Hailed by the New York Times as “the domestic pop and rock music industry’s most important gathering,” SXSW gets underway in Austin, TX, March 18-22. Discounts for the conference are still available but, if you’re going, you’d better act quickly. Call SXSW directly at (512) 451-0754 for additional details.
Look for the TopCats to release a new CD around the the first of March. Party with the Big Dogs will contain four new original songs (2 written by Carlo Nuccio and 2 by guitarist/vocalist Buzzy Langford) and live recordings of covers. In addition, the TopCats will play Mid-City Rock-n-Bowl on March 6 to celebrate their new CD as well as their 15th year together.
Kaldi’s Coffeehouse (941 Decatur St.) is seeking local poets to feature during their Alternative Happy Hour which is held every Friday beginning at 8 p.m. Over the last two months, Kaldi’s has featured Jessica Care Moore, Abiodun Oyewole and Cynthia Dewberry. Poets should call 586-9861 for more information or come to Kaldi’s before 8 p.m. on Fridays. Proceeds from the event will benefit St. Martin Manor Convalescent Home.
Tulane University’s Summer Lyric Theatre will open its 1998 season with Funny Girl on June 18, followed by South Pacific (July 9) and Meet Me in St. Louis (July 30). Auditions for all three shows will be held on Saturday, Feb. 14. Singers will begin at 9 a.m. in Dixon Annex Recital Hall and should call 865-5269 for an appointment time. Singers should bring music, a resume and a current photo. An accompanist will be provided. Auditions for dancers will begin at 2 p.m. in Dixon Hall.
Johnny Palazzotto and friends have opened Main Street Studios in Baton Rouge. The new audio/video post facility offers recording, mixing and mastering for compact disc manufacturing, radio and television programs/commercials and music videos. On the premises, you’ll find a Yamaha Grand Piano, a Hammond B-3 organ with Leslie, Lawson L-47 microphones and professional audio engineers as well as video editors, directors and producers. Palazzotto says that the studio is about halfway through recording a new Raful Neal CD which should be available by late spring. For more information call Palazzotto at (504) 383-0964 or 383-0968.
Red-hot Matchbox 20 will play the Saenger Theatre on Sunday, Feb. 15 with special guest Cool for August. Check out Zuba with All That at Tipitina’s on Jan. 31. And look for Brave Combo at the House of Blues on Feb. 4 with special guests, the Rebirth Brass Band.
The world renowned Zion Harmonizers lead by Sherman Washington will celebrate 59 years of singing gospel music on Sunday, Feb. 22 at the I.L.A. Auditorium (2700 Claiborne Avenue). The doors will open at 1 p.m. and there will be an inspirational address as well as tributes to the group beginning at 2 p.m. Several gospel groups will honor the occasion by performing for the Harmonizers including the Rocks of Harmony, New Orleans Spiritualettes, Melody Clouds and, of course, Jo “Cool” Davis. The highlight of the afternoon will be a featured performance by the Dixie Hummingbirds of Philadelphia. The Dixie Hummingbirds have been lifelong friends of the Zion Harmonizers and have been singing together equally as long. To obtain addition information or tickets to the event call (504) 785-9044 or 891-2280. A donation of $8 is requested.
The Contemporary Arts Center will present a series of funk concerts this month under the banner Show Me Your Funk: Mardi Gras Musical Festival ’98. The series kicks off on Feb. 19 and 20 with George Clinton and the P-Funk Allstars with special guests G. Love and Special Sauce (Feb. 19) and Henry Butler (Jan. 20). The funk continues on Feb. 21 with Maceo Parker and Galactic, continues on Feb. 22 with co-headliners De La Soul and The Roots with Coolbone, and concludes on Feb. 23 with Reverend Horton Heat. All shows will be held at the CAC beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are available at Tickermaster, the CAC box-office, Mushroom Records and the Louisiana Music Factory.
For the past two years, New Orleans composer/saxophonist Donald Harrison, Jr., has served as Junebug Productions’ Composer in Residence. Junebug is a coalition based in Austin, Texas that works to create and present high quality artistic work that supports and encourages African-Americans in the “Black Belt South.” This season, Harrison will premiere The Haley Suite, a piece that grew out of Harrison’s relationship with the students and staff at the Oretha Castle Haley School in New Orleans. For more information on Junebug and its programs, call (504) 524-8257.
Singer/songwriter Johnny O’Neal is back from France where he attended this year’s MIDEM show in Cannes. Says O’Neal, “In France, I got a chance to talk to people in all phases of the music industry. It was certainly an eye-opening experience for me.”
Kim Carson is currently in the studio working on her next CD which she will record under her own name. Carson’s follow-up to last year’s well-received, Dirty Halo, is expected out in time for the Jazz and Heritage Festival. In the meantime, you can check out Carson opening for Jerry Jeff Walker at the House of Blues (Feb. 7) and for David Allen Coe at Tipitina’s (Feb. 14).
