Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Dramatic Reading Series:

For Colored Girls Who Consider Suicide

by Ntozake Shange

Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Dramatic Reading Series:

For Colored Girls Who Consider Suicide

by Ntozake Shange

This summer exhibit will feature the works of Joe Steiner and Shelley Bruccar, in addtion to other local artists.

Joe is an observational figurative painter who works exclusively from life. He talks to his models while he paints, this helps him to connect with his feelings about them. His goal as an artist is to open the door to his emotions and sharpen his eye as an observer.

Shelly is energized and fascinated by colors, textures and patterns on fabric. She uses cloth, dyes and threads as a painter uses canvas and paint. She starts with white fabric, dyes it, screens it, puts color in, takes color out, paints it and stitches it. She has gradually moved from layering of fabric to more whole-cloth surface design and from mostly representational to more impressionistic, allowing the piece to lead and inspire her.

Feel free to contact Simply Chicago Art with any questions you may have, 847-738-0716.

Artist Reception
Saturday July 10, 1:00-5:00

Exhibit runs
July 10~August 1

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This summer exhibit will feature the works of Joe Steiner and Shelley Bruccar, in addtion to other local artists.

Joe is an observational figurative painter who works exclusively from life. He talks to his models while he paints, this help... more

Ray Benson (Ray Benson Siefert, Lucky Oceans and Leroy Preston were really just three alterna-culture refugees when they landed in Paw Paw, W. Va., in the summer of 1969. Their plan was to form a real live Western swing band, influenced by the likes of fellow-gonzo-swinger Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen. After drifting through Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, the band (which got its record deal when Van Morrison raved about them in Rolling Stone) landed in heart of Bob Wills country: Austin, Texas, in the early '70s. With its fondness for jazz, blues, rock and country, the band was an instant hit with the same folks who embraced Willie Nelson and the rest of the Outlaws.

The band only scored one Top 10 country hit -- 1975's "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read" -- but has collected eight Grammys since then. In addition to two-all star Bob Wills tributes in the '90s, the ensemble offered a concept album Asleep at the Wheel Remembers the Alamo in 2003. Also that year, Benson (the only remaining founding member) released his first solo album, Beyond Time, which earned two Grammy nominations.

Genre: Country/Americana

Asleep's site - Bubbly Creek's site

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Ray Benson (Ray Benson Siefert, Lucky Oceans and Leroy Preston were really just three alterna-culture refugees when they landed in Paw Paw, W. Va., in the summer of 1969. Their plan was to form a real live Western swing band, influenced by the lik... more

Evanston artists are invited to apply to the 2nd Annual Artists for a Greener Evanston Showcase. The application deadline is August 1, 2010.   Applicants should describe how they are lowering their carbon footprint or encouraging greener ways of living and working.  The showcase is sponsored by Citizens for a Greener Evanston.  Request an application form from artgreenevanston@gmail.com.  As with the 2009 Showcase, visual, electronic and performing artists are welcome. 

The 2nd Annual Artists for a Greener Evanston Showcase will be on October 21 and 22, 2010.  The first night will play host to an opening reception while the second night will add family-oriented activities. Both events will be at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes Street and will include a raffle and art auction.

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Evanston artists are invited to apply to the 2nd Annual Artists for a Greener Evanston Showcase. The application deadline is August 1, 2010.   Applicants should describe how they are lowering their carbon footprint or en... more

Ray Benson (Ray Benson Siefert, Lucky Oceans and Leroy Preston were really just three alterna-culture refugees when they landed in Paw Paw, W. Va., in the summer of 1969. Their plan was to form a real live Western swing band, influenced by the likes of fellow-gonzo-swinger Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen. After drifting through Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, the band (which got its record deal when Van Morrison raved about them in Rolling Stone) landed in heart of Bob Wills country: Austin, Texas, in the early '70s. With its fondness for jazz, blues, rock and country, the band was an instant hit with the same folks who embraced Willie Nelson and the rest of the Outlaws.

The band only scored one Top 10 country hit -- 1975's "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read" -- but has collected eight Grammys since then. In addition to two-all star Bob Wills tributes in the '90s, the ensemble offered a concept album Asleep at the Wheel Remembers the Alamo in 2003. Also that year, Benson (the only remaining founding member) released his first solo album, Beyond Time, which earned two Grammy nominations.

Genre: Country/Americana

Asleep at the Wheel's site - TC's site

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Ray Benson (Ray Benson Siefert, Lucky Oceans and Leroy Preston were really just three alterna-culture refugees when they landed in Paw Paw, W. Va., in the summer of 1969. Their plan was to form a real live Western swing band, influenced by the lik... more

Starlight Concert Series 2010

Take the finest instrumentalists and vocalists in Chicago. Mix in a seasoned bandleader, an engaging and interactive stage show, and an expansive repertoire of music. Top it all off with Ken Arlen’s 20 years of experience in providing Chicago’s wedding market with the finest entertainment available.

The result? Ken Arlen’s FRONT OF HOUSE.

www.arlenmusic.com/foh/pages/home_new.htm

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Starlight Concert Series 2010

Take the finest instrumentalists and vocalists in Chicago. Mix in a seasoned bandleader, an engaging and interactive stage show, and an expansive repertoire of music. Top it all off with Ken Ar... more

Guitarists Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale celebrate a remarkable two decades plus since 1987’s Red Dust and Spanish Lace established the British ensemble as an ever evolving, powerhouse force in contemporary jazz. Their thousands of fans around the world may be feeling nostalgic, but the duo, while keeping their trademark acoustic

guitar synergy front and center, is clearly committed to forging ahead. Carmichael explains the energy is the result of a natural chemistry he’s developed with Gilderdale over the years since Gilderdale (formerly a backing guitarist with the band) became Carmichael’s full partner after the passing of founding member Nick Webb in 1998 and

the release that year of Positive Thinking.

 

The road to instrumental stardom began when Webb and Carmichael provided the oneoff- in-flight entertainment for a Virgin Airlines England to America flight, in search of an elusive recording contract; they often liked to say they “played their way to America”. Signed to the MCA Master Series label by Tony Brown, their popularity took off in

conjunction with the rise of the New Adult Contemporary radio format.

Acoustic Alchemy’s early MCA albums—starting with Red Dust and Spanish Lace and continuing with 1988’s Natural Elements and 1989’s Blue Chip—were all later rereleased on GRP. One of the band’s most remarkable recordings was 1996’s live in the studio date Arcanum, which featured new arrangements of classics, a few new tracks, and full orchestration. Recorded over three days at Pinewood Film Studios in England (home to all the James Bond films), the sessions were filmed by director Aubrey Powell for a television documentary of the band, released on video as Best Kept Secret; GRP re-released this on DVD in July, 2006 with extra archived live performance and documentary footage. In 2002, Acoustic Alchemy also released Sounds of St. Lucia, a CD/DVD live concert package based on a performance recorded by BET television. Acoustic Alchemy recently released in conjunction with Universal Music The Very Best of Acoustic Alchemy Vol 2 which they will be promoting throughout 2009.

Genre: Jazz

Order Tickets Here

Acoustic Alchemy's site

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Guitarists Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale celebrate a remarkable two decades plus since 1987’s Red Dust and Spanish Lace established the British ensemble as an ever evolving, powerhouse force in contempo... more

Adult/Teens
Paint and draw with the outdoor elements. We will repeatedly meet at
two beautiful locations in Evanston. Students enjoy exploring and
choosing their compostions by practicing gesture and contour
drawing/painting while looking through a hand held window.
Develop and enhance painting and drawing skills through learning color theory
and experimenting with chosen mediums.. Bring your charcoal, oils, acrylics
or watercolors.

Instructor: Jill King
Length: 4 weeks
Days: Wednesdays
Times: 10am - noon
Cost: $18.00 per class session or $72.00 for 4 weeks
Outdoor Locations:
July 14, 21 : The Merrick Park Rose Garden.
The Corner of Lake St. and Oak St. in Evanston.
(We will meet at the Loon fountain on the South end of the Garden).
July 28 & Aug. 4 : Elliot Park, on the Lakefront, on Greenleaf and
Lakeshore Blvd., Evanston, IL. (Meet by the bathroom building).

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Adult/Teens
Paint and draw with the outdoor elements. We will repeatedly meet at
two beautiful locations in Evanston. Students enjoy exploring and
choosing their compostions by practicing gesture and contour
drawing/pa... more

Born in South Carolina and raised in California, Trevor Hall developed an affinity for summery acoustic music, from the beachside ambiance of Jack Johnson to the leisurely stroll of Bob Marley. Having spent his teenage years at a boarding school for the arts, Hall dedicated his life to music upon his high-school graduation. He self-released Lace Up Your Shoes in 2004; two years later, the teenaged Hall prepared for his major-label debut with Geffen Records. The Rascals Have Returned, an introductory EP produced by John Alagía, featured a soothing mix of reggae, folk, and roots rock. Sales were slow, however, and Geffen dropped Hall from their roster in 2008.

Hall continued to tour, performing shows alongside the likes of Ben Harper, Matisyahu, and the Wailers. He also returned to the studio to record a self-titled sophomore album, which emphasized the artist's reggae influences upon its release in 2009.

Grammy-nominated artist Matthew Santos has established himself as one of the rare and striking voices quickly emerging from the Windy City’s music scene.  With a growing fan base hailing him for his ethereal voice, Santos has secured his place in current music with his distinguished style and elusive musical gift.  Far from all of the sound and fury of the modern music trends, 27-year-old Santos is quietly rising into one of the most remarkable voices of his generation.

Genre: Acoustic Rock

Trevor's site - Matthew's site

Order Tickets Here

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Born in South Carolina and raised in California, Trevor Hall developed an affinity for summery acoustic music, from the beachside ambiance of Jack Johnson to the leisurely stroll of Bob Marley. Having spent his teenage years at a boarding school f... more

(John Hughes, 1985, USA, 97 minutes)
The focal point for all teen angst in the Hughes-universe, the fictional Chicago suburb of Shermer never felt more like a living, breathing community than in this coming-of-age classic. A stint in weekend detention forces five teenagers from rival cliques to put aside their prejudices to stave off boredom and existential loneliness.
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(John Hughes, 1985, USA, 97 minutes)
The focal point for all teen angst in the Hughes-universe, the fictional Chicago suburb of Shermer never felt more like a living, breathing community than in this coming-of-age classic. A stint in weekend deten... more

In New Orleans, a city indisputably overflowing with funk, the high honor for Best Funk Group of 2008 was awarded to Big Sam's Funky Nation at the 2009 Big Easy Music Awards. For the past few years, Big Sam's Funky Nation has been a driving force of urban funk. The band is led by trombone powerhouse, Big Sam Williams, formerly the trombonist for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, who the San Francisco Chronicle calls "the top man on the slide trombone in the birthplace of jazz." Presiding over his Funky Nation is Big Sam, a big man with an impeccable urban fashion sense, who blows the funk out of his trombone and refuses to let the audience sit still. Between solos and trombone riffs, Big Sam second-lines (a uniquely New Orleans style of street-dance) and gets the crowd going both in movement and in replies to his call-and-response MC-style. An extremely talented group of musicians makes up the Funky Nation, bringing with them a rock sensibility, the improv-style associated with jazz and the horn-heavy front section that's the hallmark of big band funk. The energy level is high voltage when this band takes the stage, as Eric Podolsky of Jambase notes, "Big Sam's Funky Nation... pulls no punches when it comes to bringing a straight raw party." Big Sam's Funky Nation has undeniable personality, as well as masterful chops. Also, the band was recently featured on VH-1’s Soul Cities, on Live with Regis & Kelly and on the Travel Channel’s America the Wright Way.

"Ann Arbor's jazz rock outfit, The Macpodz, throw some of the coolest parties around. With a little bit of everything in its musical grab bag, The Macpodz easily please music lovers, from fans of far out jazz to those rootsy jam band-style grooves. The inventor and namesake of its own brand of funky dance music, coined 'disco-bebop,' The Macpodz pay homage to kinky musical concoctions like the groovy, unstructured big band instrumental works of the late, great Frank Zappa with psychadelic tinges of sunglasses-and-afro era Miles Davis. With two solid albums under its belt and a slew of foot-shuffling fans across the region, The Macpodz impress as only an open-minded band can, taking the core of genuine American music and tossing in tasteful touches of world music grooves and lots and lots of swinging horn licks that rouse and comfort all at once." -RAB, Toledo City Paper

Genre: Funk

Big Sam's site - The Macpodz's site

Order Tickets Here

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In New Orleans, a city indisputably overflowing with funk, the high honor for Best Funk Group of 2008 was awarded to Big Sam's Funky Nation at the 2009 Big Easy Music Awards. For the past few years, Big Sam's Funky Nation h... more

FREE TO ALL-INCLUSIVE SUBSCRIBERS!

Celebrate Johnny Mercer and the Great American Songbook - past, present and future! Featuring some of America’s celebrated and emerging songwriters and singers, this week-long project will conclude with three special events, which are offered as part of the 2010 All-Inclusive season subscription!

Get Directions
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FREE TO ALL-INCLUSIVE SUBSCRIBERS!

Celebrate Johnny Mercer and the Great American Songbook - past, present and future! Featuring some of America’s celebrated and emerging songwriters and singers, this week-long project will con... more

In Tim O’Brien’s music, things come together. The uncanny intersection of traditional and contemporary elements in his songwriting, his tireless dedication to a vast and still-expanding array of instruments, and his ongoing commitment to place himself in as many unique and challenging musical scenarios as possible has made him a key figure in today’s thriving roots music scene – and well beyond it. O’Brien’s presence – be it as a bandleader, songwriter, mentor, instrumentalist, or vocalist – has been strongly felt not only in his own rich music, but in the many recordings of his songs by such artists as the Dixie Chicks, Garth Brooks, Dierks Bentley, Nickel Creek, Kathy Mattea, the New Grass Revival, and the Seldom Scene, and in his recorded collaborations with Steve Martin, the Chieftains, and innumerable others. Most recently, O’Brien has been performing before capacity crowds in the band of Mark Knopfler, who described O’Brien as “a master of American folk music, Irish music, Scottish music – it doesn't matter; a fine songwriter and one of my favorite singers.” 

With her gorgeous cream-and-Kahlua voice, Chicago’s Naomi Ashley is a dazzling performer who brings her songs to startling, vibrant life.

When she's singing, she disappears into the song. Her pitch-perfect voice has the ability to convey pitch perfect emotional life. The music she makes is intimate, plainspoken and gorgeously sung — drawing on the American folk, blues and country traditions — which surge with all the contradictory impulses of real, imperfect life.

Genre: Folk/Bluegrass/Roots

Tim's site - Naomi's site

Order Tickets Here

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In Tim O’Brien’s music, things come together. The uncanny intersection of traditional and contemporary elements in his songwriting, his tireless dedication to a vast and still-expanding array of instruments, and his ongoing commitment to place... more

In celebration of the Evanston Lake Shore Arts Festival, take a guided walking tour through Evanston’s Lakeshore Historic District with a women’s history focus.  Our route will take us past the homes of women who were pioneers in women’s rights, art, literature and government.  Places you pass every day will take on a richer dimension.

The tour begins at the Evanston History Center, 225 Greenwood Street, at 1:30pm and will end at the Evanston History Center around 3:30pm.

Reservations are recommended!

For more information or to make reservations, contact the Evanston History Center at (847) 475-3410 or send an e-mail to Kris Hartzell at khartzell@evanstonhistorycenter.org

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In celebration of the Evanston Lake Shore Arts Festival, take a guided walking tour through Evanston’s Lakeshore Historic District with a women’s history focus.  Our route will take us past the homes of women who were pioneers in women’... more

Reception 5:00pm - 8:00 pm

Refreshments will be served

Photographs by Paul Clark and William Bridges.

Defining space or restricting access, barriers are common and temporal motifs that punctuate the land. Clark is interested in the transformation that occurs when small parcels are viewed through the material that comprises the barrier. On one level, geometric puzzles manifest themselves with the intersection and layering of planes, creating fields of visual vectors that emanate a fabricated energy. More subtle and intriguing is the application of the barrier as a filtering device that’s used in conjunction with camera controls. The concept of energy/movement is heightened while the mystery of the abstracted image is enhanced.”

“Work: an Intimate Portrait,” by William Bridges, is a documentary exploration of people engaging in routine activities on their jobs. By focusing on the subjects’ hands as they carry out these activities, this series aims to capture the intersection of the central, and perhaps universal, elements of any work process. These include not only the physical media of work, but also the practices, skills, ideas, and beliefs which guide the subjects’ hands. These images also invite comparisons across venues of work which are often distinguished through a variety of invidious labels—white collar vs. blue collar; skilled vs. unskilled; trades vs. professions; and, ironically, manual vs. non-manual.

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Reception 5:00pm - 8:00 pm

Refreshments will be served

Photographs by Paul Clark and William Bridges.

Defining space or restricting access, barriers are common and temporal motifs t... more