Art notes: Of new venues, master guitarists and more

From staff reports
Published: July 23, 2008

Sounds of Philly band to christen new venue

Fifth Street is the place to be for live music Friday night, with shows at Starlight Café and Speakertree Records, the city’s newest venue.

Speakertree Records, a record shop at 522 Fifth St., is celebrating its grand opening with a live show at 7 p.m. In addition to selling vinyls, CDs and other merchandise, the shop seeks to be a hub for live music.

Headlining the show is The Extraordinaires, a folk rock band from South Philadelphia known for their theatrical stage performances. Their show will feature new music, due to appear on their upcoming third album.

Tavo Carbone, an experimental folk musician from Brooklyn, and The Late Virginia Summers, a local ambient/instrumental band will also take the stage.

Two doors down, Starlight Café will host a night of live music on their outdoor patio, starting at 7 p.m.

The main act is Panda Transport, an electro pop duo from Char-lottesville, featuring Kathy Compton, an American pop /jazz songstress, and Thierry Holweck, a French electronic artist. The duo creates simple melodies set against a complex soundscape of natural and electronic instrumentation. Compton’s sultry voice gives the songs a dream-like quality.

Their newest album, “Plush Mechanique,” has received a string of favorable reviews, including praise from The Onion: “Kathy Compton’s breathy melodies and sassy song writing float lovingly over Theirry Holweck’s warm digital textures and live instrumentation.”

The House Band brings funk to The Ellington on Saturday

The House Band will rock The Ellington with a night of R&B, Motown and funk Saturday.

The 12-piece cover band from Lynchburg, which has been playing in the area for about six years, features a full horn section and cover songs from the 1960s to today, specializing in R&B and funk from the 1970s.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and music begins at 8:30. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.

Tickets are available at Blue Marlin Seafood on Bedford Avenue, High Peak Sportswear on Main Street, Lynchburg Music on Fort Avenue, Outdoors Trails at Boonsboro Shopping Center and Stones n’ Bones at Graves Mill Center in Forest, or online at http://www.theellington.org.

Master guitarist to play free concert in Amherst

The Amherst Glebe Arts Response will present a free concert by master guitar player and composer Philippe Bertaud at 7 p.m. Sunday, at Amherst Glebe, 156 Patrick Henry Highway, Amherst.

Bertaud’s music include classical compositions, U.S. and Brazilian jazz, country, original compositions and music from many countries he has visitied. Seating is limited and reservations can be made by e-mailing or calling (434) 946-0116.

Wytheville theater is destination for trip

The Amherst County Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor a trip to the Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre in Wytheville, to see a performance of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” on Sept. 25. The cost is $74 per person. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Monday. Call (434) 946-9371.