Kimberlye McKinney Performs at Fresh Market Music!

Jazz Saxophonist Kimberlye McKinney was the guest performer at yesterday’s Fresh Market Music! at the Smyrna Fresh Produce Market. She returns for an encore show on September 24 to close out the season.

Artist Statement:

Kimberlye McKinney is a woman of strength, power and unlimited energy whose music is defined as edgy, classy and fun. The female saxophonist, songwriter, and producer; has a fresh sound, fresh face, and steps over ordinary into extraordinary.

In her pursuit to musical greatness, Kimberlye has shared the stage with many greats and many nationally known artists. A woman comprised of “eclectic” variations, Kimberlye McKinney is a treasure packed and running over with the rarest form of exquisite jewels you will ever discover in music!

Click here to enjoy the photo album. 

Click here to enjoy the videos on our YouTube channel. 

Russ Still and the Moonshiners Perform at Fresh Market Music!

Georgia Music Awards Country Band of the Year Nominee Russ Still and the Moonshiners were today’s fresh Market Music concert guests.   The show performed by 6 members of the band featured original songs, exceptional vocals and music.  

Artist Statement:

In an industry that currently thrives on auto-tune, drum machines and pop templates, Russ Still and the Moonshiners brings some light and authenticity to the radio waves. The seven-piece outfit meshing country, country rock and classic rock formed their roots in Atlanta, Georgia and are triggering the interests of listeners tailored to staples such as the west coast sound of the 70s including The Eagles and Poco, Southern Rock including Marshall Tucker, country super group – Alabama and new country rock and outlaw country like Zac Brown, Jason Aldean and Jamey Johnson. There’s something here for everyone.

The band consists of front man Russ Still (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Ben Still (guitar), Cam Still (keys), Chris Hinson (guitar), Ed Usher (bass, vocals), Kevin Pinson (drums) and Rachel Rowland (vocals, guitar). With three records under their belt including The Mission: Music (2006), The Russ Still Project (2013), and White Lightnin’ (2014), it’s safe to say that the band’s sweet country breath pays tribute to its rock and roll ancestors with its prominent silky yet honest vocals, bellowing guitars and keys, and a steady rhythm section.

According to Tony Copley, CEO of LEDGE 7 Entertainment, “Russ Still’s music is like a well-crafted bridge for the listener to cross back and forth freely between country and classic rock. If you want to stop in the middle to fish… his music has provided all of the hooks you will need.” What completes the bridge of the versatile singer is the flexible support of the band. Together, Russ Still and the Moonshiners work to provide a sustainable and fulfilling entree of rock history with a fresh and catchy twist.

The band has appeared at reputable venues including Hard Rock Cafe in Atlanta, Smith’s Olde Bar, Steve’s Live Music in Sandy Springs, the Mall of Georgia in Buford, and they have even appeared at major events such as the Coweta County Fair, Pensacola, FL's New Years Eve Pelican Drop and The Tri State BBQ Festival in Dothan. 

With collective music industry experience dating back at least forty years, Russ Still and the Moonshiners are in no place to be stopping now. With quality music paired with quality musicians (and quality people) the band is sure to be stirring the hearts of many future country and rock fans to come.

https://www.reverbnation.com/russstill

https://www.youtube.com/user/therussstill/videos

Smyrna Teacher Named 2016-2017 Cobb County School District Elementary Lead Art Teacher!

CONGRATULATIONS to Smyrna resident and King Springs Elementary School art teacher Merry Mullins. Merry was recently named the 2016-2017 Cobb County School District Elementary Lead Art Teacher.

Merry’s School Blog Bio:

This is my 9th year teaching at King Springs. I love children and art is my passion. It only made sense for me to combine them for my career. I attended Young Harris College and graduated from Kennesaw State. My husband Tommy and I are both Smyrna natives. He actually attended King Springs (many years ago). We have three children, in which one of them is a student here. I taught art in Cobb for four years prior to starting a family. The nine years prior to teaching at King Springs, consisted of me being a mom, mural artist, and a volunteer at my church as well as Kennestone Hospital, and here at King Springs.

All students at King Springs attend Art. We are divided into two campuses and I teach our 2nd - 5th graders. Our children enjoy creating in pencil, pen, crayon, paint, markers, pastel, clay, and collage. They learn about the use of line, shape, form, color, pattern, and texture in composition. I break down concepts to their simplest forms to encourage student achievement. Throughout their experience in art, children learn to see more, sense more, recall more, and they become more vitally aware of their changing and expanding environment. Consequently, they are able to express their ideas visually with a growing confidence.

Annual Town Hall Meeting Presentation & Photos Published

The presentation and photos from the first Smyrna Arts & Cultural Council Annual Town Hall Meeting have been published.

Click this link to download the presentation. 

Click this link to view the photo album.  

SACC Celebrates One-Year Anniversary with Annual Town Hall Meeting

The Smyrna Arts & Cultural Council celebrated its first anniversary last night with an Annual Town Hall Meeting. It was held in the Smyrna City Hall council chambers.  Vice President Bill Marchione opened the meeting with a brief discussion of the events that led to SACC’s creation and then introduced President Jeff Jones.

Jones presented a detailed summary of the year in review since the SACC Officers and Board of Directors were elected last August. Secretary Shaun Martin then managed elections for 5 board seats. Previously elected Board Members Tricia Meyer, Charlie Stannard and Ellie Wolf were re-elected for 3-year terms and will continue with their current responsibilities.

Two new board members were also elected to fill open seats. Jackson Dodsworth (left) will oversee Membership and Volunteer Engagement Committees. Kimberly Nubel (right) will oversee our Public Art Committees and associated fundraising.

Our guest speaker for the evening was Smyrna Documentarian Bridget Kurt, director and producer of Uncommon Grace: The Life of Flannery O’Connor.  Jones then concluded the meeting with a summary of planned programs through December, 2017. He also announced an initiative being started to establish a performing arts facility/facilities in Smyrna that would be acquired and managed by SACC.

Deep V Dean and the Boys Perform at Fresh Market Music!

Campbell High School rock band Deep V Dean and the Boys were the featured performers for today’s Fresh Market Music! concert The band played original music to a large crowd.  The show was excellent and well received by the crowd.  The band members are from left to right: Zack Smith (guitar), Caleb Thome (drums), Matt Troutman (lead vocal) and Spencer Ford (bass).

Artist Statement:

Deep V Dean and the Boys is a local band composed of 4 Campbell High School students. Matthew Troutman (Guitarist and lead singer), Caleb Thome (Drummer), Zack Smith (Lead Guitarist), and Spencer Ford (Bassist) started the band as a group of friends making music in their basement. Using a variety of genres to form the band's signature sound and style, the band is dedicated to making the music they'd enjoy listening to in their free time.

Enjoy their music on soundcloud.

Enjoy the event photos and videos on Google Photos.

The Fresh Market Music! concert series is presented by Smyrna Arts & Cultural Council with financial support from Keep Smyrna Beautiful.

Jonquil City Sessions returns with The Slocan Ramblers on September 24, 2016 - Tickets Now On Sale!

Our Jonquil City Sessions concert series returns on September 24th with an awesome bluegrass band from Toronto named THE SLOCAN RAMBLERS! General Admission tickets with table seating, cash bar and cash concert menu are $22. 

Buy tickets on Eventbrite.

The Slocan Ramblers are Canada’s young bluegrass band to watch. Rooted in the tradition, fearlessly creative, and possessing a bold, dynamic sound, The Slocans (2015 Edmonton Folk Fest Emerging Artist Award recipients), have quickly become a leading light of Canada’s roots music scene, built on their reputation for energetic live shows, impeccable musicianship and their uncanny ability to convert anyone within earshot into a lifelong fan. Instrument masters individually, their combined vocals and harmonies join in a tight, rolling, foot-tapping experience you won’t be able to resist or forget!

On their new album, Coffee Creek (2015) The Slocan Ramblers blend lightning fast and devilishly intricate instrumentals with the sawdust-thick vocals of singer Frank Evans, who takes lead on songs ranging from rowdy old-time numbers like “Groundhog,” to a Dustbowl classic like Woody Guthrie’s “Pastures of Plenty.” “Toronto audiences don’t respond to a clean, polished Nashville sound,” tune composer and mandolinist Adrian Gross explains. “They dig a lot of energy in their music, a rowdy bar vibe. They’re hard to win over.” But The Slocan Ramblers have won them over, moving from a young ensemble of bluegrass pickers to one of the best known Canadian roots bands. They’ve done this by staying true to the roots of the music, not seeking to revive anything but rather to tap the rough and rowdy heart of the music.

Coffee Creek was produced by the band’s friend and mentor Chris Coole (The Foggy Hogtown Boys), a well-known banjo player and community leader in Toronto’s bluegrass and old-time scenes. Like Coole, The Slocan Ramblers bring the live, collaboratory aspects of the music to the fore, and they understand that if you polish up the music too much, you lose the raw excitement that makes it so vibrant. In the liner notes, Coole breaks it down: “What really impressed me while we were working on this album, was that, while they can pull off the precision and virtuosity that is at the backbone of bluegrass, they understand the power of the fragile moment in music. The fragile moment used to be a big part of what made an album cool–Monroe singing just beyond the edge of his voice, the moment right before you realize Vassar isn’t lost–the moment on and beyond the edge.” Listen to Evans’ worn vocals and you’ll hear some of the edge that great singers like Keith Whitley brought to the music. Or try Gross’ powerfully discordant and innovative mandolin solo on “Groundhog,” or Darryl Poulsen’s counterpoint Lester-Flatt-runs towards the end of the title track, or the rumbling beats of Alastair Whitehead’s acoustic bass on “Call Me Long Gone” (or Whitehead’s beautiful, world-weary original songs like “Elk River” or “Angeline”) to get a feel for how The Slocan Ramblers are pushing the envelope.

This is roots music without pretension, music intended to make you feel something, music to get you moving in a crowded bar. The Slocan Ramblers recorded Coffee Creek the same way they perform on stage: standing up, leaning into the music, and pushing harder and harder for that edge just beyond.

The Slocans are:
Frank Evans: Banjo
Adrian Gross: Mandolin
Darryl Poulsen: Guitar
Alastair Whitehead: Bass

The Lively Exchange Performs at Fresh Market Music!

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The Lively Exchange was the featured performer for the August 6 Fresh Market Music! concert.

Artist Bio:

The Lively Exchange is throwback Americana for the modern listener. Their music pays respect to the likes of The Band, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Dylan. With those artists in mind, their aim is to bring Rock 'N Roll back to the mainstream music culture. These five musicians prove Rock 'N Roll is not dead but quite lively.

The Lively Exchange is a five piece band featuring Andrew Varson on guitar/vocals, Dustin Merkle on drums/vocals, Cameron Pickup on fiddle, Ethan Bruns on bass/piano, and Nathan Lee on lead guitar. With roots from Kentucky to Georgia, southern soul oozes from each strum, pluck, and kick.

Enjoy their music on REVERBNATION.

Enjoy the event photos and videos on Google Photos.

The Fresh Market Music! concert series is sponsored by Smyrna Arts & Cultural Council with financial support from Keep Smyrna Beautiful.

Fine Art Being Introduced to the Jonquil Festival

The Smyrna Arts & Cultural Council is partnering with the organizers of the Jonquil Festival, JRM Management, to introduce a new festival attraction dedicated to fine art from local artists. It will be located in the circular central plaza on the Village Green in front of the library. We hope to make this a signature attraction at each Jonquil festival moving forward. The Fall Jonquil Festival will be held on Saturday, October 22 from 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday, October 23 from 12 pm to 5 pm. We seek 10+ "festival ready" artists representing all disciplines including painting, sculpture, photography, pottery, fiber arts and more.

To learn more please visit our website.