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“18 South” Returns to the RenCen for Soulful Americana Music
24 Apr 2012 | No Comments | in Art Night City Lights, EngageKPT Blog
Cultural Arts Division and Engage Kingsport present ’18 South’ in concert at the Kingsport Renaissance Center on Thursday, April 26, 2012. The concert is at 7:00 PM and reserved seats are $12 each. Call 423-392-8417
18 South’s music is created by a wide array of influences. The organic and earthy quality of their sound rings with overtones of Blues, Bluegrass, Jazz and Gospel that lends itself perfectly to their stripped down acoustic approach that is truly “Americana”. The Band members resume’s read like a Encyclopedia of Musical History and once you see them live you’ll know why they are individually some the most well respected musicians on the scene today. Larry Atamanuik [Drums] and Mike Bub [Doghouse Bass] hold down a deep and unmovable groove behind Jimmi Wallace’s rich vocals and slamming New Orleans Style Piano that in turn gives Guthrie Trapp the opportunity to freely express his fluid and versatile guitar soloing style. Along with Jon Randall’s mournful high tenor vocals and solid rhythm guitar playing the band provides a perfect venue for Jessi Alexander to nail the audience to the wall with her Smokey and heart wrenching vocals.
18 South was born on the front porch and dining room of a house on the quiet Nashville Street, 18 Ave. South. The band is a coming together of six musicians whose one common desire is to create a band defined by nothing other than it’s music. 18 South’s music reflects the divergent musicianship and experiences of its individual members. Meet 18 South.,,,, Texas native Jon Randall Stewart got his start playing bluegrass around the Dallas area. Having moved to Nashville over 20 years ago, he has become one Music City’s top session players, singers and producers. A Grammy and CMA award winner, Jon’s career has run the gamut of touring the world with Emmylou Harris and Sam Bush, to releasing several major label albums, to writing the smash hit ‘Whiskey Lullaby’ with country legend and Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson. In 18 South, Jon brings all of his talents to the front, his pure tenor lead and harmony voice, distinctive acoustic guitar and mandolin and his songwriting.
Half way between Memphis and Nashville, Jessi Alexander was raised in Jackson, Tennessee. The argument could be made that Jackson lies at the crossroads of American Roots music and her style represents the best of both towns. Jessi made the country charts with the critically acclaimed Sony/BMG album, ‘Honeysuckle Sweet’. Additionally, she has become an in demand session vocalist and songwriter. Her song ‘The Climb’, co-written with John Mabe and recorded by Miley Cyrus, had a run of 15 weeks at 1 on the Billboard Pop Chart. Jessi brings to 18 South not only great songs but, she delivers them with a voice, as one might imagine, country and bluesy drenched in southern soul. Keyboardist Jimmi Wallace is a road veteran as well as an ace studio player. He is equally at home on Piano and B-3 Organ. Additionally, Jimmi is a soulful vocalist and songwriter. He spent years touring with Kenny Wayne Shepard as well as Cole Deggs and The Lonesome. Jimmi’s playing is a definite refection of his Louisiana roots.18 South performs several of Jimmi’s compositions including one from a series of songs he is currently writing based on the characters of the Peanuts comic strip and animations. Guthrie Trapp came to Nashville from the north Gulf Coast in and around Pensacola, Florida. Guthrie is one of the most in demand guitarists in Nashville with the ability not only play many different acoustic and electric styles but is at ease in any genre of music from Bluegrass to the Blues, Rock, Jazz and Country. Having toured with a virtual who’s who of Nashville artists, the last few years have seen Guthrie continuing to perform with Patty Loveless on her Mountain Soul II tour as well as the challenging dynamics and genre bending sounds of the Jerry Douglas Band. Larry Atamanuik is the official groove master of 18 South. Cutting his teeth in the Toronto club scene as a teen, Larry first reached the national spotlight as a member of the seminal rock band Seatrain. A drummer sensitive to the dynamics of acoustic instruments, Larry has been the first-call for many Nashville artists including Emmylou Harris, Sam Bush, Alison Krauss and Union Station and the Alison Brown Quintet. Bassist Mike Bub is a 20-year veteran of the music scene in Nashville Moving to Music City in 1989, Mike has had the rare opportunity to work and record with many of bluegrass music’s first generation artists in addition to spending 13 years with the renowned Del McCoury Band. The past few years have seen Mike stretching his boundaries on the upright bass having toured with the likes of Vince Gill, Peter Rowan, Tony Rice, Tim O’Brien, Shawn Camp and Danny Barnes.
Kevin Reese to perform “A Perfect Balance”
2 Apr 2012 | No Comments | in Art Night City Lights, EngageKPT Blog, Upcoming Events
Cultural Arts Division and Engage Kingsport present “A Perfect Balance” featuring performance artist/sculptor Kevin Reese in concert at the Kingsport Renaissance Center on Wednesday, May 9, 2012. The performances will be at 9 AM and 11 AM with workshops for school
groups on Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 PM and 2 PM and Thursday afternoon at 1:00 PM and 2:00PM. Kevin Reese will also conduct mobile building workshops with students at John Adams Elementary School and Lincoln Elementary School. The performance is free and open to the public but reservations are required. For more information or to make your reservation for performance or workshop please call 423-392-8416. This program is support by a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission. Support the ARTS, Bolt them to your car: click here for the new specialty license plate tag.
“A Perfect Balance” is a one-man play written and directed by Mary Hall Surface,designed and performed by KevinReese. A Performance for all ages
Inspired by the work of American artist Alexander Calder (the inventor of the mobile), this one-man play follows a young artist, Sandy, on his quest to
capture his vision of life. Challenged by his father to create a “masterpiece,” Sandy playfully experiments with drawing, painting and sculpting, ccompanied
by his puppet-like circus creations – his muse Fioni-of-the-flying-trapeze, his friend Ringmaster Loyal and his foe, Monsieur Critique. Only when Sandy risks taking his shapes “off the page” does he find his way to the show’s spectacular conclusion — a mobile, 17 feet across, that suspends into the audience.
Mobile Making Workshops for Students K thru 6th
on Wednesday May 9 at 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM and Thursday at 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM. No Fee but reservation is required.
In these one hourKevin Reese introduces students to the art of moving sculptures (mobiles) and their key design element — balance. Working in groups
of 4, students each make 1 -2 pieces for a mobile from classroom art supplies and materials provided by Kevin. Students work cooperatively to solve how to
balance the pieces as they assemble their mobiles. The mobiles are then installed in the classroom for all to enjoy. Maximum of 30 students. Mobiles
are approximately 3 feet across when complete.
“A Perfect Balance” opened in 1991. Here are a few fun facts:
• Has been presented over 1200 times during 16 seasons of national and international touring.
• Featured at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 2005.
• Featured at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2003.
• Presented at the Taiwan International Children’s Festival, 2004.
• Performed at the 1993 RITEJ Festival in Lyon, France – one of the most prestigious festivals of theatre for young audiences in the world. The first
American company to be invited since 1981.
• Featured at the Seattle International Children’s Festival, 1993.
• Presented at art museums throughout the country including the San Jose Museum of Art, Detroit Institute of the Arts, Jacksonville Museum of Art and the
Baltimore Museum of Art
• Performing-Artist-in-residence at Philadelphia’s Institute for Arts in Education, and New York’s Southern Tier Institutes for Arts in Education in
Binghamton, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany.
• Presented in theaters and schools in twenty-five states including California, Florida, Kentucky Maryland, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Utah.
The Kingsport Renaissance Center is located at 1200 East Center Street in Kingsport, TN. The multipurpose center is home to the areas arts organizations and boasts 2 galleries, and a 345-seat theatre. The Renaissance Center is also home to the community’s vibrant Senior Center on the first floor. For more information call 423-392-8416.
Cambia Flute Ensemble to Present April Fool’s Day Concert
26 Mar 2012 | No Comments | in Art Night City Lights, EngageKPT Blog
Spend April Fool’s Day with Cambia Flute Ensemble as they present a concert that takes a light-hearted and humorous look at the not-so-serious side of music. Musical genres will include classical, modern, pop, video game, and cartoon, along with some of the expected foolishness associated with April Fool’s Day. The concert will be held on Sunday, April 1, at 2:00 pm in the Renaissance Center Auditorium, 1200 East Center Street, Kingsport, TN, and is held in conjunction with Engage Kingsport’s concert series. Tickets are $9.50 and are available at the door or online at www.engagekingsport.com.
Cambia was formed in 2009, and has established itself as a premier performing ensemble, presenting virtuosic performances combined with multi-media experiences that stretch beyond traditional chamber music. Cambia is fast-gaining the reputation for combining a top-caliber performance of challenging and engaging music, combined with an evident camaraderie and sense of humor between its members and the audience. Not just your typical flute ensemble, Cambia promises to deliver a concert that is fun and entertaining for all ages.
For more information about Cambia, visit their website, www.cambiafluteensemble.com, or call Eileen Butler at (423) 288-8360.
