Tag Archives: music

Music |

|

The Earshot Jazz Festival

Jazz musician leaning against wall with saxophone

Based in Seattle, Earshot Jazz is a non-profit music and arts organization that was formed in 1984. With an initial aim of supporting the musical genre of jazz, not only in Seattle but also surrounding areas, Earshot Jazz has definitely been succeeding, thanks to their action-packed schedule of jazz-related festivals and special events.

The 29th Annual Earshot Jazz Festival
Held this year from October to November, the highly-anticipated Earshot Jazz Festival will be in its 29th year this year. Featuring over 50 concerts and special events, held at locations all over the city, music lovers will definitely want to catch a few of these performances. The schedule for the 2017 Earshot Jazz Festival, as well as all of the other information you will need, will be released in August, so be sure to keep an eye on the company’s website, as well as their social media pages. Last year, the festival was a huge success, especially since one of the big names to perform was Freddy Cole, whose performance honored the legacy of his late brother, Nat King Cole. There was also a tribute to Charlie Parker, as well as some truly enthralling collaborators, all of which made the festival one of the best that Seattle has seen, with this year’s version expected to be even better.

Earshot Community Events
Throughout the year, Earshot Jazz host a wide range of jazz musical events, often with several different artists performing in one night. Each of these events is hosted in a different location, making it easy for jazz lovers all over the city to catch a few performances each week. The Sunday Blues Jam session is always a popular one, and this is an open blues jam hosted by The Groovetramps every Sunday, taking place at the 192 Brewing Company’s Lake Trail Taproom. Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley is another venue that frequently hosts Earshot Jazz events, with Greg Adams and East Bay Soul one of the next artists to perform. Another highlight is Paul Richardson, who has been performing every Sunday and Monday night at El Gaucho Seattle since 2009. Richardson is a self-taught musician who has played all over the world, focussing on jazz that has a slight hint of pop.

The Magazine
Earshot Jazz produces a monthly magazine that is distributed to the community around Seattle. The magazine is a great way to learn more about jazz, as well as its role within the local community. From discussions on the genre itself, to interviews with renowned artists, to listings of upcoming jazz events, this is a magazine that is always well-received by the city’s music-loving community. If you do not live in Seattle but would like to check the magazine out, previews can be found on Earshot Jazz’s website, or you can also subscribe and have it delivered to your door each month.

Earshot Jazz is dedicated to celebrating and showcasing the diversity that can be found within the genre of jazz. With over 2500 concerts presented to date, as well as over a million jazz magazines distributed to the community, Earshot Jazz are having great success in promoting the genre to the general public.

Travel |

|

The 2017 Dusseldorf Festival

Dusseldorf, Germany

Shchipkova Elena / Shutterstock.com

Held this year from the 13th of September to the 2nd of October, the Düsseldorf Festival fills the city with culture and the arts. From eccentric dance to global music, this is a festival that has something for just about everybody, but here are a few of its most highly-anticipated performances.

Ahi – Taksim Trio
The Taksim Trio are three musicians from Istanbul, and have made quite the name for themselves in Turkey. Their music is not only always entertaining, but also extremely skilled, and with a bold, multicultural quality, making this a show that you should not miss. The instruments involved include a clarinet, a duduk, an amplified baglama, and the Turkish zither, which work together to play a mix of Anatolian folk music and oriental pop, with a touch of classical and jazz too. They will be performing at the Düsseldorf Festival on the 29th of September, with this being their very first performance in Germany.

Ahnsim Dance – Eun-Me Ahn
Eun-Me Ahn is a Korean choreographer who is famous for her provocative, and extremely eccentric, dance pieces. For the first time ever, she will be presenting her latest trilogy in Europe, at the Düsseldorf Festival on the 26th of September. The piece features dancers that are both blind and sighted, and they tell a beautifully emotional story of the difficulties that being different brings in society.

The Revival – Cory Henry
Cory Henry is from the younger generation of gospel artists, but is just as well-loved as the classics. His latest program, called The Revival, features the magnificent Hammond organ, and this is used on its own for the majority of the performance, although he is sometimes accompanied by a single percussionist. Cory Henry is incredibly talented when it comes to the organ, bringing about such a wide range of sounds from it, starting off soulful and then moving on to progressive jazz, and even rock.

Y Ole – Jose Montalvo
Jose Montalvo is a French choreographer with a Spanish heritage, and this performance takes on an almost competitive edge, as he mixes together so many different dance types. From vibrant flamenco to the beats of hip hop to classical dance to soulful African rhythms, this is a performance that melds together all of Montalvo’s childhood memories, from all over the world, and can be seen on the 19th of September.

Master Drummers of Burundi
The Master Drummers of Burundi have been one of the leading drum ensembles in the world for the past few decades, and their performances are always filled with so much color and intensity. Performing at the Düsseldorf Festival on the 22nd of September, the performances usually involve 12 batimbos who create an astounding rhythm to sing and dance to, while using their musical instruments to fight imaginary battles.

The Düsseldorf Festival brings together musicians, dancers and artists from all over the world. From Turkey to France to Korea, this is a fantastic representation of international art and culture, with many of the performers being famous in their home countries.

Music |

|

Catch a Concert

Lancaster, PA
The live music scene in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is steadily thriving, and there are many venues around the city that are famous for the concerts that they host. From the big names at the American Music Theatre to the high caliber acts at the Chameleon Club, these are some of the best spots around if you want to catch a concert in Lancaster.

Chameleon Club
The Chameleon Club was established in 1985, and was considered to be one of the best music industry hot spots in the country in the 90s. Today, there is no denying the industry recognition that the Chameleon Club has gained over the years, as it has managed to host large national acts in a small, quaint city. Some of the highlights to look forward to this month at the Chameleon Club are Lordi, which is a melodic heavy metal band from Finland, Black Stone Cherry, a hard rock band from Kentucky, and the 2017 Lancaster Roots and Blues Festival, which will feature several different blues acts that are well worth catching.

American Music Theatre
The American Music Theatre hosts over 300 concerts each and every year, and with a capacity to seat up to 1600 people, is considered to be one of the best concert venues in Lancaster. As always, the upcoming concert schedule here features some big names in the industry, with the first being Three Dog Night, a Grammy-nominated band that are now in their fourth decade. Air Supply, an Australian soft rock duo that are known and loved all over the world for being masters of the love song genre, will also be performing in February, as will Martina McBride, a country singer that has sold over 18 million albums worldwide, and has not only been nominated for multiple Grammys, but has also won several other awards. Amos Lee is another name to look forward to, as is Tom Vigil, a John Denver tribute artist who has proven to be exceptionally popular in the region.

Live performer

George Sheldon / Shutterstock, Inc.

The Ware Center, Millersville University
While the big name acts in the music industry will always be popular, Lancaster is also home to venues that host one-of-a-kind, offbeat concerts, with the Ware Center, located in Downtown Lancaster, being most famous for this. The building was originally built for the Pennsylvania Academy of Music, and boasts state-of-the-art sound and acoustics. Emeline Michel, a Haitian songwriter and vocalist, will be performing this month, with her concerts and music always featuring traditional rhythms that have been combined with social and political content, never failing to inspire. Caladh Nua is another band worth seeing, as this Irish act makes use of a wide selection of musical instruments, from the fiddle to the tin whistle to the button accordion.

The city of Lancaster puts a huge emphasis on its music and arts scene, which is why you will be able to find concerts of just about every type here. From Finnish heavy metal to modern American country, Lancaster is definitely a city that attracts music lovers of all kinds.

Travel |

|

Bon Jovi On Tour

Grammy award-winning band Bon Jovi released their latest album, This House is Not For Sale, at the start of November, and, in order to support this, have lined up an exciting tour that kicks off this February. From Florida to Ohio, here are some of the destinations that you will need to head to if you are hoping to catch one of Bon Jovi’s ever-memorable live performances.

Greenville
South Carolina, Georgia & Florida
The Bon Jovi tour will be starting off at Greenville, South Carolina, with a one night only performance at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, which is recognized as being one of the top fifty venues in the world. Following on from this, the rock band will move on to Atlanta, before heading over to Florida for two performances. The first will be held at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, which is also home to the Florida Panthers, while the second will be at the Amalie Arena in Tampa on the 14th of February, making tickets to this night the ideal Valentines Day present for any Bon Jovi fan.

Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma & Texas
Bon Jovi will only be performing for one night in each of these states, meaning that you can expect the tickets to be in high demand. From the BJCC in Birmingham to the Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena to the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, which is also home to the National Hockey League’s St. Louis Blues, to Oklahoma City and Dallas, these are performances not to be missed.

Sacramento
California, Arizona, Ohio & Indiana
There are a few different performances being hosted in California, meaning that those who live here have a great chance of being able to catch a show. From Sacramento to San Jose to Los Angeles to San Diego, these performances are dated from the 28th of February to the 8th of March, giving you enough time to book yourself a trip to California if need be. For those in Arizona, Bon Jovi will be performing at the Talking Stick Resort in Phoenix on Saturday the 4th of March, giving you the perfect excuse to book yourself in to this luxury hotel for a weekend getaway. For Ohio residents, there will be two shows held, one in Cleveland and one in Columbus, while those in Indiana would need to catch the single show at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse on the 22nd of March.

VIP Packages
For those who want to really go all out for the night, there are several different VIP packages that you can choose from, although these are available for select shows only. These include everything from a VIP reception and lounge, including food and beverages, to autographed merchandise to behind-the-scenes tours, and will definitely make your evening so much more memorable.

Bon Jovi originally formed in 1983, and are one of the most-loved classic American rock bands out there. If you have been hoping to catch the band live, but do not see your state mentioned above, check the band’s website for more information, as there are plenty of other tour dates to be found, as well as new ones being continuously added.

Travel |

|

The Los Angeles GRAMMY Museum

The Los Angeles GRAMMY Museum

Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com

The Los Angeles GRAMMY Museum was established in 2008, opening its doors in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Grammy Awards. In addition to preserving and telling the story of the history of the Grammy awards, the museum also celebrates award winners, with interactive exhibits designed to truly inspire each and every visitor.

Current Exhibits
One of the highlights of the museum for many visitors is the tribute to Michael Jackson, which can be found on the third floor. Some of the items that you will see on display here include a variety of artifacts from his Thriller music video, a few signature pieces, such as his fedora and gloves, and pages of sheet music, all of which give fans a chance to learn more about his legacy. Another interesting exhibit is Legends of Motown: Celebrating the Miracles, which focuses on The Miracles, the very first successful Motown recording act who became a part of musical history, paving the way for the pop music, soul, and R&B that we know and love today. Those that want to learn more about international music will appreciate the Sounds of Africa exhibit, which celebrates the diversity of African music with artists from all over Africa, from Nigeria to the Congo to Benin.

Traveling Exhibits
In order to stay current, the Los Angeles GRAMMY Museum must continue to host cutting-edge exhibitions, and this is exactly what the Travelling Exhibitions, which have been all over the world from London to New York to Paris, are. In fact, one of the museum’s most popular exhibits to date has been a Travelling Exhibit, and is on display until February 2017, meaning that you still have some time to catch it. The exhibit, entitled The Taylor Swift Experience, makes use of personal photographs, home videos and handwritten lyrics to provide a unique insight into this much-loved contemporary artist. There are also several photography Travelling Exhibits that are worth checking out, such as Sinatra 100, which features 38 framed photographs that span Frank Sinatra’s life, and Bob Dylan: Photographs by Daniel Kramer, of which there are over 50 that date between 1964 and 1965.

Upcoming Music Performances
The Los Angeles Grammy Museum hosts exciting music events throughout the year, many of them featuring Grammy stars themselves. January 2017 sees some extremely talented artists take the stage, with the Lonely Boy: Tales of a Sex Pistol with Steve Jones show already sold out. Doyle Bramhall II, a distinctive vocalist, guitarist and composer who worked with Eric Clapton for ten years, will also be performing in January, as will Eric Johnson, one of the finest electric guitarists in the world, and Silversun Pickups, who are hailed as being one of the most creative rock bands to be seen in recent years.

The Los Angeles GRAMMY Museum is a must-visit for any music fans in LA, as well as for those who want to learn more about American culture. Whether you spend some time exploring the many exhibits, or catch an iconic music performance, this is a museum that is guaranteed to widen your musical horizons.

Travel |

|

The 2017 Sydney Festival

Sydney festival fireworks
First established in 1977, the annual Sydney Festival is one of the most important arts festivals in Australia, and is held every January for three weeks, with the dates for this year being the 7th to the 29th. Featuring a mixture of visual and performing arts, with everything from concerts to exhibitions to workshops, here are some of the highlights that you can expect to see in the 2017 Sydney Festival.

Music
The music acts being showcased at the 2017 Sydney Festival are definitely diverse, as they are each year, and there are quite a few performances that music buffs will not want to miss. PJ Harvey, an English singer and songwriter, will be performing on the 22nd of January, giving you the chance to hear her ninth studio album live, while Americana artist Dori Freeman will be performing her Australian premiere at the festival. 1967: Music in the Key of Yes will be a significant show to attend, as it focuses on the way in which Aboriginal people have been discriminated over the years, with some of the most legendary songs of the civil rights movement interpreted by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stars.

Theater
For those that enjoy watching theater performances, there are many to choose from in Sydney in January. Ladies in Black is a smash hit musical by Tim Finn that will take you back in time to the late 1950’s, while The Encounter makes use of 3D audio technology to tell the story of when a National Geographic photographer became lost in the Brazilian rainforest in 1969. For a performance that combines theater with sport, Prize Fighter promises to be a thrilling show to attend, as it features live boxing alongside compelling storytelling, featuring the tale of a young Congolese boxer who becomes quite the rising star. Those that are familiar with Australian theater will know all about Urban Theatre Projects, who host performances in unusual locations. This year, for the 2017 Sydney Festival, they will be hosting a play called Home Country, in a multi-level car park in Blacktown.

Sydney festival visual art
Visual Art
Sydney transforms into a visual arts spectacle during the Sydney Festival, with exhibitions, shows, and installations scattered throughout the city. A few of these installations are ideal for the entire family, such as The Beach, which features 1.1 million recyclable polyethylene balls that create a giant ocean into which you can literally submerge yourself, and the House of Mirrors, a disorientating labyrinth created entirely from mirrors. In addition to these interactive installations, some of the other visual art highlights of this year’s festival include Nude Live, which makes use of highly emotional choreography, and Another Day in Paradise, which is Myuran Sukumaran’s first major installation and will be accompanied by pieces from other prominent Australian artists.

For those that are planning to travel to the city for the 2017 Sydney Festival, it is imperative that you book your trip as soon as possible, as everything from hotels to restaurants become much busier during these three weeks. This is a festival that beautifully transforms the city into a creative paradise, and is well worth making the trip to Sydney for.

Travel |

|

The Totally Thames Festival

Boat races in the River Thames

Padmayogini / Shutterstock.com

Each year in London, a 42-mile stretch of the River Thames bursts into a hive of activity, all thanks to the annual Totally Thames festival. Taking place over the entire month of September, this festival celebrates the Thames with an exciting lineup of arts festivals, community events, river races and other fun-filled activities.

The Great River Race
The city’s annual river marathon, the Great River Race is always a spectacle to watch, as 300 teams from around the world will be competing to become the Traditional Boat Champions of the UK. With everyone from serious athletes in Hawaiian war canoes to Viking longboats filled with recreational rowers wearing fancy dress costumes, this race is worth watching, and, if you follow with it along the race route, you will end up in Richmond, greeted with live music and food stalls.

Floating Dreams
Ik-Joong Kang is one of the most revered artists to have come from South Korea, and Floating Dreams is a major installation of his, placed in the center of the Thames. The piece was created with the use of 500 drawings, collected from the generation of those that were forced to flee North Korea, leaving their homes and loved ones behind. The installation serves as a memorial to those that were divided during the Korean War, and is one of the most powerful pieces that the city has seen in a while.

The Singing Bridge
Artist and composer Claudia Molitor has created a one-of-a-kind musical and historic experience on London’s Waterloo Bridge, in honor of the Totally Thames Festival. Inspired by the surprising history of Waterloo Bridge, the artist put together a 40-minute musical experience, that tells the tale of the way in which the bridge was rebuilt by mostly women during the second World War.

Tall Ships Cruise
Many would argue that London is a city best seen from the water, and the tall ships cruise is an unforgettable way in which to do this. This opportunity is only available for four days, and enables visitors to enjoy a two-hour cruise down the Thames from the Royal Arsenal Pier in Woolwich. These tall ships are most definitely impressive, and give you an idea of what the vessels on the river would have looked like not too long ago.

Barnes Film Festival
The Barnes Film Festival is totally new to the Totally Thames Festival this year, but is an event that is highly anticipated by many. Featuring the work of young filmmakers from all across the UK, there will be viewings available that you will not be able to see anywhere else. In addition to the films presented, there will also be several related workshops, discussions and gatherings, featuring some of the country’s most revered cinematic talent.

With over 150 different official events to choose from, the Totally Thames Festival usually attracts at least 2 million Londoners each year, with many more coming from far and wide. With everything from art installations to boat races, this is a festival that highlights the beautiful diversity that the city of London has to offer.