Jax, the Shadowbox, Guerrilla Playhouse and more!

We hope everyone had a fun and safe Independence Day! Here’s a few of the things going on this week starting with our Top 3….

On Friday (7/8) Blacksburg label/ promotion company Flannel Gurl Records hosts a great (and rather long) line-up at Jax. Two of the names on the bill (the Emotron & the Bastards of Fate) should be worth for going alone! Combine those two with the weirdo-folk of Andy the Doorbum, Rotting Obscene’s own blend of death metal along with more weirdo-folk from Deral Fenderson and this looks to be as eclectic of a show as it is entertaining. Come out to Jax in Blacksburg and check out this show starting at 8pm, running til midnight. $5 for five bands.

On Saturday (7/9) Roanoke microcinema the Shadowbox throws its second sweded film fest. This go around the theme is the great decade of the 80’s! To “swede” a film is to make a really low-budget under ten minute version of an entire movie. This idea was taken from the Michel Gondry film “Be Kind Rewind”. So come out to the Shadowbox on Saturday to check out some hilarious footage and maybe see a friend or two on the screen as well! This starts at 8pm, $5.

On Sunday (7/10) Studio Roanoke’s Guerrilla Playhouse hosts a short play followed by a folk show. “Kong: A Goddamn 30Ft Gorilla” is a play by local Adam Hahn. I haven’t heard much about this play but I can tell you because of the title and poster alone, I’m going. What I do know more about is who’s playing after Hahn’s play. Local folk acts the Delta Function will be playing with fellow Roanokers and friends the John Barry Conception and the Polfelt Three. The play starts at 7pm with the show following at 8pm. $5 gets you in to both shows.

Here’s some other great things happening this week…

7/7 – the Shadowbox Etiquette Night @ the Shadowbox. Kirk Ave., Roanoke. 8pm, $5.
7/7 – Savannah Shoulders w/ Nate Currin @ the Bazaar. Brandon Ave., Roanoke. 8pm, $5.
7/7 – Rivermont Rave w/ Feral Youth @ Rivermont Pizza. Rivermont Ave., Lynchburg. 11pm.
7/8 – Watershed Conspiracy @ Schooners. Williamson Rd., Roanoke. 6pm.
7/8 – Uncle Mountain @ Sun Music Hall. S. Locust St., Floyd. 8pm.

While checking out this post you should also check out the new facebook page for an upcoming free print ‘zine called Local Heroes. Local Heroes will cover music events happening around town with a focus on monthly articles about “local heroes” in our city. Check it out and “like” it on facebook HERE!!! Do it now or the local terrorists win.

Music post: Early September Shows!

Tonight (Wednesday) the Bazaar is holding a midweek show not to be missed! Maya Renfro of Ike As In Dwight will be playing a solo set of original songs. Also playing will be Philly band, Arrah & The Ferns. This show is a must see for Ike As In Dwight fans! The show starts at 8pm and is $5 at the door.

Thursday (9/9) Athens, Georgia’s own The Visitations will be playing neighboring Lynchburg, Va. Davey will be playing Rivermont Pizaa with Telethon. This show starts at 8pm so go see The Visitations, have some great wood fire oven pizza and drink a bourbon stout on tap from Rivermont Pizza!

Thursday (9/9) night two forces collide in a sea of sweat and beats! Come to the Mystic Fortress to see SHAMS & Joneski with special guests! SHAMS is a New York based project fronted by former Roanoker, Jonathan Coward. Joneski is a hip hop project of the Young Sinclairs’ Samuel Jones Lunsford. This show starts at 9pm and is donation based, I know money is tight but so are Joneski’s beats!

Friday (9/10) the Young Sinclairs will be heading to Charlottesville, VA to play with Swedish band, Dungen! This show will take place at the Jefferson Theater and is sponsored by Star Hill Brewing Co. and WTJU. Dungen is fresh off their tour with Fleet Foxes and continuing their U.S. tour in support of their Mexican Summer release due out this fall. Also playing will be fellow Mexican Summer band, No Joy. Doors will open at 8pm so be sure to come out and support the Sinclairs at one of Charlottesville’s most historic theaters! Tickets are available HERE!

August Round Up!

Hello everyone! Rounding up this last full week in August is a MASSIVE amount of events to keep you busy until September putting away your “there’s nothing to do here” blues.

Starting this busy week will be an event hosted  by the Roanoke Main Library downtown. River Laker will present Comic Strip to Graphic Novel; Will Eisner’s Painful Journey. The event will consist of a panel discussion based around comic art and its move from the funny papers to full on volumes of graphic novels. The panel will put a special focus on the work of Will Eisner, beloved creator of The Spirit comics. The panel will consist of host and local Eisner biographer Paul E. Fitzgerald, Roanoke Times reporter/ former blogger Mason Adams and B&D Comics owner Terry Baucum. This event will take place Tuesday, August 24th on the Howery Mezzanine at 6:30pm. It is free to the public and light refreshments will be provided.

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Continuing on to Wednesday the Shadowbox presents French film classic from 1966 “Umbrellas of Cherbourg”. The film stars Catherine Deneuve and Nino Castelnuovo with direction by Jacques Demy (“Lola”, “the Seven Deadly Sins”) . This film starts at 8pm.

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Friday (August 27th) the Shadowbox continues to show their love for great cinema by presenting one of Charlie Chaplin’s last silent films. “City Lights” stars Chaplin in arguably his most famous role, the “Little Tramp”. Come out and witness this masterpiece from 1931. The film starts at 8pm.

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Also on Friday the Magic Twig Community’s the Young Sinclairs will be hosting a show in their own studio with Lynchburg friends, Steal the Prize. The show will take place around 9pm at the MTC’s Mystic Fortress on Cleveland. This show/ gathering is donation based so come out and help Steal the Prize put some gas in their tank! For those of you who can’t make it on Friday the Sinclairs will be joining Steal the Prize in Lynchburg on Saturday. The two groups will be performing at Rivermont Pizza around 7pm.

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Saturday join the Shadowbox in celebrating one of the greatest cult classics of all time. “Caddyshack” (starring Chevy Chase, Bill Murray and Rodney Dangerfield) has been a movie quoter’s favorite for a couple of decades now. Come out early to play 9 hole putt putt and don’t forget to dress up in your best golfing attire! Best outfit gets a prize! The evening starts at 7pm.

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This Sunday Dickie and the gang will be throwing the last show at Happy’s Flea Market. Fear not though, Dickie has relocated his gallery to the corner of Kirk and 2nd downtown. The Happy’s show will feature the Situationist, Nancy & Two Meteors, Heevahava, Thresher and the Virgo. Show starts at 7pm, is all ages and will only cost you $5!

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Ending the month of August will be a Shadowbox showing of Japanese horror film, “Audition”. Don’t miss this startling and cleverly crafted psychological drama from one of Japan’s best shock directors, Takashi Miike. The film shows Monday the 30th at 8pm.

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Have a great rest of your month and we will see you all in September!