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The CHIRP Blog
Greg Kantowicz writesThe Gig Poster: Nosaj Thing with Clark
Who: Nosaj Thing & Clark
Where: Doug Fir Lounge
Sarah A. writesCHIRP Goes to Forecastle 2015: Day Two
It looks like this weekend hasn't been great for festivals in the Midwest -- as I mentioned in day one's post, headliner Sam Smith's set on Friday was cut short due to weather. I'd only barely gotten back to my temporary home when strong winds and torrential downpours swept through Louisville. Apparently Pitchfork back in Chicago had much of the same today, based on what I've seen on the Twitters. Forecastle's Saturday start was pushed back about an hour as the crews prepared the festival grounds for visitors. It was perhaps the worst time of day to have hundreds of people waiting in line, however, with no cover from the shade and many without any water (unlike other festivals, you're not permitted to bring in any water, even if it's in sealed containers, although there are plenty of places to fill up your own water bottle once you get in). After some confusion over when gates would open, the audience was finally allowed in, the schedule was adjusted, and the music began.
I started my day out by catching a few songs from Nashville-based singer Jeffrey James. His energetic, full-band pop songs were a great way to start out what had been a frustrating morning. It was maybe a litte too hot to dance -- most of the people hanging out at the Port Stage were sitting up on the hillside, under the trees -- but this was certainly music that you could shake your butts to.
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesWhat’s Happening at CHIRP Radio (Week of July 20)
NEW MEDIA:
- Pay Seymour talks to Jonah Parzen-Johnson
- Dylan Peterson interviews Miami Horror
- Big Rob Kerr Goes to Mamby on the Beach (Day 1) (Day 2)
- The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club is In Rotation
- Friday MP3 Shuffle: Happy Birthday Vince Guaraldi
- Paul Karner is this month’s Person of Interest
COMING UP THIS WEEK:
- CHIRP Radio welcomes Marriages to Lincoln Hall TONIGHT (July 21) at 8:00pm
- It’s time for CHIRP Night at the Whistler with SMOKER and Dream Version on Wednesday July 22
Sarah A. writesCHIRP Goes to Forecastle 2015: Day One
[ In what's become an annual trek south, CHIRP DJ and Volunteer Coordinator Sarah Avampato is reporting this weekend from Louisville, Kentucky, covering the Forecastle music festival, which blends art and music with environmental activism, through the festival's charitable foundation. ]
Sometimes, the weather's perfect for a music festival -- just enough sun, just enough breeze, just enough clouds.
And sometimes, you've already sweat through your clothes before the first act is even three songs in.
The tone was seat early for Forecastle this year -- it's going to be a scorcher, so take it easy.
Despite a jam-packed festival schedule, I did my best to ease into the day. Better to hear a few songs then go sit in the shade, than to drop from the heat.
The first act I got to see was 21-year old Parker Millsap, an Oklahoma-born country influenced songwriter. Not knowing much about him other than his name and his genre, I was absolutely captivated by his set. His songs were very memorable -- one was a touching track telling the story of a boy coming out to his religious father, another was the flip opposite in tone, spinning a wild tale about fairy tale characters that lose their jobs and turn to things like prostitution and cooking meth to bring in the money. Towards the end of his set, Millsap introduced a few songs by saying "now we're gonna do some songs about the devil" -- and if I weren't already hooked by his music, I sure would have been then. His voice and his songs are much bigger than his years, that's for sure.
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesFriday MP3 Shuffle: Happy Birthday Vince Guaraldi Edition
It would be very difficult to be a young child growing up in the ‘80s or ‘90s with a TV set in the house to not come across at least one of the Charlie Brown specials on a yearly basis. And it would be impossible to think about those cartoons without thinking of the music Vince Guaraldi created for the Peanuts gang. The idea of adding music from a ‘60s Jazz trio to a children’s cartoon probably seemed a little left-field at the time. It turned out to be a genius idea by series creator Charles M. Schultz and his creative team, as Guaraldi’s alternately languid and sprightly piano, always played with an undercurrent of melancholy, matched Schultz’ characters and world perfectly. Guaraldi’s cool, graceful pieces made Charlie Brown’s travails a little easier to endure for young audiences while also adding some real sophistication to their music experiences.
Wish a posthumous Happy Birthday to this jazzman by taking your MP3 player, pressing the "shuffle" button, and sharing the first 10 songs that you hear: