Bulletin Blog

…as seen on HometownHeadlines.com…

Thursday: Moon Crew at the Moon; Julie Gribble at 333

The Rome-Floyd Parks & Recreation Authority will be hosting the 2010 Special Olympics at Darlington’s Chris Hunter Stadium this year. The event starts at 9:30 a.m. and will feature entertainment by the Just As I Am Choir and the One Step at a Time Dance Club.

Russell McClanahan & the mOOn Crew will be entertaining the dinner crowd at Harvest Moon with their old time string band sound.

I really enjoyed catching Julie Gribble at her last performance in Rome. She has been working diligently over the years at what comes naturally to her, which is writing, singing, and performing traditional Americana style acoustic music. Julie’s credentials are too many to name but I recommend looking her up because she is the real deal. Then you’ll definitely want to catch her tonight at 333 on Broad.

Friday: The John Lee Hookers, Hip-Knotics & Clocktower Classic

The 2010 Clocktower Classic kicks off Friday in various locations in Rome. This year is expected to be the biggest turnout yet.

The Hip-Knotics are back at 333 on Broad this Friday night to unleash some more of classic rock’s finest cuts, while mixing in some great originals as well. They feature members of The Beatless, who many have seen perform excellent renditions of classic Beatles’ tunes. Basically, they just opened up their repertoire and have been playing songs from Jimi Hendrix and Tom Petty among other greats.

Clay Broome’s latest installment is a blues drenched rock show called The John Lee Hookers. Broome leads a solid trio that delivers and excellent upbeat show of the real deal blues and rockabilly rhythms. They’ll be shredding it up at the 400 Block Bar.

Saturday: World Music Festival at Berry; Jon Byrd at 333′s anniversary

The Fifth Annual World Music & Dance Festival will take place this Saturday on the Moon Lawn at Berry College. This is an all afternoon and into the night event that features an excellent array of music and performance art including artists as diverse as Ogya, Devidasa, The Groundhawgs, and Scott Warren & the Collard Green Berets. This is an amazing way to spend an afternoon.

Drew Thomas and Ralph Tetta are two top-shelf touring comedians that will be in Rome Saturday night at MB’s Comedy & Event House. It’s always great to kick back and laugh in some of the most comfortable chairs I can remember.

333 on Broad is celebrating its one-year anniversary this Saturday with all kinds of specials and live music by Jon Byrd, one of Rome’s favorites who has been playing there since the beginning.

Atomic Boogie is an Atlanta area rockabilly swing group with a dirty blues sound. They get the crowd hopping every time with ease. This past weekend they rocked the V3 tent at Steeplechase and Saturday night they’ll be bringing the heat to the 400 Block Bar.

…as seen on HometownHeadlines.com…

By Bryan Mullins/Mullinsmania.com

Tonight: McClanahan, mOOn crew and Muletide night Russell McClanahan & the mOOn Crew have earned the right to perform every Thursday in the Harvest Moon dining room. Performing originals and classics in the form of old time string band music, it’s hard to find better dinner music to fit the excellent atmosphere on a Thursday night at the Moon.

Muletide Perkins is at it again. This time it’s going to be an Earth Day celebration at the 400 Block Bar. Not exactly sure what that means but you can count on ol’ Tide banging on a guitar and singing original country blues to the best that he can remember. The theme of the evening will be respect for our great Mother, to which we are all permanently attached.

Billy Florkowski performs favorites from artists like Dave Matthews and Led Zeppelin. He’s returning to 333 on Broad for a night of laid back tunes.

Friday: Roman Roast semi-final at 333 on Broad; international flavor

Finally it’s time for the Roman Roast on the River’s Battle of the Bands Final Four Showdown at 333 on Broad. For the last four weeks, Matt D & Mullins have been playing selections from 16 local bands on the morning show on 95.7 The Ridge FM. Listeners were directed to vote on RN-T.com to choose their favorite band. The final four was announced Monday. They are Jerry on the Moon, PerFeKt Peace, Southern Thread and Applefeet. The winner and runner up of this event will perform at the Roman Roast on the River BBQ Cookoff on May 8 at Ridge Ferry Park. The audience at this event will decide the winner.

This weekend marks the Seventh Annual Rome International Festival. This is a great opportunity to celebrate and share the cultural diversity that exists within our community. Kicking off the event is a concert at Bridgepoint Plaza featuring an excellent Chattanooga-based Afro-beat, jazz and reggae fusion band named Ogya. Also joining in the festivities is the Mountain Top Djembe Drummers and the Berry Middle School World Music Drummers.

Local acoustic country and rock artist Jon Byrd will return to the Moon Roof Bar for another excellent evening of tunes and good times. The weather will be perfect for a night at the Moon Roof with Jon.

The Groundhawgs will be back in full swing at the 400 Block Bar this Friday night. The Jones Brothers (Clayton and Clark) have been fronting this band for years and they know exactly how to put on a great show of acoustic string band music and have a great time while doing it.

Saturday: Scott Thompson at 333; AIDS Resource Council benefit

The Rome International Festival continues Saturday at Ridge Ferry Park. This is a great way to spend an afternoon with food from all over the globe as well as music, cultural arts and performance arts. Make sure to bring the whole family and enjoy the diversity.

It’s time once again for Steeplechase. It’s a huge lawn party with all kinds of excitement and is held at Kingston Downs. There most definitely will be many beautiful horses, striking ladies and nifty headgear. Lot’s of fun in the sun is in store.

53 to Nowhere is the new name of the band formerly known as Haven. If you recall Haven, then you’ll recall explosive rock ‘n’ roll and high energy performances at multiple venues over the last five years. These guys will be bringing the heat at Kilroy’s this Saturday. Kilroy’s is the bar at VFW Post 4911 on the Cedartown Highway. They’ve been filling up their schedule lately with great live music and other events.

Scott Thompson is unquestionably one of the areas most loved performers. He puts on a great show every time with songs you love to sing and dance too. Pretty much everyone leaves with a smile after every show. Saturday night he’ll be at 333 on Broad.

The Schroeder’s Courtyard will be opening for a special event this Saturday evening. It’s the annual AIDS Resource Council benefit concert, providing the opportunity to support a great local cause and enjoy the music of local world fusion band Devidasa among others.

Rome Symphony Orchestra will perform Mendelssohn’s Concerto fro Clarinet and Bass Clarinet at the Rome City Auditorium. The performance features Ashraff Atalla on clarinet and Alcides Rodriguez on bass clarinet.

-These are just some highlights. For more Mullins: Check Bryan’s Web site, MullinsMania, for expanded entertainment coverage. Plus join Mullins and Matt D on The Ridge 95.7 FM each weekday from 7 to 9 a.m.

…as seen on HometownHeadlines.com..

MullinsMania: Downtown entertainment report

By Bryan Mullins

www.mullinsmania.com

By now, hopefully you’ve either filed an extension or finished your taxes. You deserve to take a load off this weekend and enjoy some of the many entertainment opportunities.

Russell McClanahan & the mOOn Crew will be playing old time string band music for the dinner crowd at Harvest Moon. This has become a weekly staple of the downtown music scene for years now. When Russell began this gig he was playing with the legendary Kasper “Stranger” Malone. We are all grateful that he has continued after Malone’s passing in 2005.

Francisco Vidal has made a name for himself all over Georgia and the Southeast due to constant performing. He’s a pro and it reflects in every show. He’ll be at 333 on Broad tonight.

HUGE FRIDAY: Waterfest X; Self Serve; Scott Thompson; Backswing

 It’s hard to believe that this weekend will mark the 10th anniversary of Waterfest. Each year the good people at Coosa River Basin Initiative host this festival which includes many informational and entertaining aspects including Canoe-A-Thon, Environmental Fair, Canoe & Kayak tug-of-war and much more. The event takes place Friday and Saturday afternoon at Ridge Ferry Park. (More details below)

The Clocktower Jazz Ensemble had to postpone their Valentine’s Day performance due to the weather. It has been rescheduled for Friday night at the Rome City Auditorium. The group is anxious to perform classic love songs and Motown hits in their own fabulous way.

Self Serve is a high energy rock ‘n’ roll band that has been burning up stages around Rome for years now. Friday night you’ll have the opportunity to see the band play a stripped down acoustic show at 333 on Broad.

Catching a performance by local favorite, Scott Thompson, is pretty much a guaranteed good time. He’s proved that time and time again. Beside the fact that he’s great at what he does, he brings a great vibe with him which spreads through the room no matter where he’s playing. Friday night it will be the Moon Roof.

Backswing is another group of local favorites and extremely talented musicians. They’ve played all over the place. Friday they’ll be playing at All Things Artistic, the place on Broad Street that has exactly what the name implies.

SATURDAY: Wrasslin, plant and herbs sale, Billy Jonas and Sam Hunt

The annual Chieftains Museum Plant & Herb Sale will be held this Saturday and Sunday at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds. People with and without green thumbs look forward to this event every year as it provides and opportunity to purchase locally grown plants and support the Chieftains Museum which plays and integral part in this community.

The Georgia Christian Wrestling Federation will be holding an event at the VFW Post 9411 on Highway 27 this Saturday. The event will benefit local kid’s charities. There will be five one on one matches and one tag team match including wrestlers like Billy Havoc, Buzz Saw, Apollo, Alcatraz, Jay Bird, Chad Case, JJ Grizzly and more. This sounds like a great time for sure.

Sam Hunt is an excellent singer/songwriter from Cedartown who has made his way up to Nashville and has been working very hard at making a name for himself in the acoustic country music scene. And, he’s doing a great job at it. He’ll return to 333 on Broad this Saturday night. You may recall that Sam played 333’s New Years Eve party which was a blast.

The CRBI Waterfest continues throughout the day at Ridge Ferry Park and will be finishing up with an extra special treat in the evening. Billy Jonas is an amazing songwriter and what he calls and industrial re-percussionist. What exactly does that mean? I highly recommend following his link on MullinsMania.com to find out more about this performance that you won’t want to miss. On April 5th, Jonas performed at the White House for the Annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Check him out for yourself and make sure you catch his performance this Saturday at the Rome City Auditorium. This is an event that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

-More Mullins: Check his Web site, MullinsMania, for expanded entertainment coverage. Plus join Mullins and Matt D on The Ridge 95.7 FM each weekday from 7 to 9 a.m.

The Movement is a funky foursome from Philadelphia, PA that blends rock, reggae, and hip-hop vibes into a collaboration of get-down sounds. They are currently on a massive tour across the U.S. and due to some diligent planning and promotion, our buddy Ben Sproles has managed to land them a gig at the Peach Palace with help from friends and connections.

The recent release of their second album, Set Sail, has launched them into the top ten category for most downloaded reggae albums on itunes.  Their first album, On Your Feet, intrigued critics and fans and threw the band into the category of top rock reggae albums to own, along side of acts like Sublime, Slightly Stoopid, and 311.

So check it out tonight at the Peach Palace. The show will be something to remember and a way to show that Rome can support nationally touring acts like The Movement. Opening the show will be The Funky Fiasco, also from Philly, and DJ Rob Lo, local reggae enthusiast and historian. Pretty much everybody I know loves when Rob’s behind the tables. ALSO, you’ll not want to miss the afterparty tonight at 400 Block where DJ Rob Lo will be spinning into the AM. Lot’s of fun in store for tonight.

…as seen on HometownHeadlines.com…

By Bryan Mullins

www.mullinsmania.com

TONIGHT

Russell McClanahan & the mOOn Crew plays old time string band music for the dinner crowd at Harvest Moon.

Muletide Perkins offers up original tunes on the acoustic at the 400 Block Bar.

FRIDAY

The Rome-Floyd Spring Into Peace Committee will be accepting Food Bank donations at the customer service desk at Kroger from 10am to 4pm.

Great spaghetti challenge will be held at The Forum and is a great opportunity to eat some excellent spaghetti and assist the Rome-Floyd Firefighters help the local commission on children and youth.

333 on Broad will offer local favorites Backswing. These guys put on great shows every time with ease.

You’ve heard the Cornbread Killers recently on FM 95.7 The Ridge for the Roman Roast on the River’s Battle of the Bands. These guys put on a great show blending originals with a wide variety of covers ranging from The Police to Gnarls Barkley.

Let your creativity unfold at All Things Artistic where they are hosting another Open Mic Night for individuals to showcase their songwriting, poetry, prose, comedy, etc. Don’t let anything hold you back from sharing your talent.

If you’re looking to step out of town for the evening allow me to recommend local songwriters Gary Green and Rick McKee at the Ascension house in Cartersville, or local string band rockers The Groundhawgs at the Red Light Café in Atlanta.

SATURDAY

The 2nd Annual Justin Johnson Memorial Bike Ride for the Fallen provides an excellent opportunity to pay respect to fallen who have given their lives for our great nation. The ride will stage at the Adairsville Food Lion and will take riders all over the beautiful North Georgia countryside ending up at the VFW post 4911 on Highway 27. Local country favorites Buck & Duke will be performing in the afternoon after a beautiful ride. Just to clarify, we’re talking motorcycles. Cars and trucks welcome too.

After the ride mentioned above you’ll want to stick around for a night of live music from Black Friday, the best biker band in Georgia. These guys put a nice Southern twist on that heavy metal thunder rock & roll.

Rock Run Station brings a modern twist to rock & roll from the Piedmont/Spring Garden area of Alabama. They’ll be making their Rome debut this Saturday at 333 on Broad.

Another band that you’ve been hearing on 95.7 The Ridge is local punk rockers Unseen Stimuli. These guys have been laying low from the cold weather for a moment but will be right back in your face for a free show at Skatelife this Saturday. All ages are welcome.

The Movement is a nationally touring band based out of Philadelphia who blends a fresh mix of hip-hop, reggae, and rock. Their latest album, Set Sail, has boosted their status amongst the top ten most downloaded reggae acts on itunes. With months of advanced planning local promoters landed The Movement at the Peach Palace for a special local performance. Opening up the evening will be the Funky Fiasco, another Philadelphia act and local reggae DJ Rob Lo. If you’re looking fro something different in town, this is it.

SUNDAY

A Day for Kaye has arrived. What was originally planned as an event to help our friend Kaye Beacham fight her recently diagnosed cancer has unfortunately turned into a memorial and an event to help raise money for her family. Kaye passed away on March 18th at the young age of 26. She was a mother of two, a student, and a friend to many. The event will feature wine and Hors d’oeuvres and the music of classmate Stephen Smith and his band Southern Thread, in an evening celebrating Kaye’s life. The event will be held from 6 to 10pm at LaScala.

More Mullins: Check his Web site, MullinsMania, for expanded entertainment coverage. Plus join Mullins and Matt D on The Ridge 95.7 FM each weekday from 7 to 9 a.m.

Busy weekend for downtown entertainment

By Bryan Mullins

www.mullinsmania.com

TONIGHT/Big Bird & Friends at Schroeder’s Courtyard

The Seven Hills Tellers and the Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau are hosting the Big Fibber Contest. If I understand correctly, this is a competitions awarding the art of the tall tale. Should be very interesting. The Big Fibber Contest will take place at Chieftain’s Museum.

Big Bird & Friends will be performing hits from their latest bluegrass/hip-hop record “Bluegrass Bird Unit” at the Schroeder’s Courtyard.

To celebrate April as National Poetry Month, Georgia Highlands College will host a reading by Georgia Poet Laureate David Bottoms at Center Stage at Heritage Hall. This is a very special event as Bottoms has been nationally known since releasing his book, Shooting Rats at the Bibb County Dump, in 1980. Following the reading, Bottoms will join the Groundhawgs in celebrating the written word and old time string band music with a performance at Harvest Moon.

Atlanta area pop country artist, Eric Dodd, first started performing in the Athens area years ago. Now after hundreds of shows he’s been working hard at burning up the highway and taking his music all over the Southeast. He’ll be performing tonight at 333 on Broad.

FRIDAY/Cory Tucker at 333; Backswing at Moon Roof

Randall Mullinax is an acoustic folk rock and country artist out of Cartersville. He’ll be setting up for an evening at All Things Artistic, a venue dedicated to exactly what it implies.

Cory Tucker is a local songwriter and acoustic musician who will be singing from the heart at 333 on Broad this Friday.

Backswing is one of Rome’s favorite bands. These guys have years of talent and experience amongst them and put on a solid show every time with the greatest of ease. They will be doing exactly that at the Moon Roof Bar this Friday.

SATURDAY/Kneckdown does a double take; Mr. Synyster at Kilroy’s

The Rome Floyd Parks & Recreation is hosting the end all be all of Easter egg hunts. Over 10,000 eggs will be planted on the grounds of Ridge Ferry Park. AND, if that was not enough, the Easter Bunny will be arriving by helicopter. I don’t get to hang out with too many kids that are able to appreciate how cool this is. I just know, that if this were to happen when I was a kid, I would’ve had to have been there.

Mr. Synyster is a local hardcore band that will be performing their high energy show at Kilroy’s, which is located within VFW Post No. 4911 on the Cedartown Highway. Like always, everyone is welcome and vets get in free.

400 Block Bar brings a double header that is sure to please the rock & roll enthusiast. The John Lee Hookers will open up the evening with their homage to early delta and jump blues. The Precious Lemons will follow with their fantastic blend of Americana, classic rock, and everything in between.

The Sexual Assault Center will be holding a benefit concert at the Rome City Auditorium with local and regional favorites Kneckdown. These guys have worked hard to develop their fan base and probably have more fans than any other band in the area. All ages are invited to the performance. Following the show at the City Auditorium, Kneckdown will stroll down the street and finish the evening at 333 on Broad. A great opportunity to see one of Rome’s favorites while supporting a great cause and two of Rome’s prime locations.

Comedy Night returns to MB’s Comedy & Event House with one of Atlanta’s favorite entertainers. Jerry Farber is hilarious and multitalented for sure. I recommend clicking on his link to get an idea of how this guy’s sense of humor. Carlos Valencia will also be there and he is also hilarious and fearless as an entertainer. He’s scheduled all over the nation so we should welcome him and Farber to Rome.

-More Mullins: Check his Web site, MullinsMania, for expanded entertainment coverage. Plus join Mullins and Matt D on The Ridge 95.7 FM each weekday from 7 to 9 a.m.