ROLLIN' & ROCKIN' EVENTS FROM THE ROAD-----------BACK ISSUES: Issue 3 - Issue 2 - Issue 1
2002 POLAR PLUNGE
If it is the first Saturday in February, it must be POLAR PLUNGE time in Virginia Beach. It was a good time for all of us, whether facing a chill factor in the teens or listening to some great music in the warmth of the giant tent. A couple of thousand plungers hit the water around 2:30pm. As for me I watched and manned the camera to capture some of the special moments of the event. Before the plunge, a costume contest was held which gets better each year at this event. Kicking of this festive day were great performances by TRAVIS ALLISON BAND from Richmond and BUTTERFLY JONES, containing members of the former band DADA which still has a great sound with their new formulation. The music and some of the concessions were in the giant heated tent, which made this event pleasant for those who became chilled by the outside events and games. This event has traditionally is the first local Outdoor Event of the year with live music. Proceeds from this event are designated to support SPECIAL OLYMPICS and it appears to have been another very sucessful year.
DONNA THE BUFFALO PLEASES SELL OUT CROWD
Sunday January 27th, a sell out crowd gathered at the Lincoln Theatre in downtown Raleigh, NC for an incredible music happening as. DONNA THE BUFFALO was in town for a concert. The Lincoln Theatre is a converted movie house set up for concerts, smaller than Norfolk's Norva, but with a much friendlier atmosphere with minimal people control. This concert which continued for over 3 hours without a break was very pleasing collection of Donna The Buffalo's original music that will cause even the most sedate persons to dance or tap a foot to this high energy roots rock music with its reggae, bluegrass, celtic, cajun, zydeco, blues, jazz, influences. I saw a lot of familiar faces in the 600 plus sell out crowd who were at previous DTB performances at Merlefest over the past few yeras. DTB will not be at Merlfest 2002. It would be great to have a DTB concert in the Hampton Roads area. Once they appear here, popular demand will bring them back many times for future sell out shows like the other venues where they perform. Their performances are most suitable for venues where there are no seats as seating intereres with crowd response to the beat of the music.
CARBON LEAF ROCKS THE NORVA
February 1st, American Music Award wining band, CARBON LEAF from Richmond VA pleased a sellout crowd at the Norva. Their original rock music with a heavy celtic influence is sure to please. Having seen this band at the 1999 Central Virginia Pork Festival in Richmond on a flat bed trailer, I noted them as my favorite new band of 1999. I knew it would be a matter of time before they became recognized by the music industry. Just as with Donna The Buffalo, they performed a long set without a break. It is easy to become unaware of time passing when listening to this band. Opening the show was Richmond female acoustic rock singer REGAN who performed a 55 minute warm up set. This was a very unique event in that it is possibly be rare for CARBON LEAF will perform this long for such a reasonable price as their show will likely demand a higher price in the future. A word of thanks to 93.7 The Coast for promoting this group, who has such a high potential for success.
OPEN MIC CONTINUES AT THE BARREL
Attended the Open Mic event at the Barrel Restaurant on Tyre neck Road in Portsmouth January 30th.
It was a very good music night with a good variety of music from country to classic rock to beach music.
This Open Mic is held each Wednesday and Saturday at the Barrel, headed up by veteran musician FRED PICKERING
Performers included :
Fred Pickering vocals and acoustic guitar
Lee Boyd of Taylor Made on drums and conga's
Tony Xenakis vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, bass, hamonica, conga's
Steve Smith of Journey Back on keyboard and electric guitar
Joe Gooding of Journey Back vocals, acoustic and electric guitar
John Nelms of Flatland Band vocals and acoustic guitar
Eric Hansen on Bass
Jimmy Blick vocals and electric guitar
Johnny Bland vocals and acoustic guitar
MORE MEONA RECOGNITION ANNOUNCMENTS
VERIZON WIRELESS AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2001
MEONA PEOPLE'S CHOICE FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
AMERICANA ARTIST OF THE YEAR - Vaughn Deel -
UNIQUE GROUP - BELEZA -
STATE FAIR - OHIO STATE FAIR - Columbus OH
PERIODIC OUTDOOR VENUE - 7 th STREET STAGE Virginia Beach VA
TOP SIX LOCAL PARTY BANDS
HOTCAKES -
CALYPSONUTS -
JANITORS -
CHILLBILLY BAND -
SLAPWATER -
MOANING LISAS -
More announcements to Follow later
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* Tickets for events for The 6th Annual Virginia Arts Festival
conducted at various venues throughout the local area
from April 18th through May 12th are on sale now.
This festival includes Theatre, Dance, Chamber, Classical, Jazz, Rock, Bluegrass Music plus much more.
Festival Infomation is available at (757) 282 - 2800 or at
website http://www.virginiaartsfest.com
* Tickets are on sale for February 22, 2002, Wine By Design event at the CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER in Virginia Beach VA
LICIOUS and
DALE MENDENHALL
are the featured music at the event
Obtain tickets by contacting
the Contemporary Art Center
* Tickets are on sale for April 2, 2002, SANTANA
concert at the HAMPTON COLISEUM, Hampton, VA
at the box office or at all Ticketmaster locations.
Steve
02/11/02