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In French, the language of LOVE, it's "Bonne Saint Valentin!"
♡ The SOUTH FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL is happening today ON Valentine's Day, plus we include news of one of its featured artists playing next weekend,
AND,
♡ There's a MASSIVE multiday FOLK-AMERICANA FESTIVAL later this week,
AND,
♡ There are BUNCHES of live streaming VALENTINE'S DAY CONCERTS
PLUS,
⊙ ... after ubiquitous red hearts, Thursday is Red Planet time. For the first time ever, we'll be able to HEAR what's happening on Mars. In addition to all its other gee-whiz features, Perseverance has an open mic. We take you there!
Soooo,
LET'S GET STARTED!
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1,000 ARTISTS, biggest-ever online festival, is also a BENEFIT...
Folk Alliance’s "Folk Unlocked fest," happening Feb 22-26, is astonishing
They've announced the lineup and it’s totally wild, with over 1000 artists. It’s open to the public with admission coming by donation to the Village Fund, a COVID relief fund helping musicians and folk music workers.
"To my knowledge, Folk Unlocked, presented by Folk Alliance International aka FAI, is the largest-ever virtual music festival, with over 1,000 acts playing all forms of folk music from all over the globe," says music industry guru Nick Loss-Eaton.
He adds, "The festival is open to the public and tickets are available now via donation to the Village Fund, FAI's new relief fund for musicians and folk music workers which has already earned ink from Rolling Stone and Billboard."
Folk Unlocked will be an incredible experience for the adventurous music fan seeking discovery; or the long-time festival goer enjoying GRAMMY-winning old favorites.
Here's a SAMPLE from that thousand-musician lineup:
Los Lobos
Terrance Simien
Cedric Burnside
Jim Lauderdale
Keb Mo
The McCrary Sisters
The War and Treaty
A.J. Haynes of Seratones
... and they are just a sprinkling of stateside performers set to play.
We should clarify a point that's caused some confusion:
■ The FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE is happening concurrently with the festival.
■ THE FESTIVAL will be open to the public by donation (all ticket links below); meanwhile, the CONFERENCE is pay-what-you-can for anyone in the music industry, including artists and performers who are not in attendance. Just check their site.
☆ Fans / Everyone who wants to catch the performances / virtually attend the FESTIVAL, get your login info with a donation here:
https://folk.org/showcasedonation
☆ Fans / musicians -- if you can't "attend" and want to help anyway, or just want to chip-in early for the benefit/festival, you can make a secure online donation to the fund at:
https://folk.org/resources/the-village-fund/
☆ Learn more about the The Village Fund at:
member.folk.org/donations/donate.asp?id=20519
Meantime, here are some notes on a few of the acts:
· GRAMMY-winning zydeco artist Terrance Simien will perform; and, in a separate set, his daughter, Memphis’ Marcella Simien, will also play.
· GRAMMY-nominated Mississippi bluesman Cedric Burnside, son of the legendary RL Burnside
· Winner of NBC’s The Voice and singer-songwriter Sawyer Fredericks
· GRAMMY-winner Keb Mo
· Hit songwriting legend Jim Lauderdale
· All-female mariachi band and Latin Grammy winners Flor de Toloache
· Stars of the documentary film 20 Feet From Stardom the McCrary Sisters, who “seize and hold the spotlight,” according to the New York Times
· Veteran of Newport Folk Festival and Americana Music Award nominee and AAA #1 hitmaker Jade Bird
· “Stately. Ballads and choruses to shatter glass” (Pitchfork) of Katie Pruitt
· Americana Music Award Emerging Artist winners, the soul duo The War and Treaty
· North Carolina gospel family group Dedicated Men of Zion, fresh from their appearance on NPR Music x globalFEST.
· “Inspiring artist” (Ann Powers, NPR) Michaela Anne.
· AIR winner Emily Wurramara, a proud Indigenous performer from Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory.
· BBC Folk Awards nominee and Irish Music Magazine award winner Karan Casey.
· Irreverent cult favorite, the “talented” (NPR) Steve Poltz
Pour yourself a big mug of something that keeps you warm, then settle-in with this list (with bio/profile links) of the lineup. Fair warning, you'll be there awhile and there's a risk of going hoarse saying, "Oh, wow!" over and over:
https://folk.org/unlocked/spotlight-showcase-artists/
Best of all, your wide-eyed, happy-eared enjoyment will help a lot of music folks in need. A hearty congratulations to Folk Alliance International for going immeasurably farther than what anyone might have dreamed.
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Online Valentine's Day...
South Florida Folk Festival
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Online Valentine's concert / link, open through March 31st...
GIANT WURLITZER THEATRE ORGAN IS STAR OF CONCERT PERFORMANCE
Regular readers know we, here at The Guide, are big fans of classic silent movies, their music scores and all the creative latitude available in their "lead sheets," and live performances on the ultimate instrument, the giant theatre pipe organ. With COVID shutdowns of UCLA's Royce Hall and Pacific Symphony's hosting of organ concerts in their Costa Mesa venue, the thundering delight of an organ concert is hard to find. Until now.
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Online Valentine's concert...
VICTORIA VOX, ukester and beyond, tells us...
"Just a quick note to say we'll [JACK & THE VOX] be live at 2 p.m. PST on FB and YT playing all original love songs to celebrate Saint Valentine!"
Here are the links:
Youtube: https://youtu.be/cfWGE8Wsxu0
or via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/923461997750255/posts/3692964484133312/
She promises,
"More soon! xo - v.v."
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Online Valentine's concert...
JAMIE LAVAL, CELTIC FIDDLE MASTER
Via Zoom ...
Sun, Feb 14, 4:00 and 5:15 PM EST
Click here a few minutes before start time
(just in case you need it, the Meeting ID is 976 7208 9619 and the password is 313601)
If you do not already have Zoom installed on your device, please follow these steps in advance of the show:
• Sign up and download the free Zoom app:
• Check your email for Zoom's confirmation
• Return to this email and click the link above
Hints for the best experience:
• Update your version of Zoom (current is 5.5.2).
• Position your device near WIFI or connect with an ethernet cable to ensure smooth playback.
• Please forward this email to your friends - the more the merrier!
• The events are free. If you would like to offer a donation to the artist, you may donate via PayPal here.
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Online Valentine's concert...
 |
Premiering on YouTube - FEBRUARY 14TH at 6 PM Tickets are by donation, and you can DONATE at any time. Even though Valentine’s Day is not a traditional Celtic celebration, we thought all the plot twists and turns in the epic Celtic love stories would make for a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day - a new way. Murder, chases, treachery, and of course some great songs. Although this show isn't for the faint of heart, we promise you'll be smiling by the end. Celtic Rhythms invites you to their Valentine's Day celebration with music, song, stories and merrymaking. Curl up with your favorite Valentine, your favorite drink, and enjoy "Valentine's Day - The Celtic Way." On-line. The cast of "Valentine's Day - The Celtic Way" says, "We hope to see you there!" |
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Online Valentine's concert...
ANDY & RENEE play a "Special Valentine's Day Show"
Sunday, Feb. 14th, 4 pm PT (7 pm ET) on Youtube
Multifaceted celebration of Valentine's Day, Renee's Birthday Redux, and President's Day, with music themed for all three, performed by the co-leaders of the multi-award-winning band HARD RAIN and hosts of DYLANFEST.
"Andy & Renee Livestream #92"
Watch Feb 14 on Youtube:
https://youtu.be/ksMuATAhYwc
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Now HERE's an innovative option...
"THE DRIVEWAY IS OPEN!"
The duo tells us, "We're inviting YOU to watch our Livestreams in the driveway, masked up and socially distanced, so respond via email if you'd like to join us for some LIVE MUSIC soon!"
Send that email to:
reneesafier@hotmail.com
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That might happen sooner than you expect. They also do a live show this Wednesday, Feb. 17th, 7 pm PT (10 pm ET)
"Andy & Renee Livestream #93"
Watch that one Feb 17 on Youtube at:
https://youtu.be/kEH3sjsxj7E
Make requests from their list of 470 songs, and they'll get to as many requests as possible. See the list at:
https://www.andyandrenee.com/docs/A-and-R-Song-List-5.6.20.pdf
Send your requests to reneesafier@hotmail.com before the show.
Like so many other artists, they've turned to doing Livestream shows to make a living and deliver the music to you. The shows are free to watch, but the option to tip us will be there for those who are in a position to do so, if you are enjoying the music.
You can tip them at:
http://www.andyandrenee.com/store.php
or
PayPal (paypal.me/andyandrenee)
or
Venmo (www.venmo.com/Renee-Safier)
A portion of the proceeds goes to the Los Angeles Midnight Mission.
The duo tells us, "We are sustained by the generosity and support of the fans who love the music, and who tip as they are able."
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Valentine's Day extra...
BLUE DOLPHINS NEW RELEASE
Click HERE for the video.
In celebration of Cupid's day, the BLUE DOLPHINS invite you to enjoy their new single release 'Tombola'.
They duo tells us, "This song is our most special tribute to the people that lived through the Sixties in the plenitude of their lives, our parents and their generation. This cover of Marisol's original is full of energy and vitality and it is our first song in Español. 'Tómbola' was a groundbreaking Hit in Spain and the whole Latin World in 1962 and made her an icon for generations to come. As the song says 'life is full of light and color' and love does conquers all."
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Four days after ubiquitous red hearts, it's Red Planet time...
Next Mars Landing is this Thursday
It's tricky terrain this time: What's helping to assure a safe rover landing
For the first time ever, we'll be able to HEAR what's happening on Mars. In addition to all its other gee-whiz features, Perseverance has an open mic. And a drone helicopter for dramatic views of the headliner act on stage.
On Feb. 18, 2021, along with its first-ever on-board helicopter, NASA’s Perseverance rover is slated to land at the Red Planet’s Jezero Crater. It is a rugged expanse chosen for its scientific research and sample collection possibilities. But the very features that make the site fascinating to scientists also make it a relatively dangerous place to land.
“Jezero is 28 miles wide, but within that expanse there are a lot of potential hazards the rover could encounter: hills, rock fields, dunes, the walls of the crater itself, to name just a few,” said Andrew Johnson, principal robotics systems engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “So, if you land on one of those hazards, it could be catastrophic to the whole mission.”
Mars is a long ways away, and radio signals take several minutes to go between here and there. So it's not like an experienced drone pilot can watch a monitor and land a craft there. Two exotic new technologies will help Perseverance, NASA’s most sophisticated rover yet, touch down on the surface of Mars after its nearly seven-month journey.
Mars 2020’s Perseverance rover is equipped with a lander vision system based on terrain-relative navigation, an advanced method of autonomously comparing real-time images to preloaded maps that determine the rover’s position relative to hazards in the landing area. Divert guidance algorithms and software can then direct the rover around those obstacles if needed.
Read the full story at:
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/tricky-terrain-helping-to-assure-a-safe-rover-landing
NASA is already looking beyond that:
"
Where Should Future Astronauts Land on Mars? Follow the Water" (Feb 08, 2021). Read it at:
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/where-should-future-astronauts-land-on-mars-follow-the-water
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BLUE SKY, RED SKY...
Here on Earth, it is often said our sky is blue because of all the diffused reflected light from our oceans. We are, after all, a spinning orb with a surface that's three-fifths water. Our blue skies are also a factor of the density and composition of our atmospheric gasses.
So, Mars has a very thin atmosphere and no surface water. It has polar ice caps of CO2 -- dry ice -- that are nominally white until covered by dust storms. And pretty much everything else there is reddish-orange, often attributed to iron oxide rust. So, does reflected sunlight off the surface make the sky red, and even make the sun appear red? The answer so far is "sort of." But very little specific effort has gone into accurately imaging the Martian sky to produce a view like a human astronaut would see by standing there and lifting their gold-coated reflective visor.
When that happens, will the adage still apply that "There is nothing new under the sun," as proclaimed by the writer of Ecclesiastes? (That writer already gave us the lyrics to Pete Seeger's song, "Turn, Turn, Turn," made into a '60s mega hit by The Byrds.)
As for that writer's applicability to Mars? It once had vast oceans beneath a thicker atmosphere, and that would have meant a blue sky. Science fiction would meet real science in "terraforming" Mars to restore those conditions. And the rest of the passage from Eclesiastes says: "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun." Interesting, huh?
As is this quote:
"The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent upon it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do."
~ Galileo Galilei, physicist and astronomer (born February 15, 1564, died in exile forced by the Catholic church in 1642, because he said the planets all orbited the Sun.)
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YES, IT IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
We'll be back soon with coverage of the opening of the brand-new, years-in-the-making, MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC.
Plus, some special features on blues, banjos, rootsy New Orleans jazz, and other delights to the ears of all -- that owe their origins to the Black experience in America.
Meanwhile, don't be a maskhole, and stay the hell away from the maskless Branch Covidians. No free passes to get stupid!
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On mobile devices, click "view web edition" to bring-up the left side bar with navigation tools. That gives you direct access to click your way to all recent editions. It's easy to bring-up month-by-month archives to everything last year, so far this year, and each previous year.
in this new world of the now somewhat lessened improbable unknown...
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