Blog Topic: Upcoming in Athens

Homedrone: UPDATE: AthFest Submission Period Now Open for Outdoor Stage, Compilation Album

By Gabe Vodicka | January 19, 2015 10:25am

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of AthFest

AthFest Educates has formally opened the submission period for bands interested in performing on one of the outdoor stages at this year's AthFest, which takes place June 26–28.

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Homedrone: Alabama Shakes Announce Georgia Theatre Shows Jan. 30 & 31

By Gabe Vodicka | January 8, 2015 11:45am

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Homedrone: Chris Forsyth's Five Favorite Guitar Solos

By Chris Forsyth | January 6, 2015 11:03am

Chris Forsyth plays Normaltown Hall Thursday, Jan. 8 as part of a tour supporting his excellent recent album, Intensity Ghost, a nuanced and explosive record that highlights the Philadelphia guitarist's technical and compositional prowess, as well as his singular, spaced-out sense of melody and texture. Below, Forsyth waxes poetic about a few of his favorite recorded guitar jams.

Photo Credit: Constance Mensh

Chris Forsyth and the Solar Motel Band

Upon being invited to reflect on my top 5 guitar solos of all time for Flagpole, I must confess that my first reaction was a slight shudder. How can you talk about guitar solos without being pushed into some corner as Defender of the Decomposing Corpse of Rock? This is not a position I'm particularly interested in assuming. I think we should've let the banks fail, and I'm fine with the failure of R-O-C-K, too.

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Grub Notes: Terrapin Beer Hosts Bake-Off, Expands Can Line

By Blake Aued | December 2, 2014 4:25pm

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Wake-n-Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout (a collaboration between Terrapin Beer Co. and Jittery Joe's Coffee), Terrapin is hosting a baking contest on Jan. 17 at the Foundry Ballroom (at Graduate Athens, aka the Inn Formerly Known as the Foundry Park).

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Homedrone: Nuçi’s Space Hosts Free 'Giving Tuesday' Show at the 40 Watt

By Gabe Vodicka | December 1, 2014 1:00pm

Photo Credit: Jason Thrasher

Last month, we wrote about the ongoing efforts of Nuçi’s Space to save the dilapidated St. Mary's steeple, which sits next door to the Oconee Street music resource center.

Though the "Reconstruction of the Steeple" Indiegogo campaign—which seeks money to restore the steeple and to fund the Space's programs for the coming year—raised a whopping $50,000 in its first day, the rate of donations has since slowed dramatically.

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In the Loop: Sound Off on the Ferguson Non-Indictment

By Blake Aued | November 25, 2014 11:25am

Police tear-gas protestors in Ferguson. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

A Missouri grand jury declined to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson last night in the shooting death of Ferguson resident Michael Brown.

The decision enraged many and sparked protests all over the country. Locally, a Ferguson solidarity protest organized by Athens for Everyone will be held at 5:30 p.m. today at the Arch.

If you've got some time to spare, here's a PDF of the full grand jury report. In addition to mainstream news outlets, Vice had some terrific on-the-ground coverage, as well. Read those first, or jump straight into the comments.

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Culture Briefs: Classic City Rollergirls Off-Season Update

By David Eduardo | November 24, 2014 12:22pm

Photo Credit: Bill Ruhsam/Flickr

It has been a busy off-season for the Classic City Rollergirls. The team has elected a new captain (Louis Strongarm) and once again endured attrition, losing important members of the 2014 squad to retirement (Amy T. Ville) and the Division I league in Atlanta (Human Missile Crisis and High Jinxx). Those are tough skates to fill.

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Homedrone: Q&A With Howe Gelb

By Dan Mistich | November 17, 2014 2:32pm

Photo Credit: Jane Mingay

Arizona-based musician Howe Gelb is no stranger to Normaltown Hall. He’s made a couple of visits to the cozy venue since his last record, The Coincidentalist, was released on New West. The enigmatic songwriter will enjoy an extended stay in the Hall this week, playing there Nov. 19 & 20, with Wednesday’s show featuring Mothers and Don Chambers performing Thursday. Both nights will also feature Grant-Lee Phillips.

Flagpole caught up with Gelb via telephone.

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In the Loop: The Twilight Criterium Route Is Changing

By Blake Aued | November 11, 2014 4:21pm

Photo Credit: B.D. Andrews

The downtown route for the popular Twilight Criterium bike races will be changing due to an ongoing streetscape project on Clayton Street that will coincide with the April 24–25 event.

Twilight's main races have traditionally started on Clayton and College Avenue, turning onto Lumpkin Street, then Washington Street, then Thomas Street and back to Clayton.

Next year, however, races will start at College and Washington, turning onto Jackson, then Hancock Avenue, then Hull Street, then back to Washington.

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Grub Notes: Taste of Athens Has New Flavor

By Blake Aued | November 10, 2014 4:28pm

American Winter, an HBO documentary about social services in Portland, OR, is a terrifying look at just how quickly the upper-middle and working classes alike can slip into poverty and homelessness.

Community Connection screened the film Sunday to kick off its revamped Taste of Athens. The Feb. 22 event will be scaled back considerably, moving from the Classic Center Grand Hall to the atrium, allowing the 20-plus participating chefs to focus on food and hospitality, rather than simply feeding 2,000 people.

A new event, Toast of Athens, a cocktail competition, will be added next year. Bartenders from eight local watering holes will compete to see who makes the best libation in town.

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