Apr
30
After first getting started with Folk music and Jazz music, Festivals have long been the domain of Jam Bands. However, over the past few years there’s been an increasing tendency towards hip-hop festivals. Rock the Bells started back in 2004 as a one time – one place festival, but has expanded over the past five years to a touring festival that will land in 10 cities across the US and Canada this summer. It’s coming to the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD on Sunday, July 12th. The shows kick-off at Noon. It’s the second consecutive year that the show will hit Merriweather. This year’s festival is going to have about 30 acts on 2 stages. Tickets go on sale May 2nd at 10am. Full list of artists after the jump. (more…)
Apr
30
This will likely be my last post on this story. As I anticipated, the Baltimore City Council has pretty much given up on this controversial piece of legislation. Almost every page of the new revision of the bill, posted on the City Council’s website, looks like this. Mme. President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has insisted throughout the process that the sole purpose of this legislation was to enable small bars and restaurants to host live performance as an added value to the experience they offer their patrons, while protecting the interests of community members. That is exactly what this revision does, amending zoning laws to allow small bars and restaurants, who currently are not permitted to host any form of live entertainment, including allowing their patrons to dance, to apply to the zoning board for a conditional live entertainment license. That’s it. Ever since this bill’s introduction last summer, existing live music venues have felt that their city’s government was out to get them. Now they have every right to feel vindicated. Yep, I’m pretty much declaring victory on this one.
Oh, and The Baltimore Sun finally decided that this story is worthy of their attention.
Apr
28
It seemed like The State Theatre in Falls Church, VA was beginning to lose touch with good music, but they are getting back to the funk on Thursday, April 30th. Garaj Mahal is coming to The State Theatre to play their eclectic mix of jazz, funk and jam band music. They are stopping in town before they get deep into their summer festival tour. They’re going to be jammin’ with the Midnight Spaghetti and The Chocolate G-Strings. Show starts at 8:30pm and doors open at 7:30pm. Tickets are $15 at the door or $12 if you order here.
Apr
24
Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake delivered great news at the beginning of tonight’s Community Work Session. Apparently, existing venues will be grandfathered in, not subject to the provisions of the new bill, and newly licensed venues will not have to pay any fees. I almost left the meeting right then, since that was all I’ve been wanting to hear since this process began, and I was not sure that I had parked legally. The council has heard the complaints from club owners, musicians, and fans of the Baltimore music scene and taken them to heart. Other news is that, due to the drastic changes to the bill, the final vote will not take place next week as planned. Next Thursday’s meeting will be another hearing like the Community Work Sessions have been, but earlier and at City Hall. Then a “final” draft of the bill will go before a Planning Commission hearing on May 14, with a final vote in June. More after the jump. (more…)
Apr
23
The final community work session on the Live Entertainment Licenses legislation is occurring tonight. It will be held at the Federal Hill Preparatory School, 1040 William Street, Baltimore, MD at 6:30pm April 23rd. If you want to have your voice heard on this landmark legislation for music in the City of Baltimore, make sure you attend this work session. The vote is taking place next Thursday, April 30th at 5pm in the Baltimore City Hall. Please attend both if you can and demonstrate that the people want an equitable path to making live music thrive in Baltimore.
Apr
20
While it may have seemed like Earth Day on the National Mall this weekend, Earth (Arbor) Day is Wednesday, April 22nd. There is plenty of music going on on Wednesday (for a full listing see after the jump), but it also seems a little ironic that we would celebrate the environment by hooking up high-powered amps at big shows like the Green Apple Festival (rock concerts take an extreme amount of electricity to pull-off). Anyway, if you are in the mood for some music for Earth Day, I first suggest finding some people playing acoustic/folk/bluegrass music on a small scalle, but there also will be a great show at George Mason University with See-I playing at 1pm on campus. (more…)
Apr
17
The bill continues to evolve. The City Council has posted a new version of the bill, along with a FAQ, from the desk of the Council President. Many of the additions and changes to this draft please supporters of the Baltimore music scene. The whole council has not voted on this draft, and I hear that other council members indicated at last night’s community work group that they do not like some of the newest changes. That is a shame, because many interested parties find themselves in the unusual position of supporting Mrs. Rawlings-Blake. My thoughts follow after the jump. Almost all of my news comes from lurking on the BLAS message board, which I recommend that anyone interested in this process join. I will be attending the final community work group next Thursday, which I expect will be some event.
Part 1 Part 2 (more…)
Apr
17
Fairfax County puts on a huge festival every year at the Fairfax Government Center that it has called “Celebrate Fairfax“. Now, to me, that is an incredibly strange name, what are we celebrating about Fairfax? Anyway, it used to be called the Fairfax Fair before they tried to get all original with its name. Name aside, it is one of the best chances to catch local and national acts outside at one event in northern Virginia. This year it is Friday, June 5th – Sunday June, 7th and will be headlined by Blues Traveler (Friday, June 5th – 8pm), The Fixx (Saturday, June 6th – 3pm), The Sugarhill Gang, Tone Loc and Naughty by Nature (Saturday, June 6th – 7:30pm)and Phil Vassar (Sunday, June 7th – 3:30pm). Get your tickets now. Checkout after the jump for the complete line-up. (more…)
Apr
14
This post by guest blogger: Ron
Taking a cue from Linkin Park’s Projekt Revolution tour (Where LP teamed up with Jay-z in concert), Fall Out Boy and 50 Cent will be joining up at the Merriweather Post Pavilion on the 25th of April.
Now, I know everyone is thinking: ‘What???’, but surprisingly enough, it was 50’s idea: “He came up with the idea, and we were like, ‘Yeah. Totally. Yeah. Why not?,” according to FOB’s lead singer Patrick Stump via Billboard Magazine. (more…)
