Newport Arts Scene

2010-08-02T09:04:00.000-07:00

"Homage"
by Leon Morris
August 3rd-9th, 2010
Art On The Wharf Gallery
33 Bannister's Wharf, Newport
401-965-0268

"Homage" is a fine art photographic journey that captures the personalities of some of the most influential and impactful jazz, soul, roots and blues legends in music. The collection includes images of artists such as the legendary Miles Davis, Ray Charles, Nina Simone and Cab Calloway among some of this year’s festival headliners such as Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Jamie Cullum. In addition to touring the images in 2010/20...11, Morris will be releasing a coffee table book by the same name in late 2011, which pulls together his thoughts on the music, the musicians, and his role as a photographer documenting these moments in musical history- alongside a host of compelling images.

Leon Morris, a multi-award winning photojournalist, has spent over 30 years exploring his passion for the roots of contemporary music. 15 years after walking away from one of the most promising corporate photography careers in the United Kingdom, Leon has decided to bring his latent collection of music images into the public eye. This U.S. debut exhibition, “Homage”, will take place from August 3rd – 9th, to coincide with the CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival.

For more info on Leon Morris www.leonmorris.net

2010-08-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

50 comics in three different divisions competed to qualify for The Rhode Island Comic Throwdown. The completion has moved to the Throwdown’s first ever semi-finals. With twelve comics left there will be two semi-finals that will lead to the finals and a Throwdown among the winners of each category for the $700.00 prize money for first place and $300.00 for second. The first semi-final is at Billy Goodes Tavern on Thursday August 5th. Comic Mike Hanley will open for competing Professionals Michael Murray and James Dorsey, Amateurs Gary Peterson and Mike Lemme and Novices Kristin Anne Seltman and Dana Cairns. Judges Maya Manion, Doug Key and MC Tom C. Erb will welcome guest judges Lynne Tungett the Editor of Newport This Week and Michael Naylor and Louie Stravato - 4th place winning team the last Amazing Race Season 16. The second semi-finals are at Jimmy’s Saloon on Thursday August 12th. The music of Garcia and Oates and Comic Derek Furtado opens for Professionals Brain Beaudoin and Dave DiLorenzo, Amateurs Cameron Ramsey and Doug Guertin and Novice Dennis Hofer and Karl Magner. Guest judges are comedian Ace Aceto and Blues Legend James Montgomery. The finals are scheduled for Thursday August 19th at Gas Lamp Grille. Stay tunes for who will be competing. For more info all 401-207-4812. 50 comics in three different divisions competed to qualify for The Rhode Island Comic Throwdown. The completion has moved to the Throwdown’s first ever semi-finals. With twelve comics left there will be two semi-finals that will lead to the finals and a Throwdown among the winners of each category for the $700.00 prize money for first place and $300.00 for second. The first semi-final is at Billy Goodes Tavern on Thursday August 5th. Comic Mike Hanley will open for competing Professionals Michael Murray and James Dorsey, Amateurs Gary Peterson and Mike Lemme and Novices Kristin Anne Seltman and Dana Cairns. Judges Maya Manion, Doug Key and MC Tom C. Erb will welcome guest judges Lynne Tungett the Editor of Newport This Week and Michael Naylor and Louie Stravato - 4th place winning team the last Amazing Race Season 16. The second semi-finals are at Jimmy’s Saloon on Thursday August 12th. The music of Garcia and Oates and Comic Derek Furtado opens for Professionals Brain Beaudoin and Dave DiLorenzo, Amateurs Cameron Ramsey and Doug Guertin and Novice Dennis Hofer and Karl Magner. Guest judges are comedian Ace Aceto and Blues Legend James Montgomery. The finals are scheduled for Thursday August 19th at Gas Lamp Grille. Stay tunes for who will be competing. For more info all 401-207-4812. (pictured, Karl Magner 2009 Roger High graduates qualifying for RI Comic Throwdown in Novice Division)

Newport Folk Festival

2010-07-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

Don't forget the Newport Folk Festival is this weekend:

Have fun!

2010-07-28T16:01:00.000-07:00

I find myself spending an awful lot of time just updating my events in all the event calendars in Rhode Island. This is a task that is just plain monotonous and redundant. I realized that there are so many that I thought for many event generating organizations out there that a list might be helpful. This is in no way a complete list. In fact if you are of the collaborative nature you are welcome to comment and add to my list. Hope this is helpful. Let me know what you think. I am working on a complete multi-media contact list that I would be happy to share.

Providence Journal

Quahog.org

Go Providence

Destination Newport

NewportRIRocks

Turn to 10

RI.gov

Craigslist

On Aquidneck

Best of Newport

92 Pro FM

Little Rhody List

Visit Rhode Island

Visit New England

Newport Now

The Mercury

Newport Daily News

South County Tourism Council

Go Newport

Rhode Island Monthly

Jamestown and Newport, Rhode Island News and Information Sources on the Internet

Rhode Island Roads

New England Film

Motif Magazine

Providence Phoenix

Newport This Week

2010-07-28T08:52:00.000-07:00

"A Wish Comes True Fundraiser at Jimmy Saloon

Rock the Day – July 24th 2010

2010-07-27T06:10:00.000-07:00

In this time of tough funding it is increasingly difficult to raise money for worthwhile non profits organizations, arts or otherwise. The definition of a successful fundraiser is an event designated to raise funds to support the organizations mission. It requires the support from vendors, supporters, media, patrons and sometimes local government. Newport Arts Scene attended Newport RI Rocks event “Rock the Day” to help raise money for A Wish Come True Inc. at Jimmy’s Saloon last Saturday July 24th. It had all the elements of a successful fundraiser and more. Jimmy’s Saloon hosted eight bands that would play all day from 2pm till close to help make a terminally ill children’s wishes come true. The event was hosted by Melody from Newport RI Rocks and the MC was Tom C. Erb from Newport Arts Scene and STAGERight. The band line up started with Kernen Dibble a one man acoustic, followed by Garcia & Oats a band made up of Jared Smith and Kevin D. Delano that stated that “Our name is two bands we don’t like”. Their music was of 60’s and 70’s with added comedy in between. They were fun and even invited the MC up to do some ZZ Top. Next was a local favorite made up of young people playing their parents music and a few originals. Bloody Knuckles was rocking the house. After that came the jazzy music of Dive Alarm. And the night continued on with High Tower, Narcs, Natur and Designated Driver finished up the day. Rock the Day was the brain child of Melody Mulcahey who approached Rosemary Bowers the Founder and Executive Director of A Wish Come True Inc. “I wanted to help make the wishes of the children who were suffering from life threatening illnesses come true” said Melody. The two of them hooked up with Jackie at Jimmy’s Saloon and a fundraiser was born. Rock and Roll all day helps a wish come true. Plus there were several other sponsors: Tami’s Treasures, Miche by the Sea, Coastal Carpet Cleaners, Pickles Deli and Catering, Casey’s Casuals, Total Fitness, Newport Pilates, Amena Imports, The Grape Room, and Flo Clam Shack. There was a 50/50 raffle and tons of give a ways. $10 at the door ($9 if you bring a canned good)…should have been more with all the free food and music. So if you are looking for a good cause to give some money to A Wish Come True, Inc. is a local nonprofit organization founded in 1982 that grants wishes to medically qualified children ages 3 through 18, who have a life-threatening illness and live in Rhode Island and areas of southeastern Massachusetts. Their list of wishes continues to grow - but with the help of many individuals like you, and with help from our friends in the business community, we continue to make so many children's wishes come true... There is only one time...It is now! "Dreams are only A WISH away"
This is the official beginning of the Newport Arts Scene blog which you can view at http://newportarts.blogspot.com and can be seen on NewportRIRocks.com. If you are an artist or arts organization who would like a feature or a review you can contact Tom C. Erb at newportartsscene@gmail.com or 401-207-4812

2010-07-20T09:25:00.000-07:00

The Newport Arts Scene will be managed, manned and produced by the artist and arts lovers in the Newport area. What better way to advertise, promote and bring attention to what is going on with the arts in Newport than to have the artist review, discuss and promote each others events?

Newport Arts Scene was a radio show on WADK from December 2006 to December 2007. In that year, we were able to bring the artist of Newport on the show and talk about their craft. The show was sponsored by the Chanler at Cliff Walk. Due to the economy and circumstance out of my control the show was dropped.

The radio show was just going to be the start but as we all know it ultimately comes down to money.

So to bring the idea and dream back to life it occurred to me that we share the same audience in many cases, so why not do what the local papers are not able to do and start our own network that will cover all the arts in Newport, not just the ones that can afford to advertise.

If we share in this grass roots project we can not only help the existing arts programming and organizations, we can promote the growth of new programming that would otherwise not be able to exist.

Like any other grass roots arts project it requires three things, people with passion for the arts, people with the time to commit to the project and people with money. If we can bring together the people with passion and time, I believe the money will come.

Newport Arts Scene could be the first entertainment magazine of its kind. It would be managed by Erb Productions and would be owned by the people of Newport. All experience levels from the novice to the advanced are welcome. We would provide training in:

• All Aspects of Television, Film and Radio Production
• Television and Newspaper Reporting
• Website Web Mastering
• Blog Management
• Creative Writing
• Promotion and Design
• Event Promotion
• Newspaper Reporting
• Directing

All of the media study would be taught by the artists who have the talents to those who have the desire to learn a talent.

There is no fee to be involved and the only rules are to follow the plan set forth by the management team that promote the arts in Newport, "To support the performing arts with passion and without prejudice”.

Provide a collaborative and positive atmosphere that is inviting and nurturing both for the partnering companies and individual artist, regardless of experience. Share, support, promote and implement performing arts programs in the community for the youth and underprivileged that teach hope and acknowledge accomplishment. Attract and form a circle of mentor artists that have a passion to share about their crafts.

The Newport Arts Scene Magazine is open to artist and individuals that what to be involved with the arts scene in Newport, and Arts organizations that understand that partnering and collaborating is the key to success for their organization.

If you are interested in being a part of Newport Arts Scene Magazine please go to www.NewportRIRocks.com