Pre-registration wristbands will be distributed beginning at 7 a.m. Monday until 8 a.m. Wednesday outside the Frank Erwin Center (1701 Red River) at the University of Texas at Austin. Singers who obtain wristbands must return by 5 a.m. Wednesday to line up for auditions. (Auditioners will not be permitted to camp out.)

ATTENTION:

Musicians/Singers/Songwriters/Film Makers/Actors/Agents
Get noticed by having a listing in the Music/Film Issue coming in September for only $50!

The magazine will posted here and your link to your website will be accessible to thousands.

Deadline: August 20

Contact Renee Judkins at austinwideopen@aol.com or call 512-269-6865.

Jeff Lofton’s 1950s Miles Davis Tribute
at NYC’s Iridium Jazz Club

New York – After recent success in Austin, “Jeff Lofton’s 1950s Miles Davis Tribute” makes its New York debut Saturday, August 21, at 12:00 midnight, at the Iridium Jazz Club, 1650 Broadway. Tickets are $20.00. Lofton, an Austin-based jazz trumpeter, composer and bandleader, presented the show at One World Theatre in March, with media sponsor NPR-affiliate KUT 90.5 FM. The tribute features compositions and interpretations made famous by the first great Miles Davis Quintet during 1950 – 1959 and includes selections from “Kind of Blue.”

“Listen up Miles Davis fans…” from the Austin American-Statesman and “… channels Miles Davis…” from The Daily Texan were early reviews when Lofton arrived from South Carolina in 2007 as a mostly unknown to Austin’s music scene. Word-of-mouth about his new, unique sound drew jazz fans to the debut of “Jeff Lofton’s 1950s Miles Davis Tribute” at the historic Victory Grill in September 2007. Soon his shows were being described as “…crazy good and crazy crowded…” by the Austin American-Statesman. Lofton presented the tribute again at the Scat Jazz Lounge in Ft. Worth, and in collaboration with the University of Texas’ Blanton Museum’s hosting of the touring “Birth of the Cool” exhibit.

In November Lofton released his second jazz album, “Jazz to the People.” The Austin Chronicle placed “Jazz to the People” in the list of “Top 9 Austin Albums of 2009,” and chose the Jeff Lofton Quartet as the critic’s pick for best jazz band for their annual poll. The Austin NPR affiliated, KUT 90.5, chose “Jazz to the People” as one of the “Top 10 Albums of 2009: DJ Picks.” Called “… a delightfully swingin’ affair…” by the Austin Chronicle, the self-produced album is receiving airplay from San Diego to New Orleans to Harlem and abroad.

Lofton is known in Austin for taking jazz to mainstream venues usually known for hosting blues and folk, such as Antone’s, Momo’s and the Ghost Room. In 2008 Lofton performed at the fourteenth annual Jazz at St. James Festival in Austin, which featured jazz legends Curtis Fuller and David “Fathead” Newman. In 2009 the Jeff Lofton Quartet, featuring legendary jazz vocalist Donna Hightower, opened for Javon Jackson at the Jazz at St. James Festival. In June the Jeff Lofton Quartet performed at the San Antonio Arts and Jazz Festival.

Lofton was featured in the music category of the Austin American-Statesman’s 2010 Out and About 500 list. The reader-nominated list includes 15 categories of what the paper describes as people “who are everywhere, all the time, often doing good, weaving the social fabric of Austin. Five hundred social units – couples or singles …”

Lofton’s listing includes his wife, writer/publicist Dean Lofton, and says, “Austin has elaborated a long jazz history. Yet this South Carolina couple recently gave the scene a jump start with their ubiquitous presence and articulate advocacy.”

The Music category includes nationally renowned musicians such as Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks; industry producers such as Terry Lickona of the “Austin City Limits” KLRU/PBS television show; and entertainment giants such as Charles Attal and Charlie Jones of C3. Other categories include a wide-range of names known well-beyond Austin, from Dan Rather to Willie Nelson to Gov. Rick Perry.

To honor Lofton’s contribution to the local jazz scene, Austin’s mayor proclaimed January 15, 2009, as “Jeff Lofton Day” in the live music capital of the world. The Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau selected Lofton’s original, “Shana’s Song,” for the “Austin Music Vol. 8″ compilation CD, released in February 2009. The Austin American-Statesman included Lofton in the “2009 Fortunate 500: Music” list.

“Jazz to the People” includes nine original compositions and interpretations of “Georgia on My Mind”and “Crazy,” and features Alex Coke on sax, Red Young on piano, Chris Jones on bass and Masumi Jones on drums. Danielle Howle performs vocals on “Crazy.”

Lofton recorded his first jazz album, “Jazz Therapy,” in 2005, with the Jeff Lofton Quartet. The self-produced CD mixes old style be-bop with modern forms of jazz in the tradition of Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and John Coltrane. “Jazz Therapy” includes Roland Haynes on piano, Reggie Sullivan on bass and Kenneth Salters on drums.

Born in Germany to American parents, Lofton grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, where he studied music at the University of South Carolina. Playing trumpet for over thirty years, Lofton has sat in with or shared the stage with such musical talents as guitarist Jim Mings, saxophonist Rene Sandoval, Ron Westray and Wycliff Gordon of the Wynton Marsalis septet, Fred Wesley of the James Brown horn section, Fred Hampton of the Chicago A.A.C.M., and South Carolina musicians Skip Pearson, Robert Gardner, Dr. Dick Goodwin, Dr. John Enkey, Teddy Linder and many others. Since moving to Austin he has performed with Butch Miles, Dr. James Polk, Donna Hightower, Alex Coke, Red Young, Marc Devine and Tony Campise, among others.

Lofton also works as an R&B and hip-hop producer, producing such artists as Legend and The Gutsmen. As a winner of a juried competition, Lofton was included on the South Carolina Arts Commission’s Arts in Education Roster. Lofton teaches private lessons and has lead jazz clinics for high school students in Austin.

In South Carolina, the Jeff Lofton Quartet had a strong following from a long-running Friday night residency at Meritage in the Vista, as well as performances at Mac’s on Main and at the Three Rivers Music Festival. Lofton is also well known for the Jazz Therapy Jazz Quintet featuring himself and Skip Pearson performing at the club Group Therapy. Other groups Lofton has played with include Defellas (an avant guard jazz group), Deja Voodoo (a hip-hop/jazz fusion group) and Wadada (a reggae group).

2010-11 Concert Schedule

The Austin Symphonic Band announces its concert schedule for the 2010-11 season. The band has an exciting and full schedule, including a joint concert with the Austin Civic Orchestra in the Long Center. Details concerning venues, dates and times, if not currently available, will be provided in subsequent calendar alerts.

Fall 2010

Fall Concert in the Park
Sunday, October 3, 2010 — 7:00 pm
Zilker Hillside Theater
Zilker Park
Austin, Texas
Admission: Free The band performs its traditional fall concert in Zilker Park, featuring marches, show tunes and light classics that the whole family will enjoy. Bring a picnic basket, spread a blanket under the pecan trees, and watch the stars come out as the band showcases music as big as all outdoors!

2010 Indoor Concert Series

Joint Concert by Austin Civic Orchestra and Austin Symphonic Band
Sunday, November 21, 2010 — 3 p.m.
The Long Center for the Performing Arts
701 W. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Admission: $18 The Austin Civic Orchestra and the Austin Symphonic Band present a joint concert of classical music. ACO will perform pieces by Verdi, Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky. Jessica Mathaes, voilin, will be the guest soloist. ASB will present the Austin premier of the Suite from the Bernstein Mass for Brass Quintet and Concert Band. Maestro Peter Bay, Music Director of the Austin Symphony, will guest conduct a selection with each group.

Mother’s Day Concert in the Park
Sunday, May 8, 2011 — 7 pm
Zilker Hillside Theater
Austin, Texas
Admission: Free
The band performs well-known selections, including marches and show tunes, that you and Mom are sure to enjoy!

Father’s Day Concert in the Park
Sunday, June 19, 2011 — 7:30 pm
Zilker Hillside Theater
Austin, Texas
Admission: Free
Marches, Broadway show tunes and band classics are sure to please Dad. Bring a picnic supper and spread out a blanket under the pecan trees at the beautiful Zilker Hillside Theater.


Bastrop Patriotic Festival
Saturday, July 2, 2011 — 8 pm
Fisherman’s Park
Bastrop, Texas
The band makes its annual appearance at this slice of Americana along the banks of the Colorado River. Marches and fireworks close out the patriotic festival.

July 4th Frontier Days Celebration
Monday, July 4, 2011 — 8 pm
Old Settler’s Park
Round Rock, Texas Enjoy free watermelon, children’s games, arts and crafts vendors and a skydiver, all leading up to the fireworks display accompanied by great patriotic music played by the Austin Symphonic Band.

COUNTRY ARTIST & HIT SONGWRITER GEORGE DUCAS
TO BRING HIS MUSIC BACK HOME TO TEXAS
WITH NEW MUSIC & LIVE SHOWS


Austin, TX — Houston native George Ducas is set to release an aptly titled soundtrack for Texas summer driving on August 17 with his new EP, VOLUME UP, WINDOWS DOWN, and its first single, “Never Goes Away,” that is starting to be played on Texas radio as Ducas begins touring the Lone Star State with shows in Houston, Austin and Lubbock.

The song was co-written by Ducas and Texas artist Randy Rogers, who enjoyed recent Top 40 country chart success with the Ducas-penned “Kiss Me In The Dark.” To introduce fans to his real country sound with a modern kick, Ducas will be initially offering the track as a free download on iTunes as well as donating proceeds from its sales to Texas Children’s Hospital.

Ducas is also a song source and co-writer for other popular Texas artists including Kevin Fowler and Eli Young Band. His composition “Always The Love Songs” became a national Top 10 country chart hit for Eli Young Band and was the top Texas music song for 2009.

“What I missed was making records and writing songs and singing them, and letting the songs breathe every night in front of crowds at shows,” Ducas explains. His appetite to get back on the road was whetted after Sara Evans invited him to open her Greatest Hits Live tour and dates last summer in Europe with Dierks Bentley that included an appearance before some 30,000 people at the prestigious Crappone Festival in France and selling out London’s legendary Borderline club.

“Working with artists like Randy Rogers, Kevin Fowler and Eli Young Band made me realize that I could get back home to Texas and do that. I’m fortunate enough to be successful as a songwriter, but for me, it doesn’t end there. I can’t be totally satisfied unless I’m out there singing my songs too.”

And there’s no better place for Ducas to do that than back in his home state where his love for music was born. “I feel like Texas is the last bastion of independent country music,” he adds. “I’m a Texan and want to be a part of it and find my own place in it.”

Raised on Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker and ZZ Top, Ducas debuted as a hit country artist in the 1990s on Capitol Records with the Top 10 single, “Lipstick Promises.” He followed it with such other hits as “Teardrops,” “Hello Cruel World,” “Kisses Don’t Lie,” “Every Time She Passes By” and “Long Trail of Tears,” and toured with Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Evans and Bentley, among others. He has since established himself as a writer of hits including the multi-week #1 single “A Real Fine Place To Start” for Evans, Radney Foster’s Top 10 hit “Just Call Me Lonesome,” and the Top 20 George Jones/Garth Brooks duet “Beer Run (B Double E Double Are You In).”

AMERICANA COUNTRY ROCKER SHY BLAKEMAN
TOURING TEXAS IN JULY

Artist’s Latest Album, LONG DISTANCE MAN, Called ‘An Absolute Winner’

Austin, TX — Shy Blakeman, the Texas Country/Southern rock artist whose passion for entertaining translates into every one of his performances, will spend July criss-crossing the Lone Star state to share his latest album, LONG DISTANCE MAN (Winding Road Music, March 2010), and more with fans and new listeners.

He spent Memorial Day Weekend in Nashville, where he opened the Rockin’ Through the Rain Music Festival, a benefit for victims of the catastrophic Cumberland River flood.

Blakeman, who was a finalist on Season 4 of NBC/USA Network’s “Nashville Star,” has garnered a fan base with chart-climbing hits from his previous albums. This disk, recorded at Hollywood Sound with Warren Izard as executive producer, cements what’s become his trademark: a great lyric sung with heart and soul.

“… The new album [is] one absolute winner, each song a hit,” says MyJoog.com. “Blakeman reflects the outlaw sound made famous by Waylon Jennings and Billy Joe Shaver: country and rootsy, with some outside influences from blues, jazz and classic Southern rock. … It helps that Blakeman recruited an all-star cast of supporting players; but he also arranged the songs to make each entertaining. … There’s too much to write in one setting about this CD. Just go out and get it.”

Roughstock.com gave it four stars, saying “LONG DISTANCE MAN is a bracing, intriguing blend of alternative country, blues and a little bit of rock. … There’s plenty of spice and substance to Blakeman’s album.”

It was coming close to dying after an armed robbery in Dallas that crystallized Blakeman’s decision to charge ahead toward his dream of making music. He’s living the dream and living it well.

The Texas tour includes shows at:
July 10, River City Grille, Marble Falls
July 15, Fat Daddy’s, Waxahachie
July 16, Lakeside Icehouse, Bryan
July 17, Scooter’s Dancehall, Moulton
July 23, Chap’s, Kemp
July 24, Rattlesnake Junction, Waco
July 28, The Levee, Longview
July 29, Poor David’s Pub, Dallas
July 30, The White Elephant Saloon, Fort Worth

For more information, visit www.shyblakeman.com

Freddy Powers with Stop the Truck
Saturday, June 12th
5:00 – 6:00 pm

Saxon Pub
1320 South Lamar, Austin

98.1 KVET’s FREE Texas Music Series at Hill’s Cafe

Wednesday, July 7 6:00p
at Hill’s Cafe, Austin, TX
Website

Every Wednesday night, Texas Country’s biggest stars will be performing at Hill’s Café in South Austin. All shows are open to the public and absolutely free. On April 7th, the event will be kicked off by Roger Creager and Ryan Beaver. Through the 26 week series, artists such as Walt Wilkins, Corry Morrow, Wade Bowen, and Reckless Kelly will be performing their hits on the stage

Monday, July 26 8:00p
at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q and Waller Creek Amphitheatre, Austin, TX

Wed, Jun 9 8:00p Austin Music Hall, Austin, TX

The Goo Goo Dolls is a rock band that formed in 1987 in Buffalo, New York by John Rzeznik and Robby Takac. As of 2009, the band has sold more than nine million records in the United States alone.