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St. Lucian musician and philanthropist Taj Weekes named UNICEF champion of children in St. Lucia

New York, NY - November 21, 2013 - They Often Cry Outreach (TOCO) is pleased to announce the appointment of  St. Lucian musician and philanthropist Taj Weekes as UNICEF's Champion of Children in St. Lucia.

The official announcement was made Tuesday, November 19th in Derek Walcott Square at the center of Castries, St. Lucia's capital, during the launch of the Break The Silence Campaign (BTS), a global initiative embraced by several countries to advocate for the rights of children and raise awareness of a wide range of issues including physical and sexual abuse.  Weekes  will be working with St. Lucia's Ministry of Health, Gender and Social Development and other government entities to work on issues such as health, education and equality for all children.

In his role as a UNICEF Champion of Children, Weekes will use his celebrity to bring these issues to the forefront.  As he eloquently states, "When poverty, violence and disease are discussed, no one thinks about the Caribbean. It's just a place to vacation and sit in the sun. People don't know that St. Lucia has one of the highest rates of diabetes per capita in the world. They look at the bare feet of the children playing soccer in the street and don't realize it's because they have no shoes. It's my mission to expand awareness and aid for these issues which equally affect the Caribbean, especially for the children and youth." 

In appointing Weekes as a Champion of Children, UNICEF Representative for the Eastern Caribbean Area, Ms. Khin-Sandi Lwin states, "UNICEF is very pleased to have Taj Weekes on board as we work on bringing together a network of credible voices to advocate for the rights of Caribbean Children. His passion to care for children though his music and philanthropic work are the perfect ingredients to be UNICEF's Champion for Children in St. Lucia, his home country.  We look forward to working closely with him in applying his creative talents and networking skills to highlight the plight of children in St Lucia. UNICEF will also help him link up with other Champions for Children in the Eastern Caribbean countries to have the strength of numbers for a powerful Voice for Children."

UNICEF recognizes Weekes' commitment to defending a child's right to health, education, equality, protection and participation - all principles Weekes advocates in his music and his charitable works through TOCO - his not for profit children's charity that is dedicated to improving the lives of Caribbean children through sports, health and enrichment programs.  In addition to his work on the BTS campaign, UNICEF has tasked Weekes to use his position and influence for "social mobilization, advocacy and influencing social debates to make children's rights increasingly protected, respected and realized throughout a child's lifecyle."

Weekes' music has always been a merging of entertainment and humanity - commenting on societies ills, including the plight of children.  His 2010 release, A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen, features the track "Sunny Innocents", about child sexual abuse.  In it, he boldly states 'Sunny innocents are lost to the woods, sunny innocents the guardians are no good, sunny innocents I pray their souls to keep, sunny innocents the wolf can't guard the sheep.'  With this new position, he will continue to use his voice on behalf of the voiceless.

https://www.facebook.com/tajandadowa

http://www.tajweekes.com/

 

 

For more information about TOCO and UNICEF, please contact:

 

THEY OFTEN CRY OUTREACH (TOCO)

27 Edgewood Place

Great Neck, New York 11024 USA

info@theyoftencryoutreach.org

www.theyoftencryoutreach.org

1.917.488.5982

__________________________________________________________

 

UNICEF Barbados and Eastern Caribbean

Patrick Knight, Communication Specialist

1.246.467.6162

pknight@unicef.org

www.unicef.org/barbados

California Roots, The Carolina Sessions 2013 - Photos and Review

Posted by: admin | November 19th, 2013

California Roots, The Carolina Sessions 2013 - Photos and Review
Celebrating its 4th year, California Roots has traditionally been a west coast festival...until 2013. This year the event became bi-coastal with the inaugural Carolina Sessions.

The venue was Wilmington’s own Battleship Park, home of the destroyer USS North Carolina. Attendance was substantial, given the late October date, and patrons were exuberant and celebratory. And, with good reason. The lineup was sprinkled with local and national reggae bands, and, with two stages leap-frogging, music played non-stop from noon until midnight.

Magnolia Fest 2013 - Photos and Review

Posted by: admin | November 18th, 2013

Magnolia Fest 2013 - Photos and Review
The Spirit of the Suwanee Music Park has become one of my favorite venues to see, hear and photograph some of the world’s greatest musicians. This year’s Magnolia Fest was no exception!

Headlining this year’s festival were some of my favorites and  the only two surviving members of the Highwaymen…Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. Add John Prine, Mavis Staples and Stephen Marley and you have the ingredients for an amazing weekend.  Add to THAT a weekend of clear skies, warm sun and beaming smiles and I knew that nowhere else in the universe could top this venerable venue.

 

Suwannee Hulaween 2013 - Photos and Review

Posted by: admin | November 18th, 2013

Suwannee Hulaween 2013 - Photos and Review
The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park & Campground in Live Oak, Florida was the perfect setting for Hulaween, the String Cheese Incident's inaugural Halloween festival.

As a seasoned festival-goer and photographer I have been fortunate to witness numerous musical acts in a variety of wonderful locales but Suwannee is without doubt, my new favorite for many reasons. Suwannee is basically a 500 acre campground, and a really, really nice one at that.  The majority of the grounds I was privy to visiting while there was largely wooded with Spanish Moss draped here and there from the trees thus providing a wonderful addition to an already beautiful scenery. The camping area is spacious, shady and inviting and everything you might need is within a short walk.

This year's FloydFest will take place July 23-27 in Floyd, VA.

Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite

Ms. Lauryn Hill

Ray LaMontagne

Thievery Corporation

Ziggy Marley

Michael Franti & Spearhead

Buddy Guy

Robert Randolph & the Family Band

Lettuce

JJ Grey & Mofro

Groundation

Conspirator

Donna the Buffalo

The Duhks

Campbell Brothers

The Lee Boys

Hackensaw Boys 

The London Souls

The Ben Miller Band

Jonathan Boogie Long

The Deadmen

Quinn Sullivan

2013 On the Rise Winner Paper Bird

2013 On the Rise Winner Runner Up Crystal Bright & the Silver Hands

Tauk

Dirty Drummer

and many, many more TBA on 10 stages over 5 days!!!

More details at www.FloydFest.com

The Hip Abduction - Self Titled

The Hip Abduction can be defined in many different ways, but it is commonly associated with walking, dancing, or sexual maneuvers, which seems fitting for the diversity of THA’s powerful sound and genre. It may not be as technically difficult to play reggae, but that makes it all the more difficult to play it well. The complexity of its sound lies in mastering the simplicity of its craft. On this self titled album The Hip Abduction has proved to do just that, master their music.
November 26-30, 2013

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Festival passes are also available for sale at High Rock Outfitters, located at 13 S. Main Street, Lexington, NC and will continue to be available to purchase online until November 29. Weekend passes purchased day of show at the door will increase to $60 each, and VIP tickets are only available with advance purchase.

Day tickets will also be available at the door only, for $35 each day.

Weekend passholders have access not only to full day events on November 29 and 30
, but also to evening shows at High Rock Outfitters on November 26, 27, and 28 (yes, that's Thanksgiving night!) - save $30 in cover charges! Also, VIP tickets guarantee access to late night jams at High Rock Outfitters on Friday and Saturday!

If you're wondering where to say, festival sponsor Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites, located just a few miles from downtown Lexington, is generously offering hotel rooms for $89 per night for festival attendees. Mention the festival when you make your reservation by calling the local number: (336) 224-6730; if making a reservation online, use code MAF. There will be shuttles between the hotel and festival venues. Alternatively, primitive camping is available in downtown Lexington, close to the Civic Center. Both tent camping and RV camping (no hookups) will be available on a first come, first serve basis for $10 weekend fee.

We are very excited about the great weekend we've put together for you, and we can't wait to see you there!

 

The North Carolina Music and Arts Festival
November 26-30, 2013

The second annual North Carolina Music and Arts Festival will take place in Lexington, NC November 26-30. The festival focuses on North Carolina musicians, visual artists, and writers, in addition to featuring local and regional artisans, craftsmen, and food vendors.
 
The 2012 festival won a 2013 Triad's Best award from Yes! Weekly in the category of Best Live Music Show. This year's event has expanded the number of both performing and visual artists to present a unique lineup of stellar NC-based talent.
 
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26
High Rock Outfitters Original Tuesday Jam
featuring Bill Stevens, Joey Recchio, Ashley Sutton, Daniel Faust, Scott Lewis, Daniel Seriff, and more!
At High Rock Outfitters (free with festival ticket)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27
Possum Jenkins
At High Rock Outfitters (free with festival ticket)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28
Rev. Scoggins Funkadelic Tent Revival
At High Rock Outfitters (free with festival ticket)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29
(Detailed schedule coming soon)
Jeff Sipe Trio, The Broadcast, The Deluge, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, Dark Water Rising, Skinny Velvet, Tyler Nail, Aaron Woody Wood

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30
(Detailed schedule coming soon)
Acoustic Syndicate, Big Daddy Love, The Honeycutters, Mipso, The Billy Sea,The E.Normus Trio, Overmountain Men, The Deluge
 
Tickets are $50 for a weekend pass, or $80 for a VIP ticket and can be purchased on our website. Limited primitive camping available, as well as discounted pricing on area hotels.

Visit www.ncmusicfest.com for details and ticket information.

Wakarusa Music Festival is excited to announce the eighth annual Waka Winter Classic!

The tour will travel through sixteen cities in ten states, searching for the best musical talent to play at the 2014 Wakarusa Music Festival in Ozark, AR on June 5-8, 2014.  Waka Winter Classic will begin in Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, OK on January 9th and will continue through the South, hitting numerous iconic venues along the way including Trees in Dallas, Antone’s in Austin, Cervantes’ in Denver and The Double Door in Chicago.  The tour will wrap up at the renowned New Earth Music Hall in Athens, GA on February 22nd.
 
Artists and musicians can sign up through ReverbNation.com and up to five artists will be chosen to perform in each city.  These bands will be chosen based on Talent, Musicianship, Draw and Marketability.  The winning band for each contest will ultimately be decided by tallying audience votes at the end of the night, will win a cash prize, and will play for over 20,000 fans at Wakarusa Music Festival.
 
Wakarusa Music Festival is a grassroots festival nestled in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas where the beauty of nature synchronizes with the euphoric sounds of live music.  This summer will mark the eleventh year of Wakarusa and the sixth year at the picturesque Mulberry Mountain near Ozark, Arkansas.  Wakarusa has been graced by hundreds of world-class artists and continues to stir the musical interests of folks from all fifty states and beyond!
 
For more information on Waka Winter Classic and Wakarusa Music Festival, please visit the website at www.wakarusa.com.
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Waka Winter Classic Dates:
 
Jan 9, 2014- Cain’s Ballroom- Tulsa, OK
Jan 10, 2014- Trees- Dallas, TX
Jan 11, 2014- Antone’s- Austin, TX
Jan 16, 2014- George’s Majestic- Fayetteville, AR
Jan 16, 2014- The Outland- Springfield, MO
Jan 18, 2014- Sticky Fingerz- Little Rock, AR
Jan 23, 2014- Hodi’s Half Note- Fort Collins, CO
Jan 25, 2014- Cervantes’- Denver, CO
Feb 1, 2014- Vaudeville Mews- Des Moines, IA
Feb 1, 2014- The Bottleneck- Lawrence, KS
Feb 6, 2014- Double Door- Chicago, IL
Feb 8, 2014- Mojo’s- Columbia, MO
Feb 13, 2014- Old Rock House- St. Louis, MO
Feb 15, 2014- Bourbon Theatre- Lincoln, NE
Feb 20, 2014- Workplay- Birmingham, AL
Feb 22, 2014- New Earth Music Hall- Athens, GA

Sign up Here!

Tickets for the 11th Annual Wakarusa Music Festival are on sale.

Tickets for the 11th Annual Wakarusa Music Festival are on sale. This years multi-day camping and music festival will be June 5-8, 2014 on the majestic Mulberry Mountain in Northwest Arkansas. Patrons will be able to purchase Full Event Passes, Camping Passes, as well as RV Unreserved Passes.
 
Wakarusa Music Festival is a grassroots festival nestled in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas where the beauty of nature synchronizes with the euphoric sounds of live music. Born in 2004, Wakarusa grew its reputation as a celebration of music with scenic backdrops at Clinton State Park near Lawrence, Kansas. After five years of perking the interests of devout and casual music fans alike in Kansas, it was time for a change of scenery.
 
2014 will mark the sixth year of Wakarusa on the marvelous Mulberry Mountain near Ozark, Arkansas. Wakarusa has been graced by over a hundred world-class artists and continues to stir the musical interests of folks from all 50 states and beyond. Be prepared for a magical weekend of music where the best artist sometimes is Mother Nature herself.
 
VIP Tickets for Wakarusa 2014 will go on sale on November 15th. For ticketing information, please visit the Wakarusa Music Festival website at www.wakarusa.com.

Saturday Nov 16 at The Flying Monkey in Plymouth NH

Mandolinist Jeff Austin is unstoppable. He is celebrated for his fleet fingers and penchant for improvisation on stage, but those qualities also speak volumes about how he chooses to live. Austin has cultivated his natural musical abilities and allowed himself to be driven by his boldest instincts.  In this way, he has been able to build positive, exciting momentum around his life’s greatest passion.  

 “I remember standing in front of the Grateful Dead three weeks before I dropped out of college and thinking, ‘there’s so much more to this music thing than being educated and being told what you are,’”

Serendipitously, he met banjoist Dave Johnston around the same time. He encouraged Austin to try the mandolin so as to join his band The Bluegrassholes. “I never took lessons,” he admits. “ I jammed night after night with these guys. There’s something about the pace, the speed, the aggressiveness, the chasing of the beat.” Austin was hooked.  

In 1998, Austin and friend Dave Johnston relocated to Nederland, Colorado and met Adam Aijala and Ben Kaufmann, later forming the Yonder Mountain String Band. Together, the four musicians have created a wild, high-energy niche among the bluegrass legends of old and the up and coming jam band scene. Over fifteen years, Yonder Mountain String Band have built an intensely loyal fan base by playing festivals and venues across the nation, sharing the stage with legends like Jon Fishman, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzman, Earl Scruggs, Pete Thomas, and Jimmy Herring, and releasing five studio albums and five live recordings.  

“My time with Yonder has taught me what is possible,” Austin says. “It has shown me that if you work hard at it and you believe in it and there’s a part of you that’s meant to do it, it will happen. It’s cliched, but it’s true.”  It is with this rich personal history at his back that propels Austin into a new creative direction as he prepares to step into the spotlight as a solo artist. On his forthcoming debut project, Austin’s songwriting remains rooted in Americana inspiration and the frantic energy of the jam genre but also, reaches even further weaving in more mainstream themes..Austin wants new and different, complex and interesting. He wants everything the music world has to offer, and he’s willing to work hard to get it.

Expect an evening full of new and energetic material along with many Yonder Mountain favorites with his band featuring Danny Barnes (banjo), Larry Keel (guitar) and Jenny Keel (bass)

WATCH VIDEO: Jeff Austin & Friends LIVE in Colorado

WATCH VIDEO: Jeff Austin & Friends LIVE @ Northwest String Summit

JATOBA
On the surface, the energetic, rhythmic, acoustic sound that the Brattleboro based trio describes with the equation "bluegrass + new-grass = groovegrass" is the perfect soundtrack for kicking back and enjoying life, particularly on a sundrenched summer day. But listen a little closer and you'll discover a group that is rich, compelling, adventurous and artistically gutsy. What musicians John Jamison (acoustic guitar, mandolin, sitar and vocals), Jason Scaggs (acoustic guitar, acoustic baritone guitar, banjo and vocals) and Jeff Richardson (bass, spoons, vocals)bring to the table is a mixture of surprising chord changes, high-speed instrumental breakdowns, complex rhythms, adventurous solos, dream sequences, tight three-part vocal harmonies, lyrics which strike the ears like Beat generation poetry and often tell meaningful stories of introspection and redemption - these are all part of Jatoba's colorful, courageous palette.

WATCH VIDEO: "Billy Jean" cover at Barnaby's Bluegrass Blowout

 

Artsit Websites

Jeff Austin

Jatoba

Ticket Information
Tickets start at $35
Phone: 603-536-2551
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