Rock Prairie Big Band & Beloit College Jazz Band Perform

Just saw this in the Beloit Daily News:

The Rock Prairie Big Band and the Beloit College Jazz Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 8 in Eaton Chapel, on the Beloit College campus.

The event is free and open to the public; donations will be accepted at the door.

The two bands will perform several selections separately before teaming on a few additional songs. The Rock Prairie Big Band, directed by Jeff Suarez, will perform “Stompin’ at the Savoy,” by Benny Goodman; “Ko-Ko” by Duke Ellington, and other popular jazz tunes. Under the direction of John Meyers, the Beloit College Jazz Band’s offering will include “Swingin’ Shepherd Blues,” by Natalie Cole and “Outback Boogie,” by Les Taylor.

Another highlight of the performance will be a special appearance by the College Street Singers as directed by Susan Rice.

So, live swing dance music? Very cool! And where else but in the neighborhood.

If it’s a nice evening I think we’ll walk.

Added to the calendar.

Beloit Memorial High School Jazz Brunch

Help send the

Beloit Memorial High School Jazz Band

to New York City

for the 14th Annual

Essentially Ellington

Jazz Competition and Festival

.

Performing at

 

Bushel and Peck’s Local Market

328 State St., Beloit

.

.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

11:00am – 2:00 pm

.

20% of your jazz brunch receipt

will be donated to the

BMHS Jazz Band New York fund!

With the attached flier or the Stateline News Ad.

(Click for printable version of this BMHS Jazz Brunch flier)

Donations can be made to BMHS Band Boosters

and sent to 3145 Park Ave., Beloit, WI  53511

.

Here they are performing weeks ago down in New Orleans.

.

This is a big deal IMO. More about the BMHS Jazz Band here.

And it’s been added to the NPA  calendar of events

 

Support Live Music in Downtown Beloit

.

This last Monday was the first of four Monday’s Suds O’Hanahans is serving up Live Music… on a MONDAY night! How cool is that!

Dave Potter pulled this together as an open Jam and the talent that showed up and performed was AMAZING! If you missed it you missed something really exceptional and special. Don’t miss it again. Come on out and support LIVE Music in Downtown Beloit. So, next Monday, join some friends, buy a drink, drop something in the tip jar and lets keep this going.  See the Beloit NPA Calendar of Events for more live music and other events within walking distance of Beloit’s Historic Districts.

Click Below For The Longer Samples

Read more

Greg Gerard & Friends, tonight at Pleasant Street

Just down the street. Walking distance from Beloit’s Historic Districts.

.

Kinda nice having a great college for a neighbor.

Prior to moving to the area I lived in Evanston IL, another ‘college’ town. So when I was considering where to move in the stateline area the fact that there is a college here was very attractive to me.

Though I was unsure how it might manifest, my expectation from prior experience was that living in a college town would add a layer of arts, entertainment, educational opportunities and… well, sophistication. Though neither of us teach or work at the college we’re frequent beneficiaries of the college being just down the street. It couldn’t be more convenient. We likely take advantage of what’s available more often precisely because it’s adjacent to the historic district. Additionally, we’ve had the opportunity to meet some very interesting neighbors who are professors or otherwise work there.

So with that as preface I was very pleased to see in the mail yesterday the Beloit College Arts & Lectures Calendar. There are many things we’ve circled that we’re now hoping to attend. Some great stuff. I’ve updated and expanded The Beloit NPA calendar with these events and others. Hope to see you out at some of these events.

And there’s stuff to do!

Just thought I’d share something…

We were out at one of our favorite places last evening for some live music (The Steve Doiel Trio at The Gun Club) and met someone new to the area. Seems they moved into one of the neighboring communities a few months ago from Florida. Evidently they’re experiencing withdrawals from having things to do, places to go and live music on the weekends and found their way to Beloit and was glad to have found The Gun Club. I thought that was cool. I thought it cooler still that we’ve a number of options right here within walking distance. Well, that is if it wasn’t snowing out. 

.

BTW, I just got copies of the Beloit College Arts & Lecture series (walking distance) and the Winterfest schedule (a third of which the events are withing walking distance) and will get that updated to the calendar asap.

2008 Downtown Beloit Holidazzle… Wow!

.

Folks that know Ana-n-I know we gravitate to where the LIVE music is happening. And this year’s Holidazzle did not disappoint. Frankly there was more going on then we had time to enjoy and missed some great stuff. There was so much to take in. I love that we can enjoy this level of live entertainment right next door to the historic neighborhood. The shopping, the other special events, the running into friends as we walked from venue to venue was all great fun. I heard it was successful from the downtown merchant’s perspective as well. That too was good to hear.

Among other things we caught Lance Brown’s Group at Cafe’ Belwah. OMG… wow, they were great! We took note of when they’re going to be there again and will be sure to be there. I’ll update it onto our calendar shortly.

Afterwards we headed over to Suds O’Hanahan for The Bel-Cats.

We’ve seen them before, always enjoy them and try to catch them whenever we can. I was pained however to hear we’d missed the Gospel Bells from the Lighthouse Fellowship Church. They were performing just a block over at the Pleasant Street Coffeehouse. Matt Goodwin was sitting in with them as well. Ugh… I heard it was amazing. I’d have really liked to have experienced that. Oh well… next year.

Beaux Arts Bash – Beloit Fine Arts Incubator

Wine, Dine & Twist Your Spine!

A fundraising event for the Beloit Fine Arts Incubator.

• Saturday January 17th. 2009
• 6:00 PM to Midnight
• In the new Beloit College Science Hall
• $75 per person ($35/person is a tax deductible gift)

Live music by the Stateline Playboys, a significant collection of original works and rare artist’s proofs (did someone say Picasso, Dali, Chagall?).

And for the truly indulged we encourage to come dressed as your favorite artist or work of art. The BFAI staff is already working on their costumes.

Dinner catered by Peter Kraemer of Beloit College, dancing to the Stateline Playboys, an exceptional fine art exhibit, costumes (optional), silent auction, and more. Help support the arts, join us for the fun and an evening you won’t forget.

For tickets and information please contact Jerry or Connie Sveum at 608-362-5903. Reserve your place by Jan. 3 2009. Hurry, space is limited.

The Beloit Fine Arts Incubator is a 501c3 organization run entirely by volunteers. It’s mission is to provide resources to help emerging artists, offer community education and cultural events, and expand on the “Arts Center” theme. Any financial or volunteer support is always welcome.

Gun Club – Our favorite place for live Blues music

I’ve stated elsewhere that high on the list of things I enjoy about older neighborhoods is that you can walk to places. It was a surprise and bonus that upon moving here we discovered that we could walk to what’s become our favorite venue for live music. And on top of that it’s live BLUES music.

If you’ve not been to the Gun Club on Thursday nights you’re missing out. They’ve got music other nights as well and it’s wonderful and the energy is great. Thursday nights for the Blues though…. that’s where it’s at for us. Glenn Davis heads this up and Matt Goodwin is typically right there with him. Now the two together are worth the trip but on a regular basis there are others sitting in and the spontaneous creativity of different mixes of personality and talent are what makes the magic IMO. Anyway this is the only pic I could find. I’ve never seen the GC like this though. It’s always dark out and full of friends when we’re there.

Read more