Amigo, Pianist Jon Nakamatsu, RiverRun International Film Fest, and Terri Kirby Erickson

What do you get when you cross gritty east Texas honky-tonks with flamboyant art school kids? Well, as Technical Producer Eddie Garcia finds out you get a friend: Amigo. They have a new album out and Eddie chats it up with front man Slade Baird. Then we wipe off the honky-tonk dust, grab our smoking jacket and sit down for a civilized evening of world class chamber music. Van Cliburn International Piano Competition gold medalist is coming to town to play Music for a Great Space with mind-blowingly good clarinetist Jon Manasse, and he talks shop with me. Then, speaking of international, Eddie's back with RiverRun International Film Festival Executive Director Andrew Rodgers. The Fest turns 16 this year and Andrew gives us a sweet preview. International award-winning poet Terri Kirby Erickson is here too. She's ready to launch her new book—with a cool title: A Lake of Light and Clouds. Terri's got a way of seeing the everyday as if we just got a new pair of specks.

Segment 1: Amigo

The Charlotte North Carolina based band Amigo has been carving out a special place in the local music scene for the past few years. A culmination of the band members past musical and personal experiences, Amigo have a sound that comes in like an East Texas wind, infusing a country rock aesthetic with punk rock abandon & art school ingenuity.

Their recently released debut LP, “Might Could,” is an engaging collection of upbeat songs delivered with authority, humor, and a rowdy rock n' roll spirit. The album is available on cd and vinyl, online or at friendly neighborhood record stores like Earshot in Winston-Salem.

Amigo's been hitting the road hard since the album's release in Febuary, and you can catch them next at Slim's in Raleigh on March 22^nd, Tin Roof in Charleston, South Carolina on March 27^th, and at The Cave in Chapel Hill on March 29^th. 

Eddie sat down with Amigo singer, songwriter, and guitarist Slade Baird, and got some insight into Amigo's genre bashing music, and some of the inspiration behind their slyly positive songs.

Segment 2: Jon Nakamatsu

What do you get when you combine Van Cliburn gold medalist pianist Jon Nakamatsu and world renowned clarinetist Jon Manasse. Friday night, March 21^st, right here in the Triad they'll perform together live in concert as part of the Music for a Great Space series. You know, throughout the history of music there have been those folks whose artistry goes beyond genre. You could absolutely hate opera but be moved to tears by Pavoratti ripping into a sad Puccini aria. You could swear up and down that jazz music was for the birds, but crack a smile at Luis Armstrong singing What a Wonderful World. The two Jon's are those types of musicians. They are quite simply the best at what they do and their program is absolutely amazing whether you are a classical buff, chamber music aficionado, or just a warm weather fan. Jon Nakamatsu spoke with David Ford about it and his wonderful clarinet colleague Jon Manasse by phone from his home in New York.

Internationally renowned piano soloist, and chamber musician Jon Nakamatsu. The 1997 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition gold medalist will be joined by one of the world's greatest clarinetists Jon Manasse in recital Friday night, March 21^st.  The concert begins at 7:30 pm in Christ United Methodist Church in Greensboro. On the program music by Robert Schumann, Pacquito D'Rivera, Claude Debussy, Frederick Chopin, and more. It's presented as part of the Music for a Great Space series.

Special Arts Update: IF YOU ARE A FAN OF REAL NEW ORLEANS-STYLE JAZZ, IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN THE LINE DANCING THIS WEEKEND AS THE SAINTS GO MARCHING INTO GREENSBORO!   CAROLINA THEATRE AND ARTSGREENSBORO PRESENT THE WORLD FAMOUS PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND TOMORROW NIGHT [SATURDAY] AT 8PM IN THE BEAUTIFUL CAROLINA THEATRE. ENJOY ALL YOUR JAZZ BAND FAVORITES AND HAVE MORE FUN THAN A NIGHT ON BOURBON STREET. 

Segment 3: River Run Film Festival

North Carolina has a rich, vibrant, and ever expanding film heritage. With lots of movies being produced here over the years, including recent blockbusters like Iron Man 3, The Conjuring, and The Hunger Games, as well as popular television programs like Homeland & Eastbound and Down, our home state has proven to be an excellent location to set up a camera, roll sound, and call Action! Throw in our impressive film department at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where the filmmakers of tomorrow are being immersed in the craft, and its plain to see that NC is a national film destination.

Another big part of our film frenzy is thanks to the festivals that have established roots in North Carolina. In Winston-Salem, you can always count on the RiverRun International Film Festival to bring filmgoing audiences a taste of the latest in the world of cinema. From full length features, to documentary shorts, to archival screenings, to international sensations, and into the world of animation and so much more, there's something for every taste.  

The 16^th Annual RiverRun International Film Festival kicks off on Friday April 4^th, and runs through Sunday April 13^th. Take note that there are a few free family & dog friendly screenings, as well as panel discussions that are open to the public.

Eddie's guest today is festival executive director Andrew Rodgers. Andrew wrote for The Chicago Tribune, worked at the Sundance Film Festival, and joined RiverRun in 2005.

Andrew Rodgers is the executive director of the RiverRun International Film Festival, now in its 16^th year. The festival kicks off on Friday April 4^th, and runs through Sunday April 13^th.  Also be sure to tune into Triad Arts Weekend on Friday April 4^th for more of Eddie's talk with Andrew, as well as some conversations with the filmmakers behind the scenes.

http://youtu.be/6-NyfNdE0nw

Segment 4: Terri Kirby Erickson

David Ford takes our little International theme now from International film fests right here in our own backyard, to international award-winning poetry, and North Carolina native Terri Kirby Erickson. She's recently completed her fourth collection of poetry. The Press 53 author will unveil her latest: A Lake of Light and Clouds at the Historic Broyhill in Clemmons on April 3^rd. The book launch gala is also a fundraiser for the Novant Health Derrick L. Davis Cancer Center Simstein Memorial Fund for patients unable to afford treatment. A Lake of Light and Clouds has already received high praise from NY Times Best Selling author Jill Conner Browne who writes that Terri “…makes us see everyday things with new eyes and gratitude that beauty is not the exception but the rule of life.”

Terri Kirby Erickson is the author of four collections of poetry, including In the Palms of Angels, winner of three international awards, and her forthcoming collection titled A Lake of Light and Clouds both out on Press 53. On Thursday, April 3^rd at 7:00pm you can hear Terri read from her new book during the Book Launch Gala in the beautiful Historic Broyhill in Clemmons. Musicians Lee & Susan Terry will perform live during the launch, and well-known artist Stephen White will be special guest at the party. His painting for Terri's book cover will be on display and for sale. A portion of the proceeds from this fundraiser book launch event will go to support Novant Health Derrick L. Davis Cancer Center Simstein Memorial Fund for patients unable to afford treatment.