Forecast Music, Helen Simoneau Danse, Authoring Action, and Johnny Cash on Triad Arts Weekend

Wow, talk about your artistic journeys. Today on the show we'll go from live cutting edge contemporary music in a small Cafe, to the music of Johnny Cash. Before we walk the line though, Dancer Helen Simoneau is asking her dancers to put it all on the line for “Paper Wings”. It's local modern dance that the great Baryshnikov calls “cool moves”. Composer Eric Schwartz brings the hip, new music scene of Brooklyn to the Triad with Forecast Music's Brooklyn Sounds: Copland Meets the Moderns. And they say actions speak louder than words. Authoring Action has its cake and eats it too engaging audiences, empowering youth, and bringing about change all through the power of the written and spoken word. Paisley IB Magney School tenth grader Nonnie Christine Egbuna fights the power with Bethany Chafin. And musician/songwriter Richard Boyd of the Bo-Stevens celebrates the birthday of the legendary "Man In Black" with ten outstanding local bands during the 11^th annual Cash Bash. He chats with Eddie Garcia. Get ready to “Walk the Line”.

Forecast Music

Forecast Music was founded in 2001 in what has come to be known as the epicenter of contemporary music in America: Brooklyn, NY. Forecast, the adventurous new music group is now based in the Triad, where it draws on several of the world's finest composers and performers living right here in North Carolina. The Forecast mission: “…to present new and innovative American concert music of varied aesthetic visions in relaxed, alternative performance spaces as well as traditional concert venues.”

It's a new way to listen to new music. Each program is typically about an hour in length, and depending on the venue you can often enjoy a glass of wine or craft brew as the unusual new sounds waft over you.  

David Ford caught up with Forecast co-founder, pianist, composer Eric Schwartz, and we spoke about their upcoming performance at the Community Arts Cafe in Winston-Salem. 

Brooklyn Sounds: Copland Meets the Moderns will feature the chamber music of 20^th century masters (and Brooklyn natives) Aaron Copland and John Corigliano. Their chamber music pieces will be  performed alongside contemporary works from the ever expanding and incredibly hip classical musical scene in the New York's most populous borough, and Eric's old stomping grounds: Brooklyn.

Composer and Forecast Music co-founder Eric Schwartz. On Sunday, February 23^rd Forecast will feature the chamber music of 20^th century masters (and Brooklyn natives) Aaron Copland and John Corigliano. Their chamber music pieces will be performed alongside contemporary works from the ever expanding and hip classical musical scene in the New York's most populous borough. Brooklyn Sounds: Copland Meets the Moderns begins at 3 pm in the Reynolda House Museum of American Art where you can still see the traveling Brooklyn Museum exhibit American Moderns, 1910-1960: From O'Keeffe to Rockwell. 

Helen Simoneau Danse

Helen Simoneau Danse is bringing her exciting new original choreography to downtown Winston-Salem. It's a short program with live music—both classical and contemporary—and it'll feature two dances: a duet that Helen began while attending her company's recent residency at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York, and “Paper Wings” commissioned by the American Dance Festival.

Helen says “Paper Wings” was originally choreographed for 19 dance students of varied abilities. She's recently restaged the work for 11 professional dancers.

On Thursday, February 27^th and Friday the 28^th she and her company Helen Simoneau Danse will present two of Helen's original choreographies with original music by Andy Hasenpflug, and Johann Sebastian Bach, his Sonata for violin and harpsichord performed live by Mallarme Chamber Players. The dance concerts begin at 7:30 in the Hanesbrands Theatre in downtown Winston-Salem. 

Authoring Action

Nonnie Egbuna has a quite a voice.  The 15-year old 10^th-grader at Paisley IB Magnet School is a member of Authoring Action, a non-profit that aims to harness the power of storytelling through writing, dance, spoken word, and film.  The teens involved with Authoring Action are nurtured as authors and advocates of social change.

Authoring Action's Third Annual Winter Retrospective begins this weekend at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA).  Engagements begin at 6pm on Saturday, February 22^nd and at 3pm on Sunday February 23^rd and continue next weekend, at the same respective times on March 1^st and 2^nd.  Proceeds benefit Authoring Action and SECCA.  Bethany Chafin spoke with Nonnie about the power of writing and the power of sharing. 

http://youtu.be/DtVUeGItij8

Cash Bash

The music of Mr. Johnny Cash will be celebrated on February 28^th and March 1^st @ The Garage in downtown Winston-Salem. It's two evenings that our guest Richard Boyd has christened as Cash Bash, and it's celebrating its 12^th year. With an impressive bill of performers from a multitude of genres, including rockabilly, country, punk, metal, surf, and nearly everything in between, it's a duo of nights that any music lover will enjoy.  The Bo-Stevens front man and Winston-Salem hony tonk singer extraordinaire,  Richard Boyd, stopped by WFDD to fill us in on the Cash Bash details.

This years two-night celebration of the music of Johnny Cash takes place on February 28^th and March 1^st @ The Garage in downtown Winston-Salem.