2011 Fairfax County Summer Entertainment Series Rocks

Major kudos to The Fairfax County Park Authority for scheduling the best free summer concert series we've seen in a while. There's a amalgamated stew of excellent music from different genres delivered by national, regional, and local acts. Some of the highlights - how about Anders Osborne. Or Tom Principato, Bill Kirchen, Andrew McKnight, Sierra Hull, Claire Lynch, or Tom Paxton. These artists are usually seen at the Birchmere, Wolf Trap, or the Rams Head - not at local amphitheaters. Add in rising artists like The Damwells, Scythian, Ted Garber, or Melodime and great local acts like Bruce Ewan, Ruthie and the Wranglers, Last Train Home, Little Red and The Renegades,Cathy Ponton King, the Janine Wilson Band and we might as well list everyone. This is a great series. And free. And family friendly. And possible dog friendly. And convenient. What else do you need? Here are the highlights from three venues, but there are plenty more so check the park authority website.

Newton W. Edwards Amphitheater at Mason District Park, 6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale VA 22003
7:30-8:30 p.m.

June
1 - Bruce Ewan (blues)
3 - Anders Osborne (blues/rock/soul/classic rhythm and blues)
5 - City of Fairfax Concert Band (big band)
8 - Ruthie and the Wranglers (roots/rock)
10 - Sierra Hull and Highway 111 (country)
12 - BG Y The Mojo Hands (swing/rockabilly)
15 - Veronneau (soft jazz)
17 - Celtibillies (Celtic)
19 - Washington Balalaika Orchestra (Russian)
22 - Carolyn Malachi (jazz/pop/rhythm and blues)
24 - Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer (music for families)
26 - National Concert Band (big band)
29 - Squeeze Bayou (Cajun)

July
1 - Last Train Home (country)
3 - Kings Park Band (big band)
6 - Robbin Thompson (blues)
8 - Claire Lynch (bluegrass)
10 - The NOVA Annandale Symphony Orchestra (pops)
13 - Thrillbillies (rockbilly)
15 - John Eaton (jazz/blues/Broadway)
17 - The United States Army Band - Downrange (rock)
20 - The United States Navy Band - Sea Chanters (chorale)
22 - Alexandria Kleztet (jazz)
24 - The Capitol Steps (satirical revue)
27 - L’Tanya Mari (jazz)
29 - Little Red and The Renegades (zydeco)
31 - Falls Church Concert Band (big band)

August
3 - Tom Principato (blues)
5 - Tom Paxton (folk)
7 - Radio King Orchestra (big band)
10 - Hot Society Orchestra of Washington (jazz)
12 - Orquesta Tropikimba (Afro-Cuban orchestra)
14 - Cartoon Johnny (a cappella)
17 - The Joe Rathbone Band (indie rock)
19 - The Atomic Swing Club (swing)
20 - The United States Army Band - Blues Jazz Ensemble
24 - Ted Garber (blues/Americana/rock)
26 - The Aloha Boys (Hawaiian folk music and dance)
28 - Melodime (country rock)

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Braddock Nights

ROYAL LAKE PARK
5344 Gainsborough Drive, Fairfax 22032
Friday Evenings • 7:30-8:30 p.m.

June
3 - Natty Beaux (Jump Blues)
10 - Andrew McKnight & Beyond Borders (Folk)
17 - Elvis Tribute Band, Jed Deuvall (Rock&Roll)
24 - Mariachi Los Amigos (Mariachi)

July
1 - Billy Woodward & The Senders (Rockabilly/Vintage R&B)
8 - The Damnwells (Roots/Blues)
15 - Janine Wilson Band (Roots/Rock)
22 - Cathy Ponton King (Blues)
29 - Washington Toho Koto Society (Japanese)

August
5 - Trio Caliente (Latin Gypsy Rhumba)
12 - 7: The Capital Focus Jazz Band (Jazz)
19 - Andrew Acosta String Band (Folk/Bluegrass)
26 - No Second Troy (Indie/Pop/Rock)

LAKE ACCOTINK PARK
7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield 22152
Friday Evenings • 7:30-8:30 p.m.

June
3 - The Roustabouts (Blues/Fiddle Band)
10 - City of Fairfax “Concert Band” (Big Band)
17 - The United States Army Band “Blues Jazz Ensemble” (Jazz)
24 - MAHALA (Township Jive)

July
1 - Hangover Royale (Rockabilly/Western Swing)
8 - The Taters (Country/Pop)
15 - Night Music (Vintage Rock)
22 - Celtic Marc (Irish/Scottish)
29 - Billy Coulter (Roots/Rock)

August
5 - The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra’s Brass Quintet (Classic)
12 - The United States Navy Band “Commodores” (Jazz)
19 - Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition (Bluegrass)
26 - City of Fairfax Band “Alte Kameraden German Band” (German)
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Hunter Mill Melodies Concert Series
FRYING PAN FARM PARK • 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon, VA 20171

June
2 - The Company Store (Old-time Fiddling & Country Humor)
9 - The Annandale Brass Ensemble (Light Classical & Popular Songs)
16 - Cravin’ Dogs (Rock)
23 - The United States Navy Band “Country Current” (Country)
30 - Scythian (Irish)

July
7 - The United States Army Band “Blues Jazz Ensemble” (Jazz)
14 - Slightly Something (Acoustic/Pop)
21 - Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie (Traditional Bluegrass)
28 - Bill Kirchen & Too Much Fun (Rockabilly)

August
4 - CAISO Steel Band (Steel Drum Band)
11 - King Teddy (Swing)
18 - The Winstons (Motown)
25 - Mystic Warriors (Andean)

This Week at MyJoog

There's a strong Americana presence in the nation's capital this week starting tonight with John Mellencamp at DAR Constitution Hall. On Wednesday night, Slightly Stoopid comes to the Nightclub 9:30 and then Thursday we head west to WolfTrap in order to watch Paul Thorn. The following evening we either head back to DAR Constitution Hall to catch The Avett Brothers or head to Alexandria and The Birchmere to watch Tom Principato Band 'CD Release Show' which also includes Bill Kirchen. We finish the week back at Nightclub 9:30 for the second night of The Drive-By Truckers - who also play at the venue Friday night.  Or we stay close to home and watch four entertaining local bands at The State Theatre: The Dreamscapes Project, Melodime, Crooked Crow, and Cobra Collective. And speaking of The State Theatre; the 25th annual Wammies show is scheduled for this Sunday the 20th with the after party at Bangkok Blues.

Current Tracks That Won't Go Away

Over the past few weeks we have received and purchased several recordings from a wide array of artists. We had planned on drafting formal reviews of each - but with the MyJoogTV schedule and added burden of Christmas parties - we have devised a new strategy. Here is a subset of the CDs, as well as links to purchase, that we didn't throw in the back of the bus after the first listen. In fact, we have enjoyed most of these on numerous occasions. And as a bonus we've applied a one sentence buzz phrase commonly used in the industry.

• Prepare For Black & White - The White Elephant: favorite CD of the bunch
• Sigh No More - Mumford & Sons - wished I could have seen the tour with Cadillac Sky
• A Part of Me - Tom Principato: D.C. based bluesman knocks it out with latest
• The Wages - The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band - portrays the struggle and virtues of the Midwest
• Welcome Down & Welcome Up - Tina Dico: this lady can sing, pure and simple
• Memories of John - The John Hartford Stringband: from the grave to the Grammies - great old time music
• The Night the Cumberland Came Alive - EP - Mike Farris & The Cumberland Saints: can't get enough of this gospel blues CD
• The Way We Do It Down South - Gary Nichols: alt-country meets R&B in Muscle Shoals
• Something Worth Standing For - Andrew McKnight & Turning Pages - Andrew McKnight: shows that indie musicians just need exposure - "Letter to Colonial Mosby" is an instant classic
• All the Quiet, All the Chaos - Shane Hines: local artists gets better with age

MyJoogTV Episode 7: Tom Principato at the Mad Fox Brewing Company

This episode of MyJoogTV features Washington-based bluesman Tom Principato in a discussion of beer and blues with Mad Fox Brewing Company head brewer and proprietor Bill Madden. We've been following Principato's career ever since listening to Blazing Telecasters - Danny Gatton & Tom Principato way back in the early 90's. He is now releasing a new CD, "A Part of Me", which includes "some of the Washington D.C. area's best musicians who I've been recording and performing with for years: Steve Wolf, Tommy Lepson, Josh Howell and Jay Turner". Principato is considered a "Master" of the Fender Telecaster and Statocaster and he explains the difference. The bluesman also just returned from a successful European tour so in anticipation to that trip, we sampled a few European-styled brews crafted by Madden. We also learned about Madden's voyage from being a student brewer to now, an accomplished brewer owning a restaurant and a judge in the Great American Beer Festival. The episode concludes with the Tom Principato Band performing "Down in Lou'siana", a track from "A Part of Me" at the Second Chance Saloon in Columbia, Maryland. Cheers.

Big Joe & the Dynaflows

One of the most longest serving bluesmen in the Washington D.C. area is Big Joe Maher, who has played in the area for at least the last 30 years. I first heard him with the The Uptown Rhythm Kings, then with the Tom Principato Band, before he started the five piece Big Joe & The Dynaflows. Good Rockin'Daddy is still one of my favorite CDs and since that release this band has continued to master the New Orleans blues and jump swing sound. That's why the WSDC Swing Dance Committee is always in attendance.And this past Saturday, we got a chance to see the band in action at the Reston Town Center for a free live concert. There was a strong turnout and as soon as the music began, the dancers were out front. What a nice way for a family to spend an evening.