The Scene

MusicDetour.com’s commentary on music, performances, and the DC metro area music scene

One of the main ways that artists and music fans can subvert the monopolistic radio industry is to go online for radio. Fortunately, Baltimore has a great internet radio site that is focusing on the promotion of independent music. Soul City Radio is focused on non-mainstream Hip Hop, Soul, Neo – Soul, R&B or Jazz. Station founder DeWayne Alston is trying to promote both independent artists and the idea of independent music; look in the near future for more information about the panel discussions that Alston will be hosting on his show “Soul Session”. The station is live at different times, but you can always check-out the week’s shows. The station player and schedule is after the jump: (more…)

Still looking for a way to celebrate the New Year and the new decade? There are quite a few options in the greater Washington, DC area for the music lovers. So say good-bye to Aught-Nine and ring in the new year’s by getting your ears ringing with music. A list of some of the events going on New Year’s Eve in Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland after the jump. (more…)

Every few years the stars align and Halloween falls on a Saturday – if it were up to me, I would make Halloween the last Friday or Saturday of October, but for some reason it must be October 31st. The only thing better could be Halloween on a Saturday with a Full Moon (we miss that by two days), but the weekend should be fun anyway. When Halloween falls on a weekday there is always some confusion – should you be a die-hard reveler and celebrate on Halloween? or the weekend before? or the weekend after? These questions are answered when it falls on the weekend and since it falls on a Saturday be ready to party Friday and Saturday nights. There are plenty of Halloween shows going on around Washington, DC this weekend be sure to catch them all. Check-out the schedule after the jump.

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On Friday, July 17th, John Legend will bring his band to the Merriweather Post Pavillion at 7:30pm. Legend has been touring to sell his 2008 release Revolver. While John Legend’s voice is enough of a reason to get anyone into the crowd, also know that his summer tour is part of a “green” promotion. The “Greening” tour means that the band is performing “Carbon-Neutral concerts – offsetting CO2 emissions from venue energy use, buses and trucks, flights and hotel accommodations by supporting renewable energy projects.” One of the new songs that he has recently recorded has been leaked to the public; check-out “When it Rains” here. It’s my understanding that he’s also been playing “When it Rains” along with other new songs at his live shows.

There are two festivals this weekend in the DC Area: Celebrate Fairfax and Capital Jazz Festival. Now, I’m not sure why Fairfax is worth celebrating, but this festival ends up being a good time every year. This year not only is the most populous county in VA bringing Blues Traveler to town, but their also bring in Tone Loc, Naughty by Nature and Sugar Hill Gang for some old school hip-hop jams. Across the river in MD, the Capital Jazz Festival should be good fun for all even if you aren’t a big jazz fan. Also, don’t forget about the Louisiana Swamp Romp on Sunday at Wolf Trap.

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…)

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.

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…)

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.

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.

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