Creative Loafing Charlotte

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Crosby, Stills and Nash

CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH The aging ‘60s icons have recently found their waning stars on the ascendant again, thanks in part to getting name-checked by trendy multi-part harmony bands like Fleet Foxes. CS&N were considered one of the first ‘supergroups’ because all three members had been in well-known bands prior to forming in ’68 — David Crosby was booted from the Byrds, Stephen Stills had played in Buffalo Springfield (whose Neil Young would rescue CS&N from complete treacle) and Graham Nash had ditched the Hollies. Their first tour after their self-titled debut included Woodstock, and their three-part harmonies and (mostly) acoustic guitars heralded the baked-hippie turn that reached its apotheosis in the Topanga Canyon scene. The trio also became mouthpieces for the groovy flower-power cultural revolution — the one that gutted the actual political revolution embodied by the SDS and Black Panthers et al. and narcoticized American youth in a haze of tie-dye, dope-smoke and songs about Judy Collins. The trio recently latched onto the Occupy movement and are co-sponsoring the “StampStampede,” with which you can declare your unhappiness about money in politics by defacing dollar bills with “slightly subversive” but “100 percent legal” messages like “Not To Be Used For Bribing Politicians” and the like. With a revolutionary vanguard like that, you can bet those K Street lobbyists are just quivering through the halls of Congress — quite possibly cranking Déjà Vu on their iPods. Way to go, dudes. $47-87

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2nd Annual Blumey Awards

The nominees have been announced and 15 winners will be named at the 2nd Annual Blumey Awards this Sunday evening at Belk Theater. Thirty-two high school musical productions are competing for bragging rights from across 16 counties in the Metrolina region. So literally hundreds of performers, teachers, classmates and proud parents will be sweating out the judges’ verdicts — an ideal recipe for partisan pandemonium. But even if you’re none of the above, there’s plenty to enjoy: live excerpts from each of the six finalists for the Best Musical award — Young Frankenstein, Les Miz, Beauty and the Beast, Once Upon a Ma, Footloose and Oklahoma! — plus two showcase medleys featuring all the nominees for the coveted Best Actress and Best Actor honors. Those two winners get to participate in the national Jimmy Awards program in New York. Besides the high stakes, the high excitement and the high-octane talent, there’s a chichi aspect to the proceedings hosted by WBTV anchor Maureen O’Boyle. Premium seat holders are invited to the 5:45 p.m. VIP black-tie reception before ambling over to the main event at 7 p.m. $30-$45

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Connected There But Not Always Here

Some folks just don't understand the concept of "too much information," especially when it comes to social networking platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Seriously, we didn't really need blow-by-blow details of what you ate for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Enter this new exhibit at The Light Factory — it may have you thinking twice about what you "share." Connected There But Not Always Here examines the effects that technology (from Facebook and Twitter to blogging and interactive videos) has on relationships. It also focuses on the consequences of personal information being forever hoarded into cyberspace. Brooklyn-based photographer Dina Litovsky launched "Untag This Photo," a project that documents nightlife and the behavior and self-representation of women in social media. Meanwhile, Nate Larson and Marni Shindelman's series "Geolocation" uses publicly embedded GPS info via Twitter to track locations of posts and pair them with the text. The exhibit also features works from photographer Gabriela Herman as well as an interactive video — capturing snippets of gallery visitors — put together by Celine Latulipe, Berto Gonzalez and Annabel Manning. Be on your best behavior! Free admission

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Traces

When you really think about it, the concept behind Traces isn’t all that original. Over the past several years, shows that specialize in acrobatics, circus-like theatrics, stunts and aerialists have become all the rave, but few capture the intimacy and edge-of-your-seat attention as this show from the Montreal-based 7 Fingers (or Les 7 Doigts de la Main). With only seven cast members to pull off the challenging feats, Traces is a solid 90-minute marvel of impressiveness from otherwise ordinary-appearing young adults — only they clearly aren’t, as they send themselves flipping, flying and tumbling toward risky obstacles, all for the pleasure of a safely seated audience $20 and up

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2013 Mudmorial Dash

This year Go Red For Women is sponsoring the Mudmorial Dash on May 19th. The Mudmorial Dash will happen in Concord at the Frank Liske Park. Ten dollars of every registration will go towards Go Red For Women to support research to find a cure for stroke and heart disease. Jessica Limpert and Ramon Medeiros of The Biggest Loser will be there to meet and greet contestants as well as run the dash. Contestants need to be 16 and older to participate, but anyone from 10-15 can run when accompanied by an adult. $55-$192 per team

Afton Showcase

Charlotte Jazz Orchestra

DrumStrong f. SuperSpontaneousCombustJam w/ Rich Redmond, Jeff Sipe, KalimbaMan, Lee Venters, Donnie Marshall, Jim Brock, Rick Blackwell

Greg Brangle & The Blue Tenders

Michael Tracy, Joe Davis Band, Fiftywatt Freight Train, Analog Daze

$10/$15

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Author signing: Pat Davies - Wizard Jasper and the Wandering Princess

Wizard Jasper is back and this time he must find Princess Lydia. She’s gone missing since leaving the castle, and no one has heard from her two guards. Jasper and his gang—Princess Abigail, Maid Anna, Captain Hart, and Jasper’s beloved Quast—must set out to find them before the evil sorceress claims her life!

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Busk! - a doc about street performance & grassroots culture

BUSK! is a character-driven documentary that explores the joys and pitfalls of performing on the street for tips. With an inquisitive and playful spirit, the story delves deep into the lives and aspirations of a singer, a magician, and a sketch artist who regularly share their art in uptown Charlotte. Many other artists, including those who participated in the Buskapalooza Street Performance Festival, also share their busking experiences and philosophies on art that reaches beyond the walls of a gallery, theatre, or concert hall. Presentation will be followed by Q&A with director and principal cast. *Director/Producer: April Denée Brown. $5.00

The Chuckleheads

Family friendly show at 4 p.m. and adult only show at 6 p.m. $10

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Music of Legends: Bach to the Beatles

Carolina Voices’ Festival Singers’ spring concert will celebrate legendary artists and composers who have shaped the world of music from the Baroque to Contemporary periods. Audience members will feel the passion of the great choral masters with music by J.S. Bach, Eric Whitacre, Ola Gjeila, Craig Hella-Johnson, and Moses Hogan. Adding to the excitement will be selections from The Beatles. To complete the concert, the Festival Singers will present a newly commissioned piece by Dale Warland called “Voices,” written for choir and cello and based on the text by poet Michael Dennis Browne. $17, discounts for seniors, groups and youth

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Queen City Brass Band 21st Season Celebration Concert

The Queen City Brass Band will present a special concert for the Charlotte community under the direction of Jamie P. Hood, Salvation Army Divisional Music Director and Besson Performing Artist. The Band is celebrating its twenty-first season of performances in the Charlotte-Metrolina region. The repertoire for this concert will include many stirring brass band arrangements designed to showcase the special sonority and tonality of the full brass band instrumentation! The rich brass sound is unique to this type of musical group and will provide an enjoyable experience for music fans of all ages. Free