Considered to be the granddaddy of all music festivals because of its longevity (42 years and still going), Jazz Fest is a favorite among those who follow the festival circuit. Organizers attribute its popularity to the fact that as many as 90 percent of the musicians who perform are based in Louisiana, a fact that gives the event a unique flavor that no other festival can replicate. The dozens of food booths offering a wide array of popular regional dishes is another draw that makes the festival a standout nationally.  I missed out on the fest this year.  It was the first rain free Jazz fest in 12 years and i missed out on it.... maybe next year

The hangout is around the corner

A year after the beach bash Hangout Music Fest donated all its profits to the Gulf Coast restoration efforts, the musical festival will be returning for a second year to Gulf Shores, Alabama on May 20-22. The 2011 Hangout Music Fest lineup has just been revealed. Hangout headliners will include Paul Simon, Foo Fighters, Widespread Panic, The Black Keys, My Morning Jacket and The Flaming Lips.

In addition, this year’s lineup will also feature performances by Cee Lo Green, Primus, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, Girl Talk, Ween, Matisyahu, Warren Haynes Band, Umphrey’s McGee, Slightly Stoopid, Drive-By Truckers, Amos Lee, Old Crow Medicine Show, G. Love & Special Sauce, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Keller Williams, Galactic, Xavier Rudd, Minus the Bear, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Portugal. the Man, Beats Antique, Dead Confederate, Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights, Easy Star All-Stars, Mariachi El Bronx, Truth & Salvage Co, Kristy Lee, Civil Twilight, Rich Aucoin, A Thousand Horses, Jon Black, Cas Haley and Roman Street.    

festie season

   The start of the 2011 festival season is already well underway for our friends that are rocking Jam Cruise, but the true festival season really won’t start picking up until we see Coachella in April and Jazz Fest soon after. But the promoters for Wakarusa got out ahead of those announcements and released their 2011 lineup earlier than the others.

    Wakarusa always commands the most attention the week before Bonnaroo announces their lineups, the only leg-up they really ever have for continuing on in their own tradition moving forward (considering the always-competitive space). But this year I think the promoters of the festival really outdid themselves and booked a solid lineup. They’ve tapped Michael Franti & Spearhead, Ben Harper & Relentless7, Umphrey's McGee and STS9 to headline the festival and they’ll be supported by a solid crew of mid-size touring bands keeping the lineup as eclectic as ever. A few others that stand out for me are Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Lotus, Wookie Foot, Galactic, Trombone Shorty and tons more really…

Mccain Library Special Collection

    Last week our class visited the Mccain Library.  In my 3 years of being at this University I have always wondered what was  in that big building in the front of campus.  Honestly, i wasn't sure if students even frequented that library.  Our class was told only to bring paper and pencil to the library. why? Because the library is full of one of a kind pieces of literature.  They have everything from Little Red Riding Hood  to Govenor Bilbo's old letters and files.
   Before visiting the collection I had no idea how many different  versions of Little Red Riding Hood existed.  There was around 6 to 8 different versions of the book on display.  The collection also contained art work.  There were a few original illustrations on display in the library.  i was expecting some old and boring collection of books, but the collection had some really interesting pieces of work.  They also had furniture and other decorations from way back in the day.  The presentation made me realize how diverse and how wide spread Southern Miss' network is.  Alot of the pieces in the collection were donated by alumni or have some historical tie to the University.USM special collections

Ohr exhibit

In 1994 the Ohr-O’keefe museum of art opened in Biloxi, MS.  The museum’s mission is to preserve the cultural heritage of the Gulf Coast and George Ohr’s unique legacy.  In 2005, the museum was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.  Reconstruction of the buildings started in 2008.  Over Christmas break I got a chance to visit the new rebuilt museum.

            When you first pull in at the museum you are greeted by some very unique buildings.  The architecture of the five buildings on the property all differ from each other.  Some have crisp slanted lines and others are rounded with almost no flat exterior walls.  The exhibits on display at the time were George Edgar Ohr gulf coast collection, Richmond Barthe: the Seeker, Andy Warhol select print series, and Jun Kaneko selected work.     

http://www.georgeohr.org/index.html