The Chad Lawson Trio, featuring Zack Page (bass) and Al Sergel (drums), have a new album that’s now in stores across the country. The trio were recently signed to Summit Records, an internationally distributed label based in Arizona, and have released Dear Dorothy: The Oz Sessions. Before hosting a Release Party in town recently, the band also performed in Washington DC, New York City and Bethlehem, PA, where they played at the widely popular Musikfest. For more details on the group and such, check out www.chadlawsontrio.com.
The Charlotte Folk Society is celebrating their 20th year anniversary and they’re hosting a weekend full of events to commemorate the occasion. On Friday, September 13, folks will gather at Unitarian Universalist Church (234 N. Sharon Amity Rd.) for a Homecoming Concert and Potluck Dinner beginning at 4pm. The event is free and open to the public and guests are invited to bring a dish to share and an instrument for jamming. The following day, Saturday, September 14, a Daytime Festival and Family Hoedown will be held at Spirit Square from 10am-4pm, which will be followed by a Celebration Concert at 7pm. The daytime activities, featuring craft vendors, jam sessions, beginner friendly workshops and more, will be free. Si Kahn and High Mountain Steppers are among the artists who will be performing. The evening concert will feature Benton Flippen and the Smokey Valley Boys, the Celtic band Taspy, Jim Shumate and the Sons of the Carolinas and many others. Tickets cost $16 for CFS members and $20 for nonmembers. For more information, visit www.folksociety.org.
Gideon Smith & The Dixie Damned recently recorded Steppenwolf’s “The Pusher” for an upcoming 70s tribute album that their label, Smallstone Records, will be releasing. Drummer Jeff Hale (ex-God’s Water) recorded with the band.
The band will also be one of many featured local acts on an upcoming soundtrack to Come Get Some. The independent horror flick was produced locally and is due out on Halloween. Smith, along with Gina Stewart and Antiseen, make cameo appearances in the film as well. For more info on the flick, go to www.comegetsomethefilm.com.
Chris Cook‘s song, “Give A Little Love,” is featured on Drive Vol. 1: The Softer Side of Rock. The release is part of CD Review’s Compilation Series. For more info, check out www.cdreview.com.
Dead City Radio have wrapped up recording their new album titled People Are Overrated. The album was recorded with Art Bordeaux at the Sound Farm. The band plans to release the album by mid-October. In the meantime, they’ll be performing as part of the Carolina Rock Tour along with The Sundowners and Push Cult, which is scheduled to make a stop on Saturday, September 14, at Fat City. For more details on the band and a listen to some new cuts from the studio, go to www.deadcityradio.com.
Candlewyck, featuring Chris Emerson and Ty Bennett, have added banjo player Jon Cornatzer and vocalist Rachel Moody to their line-up. The group plans to tour while working on their second release, which is due out later this year. Recent recording sessions have included guest appearances by Rob Ickes (Blue Highway), T. Lavitz (Dixie Dregs) and Moondi Klein (Chesapeake). For more details, go to www.votiverecords.com.
Over at the Old House Recording Studio in Gastonia: John Alexander recorded a project, which featured Ron Brendle, Chris Garges and Van Sachs. Garges produced and engineered the material. Contagious finished their first EP release, which was mastered in town by David Harris at Studio B Mastering. Don’t Tell Dick and Boolow were recently in laying down tracks for their upcoming EP releases, while Shiver continues to work on a full length CD, which is set to be released in early fall. Hickory’s Scott Jeffrey’s Band has been working on their first full length studio CD, too, while Greensboro’s Element Of One, formerly Oversoul, came in and laid down new tracks with their new front man.
Florida-based jazz vocalist Camille was also in the studio working with session musicians David Johnson, Donnie Marshall and Richard Puttman. For more info on the studio, call 704-867-9166 or go to www.oldhousestudio.com.
A Hip Hop Open Mic Night is being held from 7-11pm every Wednesday, beginning September 4, at the VFW Building, located at 2831 The Plaza. All ages are welcome and admission is $5. For more info, call 704-891-8740.
After a booking error, which had both Jester Fizz and Backyard Green showing up to play at Connolly’s on Fifth one night late last month, yet another band showed up and one big happy jam ensued. As the story goes, Backyard Green had opened for Capitol Recording artist Dexter Freebish at Gateway Village for the Happy Hour concert series earlier in the day, and a few of the guys from the band decided to drop in at Connolly’s for an impromptu jam with the band later on that night. According to both bands, a good time was had by all, but they did learn that having members of three different groups drink on one tab is a dangerous thing.
This article appears in Sep 4-10, 2002.
