19 Jan 2012

EMMA'S REVOLUTION ~ CD RELEASE CONCERT in Cedar Rapids, IA on 2/12/12

By Rick Martin
emma's revolution will be performing a CD release concert on Sunday February 12, 2012 at 7pm at the Legion Arts, 1103 Third Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401.Tickets are $12 in advance and $16 at the door. Advance tickets are available at Legion Arts or (319) 364-1580. For more information, email info@legionarts.org. The concert is suitable for all ages.

CD release concert for emma's revolution's latest recording, "Revolutions Per Minute". With RPM, emma's revolution creates an electrifying soundscape ?of their characteristically "rousing and soulful" songs of social conscience, in settings from intimate acoustic to full-on funk.

 

emma's revolution contact: Sue Pate, (207) 272-9899, sue.emmasrevolution@gmail.com

 

ABOUT EMMA'S REVOLUTION

Smart, funny, informative -- like Rachel Maddow and Jon Stewart with guitars. emma's revolution is the, award-winning, activist musicians Pat Humphries & Sandy O. With hauntingly beautiful harmonies and powerful acoustic instrumentals that deliver the energy and strength of their convictions, emma's revolution creates new standards in the art and culture of social justice.

DOANE PERRY (drummer for Jethro Tull and?emma's revolution cds "roots, rock & revolution" & "RPM"): "I consider myself very fortunate to have had the great pleasure and ?honor of working with Pat and Sandy over the last few years. Their music is natural ?and organic and their innate artistic sensibility has the power to communicate ?with intelligence, wit, grace, subtlety and humor."

Their songs have been sung for the Dalai Lama, praised by Pete Seeger and recorded by Holly Near. "Peace, Salaam, Shalom" is sung around the world and has been called the anthem of the anti-war movement. "If I Give Your Name" won Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the band's music has been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered" and Pacifica's "Democracy Now!"

RICH WARREN, Folk DJ (Midnight Special and Folk Stage): "...dynamic performance with a social conscience, they continue proving that great topical and protest music is very much alive."

In the spirit of Emma Goldman's famous attribution, "If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution," emma's revolution brings their uprising of truth, hope, groove and humor to concert halls and peace & justice events environmental, labor, human rights, LGBT and women's rights events. Touring over 200 days a year, emma's revolution has performed at thousands of events throughout the US and abroad in Chile, Korea, Scotland, England, Israel/Palestine, Nicaragua and Cuba. emma's revolution consistently delivers performances that are an uprising of hope and harmony so powerful audiences leap to their feet.

JOETTA, FAN: "Y'all put the 'move' in movement."

emma's revolution has performed by invitation at the First Inaugural Peace Ball, World Culture Open in Seoul Korea, the Scottish Parliament's Festival of Politics, Vancouver Folk Music Festival, School of America's Watch Annual Vigils, Camp for Climate Action in Leeds England, UN World Environment Day, Rallies in Madison WI, Occupy DC as well as conferences, festivals, coffeehouses, schools/universities, churches, benefits and rallies around the world.

JACOB DEAN, ASSOC. PRODUCER, THE THOM HARTMANN SHOW: "I love the grass roots, organic message that emma's revolution delivers with each new album. It's truly a must listen for any activist today! You'll become an instant fan just like I did."

Listen to full song tracks at http://www.reverbnation.com/emmasrevolution and see more performance highlights, quotes, and press at http://emmasrevolution.com/promo/highlights/.

Official Website: http://emmasrevolution.com/

Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/emmasrevolution

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/emmasrevolution

 

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18 Jan 2012

Valentine's Day Gala Presents an Evening of Romantic Elegance

By Rick Martin
IA/IL QUAD-CITIES - In honor of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra's Día del Amor/Valentine's Day concert, a Valentine's Day Gala will be held in the Hotel Blackhawk in downtown Davenport. According to Jared Johnson, Marketing Director for the Symphony, the event will provide a full slate of romantic entertainment for Quad-Citians looking to celebrate Valentine's Day in style.
The Valentine's Day Gala will be held 5 p.m., Saturday, February 11, at the Hotel Blackhawk, 200 E. 3rd St., Davenport, Iowa. Black tie is optional.
"The evening will begin at 5 p.m. in the hotel's Gold Room," Johnson said. "Guests can enjoy hosted beer and wine, delicious appetizers, and the opening of the silent auction." Silent auction items will include an all-expense-paid Mexican vacation, an authentic Italian dinner for 10 prepared by Quad City Symphony Orchestra Music Director Mark Russell Smith, and a $5,000 diamond pendant, courtesy of Holland Jewelers.
At 6 p.m., Johnson noted, guests will enjoy a Latin-infused gourmet dinner, accompanied by live music. "At 7:30 p.m., the festivities move to the nearby Adler Theatre for the Valentine's Day Concert," he said. "The Quad City Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor Alondra de la Parra will perform romantic favorites, including Scheherezade, Boléro, and the Concierto de Aranjuez with renowned guitarist Robert Belinic."
After the concert, guests can return to the Hotel Blackhawk to continue the celebration, Johnson added. "The Candymakers will be on hand with their lively dance music," he said, "and guests can partake of delectable desserts as the silent auction continues."
Johnson also noted that the evening will feature an elegant, icy tequila luge to delight partygoers. "The tequila luge will be just one of many surprises that the night will hold," Johnson said. "The gala, in conjunction with the concert, is sure to be the definitive Valentine's Day event of the year for the Quad-Cities."

To take part in this elegant evening of music and romance, call the Quad City Symphony Orchestra Box Office at (563) 322-QCSO (7276) or visit www.qcsymphony.com.

-- End --
18 Jan 2012

Love Hits a High Note for Quad City Symphony Orchestra Members

By Mark McLaughlin

 IA/IL QUAD-CITIES - The Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) will perform a special Valentine's Day concert on February 11 and 12 - but for several couples who are members of the QCSO, love is an everyday duet.

Ron Morton, tuba player, and his wife Denise, oboe player, enjoy making beautiful music both at home and in the orchestral ranks of the QCSO. Ron is in his 31st season with the QCSO, while Denise is in her 17th season.
David Greenhoe, principal trumpeter with the Symphony since 1979, and Marie Lindmark, a violinist and singer who recently served as President of Volunteers for Symphony, also enjoy a musical relationship, which has grown even stronger as they've entered their 60s.
The Quad City Symphony Orchestra's Día del Amor/Valentine's Day concert will be held at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, February 11, at the Adler Theatre, 136 E. 3rd St., Davenport, Iowa, and again at 2 p.m., Sunday, February 12, at Centennial Hall, 3703 7th Ave., Rock Island, Illinois.
It's a Family Affair

Ron Morton has a Music Ed degree and Masters in tuba performance from the University of Iowa. He is also a music teacher with the Moline School District No. 40. Denise holds a Bachelors degree in piano performance from the University of Iowa and plays in a woodwind quintet, doing school outreach tours for the QCSO.
"We met in the Hawkeye Marching Band while in college," Ron said. "Denise played tenor sax in the marching band. We've been married 31 years this July. We have many shared memories of amazing performances and rehearsal gaffes which make our shared love of music more rewarding."
"Our oldest son, Zack, on occasion is asked to sub with the Symphony. He plays bass trombone, so he sits right next to Ron in the orchestra," Denise said. "They haven't gotten in trouble yet! It's very gratifying to be able to share such rewarding experiences with our son. All of our four children have taken part in the Holiday Children's Pops chorus. One year, three of them sang, so nearly the whole family was on stage together."
It Just Keeps Getting Better

David Greenhoe and Marie Lindmark agree: Being in love in the 60-something age range is unbelievably romantic. "Music fills our lives, both figuratively and literally," David said.
They first met in April 2003, on the Adler Theatre stage, during a dress rehearsal break of the oratorio, Belshazzar's Feast. According to David, he was seated in the orchestra and Marie was singing. Marie said to David, "It's amazing standing behind you, listening to you play!" He replied, "Well, it's amazing sitting in front of you, listening to you sing!"
David noted, "Former Symphony Music Director Don Schleicher takes full responsibility for our blossoming relationship, since he had programmed Belshazzar's Feast."
Their relationship grew as they met and talked during the 2003 Riverfront Pops Concert and Masterworks performance. Their first date took place in October 2003 at Jumer's Castle Lodge. They enjoyed beef stroganoff and wine, and later, their first kiss. "She told me she would love me for the rest of our lives," David said.
They now celebrate their anniversary every month, so that the numbers will catch up with the anniversary numbers of their friends. "On Valentines Day, we will celebrate 44-1/2 months of marriage," Marie said.
"The music continues to swell!" David said.
A Romantic Repertoire

The Día del Amor/Valentine's Day concert will feature Guest Conductor Alondra de la Parra and renowned guitarist Robert Belinic. Romantic orchestral works to be presented at the concert will include :
  • Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: A symphonic suite composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov in the days of Imperial Russia, Scheherazade is based on One Thousand and One Nights, also known as The Arabian Nights. This compelling classic combines thrilling orchestration with exotic legends of the East.
  • Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo: Joaquín Rodrigo, one of the finest Spanish composers of the twentieth century, wrote the Concierto de Aranjuez for classical guitar and orchestra. This beautiful composition was inspired by the gardens at Palacio Real de Aranjuez, the residence of the King of Spain.Boléro by Maurice Ravel: Boléro, a one-movement orchestral piece by Maurice Ravel, was originally composed as a ballet, commissioned by ballerina Ida Rubinstein. The piece is Ravel's most famous composition. An excerpt of Boléro is featured in the 1980 movie 10, and that romantic musical interlude significantly increased sales of recordings of the work.

For tickets, call the Quad City Symphony Orchestra Box Office at (563) 322-QCSO (7276) or visit www.qcsymphony.com.
-- End --
18 Jan 2012

WinterJam in Des Moines this Friday

By New Anthem

18 Jan 2012

DJ POWER RELEASES "FLY SO HIGH" SINGLE WITH MACHEL MONTANO & KARDINAL OFFISHALL

By DJ Power

Jan 14th 2012, Ny, Ny. Award winning Dj Power "The Soul Controller" has enlisted Soca superstar Machel Montano and Kardinal Offishall for his new single titled "Fly So High" on the Starline Music label. Released earlier this week, this infectious Electro/House/Pop/Soca fusion style dubbed "Solectro" by Power is already making waves with its rhythmic melody and percussion, Machel's uplifting, captivating chorus and a fire spitting verse from Kardinal Offishall. The track versions can be heard here:

FLY SO HIGH (Radio edit)

FLY SO HIGH (House Mix)

"Fly So High" was written by Machel Montano, Peter "Wildfire" Noel and Kardinal Offishall and produced by Power with duo Badnuz & Pops who's production credits include recent collaborations with famed Drake producer Boi-1da. Expect more from this trio as they have been busy crafting more tracks for Dj Power's upcoming album which besides "Fly So High" will also feature many collaborations with artists including Kalenna Harper (Diddy Dirty Money) and the track "Makeup" with Vybz Kartel recorded just days before his current incarceration. "Fly So High" will also be featured on Machel Montano's upcoming album to be released later this year. "Machel's an amazing songwriter, singer and performer and we wanted to bring this sound to the world, Kardi's verse is icing on the cake and only adds more power to this monster track", states Power.The track is available on Itunes, Beatport, Dj Tunes and Juno.

BUY TRACK HERE

Dj Power became famous for his Soul Controllers mashup mixtape compilations and remixes fusing Reggae/dancehall and Soca music with Hip Hop, House and Electro earning him a coveted Justo's mixtape award. His remixes and compilations have been featured in such publications as the Ny Times and played by dj's around the world including his work on Mims "Why I'm Hot" remix featuring Baby Cham and Junior Reid and his remix to world cup anthem Knaan's "Waving Flag.

LISTEN AND DOWNLOAD A RECENT DJ POWER LIVE SET HERE

16 Jan 2012

Taking Flight at the Figge art Museum

By Jared Johnson

What could be better on a cold mid-winter night than a heart-warming evening of music and art at the Figge? The Quad City Symphony Orchestra is proud to present the Lyrebird Ensemble in conjunction with the "Fins and Feathers" exhibit at the Figge Art Museum. The Lyrebird Ensemble is a collaboration between QCSO Flute Ellen Huntington and QCSO Principal Harp Lillian Lau. Come to hear the gorgeous combination of sounds in a program of rarely-performed works ranging from charming to virtuosic. This second concert of the Signature Series is in the Figge Art Museum at 8 PM on Saturday, January 21, at 8 PM.

The Lyrebird Ensemble, based in Chicago, was formed in 2006 when flutist Ellen Huntington and harpist Lillian Lau began collaborating as members of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. They are dedicated to performing lesser known repertoire written specifically for flute and harp from the late eighteenth century to the present day. Their debut recording, "Taking Flight," introduces a unique program of virtuosic compositions from the modern era.

The Lyrebird Ensemble will be performing for the opening of the "Fins and Feathers: Children's Book Illustrations from the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art," a temporary exhibit at the Figge Art Museum that showcases original children's book illustrations from the late 1960s through today. Included are works by Leo Lionni (Fish is Fish), Petra Mathers (Lottie's New Beach Towel), and Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar). The performance will be in the midst of the exhibit and attendees are invited to browse the art before the show and during intermission. "Fins and Feathers" runs through April 22, 2012.

Tickets for this concert can be purchased at www.QCSymphony.com, 800.745.3000, and all Ticketmaster outlets. Dinner reservations should be made directly through the Outing Club at 563.324.5284.

13 Jan 2012

Red Cedar Chamber Music Performs at Brucemore

By Tara Richards

Red Cedar Chamber Music and Brucemore are partnering for Home Sweet Home, a nostalgic evening of music in the warmth of Brucemore's Great Hall on February 24 and 25 at 8:00 p.m. The intimate wintertime concert features poignant Stephen Foster melodies, 19th-century American popular music, and light classics from the salons of Europe, including arias from Mozart's opera The Magic Flute. Red Cedar Chamber Music's flutist Jan Boland and guitarist John Dowdall will be joined by Lisa Ponton, Principal Viola of Orchestra Iowa and violist of the Orchestra Iowa String Quartet. A champagne and dessert reception will be held during intermission. Tickets are $35 per person or $30 per Brucemore member. Space is limited; please call (319) 362-7375 to purchase tickets.

The Home Sweet Home concert provides a natural partnership between two local cultural organizations?nineteenth-century chamber music in a nineteenth century parlor. As artists in residence at Brucemore in 1983, Jan Boland and John Dowdall began performing nineteenth century music on period instruments?an 1830 wooden flute and an 1830 gut-strung guitar. Currently celebrating its fifteenth season, Red Cedar Chamber Music continually strives to reach, challenge, and expand audiences that rarely have the opportunity to attend chamber music performances. Red Cedar Chamber musicians inform and entertain audiences, engaging them with lively commentary about the music, composers, and instruments. Their first recording, Czech Chamber Music, received a Critics' Choice award from the American Record Guide, which stated, "Chamber music should be just like this?intimate, bonding, and conversational." The artists will be performing Serenade, Op. 26 by Wenceslaus Matiegka from Czech Chamber Music for the first time since it was released by Fleur de Son Classics in 1998. Red Cedar Chamber Music returned home to Brucemore in 2009 and 2011. For more information about Red Cedar Chamber Music or other Home Sweet Home performances visit www.redcedar.org or call (319) 377-8028.

Brucemore, Iowa's only National Trust Historic Site, is located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The 26-acre park-like estate in the heart of Cedar Rapids boasts a Queen Anne style mansion built between 1884 and 1886. Brucemore has been home to three prominent families who used the estate as a center for culture and the arts. The estate continues to be a hub for cultural, philanthropic, and educational activities. Each year thousands of visitors attend specialty tours, concerts, fine arts performances, children's programs, holiday celebrations, preservation events, and garden workshops on the estate. For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

 

###

11 Jan 2012

Stephen Swanson, Baritone, in recital Jan 29, 4pm at Congregational Church, Iowa City

By Ethel Bloesch

SUNDAYS AT FOUR PRESENTS

A RECITAL BY STEPHEN SWANSON, BARITONE

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2012, 4PM

CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

30 N. CLINTON STREET, IOWA CITY IA 52245

IOWA CITY - SUNDAYS AT FOUR, a free community arts series, will present a recital by Stephen Swanson, baritone, with Casey Rafn, piano, on January 29 at 4pm, at the Congregational United Church of Christ, 30 N. Clinton Street in Iowa City.

The program is a recreation of the concert that Swanson, a University of Iowa voice professor, sang as his senior recital 45 years ago.  It includes a wide range of arias and songs from the Baroque era to the 20th century.  Swanson joined the UI faculty in 1994 after an extensive operatic career in Europe.

For more information on the SUNDAYS AT FOUR series, call 319-337-4301 or visit the church's website at www.uccic.org.  The Congregational United Church of Christ is located at 30 N. Clinton Street, across from the University of Iowa Pentacrest.
10 Jan 2012

Celebrate Valentine's Day with Romantic Quad City Symphony Orchestra Events

By Rick Martin
Quad City Symphony Orchestra Event:
Día del Amor/Valentine's Day

A Concert in the Masterworks Series

7:30 p.m., Saturday, February 11, 2012
Adler Theatre
136 E. 3rd St.
Davenport, IA 52801
2 p.m., Sunday, February 12, 2012
Centennial Hall
3703 7th Ave.
Rock Island, IL 61201
Join Guest Conductor Alondra de la Parra and renowned guitarist Robert Belinic for a dazzling, romantic array of orchestral works, including:
Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov:
A symphonic suite composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov in the days of Imperial Russia, Scheherazade is based on One Thousand and One Nights, also known as The Arabian Nights. This compelling classic combines thrilling orchestration with exotic legends of the East.
Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo:
Joaquín Rodrigo, one of the finest Spanish composers of the twentieth century, wrote the Concierto de Aranjuez for classical guitar and orchestra. This beautiful composition was inspired by the gardens at Palacio Real de Aranjuez, the residence of the King of Spain.
Boléro by Maurice Ravel:
Boléro, a one-movement orchestral piece by Maurice Ravel, was originally composed as a ballet, commissioned by ballerina Ida Rubinstein. The piece is Ravel's most famous composition. An excerpt of Boléro is featured in the 1980 movie 10, and that romantic musical interlude significantly increased sales of recordings of the work.

For tickets, call the Quad City Symphony Orchestra Box Office at 563-322-QCSO (7276) or visit www.qcsymphony.com .
Quad City Symphony Orchestra Event:
Valentine's Day Gala
5 p.m., Saturday, February 11, 2012
Hotel Blackhawk
200 E. 3rd St.
Davenport, IA 52801
Black tie optional
In honor of the Día del Amor/Valentine's Day concert, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra will host a Valentine's Day Gala in the beautiful Hotel Blackhawk in downtown Davenport.

The evening begins at 5 p.m. In the luxurious Gold Room, you can enjoy hosted beer and wine, delicious appetizers, and the opening of the silent auction. At 6 p.m., you will be treated to a Latin-infused gourmet dinner accompanied by live flute and harp.
At 7:30 p.m., stroll to the nearby Adler Theatre for the Día del Amor/Valentine's Day Concert. Listen and enjoy as the Quad City Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor Alondra de la Parra perform romantic favorites, including Scheherezade, Boléro, and the Concierto de Aranjuez with renowned guitarist Robert Belinic.
At 9 p.m., dance the night away to the sweet music of the Candymakers. You can also partake of delectable desserts, and celebrate the conclusion of the silent auction.
Silent auction items include an all-expense-paid Mexican vacation, an authentic Italian dinner for 10 prepared by Quad City Symphony Orchestra Music Director Mark Russell Smith, and a $5,000 diamond pendant, courtesy of Holland Jewelers.

To take part in this elegant evening of music and romance, call the Quad City Symphony Orchestra Box Office at 563-322-QCSO (7276) or visit www.qcsymphony.com.
-- End --
10 Jan 2012

Tate Music Group Artist The Westbrook Singers Performance

By Laurie Tomlinson
Tate Music Group Artist The Westbrook Singers Performance

WHEN: 1-14-12

TIME: 6 p.m.

WHERE: Augustana College, 639 38th St., Rock Island, IL

WHAT: The Westbrook Singers will be performing songs from their album, The Westbrook Singers LIVE.

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