YabYum Music & Arts Sneak Peek: A Claire Slattery's Mix Tape Project

By Matt Marn

Published by YabYum Music and Arts

A Claire Slattery knows very well that everyone has their own unique taste in music, and most everyone likes to make mixes of that music to share. In fact, everyone knows that. But Slattery set herself apart by taking it one step further by orchestrating a massive mix-sharing event for her community, and beyond.

"The first time I did this project, I was kind of unsure why I was doing it," Slattery said. "But it seemed like a good idea. It caught on a lot faster than I thought it would. I thought that if 40 people participated, it would be a good turnout. But the day I got it up, I got 35 emails in the first 24 hours. I knew I had created a monster."

The first time she organized the event back in 2011, she called it "Make a Mix For Someone You Probably Don't Know." Over 400 people from all over the United States joined the project, as well as international participants from as far out as Germany and the Netherlands. This summer, she is hosting the project again, and according to the event's Facebook page, Slattery is on track to having just as many people join in on the fun this time around.

Read more on Slattery's Mix Tape Project at YabYum Music and Arts!

AZCulture.com Sneak Peek: Singer/Songwriter Bob Schneider Leaves MIM Cheering After Solo Acoustic Show

Photo credit: Mark Spoerner

By Matt Marn

Published by AZCulture.com

Bob Schneider is a fantastic entertainer and songwriter, to say the least. Not only does he have an impressive album catalogue - and continues to release new work - but he leaves crowds cheering, from his home in Austin all the way to New York City. And when he visited the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, he certainly did not disappoint.

The crowd at the MIM began piling in early, excited for the show, A couple in the front row takes a picture in front of the stage, empty save for a keyboard, piano, acoustic guitar, and a few pedals crowded around a lone microphone. Fans outside already crowded around the merch table, grabbing up CDs and T-shirts before he even took the stage. Clearly, Schneider's music and reputation precede him.

Follow the link to read the full article on Bob Schneider's show at the MIM at AZCulture.com!

CALICO brings original brand of California country style to the MIM - AZCulture.com Sneak Peek

By Matt Marn

Published by AZCulture.com

Kirsten Proffit, Manda Mosher, and Aubrey Richmond were already successful, dedicated musicians as solo artists in the Los Angeles area, but when they found each other, they formed CALICO the Band, and took their songwriting styles to new places altogether.

"Everyone dreams of being discovered by a big record label," said Mosher. "Instead, we discovered each other. We met each other; we had watched all the different talent in Los Angeles... we kind of talent scouted each other. Now we feel like a family - we've created a musical family."

Richmond agreed, saying as if she has two extra sisters in her band mates.

"We really lucked out that we like each other and get along so well," she said.

CALICO the Band - which stands for California Country - describe themselves in their bio as beginning their story in that dusty stretch of desert where their music began, haunted by the Western ghosts of the past, but gentle with modern spirits, too... all blown together like tumbleweeds towards the big city. CALICO, they said, is about that eternal place where the big city meets that lonely desert - where the freeways converge at the ocean.

The ladies of CALICO the Band shared the stage with violin, acoustic and electric guitars, as well as mandolin melodies. They are devoted to timeless roots music, and voices singing in harmony.

"We are all about our sound," said Proffit. "We wrote separately before, but now we join together, and simplify melodies to focus on harmony. We didn't even know we were doing it until we played back the first tracks we had recorded. We had joined together to create something new, something greater than the sum of its parts."

See the rest of the spotlight on CALICO and coverage of their MIM concert at AZCulture.com.

Musical Instrument Museum of Phoenix celebrates five years strong with new activities and events - AZCulture.com sneak peek

By Matt Marn

Published by AZCulture.com

With more than five years of providing entertainment and music education to more than 1 million guests from around the globe, as well as more than 140,000 students as part of the school field trip programs, the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix is ready to keep the music playing.

Since MIM opened its doors five years ago, it has taken its place as one of the top attractions in Phoenix, not to mention the world's only global musical instrument museum.

And 2015 should be MIM's biggest year yet.

"In five years MIM has already carved a path to being recognized as one of the best museums in the world, but this is just the beginning," said April Salomon, executive director of MIM. "As a museum in constant evolution, we're excited to continue fulfilling MIM's mission and look forward to inspiring and entertaining guests for many years to come."

MIM works to enrich the world by collecting, preserving, and making accessible a wide variety of musical instruments and performance videos from every country in the world. The facility offers guests a welcoming and fun experience, interactive technology, and special programs, as well as musical performances from both local and internationally renowned artists.

MIM and its staff foster appreciation of diverse cultures around the globe by showing that we all innovate, adapt, and learn from each other to create music - the language of the soul.


Read the full article on the Musical Instrument Museum of Phoenix at AZCulture.com!

Joe Bonamassa brings his unique Blues twist to Phoenix - AZCulture.com sneak peek

By Matt Marn

Published by AZCulture.com

With his unique flair and creativity for the blues music he loves, it is always a pleasure when blues/rock icon Joe Bonamassa stops into Phoenix. And this time, he had a few extra surprises in store.

The evening before his April 30 concert, Bonamassa was the guest of honor at the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game. Wearing a custom "Bonamassa" Diamondbacks jersey bearing the number 59, he stood near home plate; with his trademark gold-top Gibson Les Paul at the ready. After he was announced, he began a stirring, bluesy rendition of our National Anthem, moving expertly up and down the neck with a blues slide. Everyone in attendance seemed to enjoy the music - a new, unique way to pay tribute to our nation.

That new, unique spin on the traditional way of things is exactly what Bonamassa does best. The night of the concert, crowds began to flow into Comerica Theatre, many wearing T-shirts of past concerts and music adventures. It was clear everyone present was excited, ready for something big. And with Bonamassa, fans are always in for a unique treat.

As the blues fans headed into the venue, they were met with lights beamed toward the bandstands, and a mist covering the stage. As the concert began, Bonamassa moved out onstage, green spotlight on the blues master, and blue lights on the rest of his band. He started right in with lightning-fast work on the strings, to the great thrill of the crowd.

"Oh, beautiful, if you were mine, I would write you letters, and pour you sweet wine..."

Read more of the article about Bonamassa's concert at AZCulture.com!

Songwriters Sarah Lewis and Gina Loes finish tour in the Valley, meet new friends and fans along the way - AZCulture.com Sneak Peek

By Matt Marn

Published by AZCulture.com

One is a newer singer/songwriter - setting up a tour to promote her newest EP. The other is a member of a full band, with a number of group albums in the books - but remains nervous to get back to her bare-bones, acoustic roots. For both performers, this trip from Canada through the West Coast was exactly what they needed.

The duo, Sarah Lewis and Gina Loes, respectively, began their tour by traveling from their homes in Vancouver, and making their way through Oregon, California, and finally Arizona - meeting new people and new inspirations along the way.

"I love performing," said Loes. "I love being on the road - making new friends and seeing new places. Everything else in my life seems to disappear for that moment. All I have to think about is where we're playing next, and what part of town to explore. You get the unique chance to see tiny, snapshot examples of people and communities along the way."

Read more about Sarah and Gina's tour from the full article, posted at AZCulture.com!

Taylor Jayne remains true to herself in new album, "Fold" - AZCulture.com Sneak Peek

By Matt Marn
Published by AZCulture.com

Local singer/songwriter Taylor Jayne has spent most of her life listening to great music. Ever since her father introduced her to legends like Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley and the Beatles, she has held a deep respect for not only music that evokes strong emotions, but also the powerful words behind each song.

But once she discovered her love for writing her own songs, everything changed.

"That's when it clicked," Jayne said. "I can write my own music; I can make people feel the same way, get the same feelings I get when I hear great music."

Jayne has since gone her own direction, performing her own style of music - and every time she does, it has become a very positive experience. Jayne said it is wonderful to watch her music reach people in that way - it is a nice reassurance of the work and thought she has put into everything.

"I don't know where I would be if I hadn't gotten that kind of support," she said. "Creativity, originality... these are things that should be respected, in a welcome environment."

Jayne's newest project is "Fold," a new album of her original songs, full of her own creative twist.

Jayne said that at one point in high school, she recorded an EP, but she was never satisfied with the result. This new album, however, is a very personal look at the struggles she faced with her own demons - and the journey she had to go through to remain true to herself.

"One day, I said to myself that it was time," she said. "It was time to record something I was truly proud of, something that was me... uncompromisingly me. The writing is from a good place; a good representation of me. I wanted to put good, quality art out there that showed who I was."

Read the full article on Taylor Jayne and "Fold" at AZCulture.com!