Music Legends To be Inducted Into Memphis Music Hall Of Fame Thursday

Courtesy: Bob Merlis/M.H.F.

The Memphis Music Hall of Fame will become a reality this week.  After years of talks and work, the very first class of musicians will be inducted into the Hall this Thursday at the Canon Center for Performing Arts.  Among the artist included in the inaugural class of inductees are:  W.C. Handy, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Al Green.  Also included in this year’s class are some lesser known but still respected musicians such as:  jazz saxophonist George Coleman, gospel songwriter Lucie Campbell, and W.T. McDaniel, Booker T. Washington High School bandmaster.

The Memphis Music Hall of Fame initiative is part of the Smithsonian-connected Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum.  Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum Executive Director John Doyle shared his thoughts on the importance of the Music Hall’s inaugural event.  “We wanted to keep the ticket prices low, in order for the public to be able to come out”, said Doyle.  General admission tickets for the event are available for as little as $30.  Doyle added noting, “A lot of what we want to do with the Hall of Fame is about education both through the website and the gallery, but a lot of it is about paying tribute and really giving tribute to the musicians who put Memphis on a global map.  And we want the public to share in that.”

The inaugural Memphis Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place this Thursday at 7pm at the Canon Center for Performing Arts at 225 N. Main in Memphis.  Tickets are available for $30, $50, and $100.  They can be purchased at any Ticketmaster location or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com.  They can also be purchased via phone at 1-800-745-3000.  More information on this Thursday’s even it available online at http://memphisrocknsoul.org. 

The inaugural class of inductees into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame is as follows:

Estelle Axton and Jim Stewart

Bobby “Blue” Bland

Booker T. and the M.G.’s

Lucie Campbell

George Coleman

Jim Dickinson

Al Green

W.C. Handy

Isaac Hayes

Howlin’ Wolf

B.B. King

Jerry Lee Lewis

Jimmie Lunceford

Professor W.T. McDaniel

Memphis Minnie

Willie Mitchell

Dewey Phillips

Sam Phillips

Elvis Presley

Otis Redding

The Staple Singers

Rufus Thomas

Three 6 Mafia

Nat D. Williams

ZZ Top

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Hendrix Woodstock Performance Coming To Theaters Nationwide

Courtesy: Experience Hendrix

Music lovers the world over are celebrating a big anniversary this year.  AS 2012 has rolled on, fans of music legend Jimi Hendrix have celebrated the seventieth anniversary of Hendrix’s birthday.  Now another addition has been made to the year-long celebration courtesy of Experience Hendrix.  The original recording of Jimi’s legendary Woodstock 1969 concert will run in select theaters across the globe very soon.  Among the theaters here in the states holding screenings of the iconic performance is the Rave Southpoint 17 + IMAX in Durham, North Carolina. 

The Rave Southpoint 17 + IMAX will have two showings of the concert.  The first of the pair will be on Wednesday, November 28^th.  The second planned showing is set for Wednesday, December 5^th.  Both screenings will be at 7:00pm.  Tickets for each showing are $12.50 per person.  For more information on the showings, fans can go online to the theater’s website at http://www.streetsatsouthpoint.com/movies.  Fans can also get all the latest news on the year-long celebration of Hendrix’s birthday on his official website, http://www.jimihendrix.com.

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Spare Change Band Headlining Final Alive At Five Concert

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C.– Summer is winding down.  And as Summer is winding down, so is Morehead City’s annual Alive at Five concert series.  And closing out the annual concert series is the Spare Change Band. 

The Spare Change Band will perform Friday, August 31st from 5pm – 8pm at Katherine Davis Park.  the locally and regionally renowned band covers songs from artists the likes of:  Kenny Chesney, Alicia Keys, LMFAO, Adele, and a bevy of others.  The band is from LaGrange, North Carolina and has been performing together for a decade.  More information on the Spare Change Band is available online at the band’s website, http://www.sparechangemusic.net.

Morehead City’s annual Alive at Five Summer Concert Series is presented by R.A. Jeffreys and Bud Light.  Floyd’s 1921 Restaurant and Catering also serve as sponsors alongside Twice The Ice and Potash Corp. of Aurora.  It is hosted by the Downtown Morehead City Revitalization Association (DMCRA).  More information on the DMCRA and its annual events, go online to http://www.downtownmoreheadcity.com.

Duck Jazz Festival Organizers Accepting Contributions For Festival Workshops

This year’s festival is Sunday, October 7th at 11am.  As part of the annual festival, education workshops will be held on Friday, October 5th.  Jazz Festival organizers are now accepting contributions to help pay for the workshops. 

Students with First Flight and the Manteo High School Jazz Band will work with members of The Fuzz Band during the workshops.  There will be Q&A sessions, as well as opportunities to work on musical composition with The Fuzz Band. 

Anyone wishing to make a donation for the Duck Jazz Festival can make checks payable to the Outer Banks Community Foundation.  Donations made via check should include “Duck Jazz Festival Fund” in the memo line.  All contributions made through the Outer Banks Community Foundation are tax deductible and will be recognized in the Duck Jazz Festival brochure.  Contributions should be mailed to Outer Banks Community Foundation. 13 Skyline Road. Southern Shores, North Carolina 278949. 

The Duck Jazz Festival is free and open to the public.  Gates for the festival open at 10am.  Along with the Fuzz Band, this year’s list of performers includes:  The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman, Paula Atherton, and Emme St. James.  More information on the Duck Jazz Festival is available online at http://www.duckjazz.com, http://www.facebook.com/DuckJazzFestival, http://twitter.com/duckjazzfest, and on its own Youtube channel, http://www.youtube.com/user/DuckPR.  Information is also available by phone at 252-255-1234.

Nitrograss to perform at “Duck Unplugged” Series

DUCK, N.C.–The town of Duck is pleased to announce that Nitrograss will perform tomorrow, Tuesday, August 7th as part of the town’s “Duck Unplugged” series.  the concert is the series closer for the year.

Nitrograss is based in Asheville, North Carolina.  The band is known for its mix of contemporary and alternative bluegrass stylings.  The band’s performance tomorrow night is the first of its tour of the Outer Banks.  Fans can check out the band’s tour dates online at http://www.nitrograss.com, on its Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nitrograss/155437011177260, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/nitrograss.  Anyone that wants a taste of the group’s music can also check out its official Youtube channel, http://www.youtube.com/user/nitrograsspr.

More information on events going on in the Town of Duck is available online at http://www.townofduck.com, http://www.facebook.com/townofduck, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DuckPR.  The town also has its own Youtube channel that can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/userDuckPR.  More information is also available by phone and e-mail at 252-255-1286 and at info@townofduck.com.

‘Much Ado About Nothing’ opens annual Carolina Shakespeare Festival

NEW BERN. N.C.–The Carolina Shakespeare Festival opens its fourteenth season August 2nd.  And to officially open the season, Shakespeare’s classic rom/com ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ will be presented at Tryon Palace’s Cullman Performance Hall.  The play centers on lovers Beatrice and Benedick who try not to admit their feelings for one another, going tit for tat along the way, until, of course, it all reaches a happy ending.  It truly is one of Shakespeare’s finest–if not his finest–romantic comedy.  Countless movies and plays since can count this work as their influence.

The Carolina Shakespeare Festival will begin performances of the play with a very special preview performance on Thursday, August 2nd at 7pm.  Official opening night is Friday, August 3rd.  It all ends August 19th.  Tickets for the preview show for the special preview show can be purchased at a discount price of $12 for all seats.  General admission tickets for adults are $28, $22 for senior citizens, and $20 for Tryon Palace Council of Friends Members.  Students and active duty military personnel can purchase tickets for $14.  Tickets can be purchased by phone at 252-639-3524 and 1-800-767-1560.  They can also be purchased in person at the North Carolina History Center Ticket Desk at Tryon Palace. 

Along with the presentations of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’, the Carolina Shakepseare Festival will offer two free concert readings of ‘Henry IV Part 2′ on August 8th and 11th.  The reading on August 8th will be presented at the Old Theatre in Oriental at 7pm that evening.  The second of the two readings will be offered August 11th at 2pm at Tryon Palace.

For more information on the Carolina Shakespeare Festival and Tryon Palace, go online to http://www.csfest.net and http://www.tryonpalace.org.

East Carolina University announces Summer Theatre Schedule

NEW BERN, N.C.–East Carolina University’s School of Theatre and Dance has announced the schedule for the 2012 ECU/Loessen Summer Theatre.  The annual Summer Theatre program kicks off tomorrow, July 3rd with performances of “Our Town”, “”Seven in One Blow”, and “Collision Course–A 60′s Retro.”  The performances will be held from Tuesday, July 3rd – Sunday, July 7th.  They will be held at Tryon Palace’s Cullman Performance Hall.

“Our Town” follows the Gibbs family and Webb family throughout their lives.  It all begins in Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire in 1901.  The play will be performed July 3rd and July 5th at 7:30pm.  It will also be performed Friday and Saturday, July 6th and 7th at 2pm.

“Seven in One Blow” is based on the production developed by Randy Sharp and the Axis Theatre Company of New York.  It’s based on the classic Grimm Brothers story of a boy who swatted seven flies in one blow, and led everyone to believe he was a great giant killer.  Of course, there are some new additions to the tale that kids and parents alike will enjoy.  The play will be held July 3rd and 5th at 2pm and July 7th at 11am.

“Collision Course–A 60′s Retro” is the third of this year’s performances held by the ECU/Loessen Summer Theatre.”  It is comprised of a series of short plays written by some of the biggest playwrights of the 1960′s.  Each play runs anywhere from ten minutes to fifteen minutes in length.  Fans of the classic 1960′s sound will love the soundtrack to these plays, too.  “Collision Course–A 60′s Retro” does contain some adult themes.  Parental guidance is suggested for this performance.  “Collision Course–A 60′s Retro” will be performed July 6th and 7th at 8pm.

Tickets for this year’s peformances are on sale now.  They can be purchased online now at http://www.ecuarts.com or by phone toll free at 1-800-328-2787 and 252-328-6829.  The performances are part of the Tryon Palace Performing Arts Series.  Public Radio East and the Sun Journal serve as media sponsors for the performances.

More information on Tryon Palace is available online at http://www.tryonpalace.org and by phone toll free at 1-800-767-1500 and 252-639-3500.  

East Carolina University announces schedule for annual Guitar Festival and Workshop

GREENVILLE, N.C.–East Carolina University’s School of Music has announced the schedule for its 17th annual Guitar Festival and Workshop.  The festival will be held July 14th – 17th at the A.J. Fletcher Music Building on ECU’s campus.  The A.J. Fletcher Music Building is at the intersection of College Hill and 10th Street in Greenville.

This year’s Guitar Festival will be headlined by Jason Vieaux.  Vieaux has an extensive list of credits to his name including: a dozen solo releases, and a 2011 recording of Astor Piazzolla’s works with Julien Labro and A Far Cry Chamber Orchestra.  He also has a brand new solo cd due out soon.

Among this year’s other performers are:  Duo Spiritoso, Stephen Aron, festival director Elliot Frank, the Akerman Teixeira Duo, and last year’s competition winner, Mark Edwards.  Expectations for this year’s festival are high.  Festival Director Elliot Frank said of expectations for this year’s festival.  He said, “I am especially excited about the quality of this year’s artist roster, which is superior to most events of this type.”  He added, “The festival has become a landmark among summer guitar festivals and is a can’t-miss event for guitar lovers and concertgoers alike.”

Students age 12 and older are welcome to attend the guitar workshops and camps at the festival.  Applications for the workshops are currently being accepted.  Along with the student workshops, there will also be teacher-training workshops for teachers who are interested in building guitar curriculums as aprt of their classes.

More information on this year’s Guitar Festival, including concert schedule, is available by contacting Dr. Elliot Frank by e-mail at franke@ecu.edu, or by phone at 252-328-6245.  Interested guests can also get information online at http://www.ecu.edu/music/guitar/workshop.

Beaufort to be featured in new Budget Travel column

UNDATED–Beaufort has already been named “America’s Coolest Small Town” by Budget Travel.  Now it will be one of the featured stops on Budget Travel’s ”America’s Coolest Road Trip” feature.  Journalist Will McGough will be making a stop in Beaufort as part of his trip visiting Budget Travel’s top four ”Coolest Small Towns” on the East Coast this Summer.  He will stop in Beaufort this Friday, June 22nd.

McGough will feature everything that makes all four of the nominated towns so cool in his blog, “Wake and Wander.”  He will feature everything that all four towns have to offer, from food to fun to lodgings in his blog.  Along the way, there will be a “”Spot the Coolest Car and Win” contest.  Smartphone users can scan the QR code on his car and send it into him to enter for a chance to build their own Coolest Road Trip.  Even those without smartphones can enter.  fans can go to McGoughs blog, http://www.wakeandwander.com for information on how to enter the contest.

Budget Travel will have a feature on all ten cities nominated to be “America’s Coolest Small Town” in its September/October issue.  The September/October issue will hit newsstands August 28th.

Town of Duck announces lineup for annual jazz festival

DUCK, N.C.–The town of Duck, North Carolina has annoucned the lineup for its sixth annual jazz festival.  The free, all-day event will be held Sunday, October 7th beginning at 11am.  Gates for the show open at 10am.  Beach umbrellas and tents are prohibited at the festival.

Emme St. James and her Jazz Gentleman are currently expected to open the show at 11am.  They will be followed by The Fuzz Band at 12:15pm.  Paula Atherton is next up at 2:15pm.  The Rippingtons, featuring Russ Freeman will take the stage at 4:15pm.

The performances themselves aren’t the only highlight of the annual festival.  The performers slated for the festival will also hold a master jazz class for local high school students.  They will also make appearances and perform at local venues throughout the town.  There will also be other pre-festival events.  For more information on the festival and its events, go online to http://www.duckjazz.com and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/DuckJazzFestival.   More information on the Town of Duck and its events is also available online at http://www.townofduck.com, on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/DuckJazzFest and by phone at 252-255-1234.