If you like Bluegrass Music, and I can't imagine that you don't, then Forest Fest at Jefferson Memorial Forest should be on your radar. For $1 per vehicle, not even per person, you get a day of great activities and music, including Dr. Ralph Stanley. That's a deal people, a serious deal.

Come out for a great day filled with Bluegrass Music, wood crafters and fun activities for the entire family. This free family oriented festival is set to become the premier bluegrass festival for Jefferson County.

The fourth Forest Fest will be bigger and better than ever with the addition of Bluegrass music legend, Dr. Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys. This year's line up also includes Stone Hollow, Dozens of Dollars, Bluegrass 101, and Kentucky Sassafras.

2008 continues the tried and true formula of honoring Fairdale's rich bluegrass tradition, highlighting new up and coming bands and introducing them to new audiences and bringing in some of the best Bluegrass musicians from around the region.

Fee: $1 per vehicle

Saturday May 17, 2008
11AM-7PM

Jefferson Memorial Forest
11311 Mitchell Hill Road
Fairdale, KY 40118
502/368-5404
email: forest@louisvilleky.gov

To record Jim James and Wax Fang doing a kick ass rendition of My Old Kentucky Home. 

Since I'm not as tapped into the live music scene as some people here's a guest post from someone who is so very into live music: my aunt Ellen.

As a follow up to her sold out January house concert, Garrison Starr will be returning to Louisville on Friday, April 25 to play a public show at the KY BBQ Company. Local up-and-comers Amanda Lucas and Audrey Cecil will be opening.  Doors open at 8:00pm and the show begins at 9:00pm.  Tickets are $10 at the door.  Come early for dinner and stay for what is sure to be a great show!

KY BBQ Company
1800 Frankfort Ave. (the old Café Lou Lou)
Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 895-3419

http://www.myspace.com/audreycecil
http://www.myspace.com/garrisonstarr

 "Garrison Starr is a song writer, performer and recording artist with passion.  She doesn't live and breathe for the hit parade, she doesn't play fashion doll, she just writes and sings her heart out.  She knows what matters.   In the American Idolized landscape that constitues today's music business, she is someone to be thankful for..."
-Mary Chapin Carpenter

 "Garrison Starr's greatest gift is her gorgeous, full, rough, passionate voice that can be ultimately pensive, intimate, hurt, consoling, libidinous, or scornful - sometimes during the same verse.  Her raw phrasing would take Sarah McLachlan and Neko Case's lunch money"
-MSNBC

 
On Amanda Lucas and Audrey Cecil:

"What a fantastic addition Amanda and Audrey have been to the Louisville music scene. Both incredibly talented musicians in their own right, what they have found as a duo is truly special. With strong original songs filled with intricate harmonies and solid musicianship, they are an up-and-coming duo that is not to be missed. As a lover of great music, it's truly a luxury to have such a talented pair right here in my backyard. I expect great things for them!"

-Charters Harrison, founder of River City House Concerts

The Late Seating at Actors presents The Promiscuous Materials Project
Apr 25, 10:30 pm following performance of Doubt at 8 pm

An electric mixture of selected stories and songs by Jonathan Lethem, interpreted by local artists as part of The Promiscuous Materials Project.

TICKETS $10 (or $5 with Actors ticket stub)
CALL 502-584-1205 for reservation

PERFORMANCE
Necessary Theatre
Freewheelin Theatre Company
Riverrun Theatre Company

MUSIC
One Small Step

VISUAL ART
Lindsey Dobson
mperfect
Natasha Sud
Joe Welsh
Brad White
Matt Dobson

MUSIC VIDEO
Andy Garbe

Barocco Italiano! music of the Italian Baroque featuring the Louisville premiere of the Boccerini: Sabat Mater with:
Emily Albrink, soprano
Caroline Knight Drury, soprano
Bill Coleman, tenor
with special guest Sarah Biber, cello

Tickets: $15 adult; $10 seniors; $5 students
Tickets can be reserved or purchased at the door.
(502) 614-7178, bourbonbaroque@gmail.com
Saturday April 12, 2008 7:30PM

St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church
6710 Wolf Pen Branch Road
Harrods Creek, KY (corner of US 42)

The final mega jam and the last two Harry Pickens shows are already sold out for The Jazz Factory's final week. But at my last checking there were still seats available for tonight's Larry Coryell shows and tomorrow's UofL Jazz Combo show.

Head down and say a sad goodbye to what should have been a Louisville institution for years to come.

Next Monday March 31, 2008 it will be time for another poetry reading at The Pink Door brought to you by Sarabande Books. This month's reading features Louisville poet Lynnell Edwards and Louisville singer-songwriter Brigid Kaelin. It's an all "Louisville produces kick-ass artists" show.

From the press release:

If you don't yet know about Lynnell Edwards, you definitely should.  She is the author of two books of poetry, both published by Red Hen Press, The Farmer's Daughter and The Highwayman's Wife.  Lynnell's poems are by turns graceful, tough, and downright funny. . . . to give you a taste of her work, I've pasted one of my favorite poems by her below.  (She wrote it to her son after seeing him watch an all-female version of Fear Factor in which the women were coaxed into walking through a box of reptiles to hunt out gold coins.)

Brigid Kaelin will follow. Known for her clever songwriting and energetic live show, Brigid is also a seriously trained musician. You may come to the show for her red hair, and you may laugh at the yodeling. But then you'll be completely amazed by her virtuosic chops on the accordion, piano, guitar, and musical saw, and suddenly you'll realize that you love her songs too. Part vaudeville, part rock, Kaelin writes killer songs and knows how to entertain.

Monday March 31, 2008
7:30PM

The Pink Door
2222 Dundee Road
Louisville, KY 40205

It's with great sadness I pass on news that The Jazz Factory is closing. A friend forwarded to me a newsletter that was sent out to The Jazz Factory faithful. Below are some quotes from it:

Dear Faithful Jazz Fans,

I'm sad to inform you that The Jazz Factory® will suspend operations at the close of business on Saturday, March 29. For five years we have presented the very finest local, regional and national jazz talent, five nights a week, to Louisville audiences. However, during the five years we have been open, we have not found a way to make the business support itself. As a result, Dianne and I, together with our partners, made the difficult decision to close the doors at the end of this month. We will continue to try to find ways to save the business, or to continue in some other form. But for now, closing is the only option.

The Jazz Factory will continue its normal Tuesday-Saturday schedule through March 29, including performances by Ron Jones, Sarah Stivers, The New York Standards Quartet, Larry Coryell and Harry Pickens. On our final night, March 29, we have invited dozens of jazz musicians who have performed at The Jazz Factory to join Harry Pickens and his trio for a farewell jam.

The New Times gives My Morning Jacket's SXSW performance last week an excellent review which makes me excited for the June release of their new album "Evil Urges." That review also mentions that the performance was taped for NPR which is awesome because it means that you can listen to the show online.

Would I sound like just too much of a yuppie if I tell you that I love acoustic music and overpriced coffee drinks? Yes? No? Moving on.

Next Friday March 21, 2008 the acoustic trio Nora, Ben & Eli will be playing at Quills Coffee &
Books from 3:30PM - 5:00PM. Good music and good coffee is really an excellent way to kick a weekend off I feel.

Quills Coffee & Books
1120 East Kentucky Street
Louisville, KY

Sometimes people give me free stuff to review on this website. Books, CDs, etc. Most of the time I don't review them because a) there are only so many hours in the day b) I don't want to write any negative reviews. So if I don't like something I just don't review it. I figure there are enough things to be positive about that the world can survive without one more negative review of something. I give you this insight because I want you to understand how disappointed I am not to have received a copy of the new record by The Photographic to review. I really, really wanted to get an early copy to review so I could tell you how great it is and encourage you to buy it. I was that confident that it was going to be great. Alas, I did not receive a review copy and I've not been to ear X-tacy today so I can only tell you that I'm pretty sure the record kicks ass. My advice is to go to ear X-tacy tonight for a free in-store performance by the duo and to pick up your copy of the brand new record "Pictures of A Changing World."

The Photographic
March 11, 2008
7PM
Free

ear X-tacy
1534 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY

PS Free things I really like include books, CDs, coffee, certificates for free meals and dessert.

Update: Not only does Cory at Backseat Sandbar want to rub it in that he got a review copy of the record when I didn't he also wants me to link to his review of it. As my grandmother would say "that's tacky." Just kidding. Backseat Sandbar has its hand on the music pulse in this city so its only natural they'd have the scoop. That scoop by the way just confirms my suspicion about the record being great. To quote Cory "you need this album."

Kentucky Books for Patients is an interesting project that collects donations of new or gently used books by Kentucky writers or writers associated with Kentucky. Their goal is to "establish book collections in cancer centers of hospitals and clinics throughout Kentucky."

Next Thursday March 14, 2008 a special evening of readings and music by Kentucky writers and musicians is happening at The Jazz Factory in support of Kentucky Books for Patients.

"Presented as part of The Jazz Factory's Jazz & Spoken Word monthly series, the event will feature readings by an all-star cast of the region's best-known writers, including poets Jane Gentry Vance (Kentucky's Poet Laureate), Frank X Walker, Sarah Gorham, Leatha Kendrick, Kathleen Driskell, Maureen Morehead, Frederick Smock, and Mary Welp. Poems by Aleda Shirley, a former Louisvillian and cancer survivor now living in Mississippi, will be read, in her absence, by poet Emma Aprile.

Also reading will be Dr. Donald Miller, head of the James Graham Brown Cancer Center; writer Dianne Aprile, producer of Jazz & The Spoken Word, and Clint Morehead, the University of Louisville fourth-year medical student who created The Kentucky Books for Patients Project to establish book collections in cancer centers of hospitals and clinics throughout the state."

The Jazz Factory
(in The Glassworks Building)
815 W. Market St.
Louisville, KY

Part of my reading goals for 2008 is to read a good deal of Wendell Berry's work. I've been doing that and enjoying Berry very much. So I imagine that my donations to this cause are going to be in the form of Wendell Berry books because everyone needs to read them.

My friends at Backseat Sandbar wrote about the Kill Ville event a couple weeks ago but just in case you missed it I wanted to post about it as well.

"The sequel to last year's PULP FUNKTION, KILL VILLE will be a large-scale theme party based on the soundtracks and films of Quentin Tarantino, with a special focus on Kill Bill Vol. 1.

A Tarantino themed dance party presented by HAY DJ and Glassworks featuring Hay DJ, DJ Matt Anthony, Woodrow on the Radio, DJ Dwight Johnson and the band The Ladybirds plus a martial arts demonstration, costume contest and prizes!

Glassworks 2nd floor will be transformed into the Tokyo dance
club where Uma Thurman (Black Mamba) defeats Lucy Liu (Oren Ishii)."

Kill Ville A Tarantino Themed Dance Party
Saturday March 29, 2008
9PM-2AM

$10 admission, advanced tickets available at ear X-tacy and online
Cash Bar
21 and over

Glassworks
815 W. Main Street
Louisville, KY

This Friday night The 930 Art Center is having an opening reception for the exhibit Various Colors by Kaori Ishitani.

The reception is from 7PM-10PM and the artist will be speaking at 7:15PM.

The exhibit will be on view March 7-30, 2008

A concert featuring Concert featuring Brooks Ritter and Sarah Elizabeth will begin at 8PM. This is a free, all ages show.

Image Life is Too Short ©Kaori Ishitani

Glassworks is bringing the music on March 22, 2008 and they're bringing it in a big way.

Bryan Scary and The Shedding Tears will be headlining. Described as an enigmatic psychedelic pop performance" that is "unlike that of any modern touring band, drawing comparisons to Queen, the Beatles, and ELO." BUST Magazine even said it's "the best live show [we've] ever seen."

Other performers at the extravaganza include Chicago's Ferdinand Fox which rocks a mix of hip hop, funk and soul, Everthus the Deadbeats  and Grampall Jookabox, "both hailing from Indianapolis, and stopping by our fair city after showcase performances at South By Southwest."

The evening will be capped off with DJ sets from A. Bell and Narwhal.

Because Spring in Kentucky might be the only thing as good as Fall in Kentucky this event is scheduled for the great outdoors, in Glassworks roof garden. Festivities will move indoors if the weather doesn't cooperate.

Tickets are $6 and will be available the day of the event if it's not already sold out, which its likely going to be, so I recommend buying tickets online now.

Glassworks
815 West Market Street
Louisville, KY

Whoever is in charge of art direction for The Late Seating is doing a kick ass job. Last month they had the Matt Dobson poster that was super cool and this month it's the Made in Louisville design you see here. I don't know you are but I'm digging your art direction. Now, on to the details.

The Humana Festival might be a world famous event that attracts lots of visitors to from all over but it's a Louisville event and we need to claim it as such. So the folks at The Late Seating got the idea to do a "Made in Louisville" party to celebrate the festival's kickoff. This party is going to have food provided by local Louisville restaurants, a DJ will be spinning Louisville tunes, and festiveness will be oozing. The press released detais:

Louisville's Humana Festival Party
Mar 1, 2008 10:30 pm
A Made in Louisville party to kick-off the Humana Festival of New American Plays

TICKETS
Party is free,
but ticket required

Call 502-584-1205
for reservation

Enjoy DJ Matt Anthony (host of WFPK Sound Clash) playing music by area bands plus complimentary appetizers donated by Intermezzo Cafe, Artemisia, Bistro 301, Caviar and Proof on Main.

Meet and mingle with Actors Theatre artists and staff and learn more about their contribution to Louisville's own internationally acclaimed Humana Festival.

PERFORMANCE
Marco Polo by Greg Romero
presented by Specific Gravity Ensemble
directed by Rand Harmon
Players: Lucas W. Adams, Sarah Feldman, Julia Leist, Corey Long, Randy D. Pease, Jennifer Poliskie

VIDEO
Show Me Your Louisville by Jason Tongen
Talk Derby to Me, Bat Birth Factory and Haunted Sanatorium by Thomas Green 

If it's Wednesday that means it's Mod Night at Derby City Espresso. My first inclination is to say "head downtown to hang out with swinging chics and hepcats" but I don't think that's appropriate outdated slang for the mod scene. If anyone wants to advise me on what outdated and cliched terms I should use instead I'm listening.

Derby City Espresso
331 E. Market Street
Louisville, KY

Local band The Muckrakers have released three internet only singles in preparation for release of their fourth studio album. The third and final internet only single is an ode to this city we love. Called "Lights of Louisville" the band describes it as "a song about finding who you are by being with the people you love." I dig that sentiment and I dig this track. I think you will too, go download it now. It's emotive, pretty and genuine without being sappy.

The track is only available for free for a two week period. I don't know when those two weeks began so seriously, go download it now.

Thanks for the Louisville love Muckrakers and thanks for sharing the music! That's pretty much the definition of awesome and I appreciate you for it.

Also thanks to Steve at Louisville History and Issues for the tip.

Well they missed talk like a pirate day but I'll give the Kentucky Opera Guild a pass and let you know about their upcoming Viva Voce event.

Apparently you can come out, participate in wine and spirit tastings, participate in a silent auction, eat free appetizers, oh and talk like a pirate all while benefiting The Kentucky Opera. Really, what more could you ask for in an event. Nothing unless you're really greedy.

Date: Friday, February 29, 2008
Time: 6pm - 9 pm
Place: Mellwood Arts Center
860 Mellwood Avenue Louisville, KY
Tickets: $35 for ye, $60 for a ye and yer lass

For reservations call 502.561.7920 or email rsvp@kyopera.org

It's time for another poetry filled Monday, presented by Sarabande Books at The Pink Door.

The featured poet for the evening is Joshua Poteat from Richmond, Virginia. After Poteat's reading local musician John Paul Wright will be playing bluegrass and folk music.

Poet Joshua Poteat and musician John Paul Wright
Monday February 24, 2008
7:30PM

The Pink Door
2222 Dundee Road
Louisville, KY

Louisville transplant Alanna Fugate will be celebrating the release of her new CD "Lost A Little" next Friday night February 29, 2008 at BBC St. Matthews.

I don't know much about Alanna Fugate (this is the first I've heard of her) so I'll share info from the press release I got:

"Alanna packed her things and moved to Louisville just seven months ago. Once she arrived, she hit the ground running with over 75 shows and an exciting new album entitled to share entitled Lost A Little.

Originally from Ewing Virginia, Alanna isn't so new to Kentucky, having spent a number of years in Richmond cultivating a large following, gaining fans and friends who essentially catapulted her to her new home in Louisville.  It surely didn't take her long to get acquainted with her new scene though, guests on Lost A Little include Todd Hildreth, Ray Rizzo, Jordan Ellis, Owen Reynolds, Mike Dufresne, Gareth Jones, Ben Sollee, and Mark 'lupe' Hamilton.

Many of the guests on her album, such as Ben Sollee, Todd Hildreth, and Mike Dufresne will be making stage appearances at the release of Lost A Little and will prove to be a rare setting for Alanna seeing she is primarily a solo artist."

Alanna Fugate w/ Eddy Green
Friday, February 29th
Doors open at 10PM, show starts at 10:30PM
Cost: $7

BBC (St. Matthews)
3929 Shelbyville Rd.
Louisville KY 40207

Free stuff abounds
I'm giving away copies of local author Will Lavender's debut novel Obedience. You've got until 12:01 Monday to enter to win.

My friends over at Backseat Sandbar are giving away tickets to the Dawn Landes show next Friday night.

Indian Buffet Battle Royale in the Highlands
Not really but that's a great headline huh? Sitar Indian Restaurant recently opened up where Ballyhoo's used to be near Cafe Metro on Bardstown Road. In addition to having a great location this place is sure to attract a steady stream of business due to having an everyday buffet. It is this constant buffet that I assume has inspired Kashmir, further down Bardstown Road (near Longest Avenue) to expand their buffet from a weekend only affair to everyday. There was a giant sign out front that said "Buffet Everyday $6.99" when I drove by yesterday.

Gigantic Government Vehicles
This is more Page One's territory than mine but I've been thinking about this a good deal. One street over from me lives a recently elected politician. Since his election he's been driving a state vehicle (it's got the official seal on it and the name of his office) presumably back and forth to Frankfort. This thing is a massive SUV. I'm a bit of a tree hugger so I'm not a fan of SUVs in general but isn't it overkill (both in terms of environmental impact and just the cost of fuel for the thing) to have a huge vehicle for one or two people? Isn't it overkill when the largest cargo the vehicle will probably ever tote are briefcases and maybe a couple banker's boxes of documents? Wouldn't a more fuel efficient vehicle (say maybe even a Toyota that's made in Kentucky instead of a Chevy that isn't) be a better use of tax payer dollars?

I probably should just ignore this issue but I can't help but think about it every time I walk my dog past this massive automotive monstrosity wonder parked on the street. Do you have any thoughts on this issue?

Friday February 29, 2008 at 8PM Bourbon Baroque presents Music of the French Baroque

• Bourbon Baroque performs the second ticketed concert of its inaugural season with a programme of music from the French Baroque.
• With works by Marin Marais, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Louis-Antoine Dornel, and Jean-Marie Leclair.
• Featuring special guest: Joshua Keller, viola da gamba
• Please contact (502) 614-7178 or bourbonbaroque@gmail.com for reservations or more information.

Friday February 29, 2008 at 8PM

St. Francis of Assisi
1960 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY 40205

There's a CD release party tonight for Louisville is For Lovers Volume 8 at The Pour Haus. Cover is only $5 which a supreme bargain for hearing six great bands.

I heard the Louisville is for Lovers live lunch last week and was really impressed. I found a couple new-to-me artists that I really, really enjoyed. That's a round about way of saying you should buy the CD and check out this show tonight.

The Pour Haus
1481 South Shelby Street
Louisville, KY
February 15, 2008 9PM

Update: Cory at Backseat Sandbar has posted a review and photos from the show.

The Courier describes the Wau Wau sisters thusly:

Like overly affectionate twins in a wild girls' school video, the sprightly pair blends sexual tease with difficult acrobatic stunts and singing, dancing and comedy - one of the hottest performance art tickets in America.

Well ok then. If that's your thing then most likely you have tickets for their performance at the Kentucky Center tomorrow night.

Whether you make the actual performance or not you might be interested in the after show party at 21c.

After the performance of the Wau Wau Sisters at the Kentucky Center for the Arts Bomhard Theater, meet the Wau Wau Sisters at 21c for the reception, after party, and live entertainment by DJ Jesse Jamz.

Wau Wau Sisters Post-Show Party
Feb 16, 2008 9:30pm
Atrium Gallery
21c Museum Hotel
This event is free and open to the public
Cash bar with drink specials

You might not know this about me but I enjoy opera. I'm sadly not very knowledgeable about it (like I couldn't name the most important operas or hum their most famous songs) but I do enjoy it. Perhaps someone from the Kentucky Opera will volunteer to give me a primer. In the meantime I've found another way to increase both my opera knowledge and the amount of opera I enjoy in my life: a free concert at UofL featuring mezzo-soprano Katherine Rohrer. Rohrer "is a resident artist at the University of Louisville School of Music this month."

"She is the first resident artist to visit since the school received a grant from the Marilyn Horne Foundation to host performances of young opera singers over the next four years.

Rohrer's resume already includes appearances with San Francisco Opera, New York City Opera and Glyndebourne Opera. Her debut concert was at Carnegie Hall.

During her stay, Rohrer and pianist John Parr will give short recitals at area schools and perform for the West Louisville Boys' Choir. Her residency will culminate with the Feb. 21 concert."

That concert is February 21, 2008 at 8PM and it is free and open to the public

Mezzo-Soprano Katherine Rohrer Concert
Margaret Comstock Concert Hall, School of Music
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY

It looks like this is not the only free concert of up and coming opera singers we can expect.

"Daniel Weeks, a tenor and faculty member, was instrumental in helping to secure the Marilyn Horne Foundation grant. The foundation promotes the careers of emerging young singers by sponsoring concerts and artist residencies throughout the United States. Weeks is an alumnus of the foundation's young singers program."

That's fantastic. Well done Mr. Weeks, I'm serious about extending my opera appreciation so I'm really looking forward to future artists in residence with this program.
 

The Bellarmine University Radio Association is holding a series of concerts to benefit the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life." The next show is a sweet deal. For a $5 cover you get local favorites Leigh Ann Yost, Tamara Dearing, Nick Peay, Amanda Lucas with Audrey Cecil and more. And there's a free buffet. Good live music for $5 and free food? Good gracious the folks at The Bellarmine University Radio Association are clearly nice people.

Friday February 22, 2008
Doors open at 6PM

Bellarmine University
Frazier Hall
Louisville, KY

The Juggernaut Jug Band is celebrating the release of their new CD "You Mean We Get Paid For This?" by playing tonight and tomorrow night at Clifton's Pizza.

Friday, February 8th, 8:30 pm
Saturday, February 9th, 7:30 pm
Free admission

Clifton's Pizza
2230 Frankfort Ave
Louisville, KY 40206

For the rest of February The 930 Listening Room will be serving as a donation center to collect money for the victims of the LAVA House fire. The 930 has three concerts scheduled for February and at each will be collecting money. 100% of the money collected will be given to the victims in the form of gift cards. 50% will go toward residents of LAVA House and the remaining 50% will go to artists who rented studio space.

Opportunities to donate are at the following shows:

Ben Sollee, Brigid Kaelin and Mike Mangione this Friday February 8, 2008

Ingrid Michaelson on February 11, 2008

Sharon Wright on February 23, 2008

I suck for not going to the Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings show this past weekend. I really wanted to go but didn't really have anyone to go with (not my beloved's kind of show) but that's a poor excuse. I feel even worse about not going now that I've read Cory's review of the show over at Backseat Sandbar, including some great photographs of the evening.

What amazed me about this show was that this was music I could share with my father. I mean that slightly metaphorically because my father actually likes a lot of my music, but this show included every age group from 18 to people in their 50s or 60s, and I imagine many brokenhearted kids under 18. I guess that's not too much of a surprise when Sharon herself is 51 (going on 23). But who would ever imagine a soul/funk show selling Headliners completely out? I met kids from St. Louis who drove the 4-5 hours because the show had sold out there at a much smaller venue. They drove all that distance thinking no way would a venue of over 700 capacity would sell out. Fortunately it did only after they got their tickets at the door. Soul music selling out Headliners in Louisville, KY? Simply amazing.
- Cory, Backseat Sandbar

I've got to get my membership to the Speed Museum squared away. I keep meaning to but haven't done it yet. If I had I could hit this terribly festive Mardi Gras event next Friday night for free.

Friday February 8, 2008
6-9PM

Join us as we celebrate the magic and excitement of  Mardi Gras at the Speed with Live music from "Steve Ferguson and the Midwest Creole Ensemble", fortune tellers, $2 tastings of Southern Comfort Hurricanes and food samplings from Liquor Barn.  Parking is available in the Speed garage for $3. Admission is $10 per person, free for museum members. Doors will open at 5:30 for this event.

I really wish tickets for shows wouldn't go on sale nearly three months before the event. No one asked my opinion on this topic, I just thought I'd share.

Kathleen Edwards is playing an 18+ show at Headliners on Thursday April 17, 2008. Tickets go on sale this Saturday February 2, 2008 at 10AM at ear X-tacy & Ticketweb.com. I really love Kathleen Edwards and am excited she's coming to town. Descriptors for her music? Other than excellent I'd go with modern alt-country with serious rock and blues influences. Six O'Clock News from her record Failer is probably in the top 20 of my favorite songs of all time. Seriously. At $12 this show is a serious bargain that you should be all over. Even if it is three months from now.

Before I got the press release announcing this show I'd never heard of Stars of the Lid. So I spent a little time this morning listening to some of their stuff and I really, really dig it. It's ambient, mostly beatless kind of music that is, and I mean this in the best possible way, almost like really pleasant white noise. Or perhaps more accurately it sounds like it could be the score for a really good, serious movie and I do love good, serious movies.

Their show at The 930 Listening Room isn't until April 24, 2008 (doors open at 7PM, show starts at 8PM) but tickets go on sale this Saturday February 2, 2008 at ear X-tacy. The show is $10 in advance, $13 day of show.

We're coming up on the last Friday of the month, that means it's time for the Frankfort Avenue Trolley Hop. Proximity to Fat Tuesday (it's February 5) means this week's trolley hop must have a Mardi Gras theme.

The highlight of the theme is the Mardi Gras Ball at the Mellwood Art Center featuring food, drinks and lots of entertainment.

Other events include Tarot Card Reading at Crescent Hill Gallery, Mardi Gras Music at Margarets Consignment and Collectibles, Live jazz from the Jeff Sherman Band at Varanese and music and wine tasting at The Wine Rack.

There's a lot of info related to The Late Seating at Actors on January 25, 2008 so I'm just going to dump it all from the press release I got. But first, isn't that a very cool poster by Matt Dobson? Yes, yes it is.

THE LATE SEATING AT ACTORS
Jan 25, 10:30 pm
Doors open at 10 pm
an electric mixture of new work by local artists
in performance, music, video and visual art

TICKETS
$10 (or $5 with Actors ticket stub)
Call 502-584-1205

MAKE IT A DOUBLE
See Topdog/Underdog at 7:30 pm
plus The Late Seating at 10 pm for as low as $32

PERFORMANCE
The Necessary Theatre presents Will Eno's
Thom Pain (based on nothing)
starring Gil D. Reyes
directed by Mike Brooks

Where We Are: Poets Responding
Spoken word, poetry and song
directed and co-written by Jardana Peacock
written and performed by
Adrienne Duke, Chanita Taylor, Juanita Scott, Kehontas Rowe,
Mary Mudd, Natasha Lindsey, Sarah Watkins, Tytianna Wells

MUSIC
Songs and poetry by Ron Whitehead and Sarah Elizabeth 

VIDEO
Stick It In
by Bart Galloway
starring Zach Brammel

Poor Fortunates Act 1
by Kathryn Wilson
with Puppeteers Bart Galloway, Jess Myers,
Nora Cristensen, Stella Christensen

VISUAL ART
new woodcuts by Shawna Khalily
sculpture and paintings by Brad White
artwork by Frankie Steele

Goodness gracious we are lucky, lucky people in Louisville. For $5, yes $5 we can see Ben Sollee (remember he's one of NPR's Top 10 Great Unknown Artists of 2007), Brigid Kaelin and Mike Mangione in a great, intimate venue. How is such musical goodness available at a cost of nearly nothing? Magic.

Friday February 8, 2008
8PM

The 930 Listening Room
930 Mary Street Louisville, KY
40204

I have such deep respect for Wendell Berry that you only have to mention he's involved with an event to get my ears perked up. Throw in that the event is for a good cause and now you've really got my attention.

On Saturday, February 2, 2008 the Senior High Youth Group and Mission and Outreach Ministry of First Unitarian Church, along with local musician Cari Norris present the “I Love the Mountains Benefit Concert.”

The concert will raise funds to increase awareness around the issue of mountaintop removal in Eastern Kentucky.  All proceeds will be donated to Kentuckians for the Commonwealth (KFTC), a social justice and environmental lobbying group.

The program will feature:

• Renowned Kentucky author Wendell Berry;
• The Reel World String Band, traditional and old-time music with a touch of country, swing, blues, and jazz;
• Rich Kirby and the Po Folks, old-time string band from Whitesburg, KY;
• Randy Wilson, storyteller and musician from Leslie County, KY;
• Cari Norris, local artist whose music stems from the traditions of her grandmother, the late Lily May Ledford; and
• Nora Ben & Eli, local teen trio who play an eclectic mix of jazz, Celtic, Appalachian, old-time, and original tunes. (Editor's Note: This trio is great)
  

Saturday, February 2, 2008 7:30PM
The event is free but a $15 donation is suggested.

First Unitarian Church
809 S. Fourth St.
Louisville, KY 

Once I scratched the surface by posting about the Garrison Starr concert I found out that there is