pay for it with a tax on Wall Street speculation (yes, the money manipulators DO spend that much).
√ The most fundamental tenet of the American dream — home ownership — is vanishing as those with money accumulate more and more rental properties and the rest of us are relegated to being their tenants. Senator Sanders programs to reverse runaway income inequality will give hard working families a chance again.
√ The military-industrial complex never provided the promised "peace dividend" after the Cold War ended. Projecting military power into never-ending regime changes and incursions in the Middle East and elsewhere assures its primacy in the federal budget. Only Senator Sanders wants to reverse that.
√ Even as our bridges, roads, dams, railways, waterways, interstate highways, airports, levees, electric grid — and fresh water, wastewater, and other essential utilities — age out, break, get bandaid repairs, rot, decay, and ultimately collapse, sometimes poisoning us in the process, only Senator Sanders will restore an FDR-style major public works / infrastructure program to replace hopelessly old with world-class new, like they have in Europe and Japan.
√ Our schools operate with high dropout rates and disgracefully inadequate arts and music education, holding classes in crappy portable buildings because there is no money. And it doesn't take an expensive child-development consultant to see those are related. Senator Sanders will fight the conservative demands for school curriculums determined by local religious-zealot school boards and modernize education for all, with college as the affordable goal.
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE & ENVIRONMENT
All these alarming problems operate against a background of global climate change that costs us more and more money in emergency disaster relief each year, looms as an existential issue for human civilization, and is denied in its entirely by one major political party. One US political party, that is. The rest of the world isn’t that stupid. Senator Sanders, alone among the candidates, will fight to stop and reverse global climate change.
While both Democratic Party candidates addresses these issues, one — Secretary Clinton — sees them as things that must be approached with moderation and balance that will keep the dialog within the realm of the politically expedient do-able. Her support for trade policies that allow foreign entities to strike-down US laws and regulations established for environmental protection and worker health and safety is courting disaster. Senator Sanders would renegotiate those trade agreements.
The Earth's natural systems have no regard for anything we find a politically achievable compromise. Assimilative capacities for toxins and pollutants do not change because we insufficiently limit their dissemination or inadequately regulate them — or remove all regulatory constraints, as the Republican candidate wants to do.
The fact is, global amospheric carbon has now exceeded 400 parts per million (ppm), after atmospheric scientists have warned for years that we must never allow it to go over 350 ppm, which research and climate modeling shows is the tipping point. Now, because oceans are where much of it ends up, that excess carbon is causing acidification and oxygen depletion of sea water, with consequences of diminished capacity to sustain sea life, including human food stocks.
Everything is connected to everything else.
Preserving fisheries, riparian wetlands, feeding grounds along migratory flyways, or any specific endangered species, share the same necessity. It only works if required ranges are safeguarded to assure viable habitats as part of sustainable ecosystems.
Stopping a little excess carbon and setting aside or safeguarding a little of some rainforest or other vanishing habitat — to make us feel better — it doesn't cut it.
And that is a useful metaphor for all the things we must do to make a difference, vs. settling for "realistic" things that have the optics and the rhetoric. Moderate measures that are shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic and, ultimately, produce much ado about nothing.
PHILOSOPHY VS. POLICY
Let's take quick focus on some serious facts that define who is ready to be President.
• We are faced with a Republican Party candidate who denies climate change and wants all environmental regulatory authority suspended because it "interferes" with profitability. That's in addition to his xenophobia, ham-handed demeanor, and generally dangerous uninformed bloviating.
• We have corporate mainstream media who has given him over two BILLION dollars worth of free airtime because it's boosted their ratings.
• The same corporate mainstream media has — wholly without justification — anointed one Democratic Party candidate, Secretary Clinton, as the presumptive nominee to face the Republican candidate.
• Meanwhile, we have the other Democratic Party candidate who has always held office as an independent — Senator Bernie Sanders. Serving in both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate, he has caucused with the Democrats, while becoming the longest-serving independent in American history. The Democratic Party largrly purged itself of office holders who were not sufficiently supportive of military occupations and presences.
• Even while, along with Republicans, Democratic office-holders succumbed to big money donors and to their agendas, Bernie, alone, has always run for office funded by small individual contributions, and he's never had a superpac.
• Bernie Sanders has vowed to reverse the Supreme Court's disastrous Citizens United and McCutcheon decisions that gave big money a free hand to buy elections. He will reestablish the lost parts of the Voting Rights Act and shepherd passage of a new version of the lost Glass-Stegall Act to reign-in the banksters.
• He has vowed to break-up the opportunistic predators on Wall Street, and to make financial institutions and corporate freeloaders pay their fair shares to the betterment of the society that allows them to operate with so many advantages.
• Bernie Sanders has maintained his integrity. He has maintained consistent positions on major issues.
• Bernie has won 45 percent of all Democratic Pledged Delegates and has almost none of the Superdelegates. Sanders has won 19 states and taken-on the entrenched Democratic Party establishment in each one. He's not raging against the machine. He's trying to replace the machine that's addicted to, and responsive to, big money.
• He has been the most effective legislator in Washington, D.C., as the "amendment king," even in a time of paralysis and mindless obstructionism.
• As chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, he wrote and attained passage of the most comprehensive help for our military veterans since the post-WW II GI Bill.
• He is future-focused. That has earned him a "yuge" following of young voters who have, in recent years, registered independent, but rallied to his campaign.
• He is the only candidate who, as President, will work aggressively, categorically, comprehensively and thoroughly, to stop and reverse global climate change with a carbon tax on polluters and public investment in a rapid conversion to "green" energy.
For all these reasons and more, the Guide enthusiastically endorses Senator Bernie Sanders for President of the United States.
__________
Get registered to vote for the candidate of your choice. Registration for the California Primary closes May 23rd.
Whether you are a Democrat, a disgusted Republican, or neither, as long as you register either Democrat or "No Political Party Preference" by May 23rd, you can vote for Bernie Sanders on June 7th.
Feel the Bern.
__________
For more that compares the current mess to some haunting parallels in our history, please see:
https://www.laprogressive.com/1964-election/
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An abundance of music news and reviews, film festivals, arts events, gear reviews, and more, are in numerous recent editions. More on upcoming FESTIVALS and events is in the May 7 edition, available at a separate click.
Much more, soon, on additional topics.
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The Guide brings you frequent editions covering MUSIC NEWS, arts and industry events, and ticket alerts, available right here on the Guide's Blogspot site.
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♪ The ACOUSTIC AMERICANA MUSIC GUIDE endeavors to bring you NEWS and views of interest to artists everywhere, more specifically to musicians and the creative community and music makers and fans of acoustic and Folk-Americana music, both traditional and innovative forms. From the deepest roots to today’s acoustic renaissance, that’s our beat. We provide a wealth of resources, including a HUGE catalog of acoustic-friendly venues, and schedules and inside info on FESTIVALS and select performances in Southern California in venues monumentally large and intimately small and cozy. We cover workshops and other events for artists and folks in the music industry, and all kinds o’ things in the world of acoustic and Americana and accessible classical music. From washtub bass to musical spoons to oboe to viola to banjo to squeezebox, from Djangostyle to new-fangled-old-time string band music, from sweet Cajun fiddle to bluegrass and pre-bluegrass Appalachian mountain music to all the roots of the blues and where the music is headed now.
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The Acoustic Americana Music Guide. Thanks for sittin' a spell.
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Welcome to this very serious consideration of our shared future. Thanks for joining us. Let's get started.
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FOR PRESIDENT, THE GUIDE ENDORSES...
We know. This excruciatingly endless election year has everyone wondering the same thing:
"Are Rod Serling and Franz Kafka at the door?"
"Are we living in some Groundhog Day of a Saturday Night Live sketch?"
In fact: America may be looking at the lowest percentage of voters in a November general-election in our history. But we're not there yet. And nothing says we need to be.
The Guide is doing this — something unprecedented for our music and arts journal — because it matters. Hugely.
If too much tv has you believing otherwise, we're especially glad you're reading this. Because your vote in California matters more than it has in years. Get registered to vote for the candidate of your choice. If you are disgusted with all of them, we hope to influence that.
Registration for the California Primary closes May 23rd.
We decided to offer this endorsement not as some flippant 140-word quip, but thoroughly, seriously, and comprehensively, as a worthwhile use of your time as one of the intelligent, thoughtful folks who comprise our readership. Thank you for joining us here to read this.
OUR ENDORSEMENT IS...
The Guide is endorsing Bernie Sanders in the California Primary on Tuesday, June 7th. We'd like to share with you the most compelling reasons why.
WHY YOUR VOTE MATTERS — REALLY MATTERS
These days, neither party can claim the largest plurality of the American electorate. As the 2016 election cycle began, 42 percent of all registered voters were independents.
Independents will certainly determine the outcome in November. In California, independents will almost certainly make the difference in the state's June 7th primary.
But be careful: in California, that means being registered "No Political Party Preference" — checking the tiny box on the voter registration form that is all by itself, way off to the right of all the other choices. Anyone being quick instead of careful might blunder into checking what they think is "independent," but it's the box for the "American Independent Party" — an ultraconservative political party(!) with no other option. (If you are not sure, go online and check your registration now. Google "registrar of voters" with your county name.)
You can take a Democratic Primary ballot at your polling place, and vote for Bernie Sanders, ONLY if you are registered "No Political Party Preference" or you are a registered Democrat.
Now, let's emphasize the next thing: corporate mainstream media has done a disgraceful disservice to democracy. It is they who would have you believe that voting in the remaining primaries — including the California Primary — simply doesn't matter. That's outrageously untrue. It does matter. And we'll say it again — Hugely. In Califonia especially, because of its delegate numbers, and in every other remaining primary because this is very close.
Given the rancor and ugliness and childish stupidity that has characterized so much of this excruciatingly lengthy presidential campaign, you may question the wisdom of our venturing into it at all, and especially this late. Those reasons, right here in this paragraph, are exactly why we are doing it.
WHO CAN VOTE, HOW, AND WHY
Many Republicans have no desire or willingness to vote for the presumptive Republican Party candidate.
If that's you, you still have time to re-register "No Political Party Preference" and gain the option to vote a June ballot to stop both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
If you're a Democrat and that statement gives you heartburn, stop and recognize that the majority of Americans are not comfortable with Hillary Clinton. And every Californian has a choice.
If you are registered as a Democrat OR registered "No Political Party Preference," you can vote for Bernie Sanders on June 7th.
Yes, independents can vote for Bernie Sanders — as long as they're registered in time as "No Political Party Preference," by May 23rd.
It's important that everyone knows that and spreads the word.
With so much general revulsion for the antics and process of the 2016 election; with such a thoroughly repulsive Republican candidate; and with one extremely unpopular Democratic candidate, in Secretary Clinton, who a majority of respondents in every poll deems "untrustworthy"; we believe it is our duty as a public service to make you aware of the wonderfully attractive alternative and how to act on that opportunity, and we believe that obligates us to offer the reasons why we believe you should.
THE REAL DELEGATE NUMBERS
The California Primary will determine 475 Pledged Delegates to the Democratic Party convention. That's the largest number from any state. Your vote determines how that number is allocated as nominating votes at the convention in Philadelphia.
If big corporate mainstream media has you believing this is already over, you have been deluded. Their insistence on combining Pledged Delegate votes, earned in primaries and statewide caucuses, with nebulous estimates of Superdelegate party hacks and elective office holders — whose votes are not guaranteed — is a baffling disservice to the American people.
There are 1,054 delegate spots STILL REMAINING to be chosen.
It takes 2,383 delegate votes to secure the nomination as the majority of the total of 4,765 delegates. Though, curiously, all three of those numbers, along with the number of California's delegate votes, can increase. We'll get to that.
First, the most important thing. Big media insists on showing a composite of somewhere north of 2,200 Clinton delegates, knowing it's a sham.
Yes, we are calling them out. Big media anonymously homogonizes Superdelegates. Except where the public understands, they don't play that game. In a revolt against party rules, Maine Democrats voted last week to strip their state's Superdelegates of power, making a big splash in the Chicago Tribune but going unreported nearly everywhere else.
It is a byzantine process. On Tuesday, Sanders won West Virginia over Clinton by double-digits. Yet he picked up only 18 of that state's 29 Pledged Delegates and only one Superdelegate. And California's delegation can quietly increase from 548 to 601 if a "20 percent bonus" formula is invoked by the Democratic Party.
But the most basic wackiness is the unquestioned, essentially fraudulent use of a composite number that adds earned Pledged Delegates to Superdelegates who can do whatever they want.
In fact, THESE are the Democratic Convention delegate numbers, with 10 states still to vote, including two of the biggest, California and New Jersey.
Pledged Delegates (guaranteed votes):
Hillary Clinton 1,710
Bernie Sanders 1,440
Superdelegates (discretionary votes, as they are presently expected to be cast):
Hillary Clinton 523
Bernie Sanders 39
LET'S TALK SUPERDELEGATES
So, as we just saw, Superdelegates may change their votes as they please.
There is good reason to believe that by this summer's nominating convention in late July, many will decide to change.
Such things as Secretary Clinton's $100,000 to $333,000 per-couple fundraisers have been advertised as benefitting state party organizations and Democratic candidates up-and-down the ballot. In fact, nearly all the money (after being moved around) ends up in the H-arrow campaign. And the state parties and down-ballot campaigns are left with no money from big donors who are maxed-out and cannot be tapped again.
That might be okay if she had "coattails" that would carry those other candidates into office. But her unfavorability ratings are over 50 percent.
Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders is the ONLY candidate with a positive nationwide rating.
In campaign finance terms? His campaign collects millions of small donations — famously averaging $27 — from people who can be approached over and over for more small donations, with probable capacity to support those down-ballot campaigns, as well.
If Secretary Clinton's approval ratings continue to plunge and Senator Sanders continues to score upset wins as he did in West Virginia, Indiana, and earlier in Michigan, those Superdelegates are hardly in the bag for Hillary.
And — not as some smear, but as a developing reality — there is the growing possibility she could yet face damaging fallout, if not federal indictment, in the ongoing federal investigation being conducted by FBI Director James Comey with 130 agents and a non-interference pledge from the White House. Her campaign calls it "a security review" but it's clearly much more. It may be examining favors done by her US State Department for foreign and domestic financiers and industrialists who contributed to the Clinton Foundation. Don't think it can be dismissed as "dirty politics." It's serious.
Any or all these factors may become straws on the camel, or could become bombshells as voters in the remaining ten states head to the polls. So California and its massive number of Pledged Delegates matters both for its direct part in the additive total to nominate, and for its influence on those whose convention votes for the nominee can be cast as they think best. It's "yuge."
CALIFORNIA'S DELEGATE MATH
California's delegate haul represents almost 20 percent of the 2,383 delegates needed to secure the Democratic nomination and almost 12 percent of the 4,038 pledged delegates up for grabs in 2016.
Despite those percentages, actual numbers are quite squirrely.
In California's Democratic primary, 475 Pledged Delegates are at stake, more than any other state in the Democratic nominating process. But that number can become 528 Pledged Delegates, if the "20 percent bonus" formulas all work with the rather odd numerology of the state party's May and June machinations. (For our mathematician readers, the equation, and enough to discern the odd process, is at http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P16/D-Alloc.phtml ).
The Democrats also award those infamous Superdelegates in California. Initially, that was set at 70. It's now 73.
In California, both Democrats and Republicans award most of their delegates by congressional district. Even politically-savvy residents of California's state capital needed to have it explained.
“So you’re gonna essentially have 53 small campaigns around the state,” says Paul Mitchell, who runs one of California’s most respected political data companies. For example, he says, coastal Democrats don’t vote like inland Democrats. And in some districts, more people vote early by mail.
“Those kind of mechanical differences are gonna be extremely important when you’re talking about potentially somebody’s entire presidential campaign resting on being able to eke out a dozen delegates here, a dozen delegates there, going into the conventions.”
And another twist: Republican delegates are winner-take-all in each district; Democrats award delegates proportionally based on how well each candidate does. Both parties also award extra delegates based on the statewide vote. So now you see why Trump is all but anointed and why the Democratic Party contest is very much up for grabs — despite the media's calls for you to believe otherwise.
(Thanks to Ben Adler of KQED, Capital Public Radio, for those interview quotes.)
ONCE THE NUMBERS FINALLY ADD-UP
The nominee — either Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton — will be chosen by vote of the delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, PA, happening July 25th-28th.
Donald Trump will officially become the GOP nominee at the Republican National Convention, held July 18-21, in Cleveland, OH.
Beyond the Democratic Convention? If Senator Sanders is not on the general election ballot in November, you'll hear from us again, with an analysis of third-party options.
BUT HOLD ON! THERE'S THAT "SOCIALIST!" THING
Okay, let's get real about that. Have you checked-out a book from the public library? Walked your dog in a city park? Driven on a freeway? Hiked a mountain trail? Spent a day at the beach? Gone camping in Yosemite or Sequoia or the High Sierras or Grand Canyon? Glad those places can't be bought by the rich and everyone else — including you — kept out, or charged more than you can afford?
Are you glad you can call the fire department to save your abode, or the cops if somebody is being beaten to a pulp?
Then you're a socialist. Period. Get over it. If you believe that people should not suffer or die from untreated injuries or diseases without losing their houses, or because they haven't got a lot of money, then you're a socialist. In fact, the way Jesus did things during his time on Earth, there really isn't any question. He was a socialist.
Besides, look where end-game cutthroat capitalism has gotten us. Taxpayer funded bailouts used to pay multimillion dollar bonuses to the bloated fatcats who broke the economy in the first place? Publicly owned beaches and forests and National Parks and freeways and libraries are a much better idea. So is health care for all and tuition-free public colleges and universities that enable people to improve themselves and make our society more competitive against highly educated foreign competitors.
In fact, the notion of a democracy with pure capitalism is impossible. The rich would buy-up everything, and where would you go? We'll take democratic socialism.
THE GUIDE DOES MAKE ENDORSEMENTS, YES, BUT MUSIC, NOT POLITICS...
We have no idea if this will bring us readers or cost us readers. It should do neither, but we are aware that it could. And that's fine.
The Guide is an arts journal. Throughout our history, we have reliably reported in detail and made countless endorsements — well, recommendations — on events to attend, music buy to buy, artists to watch (and listen to)...
We have kept you abreast of, and sometimes recommended, new gear, venues, workshops, ways to support music education, wonky topics liked by artists and music fans, and more. We've covered trends — critically, and we've certainly not always been complimentary. We've even issued warnings of some real stinkers.
But politics?
We've covered the historic and still vital role of folk music and advocated for its influence in civil rights, worker rights, gender equality, and protecting wild lands and cultural and historic sites. We've advocated for artists and activists who've gifted us with their legacies, and emphatically advocated for the role of music and the arts in our obligation to leave a meaningful legacy to the future. We've noted and honored sacrifices made by some as integral to that legacy. And that's arguably political.
Our tech and science coverage? Along with music gear tech and instrument tech, we occasionally get into some science and engineering topics that range from preserving art and old recordings to archaeology and saving the art and architecture of ancient monuments — whether or not they have 3,000-year-old mosaics of lute players.
We've written about taking guitars out to do dendrochronology graphs in the field from ancient trees. That's the science of documenting climate going back over 8,000 years using rings in living trees more than 4,000 years old, and dead ones lying alongside them. Which is political to someone whose creationist religious beliefs demand a 6,000 year-old-Earth that came with fossils "laminated in."
We even get to a little astrophysics, planetary exploration, and understanding threats to natural systems and safeguarding Mother Earth. And because one of the two major political parties in America expends so much ignorant hot air denying what science can so easily prove, that, again, makes our presentations political.
A cardinal tenet
We advocate for mindfulness by artists that they — you, and we — have influence, and use it wisely and intentionally. And political dimensions can sometimes be found there.
We're told from time to time by various folks that they have written lyrics after finding ideas and inspirations in some of our news and feature stories on these broadly ranging topics, and that always makes us proud.
While offering plenty of sage advice from music masters in their areas of expertise, plus more humble editorial positions, and sharing viewpoints about controversial arts-related topics, our purpose has always been to spread light rather than heat. Even in fields as passionate as the arts.
Thus, we have made plenty of recommendations and posited some cautions. We have been critical — sometimes scathingly critical — of trends that shouldn't be monopolizing all the attention of arts & entertainment media and seeking to take your money. And we have raved with joy and encouragement to support everything from revivals of styles and traditional instruments and long-lost musical genres to innovators who expand the appeal of Folk-Americana and today's new acoustic music, including accessible classical music.
We could go on, through our ongoing celebrations and recommendations of music festivals, film festivals, and landmark concerts, to exploring songs and lyrics that are changing the world, to making picks of new releases and rediscovered old ones. So there have been countless endorsements. We have celebrated famous, contextually famous, and obscure PEOPLE in the arts who have changed the world in big or small but important ways.
We have covered a great many topics in and out of music where our endorsements are implied if not specifically given.
But we have never endorsed a candidate for political office. Until now.
WE'RE ENDORSING BERNIE BECAUSE...
√ Most of the Guide's readership is in California. Our metrics, happily, do include a truly global audience, and that is part of why we keep doing this: to expand knowledge of the music and musicians and broaden their reach and appeal. We can do what we do because it all comes to us. California is crossroads and nexus for live performance, recording, tv, filmmaking, and so much more.
√ California is also the biggest treasure trove of delegates for each political party's nominating convention. Nearly always, California votes so late that it's over before the plodding march of primary elections reaches the Golden State. This time it matters here, and California can be the game-changer for Bernie Sanders.
√ There is a thoroughly meaningful battle for the heart and soul of the Democratic Party and the future of the progressive movement. Beyond the rhetoric and the maddening focus of big media on trivia and a few overblown aspects to the exclusion of everything else, this is serious.
√ Income inequality in America is a widening gulf and the disparity is accelerating. The banksters, bailed-out by the taxpayers after they broke the economy in 2008, have taken the lion's share of profitability in the US economy for themselves. The middle class is increasingly joining the struggling and impoverished classes.
√ Health care is still not affordably available to all. Ending America's bizarre, uniquely cruel system that requires an investor make a profit before a patient is treated? That is a chief priority for Bernie Sanders.
√ Campaign finance reform, in the wake of Supreme Court rulings, has become the essential requirement to defeat the growing corporatocracy and its plutocratic masters. Other candidates may call for overturning Citizens United. Bernie Sanders would do that and eliminate the cause of such outrageous court rulings by ending the doctrine of corporate personhood — the idea that a corporation is immortal and has never-ending rights of citizenship, even when it pays no taxes and cannot be executed for killing people.
√ College and university education is increasingly out of reach. He will enable state-sponsored colleges and universities to be tuition-free, and fully pay for it with a tax on Wall Street speculation (yes, the money manipulators DO spend that much).
√ The most fundamental tenet of the American dream — home ownership — is vanishing as those with money accumulate more and more rental properties and the rest of us are relegated to being their tenants. Senator Sanders programs to reverse runaway income inequality will give hard working families a chance again.
√ The military-industrial complex never provided the promised "peace dividend" after the Cold War ended. Projecting military power into never-ending regime changes and incursions in the Middle East and elsewhere assures its primacy in the federal budget. Only Senator Sanders wants to reverse that.
√ Even as our bridges, roads, dams, railways, waterways, interstate highways, airports, levees, electric grid — and fresh water, wastewater, and other essential utilities — age out, break, get bandaid repairs, rot, decay, and ultimately collapse, sometimes poisoning us in the process, only Senator Sanders will restore an FDR-style major public works / infrastructure program to replace hopelessly old with world-class new, like they have in Europe and Japan.
√ Our schools operate with high dropout rates and disgracefully inadequate arts and music education, holding classes in crappy portable buildings because there is no money. And it doesn't take an expensive child-development consultant to see those are related. Senator Sanders will fight the conservative demands for school curriculums determined by local religious-zealot school boards and modernize education for all, with college as the affordable goal.
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE & ENVIRONMENT
All these alarming problems operate against a background of global climate change that costs us more and more money in emergency disaster relief each year, looms as an existential issue for human civilization, and is denied in its entirely by one major political party. One US political party, that is. The rest of the world isn’t that stupid. Senator Sanders, alone among the candidates, will fight to stop and reverse global climate change.
While both Democratic Party candidates addresses these issues, one — Secretary Clinton — sees them as things that must be approached with moderation and balance that will keep the dialog within the realm of the politically expedient do-able. Her support for trade policies that allow foreign entities to strike-down US laws and regulations established for environmental protection and worker health and safety is courting disaster. Senator Sanders would renegotiate those trade agreements.
The Earth's natural systems have no regard for anything we find a politically achievable compromise. Assimilative capacities for toxins and pollutants do not change because we insufficiently limit their dissemination or inadequately regulate them — or remove all regulatory constraints, as the Republican candidate wants to do.
The fact is, global amospheric carbon has now exceeded 400 parts per million (ppm), after atmospheric scientists have warned for years that we must never allow it to go over 350 ppm, which research and climate modeling shows is the tipping point. Now, because oceans are where much of it ends up, that excess carbon is causing acidification and oxygen depletion of sea water, with consequences of diminished capacity to sustain sea life, including human food stocks.
Everything is connected to everything else.
Preserving fisheries, riparian wetlands, feeding grounds along migratory flyways, or any specific endangered species, share the same necessity. It only works if required ranges are safeguarded to assure viable habitats as part of sustainable ecosystems.
Stopping a little excess carbon and setting aside or safeguarding a little of some rainforest or other vanishing habitat — to make us feel better — it doesn't cut it.
And that is a useful metaphor for all the things we must do to make a difference, vs. settling for "realistic" things that have the optics and the rhetoric. Moderate measures that are shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic and, ultimately, produce much ado about nothing.
PHILOSOPHY VS. POLICY
Let's take quick focus on some serious facts that define who is ready to be President.
• We are faced with a Republican Party candidate who denies climate change and wants all environmental regulatory authority suspended because it "interferes" with profitability. That's in addition to his xenophobia, ham-handed demeanor, and generally dangerous uninformed bloviating.
• We have corporate mainstream media who has given him over two BILLION dollars worth of free airtime because it's boosted their ratings.
• The same corporate mainstream media has — wholly without justification — anointed one Democratic Party candidate, Secretary Clinton, as the presumptive nominee to face the Republican candidate.
• Meanwhile, we have the other Democratic Party candidate who has always held office as an independent — Senator Bernie Sanders. Serving in both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate, he has caucused with the Democrats, while becoming the longest-serving independent in American history. The Democratic Party largrly purged itself of office holders who were not sufficiently supportive of military occupations and presences.
• Even while, along with Republicans, Democratic office-holders succumbed to big money donors and to their agendas, Bernie, alone, has always run for office funded by small individual contributions, and he's never had a superpac.
• Bernie Sanders has vowed to reverse the Supreme Court's disastrous Citizens United and McCutcheon decisions that gave big money a free hand to buy elections. He will reestablish the lost parts of the Voting Rights Act and shepherd passage of a new version of the lost Glass-Stegall Act to reign-in the banksters.
• He has vowed to break-up the opportunistic predators on Wall Street, and to make financial institutions and corporate freeloaders pay their fair shares to the betterment of the society that allows them to operate with so many advantages.
• Bernie Sanders has maintained his integrity. He has maintained consistent positions on major issues.
• Bernie has won 45 percent of all Democratic Pledged Delegates and has almost none of the Superdelegates. Sanders has won 19 states and taken-on the entrenched Democratic Party establishment in each one. He's not raging against the machine. He's trying to replace the machine that's addicted to, and responsive to, big money.
• He has been the most effective legislator in Washington, D.C., as the "amendment king," even in a time of paralysis and mindless obstructionism.
• As chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, he wrote and attained passage of the most comprehensive help for our military veterans since the post-WW II GI Bill.
• He is future-focused. That has earned him a "yuge" following of young voters who have, in recent years, registered independent, but rallied to his campaign.
• He is the only candidate who, as President, will work aggressively, categorically, comprehensively and thoroughly, to stop and reverse global climate change with a carbon tax on polluters and public investment in a rapid conversion to "green" energy.
For all these reasons and more, the Guide enthusiastically endorses Senator Bernie Sanders for President of the United States.
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Get registered to vote for the candidate of your choice. Registration for the California Primary closes May 23rd.
Whether you are a Democrat, a disgusted Republican, or neither, as long as you register either Democrat or "No Political Party Preference" by May 23rd, you can vote for Bernie Sanders on June 7th.
Feel the Bern.
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For more that compares the current mess to some haunting parallels in our history, please see:
https://www.laprogressive.com/1964-election/
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An abundance of music news and reviews, film festivals, arts events, gear reviews, and more, are in numerous recent editions. More on upcoming FESTIVALS and events is in the May 7 edition, available at a separate click.
Much more, soon, on additional topics.
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The Guide brings you frequent editions covering MUSIC NEWS, arts and industry events, and ticket alerts, available right here on the Guide's Blogspot site.
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Contents copyright © 2016, Lawrence Wines & Tied to the Tracks. All rights reserved.
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♪ The ACOUSTIC AMERICANA MUSIC GUIDE endeavors to bring you NEWS and views of interest to artists everywhere, more specifically to musicians and the creative community and music makers and fans of acoustic and Folk-Americana music, both traditional and innovative forms. From the deepest roots to today’s acoustic renaissance, that’s our beat. We provide a wealth of resources, including a HUGE catalog of acoustic-friendly venues, and schedules and inside info on FESTIVALS and select performances in Southern California in venues monumentally large and intimately small and cozy. We cover workshops and other events for artists and folks in the music industry, and all kinds o’ things in the world of acoustic and Americana and accessible classical music. From washtub bass to musical spoons to oboe to viola to banjo to squeezebox, from Djangostyle to new-fangled-old-time string band music, from sweet Cajun fiddle to bluegrass and pre-bluegrass Appalachian mountain music to all the roots of the blues and where the music is headed now.
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The Acoustic Americana Music Guide. Thanks for sittin' a spell.
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