Blog Topic: Upcoming in Athens

Culture Briefs: UGA Is Giving Ryan Seacrest a Doctorate

By Blake Aued | October 14, 2015 11:38am

The doctor will see you now.

That’s Dr. Ryan Seacrest to you.

The “American Idol” host is the speaker at UGA’s spring commencement ceremony May 13. The university will also bestow upon him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, which “is given to recognize a person who has a sustained record of achievements of lasting significance.”

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Culture Briefs: Alice Walker Fans Disappointed by Lack of Tickets for UGA Event

By Blake Aued | September 28, 2015 2:52pm

Alice Walker fans who waited in drizzly weather this morning for tickets to the writer’s upcoming talk at the Morton Theatre left disappointed after learning that UGA held back almost all of the tickets.

Free tickets to “A Conversation with Alice Walker” on Oct. 15 were made available at the Morton Theatre box office at 10 a.m. today.

Several people who waited for tickets said they were told that the UGA Willson Center for Humanities and Arts, which is sponsoring Walker’s two appearances on campus next month, had released only 80 of 500 tickets to the general public. A number of people complained on the event’s Facebook page.

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Grub Notes: The Prince Avenue Wendy's Will Be Rebuilt

By Blake Aued | August 28, 2015 12:40pm

Photo Credit: Blake Aued/file

The Wendy’s on Prince Avenue that’s been closed since it was damaged by fire in February will be rebuilt, according to the Athens Banner-Herald.

The franchise owner has submitted plans to Athens-Clarke County, but there is no timetable for construction.

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Homedrone: Scooterbabe Lives! A Q&A With JJ Posway

By Nathan Kerce | August 25, 2015 3:41pm

On Wednesday, Aug. 26 at the Caledonia Lounge, local band scooterbabe will play its first show in Athens in nearly a year. The indie-pop trio played what was erroneously labeled as its “final show” last Halloween right before lead guitarist and vocalist JJ Posway moved to Brooklyn.

In the last year, scooterbabe still managed to release a career-spanning compilation and a standalone single. The band also played one show in New York, with Posway serving as the only original member. Unfortunately, even though Posway is back in Georgia for the time being, original drummer Grafton Tanner is moving to Chicago. It’s unclear how or if scooterbabe will move forward after Wednesday's show.

Flagpole talked to Posway about the initial rise of scooterbabe, why he left Athens when he did and what it feels like to come back.

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Homedrone: Q&A With Billy Bob Thornton and J.D. Andrew of The Boxmasters

By Dan Mistich | August 24, 2015 2:52pm

Billy Bob Thornton is best known for his work in film, but he has a long musical history, too. His band The Boxmasters is currently touring behind a couple of new records, including Providence, recently released via the group's website. Flagpole caught up with Thornton and his bandmate J.D. Andrew in advance of Tuesday's show at the Georgia Theatre.

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In the Loop: Jeb Bush Is Coming to Athens

By Blake Aued | August 19, 2015 3:23pm

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore

So far, Jeb Bush is the Isaiah Crowell of the Republican presidential field: highly rated but not producing as expected. Many polls show him trailing Donald Trump by double digits.

The former Florida governor, like the Gators last year, is hoping to turn his season around. And he’ll be campaigning in Athens on Sept. 19, when 100,000 or more registered voters will be gathered here for the UGA-South Carolina game.

Secretary of State Brian Kemp (an Athens resident) announced Bush’s visit on Facebook earlier today:

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Homedrone: Hear a Song from Kite to the Moon's New Album

By Gabe Vodicka | August 18, 2015 11:42am

Photo Credit: Ann Conley

Timi Conley

Today marks the official release of the long-in-the-making new album from Athens songwriter/rabblerouser Timi Conley and his Kite to the Moon trio: the expertly named Songs in the Key of OMG. To celebrate the record's release, the band will play the Georgia Theatre rooftop this Friday, Aug. 21, after Moon Taxi plays the inside stage.

Below, check out Songs in the Key of OMG's alt-rocking opening track, "Girl On the Edge of a Seaside Cliff":

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Homedrone: Unknown Mortal Orchestra to Play Urban Outfitters Grand Opening Party

By Gabe Vodicka | August 10, 2015 10:35am

Photo Credit: Dusdin Condren

Unknown Mortal Orchestra

To commemorate the opening of the downtown location of international youth culture and ill-advised design emporium Urban Outfitters, which finally opens its doors this week, buzzy Portland, OR psychmongers Unknown Mortal Orchestra will play an outdoor show in the Creature Comforts parking lot on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 8:30 p.m.

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Culture Briefs: Visiting Artist Lectures at Lamar Dodd School of Art

By Madeline Bates | August 4, 2015 10:40am

Henrik Drescher

Every academic semester, UGA’s Lamar Dodd School of Art (LDSOA) hosts several series of public lectures by artists, scholars, critics and museum professionals from around the world. The visitors typically give hour-long lectures on topics related to their professional or creative career. These lectures are opportunities for students and locals alike to meet with and ask questions of the speaker.

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Homedrone: Polaris, Wavves, Toro Y Moi, Willis Earl Beal, More to Play Athens Intensified

By Gabe Vodicka | July 22, 2015 10:31am

Toro Y Moi

From Oct. 7–10, the fourth annual Athens Intensified festival, the brainchild of Flagpolecolumnist and Athens music aficionado Gordon Lamb, returns to downtown, bringing with it an impressive lineup of local, regional and national talent.

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