Liminal: Alternative Spaces opening, the Shadowbox VHS Night, Flannel Gurl Records and Sewn Together Records join forces for show!!!

Starting the weekend on Friday (9/2) is the opening of new alternative art space, Liminal. Located at the Community High School space downtown this new spot will host their opening reception as part of the Art by Night series. This first exhibition will feature the works of artist Ingrid Moldenhauer Chase. The exhibit will run from its opening on the second til October 7. Come out to support Ingrid and the great space showcasing her work! Opening reception starts at 5:30pm on Friday the 2nd.

Also on Friday night the Shadowbox on Kirk Ave begins a new series of their own: VHS Night. What did they select for their first film? Well, a film that’s very suiting considering its not available on DVD yet! The Shadowbox proudly presents 1986 teen hit, RAD! The story of a kid and his BMX bike going against the odds and against the corporate world of bicycle racing. Does he have what it takes to beat star racer Bart “the Man” at Hell Track? Find out all this and more while basking in the glory of 80’s BMX fashion. Starting at 8pm!

On Tuesday (9/6) Blacksburg-based Flannel Gurl Records join forces with Roanoke label Sewn Together Records to present a show in Christiansburg! D.C./Sweden’s the Cassettes will bring their own blend of folk rock to the area in support of their newest release on Flannel Gurl. Supporting them on the show will be Sewn Together Records/ Magic Twig Community outfit, the Missionaries. Former Ike As In Dwight (Sewn Together Records) member Maya Renfro will also play on the bill performing solo and Blacksburg singer/songwriter Laura Reitzel will open the show. Taking place at Lucie Monroe’s Coffee on Roanoke Ave in Christiansburg! Come by the merch table and pick up the Cassette’s newest release and a free Sewn Together Records sampler! Show starts at 7:30 and costs just $5!

On Thursday (1/27) the Blue Nile in Harrisonburg will play host to what looks to be a very exciting show. Harrisonburg/Norfolk-based Super Vacations will headline the show while Roanoke’s own Eternal Summers and Charlottesville’s Order. If you are in the area and can make it out I high suggest going. Order has been around for quite a while (2001 or so) and is amazing to see live. This show starts at 9pm.

 

Flannel Gurl Records will be having its last Flannel Friday show this Friday (1/28) at the unusual starting time of 5:15pm. The reason for the start time being so early is there are a lot of bands playing together on one bill. Eight bands on one bill to be exact. A couple of notables playing are Georgia’s the Emotron, Florida’s imadethismistake and Harrisonburg’s Buck Gooter. Why is this the final Flannel Friday? Rumor has it that Flannel Gurl Records is going to focus towards more label related functions. Come out to a last hurrah of sorts this Friday in Blacksburg at Jax on 130 Jackson St., $6.

 

On Saturday (1/29) the Bazaar on Brandon Rd. will host Roanoke’s Amanda Bocchi & the Body Parts. Also playing will be Blacksburg-based Nash Smith & the Ganges who will be opening the show. Personally, I am very excited to check out this new group from Blacksburg. I listened to their recordings a really dug it. A good mix of Portishead and Beach House. This show will start at 9pm, $5. Get there on time!!!

 

Running from now until February 27th at the Roanoke Natural Foods Co-Op is Stephen Cort Smith’s “the Dream Comparison”. This is a display of selected works created in MS Paint, the unusual medium Smith has become known for. All prints are for sale ranging from $10-$15. Above is Smith standing next to his piece entitled “Let’s Cuddle”.

 

On Monday (1/31) the Shadowbox on Kirk Ave. is showing 80’s cult classic comedy, the Heathers! Come watch Winona & Christian kill for revenge and romance. Witness the famous dead gay son scene. Experience the trauma a high school goes through when struck by a mass “suicide”. This film starts at 8pm.

 

I’d like to end this post with two really awesome articles on one of the best venues in Roanoke, Bazaar Consignments. Jamie Booker’s consignment shop has come a long way in its year and a half of operation. Its hosted a slew of shows proving you can have great bands play, people turn out and not charge an arm and a leg at the door. Other music oriented venues have taken notice of the success of this basement consignment shop with Kirk Avenue Music Hall being one of these. In fact, Kirk Avenue has teamed up with the Bazaar to bring a monthly showcase to Kirk’s doors called “The Bazaar Presents…”. This showcase will follow the Bazaar’s tradition of only cost $5 as opposed to Kirk’s more pricier admission fees. On March 25th the first show of this series will take place featuring Magic Twig Community bands the Young Sinclairs & the Sad Cobras. Jamie has had two articles on her shop come out this week. Read the article in the Roanoke Times’ Sunday extra section HERE! Also check out this article on the Bazaar by Blue Ridge Traditions HERE! Congrats to the Bazaar!

 

 

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall…

Send off the warm weather and sunshine in this last full week of Summer the right way, by getting out and seeing some awesome shows, films and plays!

Starting out the week is a new event taking place twice a month at Studio Roanoke. The Guerrilla Playhouse will feature one-act plays and bands following with a set of their own. Music meets the dramatic arts on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month at 8pm. This Sunday (9/12) will feature a  one-act play written and directed by Don LaPlant entitled “Family Programming”. Performing the event will be Nancy & 2 Meteors. Starting at 8pm the event will cost only $5!

Continuing the week on to Monday is the Shadowbox’s showing of “Pari”. Iranian filmmaker, Dariush Mehrjuei gives us his adaption of the J.D. Salinger novel Franny & Zooey. The film is based around three brothers and one sister confronting the issues of art and religion in contemporary Iran. This is an interesting and rare opportunity for fans of the late Salinger to see this film adaptation of his beloved novel. The film starts at 8pm on Monday.

On Thursday & Friday Blacksburg based indie label, Flannel Gurl Records present a two day mini festival. Both days will take place at Blackburg’s newest music venue, Jax on Jackson Street. Below is a list of artists playing and their respective days…

Thursday, Sept 17th starting at 6:30pm

Buck Gooter
Nancy & 2 Meteors
Littlefoot
Illbotz
Deral Fenderson
Electro-Stephen
woofdog

Friday, Sept. 18th starting at 5:45

The Reasons Were Legion
Hey Dude!
Bear Attack
Grapes
Cryptorchid Chipmunk
the Blind Photographers
Bay of Pigs

Be sure to make it down for at least one of these days, it should be a blast!

Also on Friday local Roanoke nu-grass group, Grass Monkey will be recording a live album at Blue 5 downtown. The group invites you all to come out to drink, holler and shout. Who knows maybe you might just hear yourself out their in the crowd somewhere when you pick up the CD. This drunken evening starts at 9pm, bring a DD.

Add just one more event to your Friday (9/18) in this last weekend of Summer by heading over to the Bazaar for a night of folk and stories. Magic Twig Community folk orchestra the Missionaries will be sharing a set with Missionaries member Jamie Booker’s long overdue folk project, Strange Birds. All 10 of the Missionaries will be playing to both their own tunes and the songs of Strange Birds. Opening will be ever so amazing Another Roadside Attraction. Come early to catch them in all their singing saw, ukulele, guitarron, beautiful harmonies, and kazoo glory! A great way to end the summer! Starting at 9pm on Friday this show is only $3!!!

Ending our post about the demise of Summer is something a bit cliche, a post about Eternal Summers! The Magic Twig Community duo releases their first full-length entitled “Silver” via Kanine Records on September 28th and have big plans for this month. During the last week of September Eternal Summers will spend a week on the road with Jenny & Johnny, a project headed by Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley and Jonathan Rice. Both two-somes will be touring the South together all the way to Texas. Wish them luck by heading out to Floyd, VA this Thursday (9/16) to catch the Summers opening for Stephaniesid down at the Sun Music Hall/ Dogtown Roadhouse. The show starts at 7pm.