Athabascan singer – songwriter comes to Homer
When the devastating earthquake and subsequent nuclear power plant eruption hit earlier this year in Japan, a Kenai Peninsula musician decided to write a song. Called a world-wide “Healing Meditation and Prayer for the Japanese Nuclear Power-Plant Workers,” George Holly Jr., dedicated the song to those who were consciously giving their lives for the sake of all.
“This is an inter-faith effort to send them healing energy and God’s love,” Holly wrote beneath his YouTube posting.
KPO launches 2011 summer music festival
Leading up to major concerts, free music performances at restaurants begin August 1 under the auspices of the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra. Fresh Sourdough Express is the site of Monday’s performance. On Tuesday Rudy Multz performs at the Mermaid Cafe. Wednesday brings Victim with Crime to the Harbor Grill, Don Jose’s is the fun spot Thursday and Two Sister’s Bakery is the music scene Friday.
Jazz in the Cove benefits Horn Section Music Fund
With many people volunteering their services, this year’s Jazz in the Cove is expected to funnel most of the money raised into the Horn Section, a music education fund established in memory of beloved music teacher Renda Horn.
Local musician makes debut album
“Miles of Eva” is Milo Matthews’ sixth solo album, yet the well-known musician considers it his debut.
How can that be, given the definition of debut is to “formally introduce one to the public?”
“I’ve spent the past 20 years on these songs, and some go back to 1989,” Milo said. “It’s a compilation of everything I’ve done, everything I am. This is the first recording I’ve done in this way – no holds barred. I worked on it every day for a year.”
Acclaimed Acoustic Africa comes to Homer
The soulful intimations weaving between the performers Habib Koité, Oliver Mtukudzi, and Afel Bocoum have conspired to form an unlikely testament to the recognition of traditional African custom: Acoustic Africa.
Jenny Martin writes the songs
Jenny Martin oversees about 35 Big Brothers Big Sisters along with their matching “littles,” a job that touches many Homer lives. For the past two decades she’s been a familiar face: She conducted outdoor camping trips for young people, oversaw a job training program at the Kachemak Bay Campus and helped local businesses while working for the Homer Chamber of Commerce.
Play takes two souls across time
Bunnell Street Arts Center hosts the first staging of the newly rewritten play, “Time Immemorial,” which tells the story of two souls as they relate to each other through many lifetimes. Co-written by Jack Dalton and Allison Warden, who are also the only two cast members, the show was originally commissioned by Cyrano’s Playhouse as one of five plays celebrating Alaska’s 50th anniversary of statehood.
Alaska-grown band plays Homer
Alaskan-grown rock band Static Cycle is back home after touring 14 states and sharing the stage with the likes of Daughtry, Drowning Pool, Puddle of Mudd, Eve6 and 36 Crazyfists.
They are set to play their first show in Homer, plus gigs in Fairbanks, and Anchorage, before heading back Outside to continue touring.
Hard-driving string band keeps tradition alive
Whenever humans come together, there is music. Only relatively recently in our culture, did a separation arise between music performers and music listeners. In early America, playing music was a natural part of everyday life and everyone participated.
Portland’s Foghorn Stringband is part of a thriving revival that is keeping that old-timey music making alive and they are bringing this deeply rooted American tradition to Homer.
Dan Tyminski turns up the bluegrass heat
While Dan Tyminski may be best known as the artist who remade and sang the title song “Man of Constant Sorrow” for “O Brother, Where Art Thou,” his 13 grammy awards are certainly nothing to dismiss.
Tyminski’s updated version of the song won the 2001 Country Music Award for best single, as well as a Grammy for best Country Collaboration with vocals.
