Write DC's Official Song

Washington D.C. doesn't have an official song, so freelance producer and writer, Joe Sottile, invites singer/songwriters in the D.C. area, who are willing to perform on camera, to compose a little ditty about the District.

The chosen artist and song will be featured on a new local news magazine show.

The Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference

Formal showcase registration is now open for NERFA, the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference to be held on Friday, November 11, 2005 through Sunday, November 13, 2005 at Kutshers Resort and Conference Center in Monticello, NY (just North of the PA border in the Catskills).

The conference itself will include: workshops, panel discussions, seminars, an exhibit hall, formal showcases in the nightclub, the newly added TriCentric Showcases and private and guerilla showcases in one large designated area. In this package you will find all the forms you need for conference registration, hotel reservations, showcase applications, workshop proposals, exhibit hall rental as well as answers to many questions.

Performing folk artists - including but not limited to musicians, singer-songwriters, traditionalists, dancers, storytellers - who desire to perform at folk venues and events in the Northeast United States and Canada are encouraged to apply for the formal showcase for the NERFA Conference. Applications must be postmarked no later than August 1, 2005. Materials sent after this date cannot be considered.

For additional information, please see this post to the ArlingtonMusicScene.com Yahoo! group.

Capital Fringe Music Information Session

Capital Fringe and the American Composers Forum of DC will be hosting an information session, at Flashpoint – 916 G Street, NW - this Friday, July 22, at 7pm to discuss how musicians (whether you are punk, experimental,new age or whatever) can participate in the first annual Capital Fringe Festival. To entice you to come and learn how you can participate in the festival, Lucas Zarwell will be whipping up a special performance just for you; as well as, Daniel Burkholder and Jonathan Morris of ImprovArts Inc.

Networking Happy Hour Tonight

Please join us tonight, Wednesday, July 20th for our monthly ArlingtonMusicScene.com happy hour at Iota Club and Cafe in Arlington, VA. The event runs from 6pm to 8pm and is free.

Held the third Wednesday of every month at IOTA, these happy hours are designed to give musicians, music industry professionals, music fans and anyone else who would like to attend, the opportunity to network outside of the typical show scene. Basically, the happy hours are meant to be an opportunity for people to get together once a month, have a couple drinks and talk music or whatever you'd like.

If you get there and don't recognize anyone, look for the people with the masking tape nametags.

Ready For the Row: A Barbara Cloyd Song Writing Workshop

On Saturday, August 6th from 10am-4pm at Austin Grill: Silver Spring, songwriters with dreams of hearing their songs on the radio will have a chance to learn how to make that happen from someone who has. Nashville hit songwriter Barbara Cloyd, who penned the Lorrie Morgan classic “I Guess You Had To Be There” will share her knowledge and insights about the inner workings of commercial songwriting during the first half of this day-long workshop and in the afternoon will listen to songs from the participants and give feedback on their craft and commercial potential.

Since 1986 Barbara has hosted the Open Mic at The Bluebird Café, Nashville’s premier showcase club and songwriters’ mecca. She has seen thousands of aspiring writers and artists including Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney when they were still struggling unknowns and has developed a deep understanding of what it takes to make it in the music business. She has a reputation on Music Row for spotting talent and has helped open doors for many now-successful writers including Anthony Smith (“Run,” “Chrome,” and “I’m Tryin”), Barry Dean (“God’s Will”) and Marcel (“Nothin’ to Lose”).

Registration will be limited to 20 participants.

Cost - Advance registration required. Cost is $35 per person.

For more information or to register contact Chris Patterson at chrisp@austingrill.com or 240.268.1414 ext. 114

Lunch will be provided and is included in the cost. All writers who register will be able to get feedback on one song. The song can be played live or on a cassette or CD. Be sure to bring a lyric sheet for Barbara.

Local Punk Trio, Q and Not U, Calls It Quits

As many of you may already know, local punk trio, Q and Not U, recently announced its impending break up.

The band -- consisting of singer-guitarist Chris Richards, guitarist Harris Klahr and drummer John Davis -- is calling it quits after an impressive eight-year run during which the group released three critically acclaimed albums on Dischord Records, performed hundreds upon hundreds of shows across four continents and picked up where Fugazi left off as the standard-bearers for Washington’s fiercely independent underground scene.

Fans will have three more chances to see Q and Not U, including a free show tonight, Monday, July 18th at Fort Reno beginning at 7:15 pm. There will also be two farewell shows at the Black Cat on Friday, September 22nd and Saturday, September 23rd.

Thanks to the Washington Post's Going Out Gurus for this information.

Future of Music Policy Summit Registration Is Now Open

Moving into its fifth year in 2005, the Future of Music Coalition Policy Summit is a forum for musicians, lawyers, academics, policymakers and music industry executives to come together to discuss and debate some of the most contentious issues surrounding digital technology, artists’ rights and the current state of the music industry.

Registration opened today for this year's Policy Summit, which will take place from September 11-13th at George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium in Washington D.C. Artist scholarships will be offered. Regular registration prices are $149 for a three-day pass and $99 for one-day pass. Discounted registration rates for students will be $99 for a three-day pass and $66 for a one-day pass.

Sign up here to get the latest updates in the FMC Newsletter or check out an archived blog summary of the 2004 Future of Music Coalition Policy Summit here.

4th Annual DC Hip Hop Theater Festival

From Monday, July 11, to Saturday, July 16, a human beats sampler from the United Kingdom, an Urban Griot from Pakistan and a hip hop Dante's Inferno are just a few of the cultural offerings that will be presented in the Nation's Capital at the 4th annual DC Hip Hop Theater Festival, a production of The DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities and The Hip Hop Theater Festival.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Studio Theatre will be the main venues for performances. The festival will showcase the dynamic brand of contemporary art, music, theater, dance and poetry being crafted by members of the hip hop generation. The festival is free and open to the public.

More Free Outdoor Musical Performances This Weekend

USA & Alexandria Birthday Celebration: Saturday, July 9th
Free music and fireworks mark the city of Alexandria's 256th anniversary and the 229th birthday of the USA, one week after the Fourth of July. The show starts at 4PM in Oronoco Bay Park with traditional ethnic dancing, food and music from various cultures. A moonbounce, dunk tank, jazz band and exhibits get in full swing around 6PM. Don't be late for the 8PM birthday cake cutting by the mayor and members of the city council. At 9PM, the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra plays swing music. The performance concludes with the 1812 Overture, accompanied by fire from five cannons. The fireworks begin at 10PM.

Reston Festival: Saturday, July 9th (10am-10pm) & Sunday, July 10th (10am-7pm)
The Reston Festival at the Reston Town Center strives to showcase the best local entertainment talent, artisans, businesses and community resources in celebration of the birthday of Reston.

Live 8 Concert Footage and Blogs

Watch live performances from Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Kanye West, Will Smith, Madonna and more. To view the shows and highlights from last weekend's Live 8 concerts free online and on demand or to read the concert blogs, visit AOL Music.

DC Blues Society Battle of the Blues Bands Contest

The DC Blues Society is sponsoring a Battle of the Blues Bands. The competition will take place Saturday, October 30, 2005, starting at 4:00 p.m. at Chick Hall’s Surf Club, 4711 Kenilworth Ave Bladensburg, MD 20781, from 8:00pm-12:00am. The winner will compete at the 22nd International Blues Challenge in Memphis, January 26-28, 2006.

The contest is open to unsigned (no contract with a nationally distributed label) blues artists from DC, Maryland and Virginia. At least one member of each entrant must be a member of the D.C. Blues Society. Judges will select the finalists from submitted tapes or CD’s.
To enter, fill out the form available here, and send it with a demo tape to:

2005 Battle of the Bands Contest
DC Blues Society
P.O. Box 77315
Washington, DC 20013-7315

If you are sending a tape, please put the three songs you want judges to listen to on it. If you are sending a CD, indicate which three tracks you would like the judges to listen to. Please mark the envelope: “IBC Entry Enclosed.” Please also send a short band bio (100 words or less) and a digital color or B&W photo with a 300 dpi resolution. Failure to send a photo or biography may forfeit the chance to have the winning IBC entrant’s photo and bio in the IBC program and in an issue of King Biscuit Time Magazine. Materials sent to the Society will only be returned if a self-addressed stamped envelope is provided. Information and photos may also be sent to president@dcblues.org.

The deadline for entering the contest is August 26 , 2005.
IBC eligibility criteria and other information can be reviewed here...

Nickel Creek - Private Preview Show @ XM Radio

XM Satellite Radio is assembling a small audience of friends and fans of NICKEL CREEK for a taping session with the artist on the afternoon of July 19 at XM's Washington, DC, broadcast studios.

The seating for this special program is extremely limited - approximately 40 people will be chosen on a "first-come, first-served" basis determined by when their email is received at XM. If you are interested and are 100% confident that you can be in Washington, DC, on the afternoon of July 19, please send an email with your full name and contact information to live@xmradio.com. Make sure to include "NICKEL CREEK" in the subject line or your email will not be considered.

If you wish to come with a guest - one other person only - please include that person's name and contact information (email and cell phone nos. are important in case there is a change in schedule). If you are selected to attend, you will receive a second email with the exact time and further instructions. Only people who have received this second email will be put on the guest list and will be able to attend.

4th of July Concerts

A Capitol Fourth
Actor Barry Bostwick hosts a gala anniversary celebration with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Erich Kunzel. Features Grammy award-winning Latin music star Gloria Estefan, The Beach Boys, recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The O' Jays and renowned Irish tenor Ronan Tynan. Actors Jimmy Smits and Sharon Lawrence will also appear, as will classical crossover artists Il Divo and American Idol's Kimberley Locke. The show will be capped off by Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" complete with live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Salute Battery. The works of John Williams will also be featured at the concert in a salute to the music of "Stars Wars."

America's 2005 Independence Day Concert
The Washington Monument serves as backdrop to music and fireworks at the national Fourth of July celebration. The evening's concert begins at 4 p.m., with the United States Navy Band and Kathy Mattea. The National Mall and Memorial Parks Ranger Staff will present Living History Vignettes during the concert. Music and vignettes will continue until 9:05 p.m. Located near the southwest corner of the Washington Monument grounds, 17th Street and Independence Avenue SW. The traditional fireworks display will appear over the monument at 9:10 p.m.

Information regarding parking, transportation (metro), and security on the National Mall this Fourth of July can be found here.

Air Force Band Independence Day Concert
The Concert Band and Singing Sergeants perform an Independence Day Concert, with the International Musical Ambassadors.

Annapolis Symphony Orchestra Fourth of July Spectacular
This patriotic performance by the ASO takes place July 2nd.

Dr. Hochman's Dixieland Band Patriotic Celebration
A rousing tribute to classic Americana.

Kings Park Band Fourth of July Concert
The Kings Park Concert Band presents a selection of classical, contemporary and patriotic band music for the holiday.

Local Lix Podcasts

Local Lix Podcasts, exclusive "mini" versions of Dc101's Local Lix radio show, are now available online. Hosted by DC101 DJ Roche and featuring songs from various local bands, the podcasts are designed to showcase and promote the vibrant DC/MD/VA music scene.

In addition to the podcasting, Local Lix is now hosting a concert series called Local Lix Live. It's scheduled to be a monthly event, held at various venues, and featuring 3-4 local area bands.