Posts

Non-social distanced music festival: Festival Republic

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For more than a year, the explosive experience of attending a music festival has been an elusive and distant memory. Due to the pandemic, most live music venues have been unable to host shows at all. The experience of attending concerts has been missed by all music lovers.. Including music blogger and travel enthusiast, Devon Alexis . But, in the UK, the music festival is back!  That is, by scientific experimentation of sorts… Sound scary?  Well, that’s because it kind of is… While there won’t be any intentional poking or prodding at the music festival, the distance between festival goers will be… well, a whole lot like it used to be!  In collaboration with the British government and Culture Liverpool, Festival Republic will neither require social distancing nor the wearing of masks.  After a year of shielding our faces from the public to hide from the virus that has run rampant throughout the entire world, both of these concepts sound foreign…  Nevertheless, a...

New live music venue proposed on Nicholson

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  It’s been a while since Devon Alexis has been to a live concert…The soundtrack of social distancing has traded live shows for live streams. But in Big Raggedy, the show simply must go on; and soon, it will, at an all-new live music venue on Nicholson Drive in Baton Rouge, LA. Louisiana’s ties to soulful music and lively performance is no secret.  As Devon Alexis previously covered, the Birthplace of Jazz has solidified its mark on the music map.  But even outside of New Orleans, there’s still a music scene to be enjoyed!  Of course, the pandemic has paused the livelihood of live music for a bit… But Devon Alexis has some great news:   there’s a new live music venue coming to Baton Rouge! The recently proposed live music venue will also feature a bar and lounge.  A 6,200 sq ft. space, this new presently unnamed venue will be located on Nicholson Drive in Baton Rouge, Louisiana .  Devon Alexis looks forward to checking out a show at the new location! ...

New Music from St. Vincent is Almost Here!

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  St. Vincent is set to release her next album, ‘Daddy’s Home’ on May 14. Music Blogger and Pop Culture Enthusiast, Devon Alexis, discusses the singer’s recently released teaser video. A teaser video for ‘Daddy’s Home’ is giving fans a glimpse into what is to come from St. Vincent’s forthcoming album.  In the clip, which follows the formula of a retro TV commercial, the artist plugs the album’s lead single, ‘Pay Your Way In Pain.’  The rest of the video plays bits from unreleased tracks, which we are made to presume will be on the upcoming album. Check out the video for yourself and be sure to stay tuned for an album review from Devon Alexis!

Remembering Michael Gudinski (1952 — 2021)

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  Iconic in his own right, Michael Gudinski will forever be remembered as someone who shook up the Australian music industry. On March 1, 2021, the innovative entrepreneur sadly passed on — but the statements released by Australian music stars, like Kylie Minogue, are immortalizing his memory. Music fan and blogger, Devon Alexis, shares what some of Michael Gudinski’s closest collaborators and friends in the industry had to say about the 68 year old’s untimely passing: Kylie Minogue   “Irreplaceable and unforgettable, I’ll always love you,” said “Loco-motion” singer and worldwide popstar, Kylie Minogue. Jimmy Barnes “Today the heart of Australian music was ripped out,” expressed Cold Chisel front man, Jimmy Barnes. 

Black History in Music: Three Artists Who Broke Barriers for Black Musicians

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February marks Black History Month on the calendar every year. Devon Alexis, music blogger, chooses to celebrate the occasion by listening to the Black musicians who changed music forever. Here are just a few of those incredible artists: Scott Joplin Known as the ‘King of Ragtime,’ this legendary composer had his heyday at the turn of the 20th century.  But his mark on music still lingers today.  In the ‘70s, his music was revitalized in popularity, when Joshua Rifkin released an album composed solely of Joplin’s pieces.  Joplin constructed unique ideas for harmony, complex bass patterns and syncopation which even contemporaries compete to imitate. Louis Armstrong Without Louis Armstrong, jazz may have never been what it was, or what it is today.  His ability to craft his own style in a time when black voices were very much silenced is incredible.  In the ‘30s, Armstrong broke barriers and was even featured in Hollywood flicks of his day like Ex-Flame (1930), A...

‘Kanaval’ highlights Haitian rhythm in New Orleans

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There’s more to New Orleans than Mardi Gras and mouth-watering Cajun cuisine. In a new three-part audio documentary, Grammy-winner, Leyla McCalla, explores the sounds of Haiti that add flavor, texture and rhythm in New Orleans. From the roar of brassy instruments echoing along the city streets to the bluesy jive imbued in bars and restaurants….  Nine times out of ten, the sounds you enjoy while visiting New Orleans are the result of a collection of cultural ties to Haiti.  In her new audio documentary, Kanaval, musician Leyla McCalla dives into the history and relevance of Haitian rhythm in the music scene of New Orleans.  The doc is appropriately paired with three volumes of playlists with musical goodness from Moonlight Benjamin, Dr. John, The Meters and many, many other Haitian musicians in New Orleans. To say the least, podcasts have picked up in popularity in the pandemic.  Reaching out for a contactless connection to the outside world, podcasts offer entertai...

Mick Fleetwood sells Fleetwood Mac music rights

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  Mick Fleetwood and Lindsey Buckingham have officially sold all of their music rights to Fleetwood Mac’s legendary catalog. But what’s Stevie Nicks saying about the decision? Music blogger, Devon Alexis, shares the news: Lifelong lovers of Fleetwood Mac are torn.  On the one hand, the virality of “Dreams” on TikTok led the ‘77 hit to re-enter the Billboard charts.  This has introduced a whole new generation of music fans to the rock band that so many hold near and dear to their hearts!  But, in a way, the sweeping 21st century success of the tune has all but completely closed the Fleetwood Mac chapter in the lives of the band members who brought the music to life… That’s because as of 2021, three members of Fleetwood Mac have officially sold their rights to the music.  Mick Fleetwood most recently joined his bandmates Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham in selling the music rights.  He expressed that the decision is ultimately for the preservation of Fle...