Nora Jane Struthers, Lloyd Kaufman, Seven Handle Circus, Associated Artists, and More on TAW

Today on the show we'll be genre jumping like never before from “new Americana” to Mozart's Magic Flute, and from new Dimensions in art, to low brow/high concept cinema. Outspoken Troma Entertainment co-founder Lloyd Kaufman says “Give art back to the people”, and Triad Arts Weekend's Eddie Garcia says “You're pushin' on an open door”. Then Bethany Chafin sits in with Nora Jane Struthers. This weekend, she and The Party Line are headed Carolina. And David gets his first taste of what's been called “rowdy Bluegrass” with Seven Handle Circus's Colin Vinson. They'll be at Twin City Ribfest this weekend. At American Singer's Opera Project The Queen of the Night may scream “Abandoned may you be forever”, but hey, you're never alone on TAW.

Segment 1: Nora Jane Struthers & The Party Line

Nora Jane Struthers is a singer and songwriter based in Nashville, Tennessee. She released her first, self-titled album in 2010 to critical acclaim, and went on to play the Telluride Bluegrass Festival that summer where her group was named best band. In April 2013, Nora Jane Struthers & The Party Line independently released Carnival, an album of 14 original story-songs all written by Struthers.  The album was produced by Brent Truitt, who's worked with artists such as Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, and the Dixie Chicks.  

Each song on Carnival tells the story of a woman, and together, they achieve a chronological narrative that flows lyrically from tales of youth to old age.  Nora Jane and The Party Line are currently on tour, and they'll be playing in Lexington, North Carolina this Friday, June 6th at High Rock Outfitters. The show begins at 9pm and tickets are $10.

And if you can't make the concert, take a bike ride with Nora Jane and the band:

http://youtu.be/hGeuA3rzjXE

http://youtu.be/fbp8-Yr0gPs

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Segment 2: Lloyd Kaufman and Seven Handle Circus

Now let's visit the home of The Toxic Avenger & Nuke 'Em High - Tromaville.

Troma makes what is often referred to as “B” movies – shot on shoestring budgets with healthy doses of harsh language, excessive violence & nudity, and they're often gleefully offensive. But these films are also filled with political, sociological, and environmental messages, and for independent filmmakers they have not only been a source of inspiration, but a source of information, as Troma has released books, dvds, and YouTube videos offering advice on how to make films on your own without major studio support.

The co-founder of Troma Entertainment, Lloyd Kaufman, visited Greensboro's Geeksboro Coffeehouse Cinema, where he screened his latest film Return to Nuke ‘Em High: Vol 1, engaged in a lively Q&A with the audience, and signed autographs & chatted with fans til well after midnight.

The outspoken king of low brow/high concept cinema sat down with Eddie to talk not only Troma, but the current state of independent cinema, net neutrality, and what its like to start getting attention from museums, galleries, and film archives.

Colin Vinson of Seven Handle Circus

The band Seven Handle Circus has been critically acclaimed as “rowdy bluegrass”, but you're just as likely to hear them playing an Earth Wind & Fire classic, rapping with T-Pain & Yung Joc or performing live with Mumford & Sons. The six-piece Atlanta band comes to the Triad this Friday night for Twin City Ribfest in Winston-Salem. Seven Handle Circus lead banjo player Colin Vinson spoke with David Ford by phone from his home in Atlanta.

The band performs Friday night, June 6^th beginning at 9:00 PM during Twin City Ribfest, 500 N. Marshall Street in Winston-Salem. Tickets are seven bucks. Seven Handle's latest LP is Whiskey Stills & Sleeping Pills which debuted at #10 on the Roots Music Report Bluegrass Chart. 

http://youtu.be/Ac1AsEAMPy0

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Segment 3: Associated Artists of Winston-Salem and ASOP

Dimensions, A 50^th Anniversary is a national juried exhibition in the Triad presented every year since 1964 by Associated Artists of Winston-Salem. This year's juror is Penland School of Crafts' Jean McLaughlin.

The Best in Show will receive $1,000, $500 for 2^nd Place, $250 for 3^rd and $50 for Honorable Mentions. Dimensions, A 50^th Anniversary opens this Friday with a free reception at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts. Associated Artists of Winston-Salem Executive Director Piers Clarkson spoke with David Ford about this milestone event. He was joined by artist, and Gallery Coordinator Bryce Hauser who'll be curating the national exhibit.

Dimensions, A 50^th Anniversary in the Womble Carlyle Gallery opens this Friday, June 6^th from 5-7pm with a free reception at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts. Associated Artists has a busy summer in store following Dimensions with the July show Summer in the Village at Reynolda Village, followed in August and September by the Allegacy's Keener Gallery exhibit, and the concluding all-member show in the Womble Carlyle Gallery. 

ASOP: American Singers' Opera Project

It's time to pick up our opera glasses. The American Singers' Opera Project (ASOP) kicked off last weekend with free Aria Evenings at Arbor Acres and Salemtowne. The two-week long program concludes this year with performances of Mozart's Magic Flute, sung in German, with English dialogue and Chamber Orchestra. Artistic Director, American soprano, and Assistant Professor Music at University of Central Oklahoma Barbara DeMaio Caprilli, and Wake Forest University Professor of Music, lyric tenor Richard Heard spoke with me about it.

The two-week long program concludes this year with performances of Mozart's Magic Flute, sung in German, with English dialogue and Chamber Orchestra June 12^th through the 14^th at 7:00 pm in Brendle Recital Hall, on the Wake Forest University campus.