Smithsonian Folkways mourns the passing of blues musician and harmonica player Phil Wiggins (1954-2024). He died peacefully at his home on Tuesday morning, one day before his 70th birthday. Wiggins was a Folkways recording artist, teacher, NEA National Heritage Fellow, and frequent performer at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival along with his longtime musical partner John Cephas. He was known throughout the international blues community and his hometown of Washington, D.C., for his wit, humor, and powerful playing.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 10 May 2024 20:08 (one month ago) link
https://festival.si.edu/blog/phil-wiggins-tribute?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1wLNxCW_203-Hyg2G-4lhtVsqu4CkXUp-Q067hnO0hnPtDoJUtqDOSCxI_aem_ASiUT8_jnH4FaxSCXJlS1HWG0GlolhXChq1GBfoppbE3_tdnDgafR4RpItyaPdkpRyE2K_wnsXkrYF3i8wkg7qCF
Another farewell to Phil Wiggins. Plus Washington Post had an obit also
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 16 May 2024 20:45 (one month ago) link
https://wapo.st/4aqHN5M
Chris Richards in Washington Post on Rhizome and his fave shows and the money raised for it and why it’s his fave dc place for music
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 16 May 2024 20:48 (one month ago) link
Lots going on... Updated my concert calendar
Also--
The Runaway is just going to be a bar and rarely have music the owner just decided (after the earlier talk it was going to close down it stayed open after getting a break on rent from the landlord. Her booking agent for Runaway and Slash Run recently quit)
― curmudgeon, Friday, 17 May 2024 16:44 (one month ago) link
Ended up in the overflow room at the Motown in DC panel event at the Anacostia Arts Center. Kinda interesting still.
Saturday night went to a Tropical Dome Dj event at Marx Cafe with a Colombian headliner DJ w a vocalist. They were preceded by DJs from Crown Vic , Charles from Leon City Sounds, DJ Neeko
Sunday saw the Slickee Boys history talk with various band members and their former manager circa 1981 talking to NBC’s Mark Segraves about the band at the Palisades church community center hub. Then they reunited downstairs for a 5 song reunion gig! Fun stuff
― curmudgeon, Monday, 20 May 2024 18:21 (four weeks ago) link
Sunday morning I found out the Sun Ra Arkestra was playing that night at the Birchmere in Virginia, and that they are doing shows celebrating Marshall Allen's 100th birthday this week. He wasn't able to be there but it was still a great show, and they'll be at Keystone Korner in Baltimore on Wednesday if anyone feels like making the trip.
― Chris L, Monday, 20 May 2024 20:43 (four weeks ago) link
I was at the Birchmere last night too, hello neighbor lol
― Are you addicted to struggling with your horse? (Boring, Maryland), Monday, 20 May 2024 21:46 (four weeks ago) link
I hope Allen is ok. He was with the Arkestra when I saw them open for Solange at the Kennedy Center some years back. I was away when they played at Franklin Park some months back. Toyed with going last night but just did the late afternoon Slickee Boys thing.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 21 May 2024 01:26 (four weeks ago) link
My contact said that Allen from Sun Ra's Arkestra got worn out at a Saturday gig in North Carolina, so he rested on Sunday and therefore missed Birchmere gig. Saw DJ Baby Alcatraz's IG story video from the Birchmere gig and it still looked good. Seeing them march through the crowd reminded me of when I saw 'em do that at the old F Street 930 Club and a bunch of folks from audience followed them like it was a conga line or a New Orleans jazz parade. Alas, Birchmere makes everyone sit and watch politely.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 21 May 2024 16:10 (four weeks ago) link
Allen seemed strong and well the 3 times (!) I got to see them last year. even came out on a cold February night to smoke up right next to me. amazing.
― bulb after bulb, Tuesday, 21 May 2024 16:41 (four weeks ago) link
DC writer and DJ John Murph talked to longtime DC rapper, poet & more Kokayi for Downbeat
https://downbeat.com/news/detail/kokayi-taps-the-musical-power-of-language?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
― curmudgeon, Friday, 24 May 2024 21:42 (three weeks ago) link
https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/listings/items/the-queen-of-go-gos-50th-birthday-celebration-june-1/
My preview of Ms Kim go-go birthday party in Bethesda Saturday
― curmudgeon, Friday, 31 May 2024 15:52 (two weeks ago) link
My preview of Brazilian guitar masters tonight and tomorrow night. The Saturday one with samba and bossa guy Joao Bosco is more interesting to me
https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/719378/brazilian-guitar-masters-bill-evans-and-more-city-lights-for-may-30-through-june-5/
― curmudgeon, Friday, 31 May 2024 15:55 (two weeks ago) link
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/05/29/best-concerts-dc-june/
Chris Kelly in Post on younger dc rock bands - Birthday Girl , Ekko Astral, Spring Silver , Outerloop and others
― curmudgeon, Friday, 31 May 2024 16:03 (two weeks ago) link
Posted my June 2024 concert calendar finally
Steve K blogspot
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 5 June 2024 16:09 (one week ago) link
Been waiting!
― Heez, Wednesday, 5 June 2024 16:49 (one week ago) link
I have already updated it since this morning. I left out some cool gospel gigs, and some Leon City tropical djs ones, but have now added them. The Green Zone has not posted all of their June djs & the djs who spin there that I follow haven't posted on Instagram that I can tell.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 5 June 2024 20:39 (one week ago) link
There are too many punk and indie pop and rock bands to keep up with; so I just list what interests me
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 5 June 2024 20:42 (one week ago) link
Thanks it's a valuable resource
― Heez, Wednesday, 5 June 2024 20:44 (one week ago) link
I also appreciate what you do. I especially appreciate the non-western music listings.
― Are you addicted to struggling with your horse? (Boring, Maryland), Wednesday, 5 June 2024 21:31 (one week ago) link
Thanks . That reminds me -
Seeing the phrase "For local teens" about the possible return of a rock music fest in a major newspaper article bugs me. If I edited or wrote the article I would have said "for local rock music loving teens" because I don't think teens into rap, go-go, reggaeton, dancehall & more cared about that. It’s presumptuous
HFSestival
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 9 June 2024 16:24 (one week ago) link
No thanks to HFStival $175 upper section 300 level seats or even more expensive ones down below at Nats Park. Plus I don't care about seeing Incubus or Bush or Tonic. Just Death Cab and a few others maybe
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 11 June 2024 21:04 (one week ago) link
he DC Council Chair Mendeleson (who spent years before 2020 making sure DC arts & Humanities $ mainly went to Arena Stage and Fords Theatre) is suggesting spending 5.3 million $ to buy the National Theatre & 6 $ million to renovate it in the new budget proposal, which is over twice as much as the $4 million allocated a few years back for the now being built DC go-go Museum. That doesn't even add in what the Council chair is also proposing for Arena Stage to help them pay off a loan and do renovations. Dr Natalie Hopkinson, AU Professor & Don't Mute DC activist is not happy. She says the DC Commission of Arts & Humanities money for DC go-go musicians was small. While yeah, Arena is now having Step Afrika and occasionally the National has Black touring musicals, this seems a bit much.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 11 June 2024 21:10 (one week ago) link
Lots of June live music and DJ events happening but can’t do em all. Did see and enjoy Swansea Sound at Quarry House, Samba Prime at Bossa , southern soul multi act bill at Gray’s Beach in Marbury Md on the Potomac; Go-go w/ Still Familiar & EU at MLK Library roof, and English Teacher at Atlantis.
Lots happening this weekend plus Juneteenth next week
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 13 June 2024 18:46 (five days ago) link
Seeing folks say on Facebook that Lamont's Entertainment Complex in Indian Head (Pomonkey) Md which hosts southern soul has been sold and that the new owners will renovate the buildings & still book southern soul events
― curmudgeon, Friday, 14 June 2024 13:04 (four days ago) link