Is Edge Fest on the edge?
January 30, 2009
Hmmm, I just saw this ominous blog post on the Edge Fest MySpace site.
I’ve put a call into Danny Akin at YVCC to see what’s going on with this year’s Edge Fest and, as always, I’ll let you know as soon as I do.
TAYLOR SWIFT COMING TO YAKIMA?!?!
January 30, 2009
UPDATE: No official confirmation from the SunDome, but I’d say there’s a pretty good chance that’s where it’ll be … stay tuned.
According to cutie country star Taylor Swift’s Web site, she’s bringing her headlining Fearless Tour to Yakima on May 17. I’m trying to figure out where and when tickets go on sale and will let you all know as soon as I do.
Rock returns to the SunDome next week
January 29, 2009
Hard rock bands Avenged Sevenfold and Buckcherry (pictured) kicked off the second leg of a co-headlining tour yesterday (Jan. 28 ) and roll into Yakima next Thursday, Feb. 5.
“The first leg was great; that’s why we’re doing it again,” says Buckcherry frontman Josh Todd. “It was really successful, we get along with those guys great. They’re Southern California boys; I grew up in Southern California, you know. It was like hangin’ with guys I went to high school with.”
Also on the tour is Papa Roach and Saving Abel. And although none of the bands are necessarily household names, thousands of concertgoers are still stoked for some raucous rock ’n’ roll to rattle the SunDome. All seats cost $39.75 through TicketsWest, 800-325-7328, or the State Fair ticket office, 248-7160.
You can read the full story HERE.
Want a sneak listen to the bands? Here are the links:
Special fair admission pass available for one month only
January 29, 2009
After the success of last year’s Leap Year promotional pass for the Central Washington State Fair — a little more than 1,000 people took advantage of the offer — frequent and frugal fair-goers can once again purchase a season pass to the fair, which this year runs Sept. 25 through Oct. 4.
Good for admission to all 10 days of the fair, the pass costs $35 but is only available to purchase, in person, during February at the State Fair Park Ticket Office, 1301 S. Fair Ave. (No phone calls, please, asks the ticket office.) The cost applies to all age brackets and this year adult admission goes up to $12. Admission for seniors (65 and older) and ages 6-12 is usually slightly less, and kids 5 and younger are free.
Poetry Out Loud competition this Sunday
January 29, 2009
Forget pigskin. For eight Yakima area high school students, this Sunday (Feb. 1) is all about another competition — the regional Poetry Out Loud contest, a national program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. It encourages high school students learn about poetry through memorization, performance and competition.
The regional contest begins at 2 p.m. at the Allied ArtsCenter, 5000 W. Lincoln Ave. Admission is free.
Two students from the Yakima area will advance to the March 7 state competition at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. State champions then advance to the national finals in Washington, D.C., in April.
Last year, BreAnna Jones of West Valley High School was one of the top 12 contestants at the finals.
Shemekia Copeland a can’t miss concert for blues fans
January 28, 2009
The Seasons performance hall continues to sing the blues this weekend — in a good way — with a visit from contemporary blues powerhouse Shemekia Copeland. This will no doubt be one of those you-can’t-believe-you-saw-her-back-when shows blues fans won’t want to miss.
Just 29-years-old, the Grammy-nominated Copeland is a rising star who sings with one foot respectfully rooted in the past and one stepping towards something new — which you can clearly hear on her forthcoming album “Never Going Back,” as well as when she plays Yakima this Saturday (Jan. 31).
Copeland and her band play at 7:30 p.m. at The Seasons, 101 N. Naches Ave. Tickets cost $20 and are available in advance through The Seasons box office, 453-1888, or at the door.
Yakima’s Best Singer contest at YVCC
January 28, 2009
Sure, you can sit at home and watch “American Idol” on TV, OR you can watch local vocalists try to out-do each other tonight (Jan. 28 ) at the Yakima’s Best Singer Contest.
Now in its fifth year, the sing-off begins at 7 p.m. in Yakima Valley Community College’s Kendall Hall Auditorium at South 16th Avenue and Nob Hill Boulevard. Admission is $2.
(Bonus: You can see me do my best Paula/Randy/Simon/that-other-girl impression as one of tonight’s judges.)
Red Gallery creates art map
January 26, 2009
The artists’ cooperative at Red Gallery and Studios have created a map listing the downtown venues where you can view original art works.
You can download the map HERE.
Those interested in being listed in future publications should call the gallery at 469-2766.
A Sasquatch! Music Festival wish list
January 23, 2009
I don’t know about you, but I’m getting ancy for the summer music season to start. (I know, I know, it’s only January.) And by summer music season, I especially mean this year’s Sasquatch! Music Festival.
I’ve been scanning blogs and forums and whatnot to see who’s coming to Sasquatch this year. How about you, heard anything? Let me know.
I can definitely tell you who’s on my Sasquatch wish list:
• Animal Collective. Please, please, please!
• Fleet Foxes, at a later time so I don’t miss them again.
• Ditto for Blitzen Trapper.
• MGMT.
• Jenny Lewis.
• The Mountain Goats. They’re growing on me so I want to check them out live.
• The Cool Kids.
• Black Mountain. The drony-Sabbath-rock won’t really fit, but I don’t care.
Ahhhh, here’s to dreaming about May
— Kim Nowacki
Conductor search continues for the Yakima Symphony Orchestra
January 22, 2009
The search committee charged with finding the next maestro for the Yakima Symphony Orchestra has narrowed the field down to 11 prospective music directors.
The search began this past September when Brooke Creswell, the man behind the YSO baton for more than 40 years, announced he will be stepping down from the podium after this season. (He makes his third to last appearance with the symphony this Saturday at the Capitol Theatre. The details are HERE.)
The committee — made up of four orchestra members, four YSO board members and four community members, along with consultant Donald Thulean of Seattle — received 105 application from around the world. The process of narrowing down the applicants started with developing a profile of what the committee was looking for in a new music director, then digging through the resumes (that ranged from just three pages to some as thick as phone books) and finally conducting phone interviews, which wrapped up last week.
Teens invited to say ‘No Stank You’ this Saturday at the Majestic Theatre
January 22, 2009
Anti-tobacco teens heading to the movies this weekend could end up on the screen themselves — at least the small screen.
From noon to 7:30 p.m. this Saturday (Jan. 24), local anti-tobacco volunteers will be at the Majestic Theatre, 1919 S. 14th St. in Union Gap, to take photos of teens for possible use in the “No Stank You” commercials featuring stop-motion animation.
Interested teens must be 12 to 17 and complete a release form signed by a parent. Forms will be available at the Majestic or can be downloaded in advance HERE (you know, so you don’t have to go to the movies with your parents). You also don’t have to buy a movie ticket to participate.
If you’re not familiar with the No Stank You commercials, check one out HERE.
Tour of Artists’ Homes and Studios expands for 10th anniversary
January 22, 2009
In honor of this coming spring’s 10th annual Tour of Artists’ Homes and Studios, the Larson Gallery Guild is hosting a “grand tour” where all past tour artists (more than 40) have been invited to participate.
The tour will also expand in length, so you can fit in as many stop as you can. It’ll be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 15 AND May 16.
The cost for both days plus a tour program which will feature artist bios and photographs is $25.
The final list of participating artists is expected by next month.
Talib Kweli (and maybe Bill Cosby?) also coming to Central Washington University
January 21, 2009
In more (totally awesome) CWU news, hip-hop artist Talib Kweli, and hip-hop journalist Jeff Chang, will be at Central on Feb. 19. I’m not sure exactly what they’ll be talking about — I’m guessing something to do with hip-hop. I’ll let you know as soon as I do.
Also, Bill Cosby is scheduled to appear at Central on Oct. 24, according to Pollstar and Cosby’s Web site. (No one at CWU has confirmed it yet.) Well, now your dad won’t be the only one wearing an ugly sweater Homecoming weekend.
Sherman Alexie to visit Ellensburg
January 21, 2009
Native American pop icon Sherman Alexie will visit Central Washington University next week to present what’s sure to be the apply titled talk, “Without Reservations: An Urban Indian’s Comic, Poetic & Highly Irreverent Look at the World.”
He’ll speak at 7:30 p.m. next Thursday, Jan. 29, in CWU’s Student Union and Recreation Center Ballroom, off Chestnut Street in Ellensburg.
Tickets are free but limited to two per person. Tickets are available right now to CWU students through the SURC ticket office, 963-1301. The general public can pick up tickets beginning tomorrow (Jan. 22).
Born on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Wash., Alexie’s works include the recent young adult novel “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” and “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight In Heaven,” a collection of short stories that served as the basis for his screenplay for the 1998 independent film “Smoke Signals.” (Speaking of which, CWU will show the film next Tuesday.)
A National Book Award-winner, Alexie’s talk is part of CWU’s Symposium Without Boundaries speakers series. The next speaker will be Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and New York Times op-ed columnist Nicholas Kristoff, who will visit campus May 4.
Sean Hawkins to host a funk night
January 16, 2009
One of Sean Hawkins’ last “official” acts before he leaves his post as director of the Committee for Downtown Yakima?
Hosting a funk night tonight at the Yakima Sports Center, of course.
Exactly what that means, I don’t know. But I can’t wait to find out.
