And if you have, you might think you know what to expect from the Memphis Music Launch. But get ready for something completely different.

There are some common denominators – an idea will come to life, and it’ll happen in just 48 hours. But this time around the ideas will be for songs or band concepts, and those 48 hours will only be the beginning. At the close of the weekend, the four strongest projects will be selected to move forward to the Memphis Music Launch Showcase, a concert event with a major headliner at the New Daisy Theatre in July. They’ll have 90 days between the weekend and the showcase to prepare, using free recording time at a major Memphis studio and every other tool in their marketing and promotions toolbox to get their friends and supporters out to see them perform and hear the final, polished product. Those fans will make up 50 percent of the final vote – the other half provided by a panel of judges – in deciding which act will ultimately take home a package of prizes valued at almost $4,000 including distribution, pressing, photography, marketing support and of course, cold hard cash.

Everything gets started this weekend with the informal pitch night, happening from 4 to 6 p.m. at EmergeMemphis. Any artist or industry professional who wants to know more is encouraged to attend, whether or not they’ve already registered for the Launch Weekend. Attendees will have the chance to hear some of the pitches they’d be up against during the weekend, and also get questions answered and learn more about the entire Launch process. There will be beer and wine on-hand and everyone who attends Saturday will be eligible to register for MML using a special extended early bird discount.

Whether you’re a musician, a singer, songwriter, producer, DJ, engineer or aspiring member of the music industry, this event is for you. The project you choose could end up being the next big act to emerge out of Memphis and into the national music scene. If you’ve got questions, check out this detailed FAQ and you can reserve your spot now by registering here: http://memphismusiclaunch.eventbrite.com.

And if you think you might be interested, get yourself downtown Saturday for pitch night. Drink a beer, ask some questions and you’ll probably catch the excitement that the folks at the Memphis Music Foundation have had about this for months. Something big is brewing – don’t miss your chance to be part of it.

 A Bravo membership comes with these great benefits:. 10+ unique events a year with complimentary wine, beer, and hors d’ouevres
. Special ticket discounts throughout the season
· An e-subscription to the Bravo Insider
· A membership to ArtsMemphis
         You receive:
         – ArtsCard, offering 2-for-1 tickets to performances and exhibitions
         – Subscription to Articulations, monthly e-newsletter
         – Invitations to ArtsMemphis parties and events

At the free Kickoff, you can:
TOUR Center for Southern Folklore and the Belz Museum of Asian & Judaic Art
WATCH a mesmerizing fire performance by Nadia Sophia
DANCE to the soulful sounds of the Bluff City Backsliders
POSE for a rock ‘n” roll portrait in the photo booth
ENJOY fabulous food from The Majestic Grille and beers
PURCHASE discounted memberships for the 2010-11 Bravo season

Don’t miss this unique event!
Bravo 2010-11 Season
Thursday, July 22 ∙ 6 p.m.
Season Kickoff at Center for Southern Folklore with live music, food by the Majestic Grille, preview of the season, membership discounts and more!

ShoWagon, the Outreach and Education Department at Theatre Memphis, will perform The Ugly Duckling in the Next Stage at Theatre Memphis on July 21, 2010 at 6pm.  The 45 minute show is part of the Kids Cabaret series that allows the professional children’s theatre touring troupe to present offerings available to schools and the general public that can be scheduled for the upcoming school year. Teachers of grades K-6 are encouraged to attend to also get information on how to book ShoWagon into the school year. This performance is free to the public, but reservations are recommended due to limited space availability.  Parents and grandparents are encouraged to bring children ages 3-11.  To secure a space, call 901.682.5261.

Other shows available in the coming 2010-11 year are adaptations of Tom Sawyer, Anansi Does the Impossible, Romeo and Juliet and Alice’s Adventures (based on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass).

The MHY fest was born from the MemphisHatesYou.com message board which acts as a networking and information source for many of Memphis’s underground heavy acts. ( No one is afraid to post what they really think and it’s not for anyone who wears their musical tastes on their sleeve). As the artists communed online about places to play, up and coming shows and even bands that suck, MHY evolved to meet the needs of participating artists. Today the forum hosts an online store, offers cd reviews, promotes bands and produces an annual festival. Hosted at the midtown music central – the Hi Tone, the Memphis Hates You Fest is a two day experience in local underground talent who all share a rock n roll core. 

Commerical Appeal story

Saturday:  Galaxicon (6:00pm), This F-ing Train (6:35pm), Process of Suffocation (7:10pm), Thorax Hum (7:45pm), Pulltrigger (8:55pm), Ragpicker (9:30pm), Dead I On (10:05pm), Burial Within (10:50pm), Cremains (11:35pm).

Sunday:  Meme (6:00pm), Elephant House(6:35pm), Vere (7:10pm), Chinamen (7:10pm), Randolph Robinson (7:45pm), American Gods (8:20pm), Saurus (8:55pm), Panther Piss (9:30pm), Tanks (10:05pm), These Wolves Are Robots (10:50pm), The Unbeheld (11:25pm)

“His brow is wet with honest sweat. He earn whatever he can, and looks the whole world in the face, for he owes not any man. ”

- “The Village Blacksmith”
Henry Wordworth Longfellow

The Ornamental Metal Museum will celebrate International Blacksmith’s Day on May 22. Every year blacksmiths around the world open their doors to the public. We are pretty fortunate around here because Memphis is home to the only museum in the Americas dedicated to metal work. From 11:00 am to 2:00 pm admission to the Museum will be free, along with  special discounts in the Museum Store, blacksmithing demonstrations by  staff artists, and (for a small donation) metalworking activities for kids and adults.

Gather your family and go experience a magical day. Magical?, you question.Well, in days of old, blacksmiths were very often thought of as magicians, due mostly to his mastery of iron working and ability to understand the metallurgy of the iron that he used.

I know everyone thinks Europe when they think blacksmith. But blacksmithing was prominent across the world, especially upon the Iron Age’s arrival. The Egyptians called Iron “copper from heaven” and blacksmithing flourished all over Africa. The Mande blacksmiths of Western Africa held very important positions in society and often called upon by the chief for guidance in major decisions regarding the village. In Sokoto, Nigeria the people of  Makera Assada are know for their blacksmithing skills. In fact, it used to be a great offense if someone chose any career other than blacksmithing. Navajo tribes were one of the first in the Americas to take on blacksmithing and as a direct result we have all that fabulous jewerly of turquoise and silver. I’m not going to even get into how blacksmithing gave birth to bladesmithing and the merits of great Samurai swordmen like Masamune.

Since metalwork was a neccesity of life, blacksmiths are throughout mythological tales from Aztecs Americas to New Guinea. In myth the most well known blacksmith is the Olympian Hephaestus, god of fire and metalworking. A son of Zeus, his forge was a volcano and he created all the weapons for his fellow Olympians including Zeus’ lightning bolt. My favorite blacksmith from mythology is from theVolundarkvida poem in  The Poetic Edda . It tells of our hero Volundr who was renown for the beautiful rings of gold he forged and the glorious gems he put in them. After being captured by an evil king, Volundr escaped and got revenge by  killing the king’s sons and then forging craftwork made of their eyes, skulls and teeth. Volundr then seduced and impregnated the king’s daughter.  And just to add insult to injury, he spirited the princess away on wings he had forged all while laughing at the poor king. (pretty cold-blooded huh?)

Come to the Metal Museum on May 22. Feel the heat from the forge, hear the clang of the hammer and watch a centuries old tradition that calls us back to simplier times when honest sweat was valued and everyone endeavored to owe not a man.

Buddy has served as an influence to the greatest and most well-known guitarists in history- Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Stevie Ray Vaughan- not to mention has had one of the most successful musical careers himself.  With five Grammy awards, 23 WC Handy Blues Awards, and a Presidential National Medal of Arts under his belt, one would think that Buddy would not have much left to accomplish.  Though, in 2008 at the age of 72, he proved that to be untrue.  Buddy starred on the big screen in Martin Scorsese’s Rolling Stones’ concert film “Shine a Light” and  made his first appearance on the cover of Rolling Stone, pictured alongside music heavyweights Carlos Santana, John Mayer, and Kirk Hammett.  And, after creating more than 30 blues masterpieces, Buddy released his latest album- “Skin Deep,” receiving nothing short of majestic (pun intended) reviews.

Sample any of Buddy’s music and you will realize what an honor it is to have the opportunity to be in his presence this Thursday, when the Majestic Grille and the Blues Foundation come together to offer a lunch with the legend.  In addition to the obvious food that will be provided, there will be a meet & greet and a viewing of the ‘Buddy and the Blues’ Art Show featuring paintings by Patterson & Barnes and photography by Albert Watson.  Your ticket will also include an autographed copy of the 2010 Blues Music Awards poster.

To reserve your seat, RSVP at 901-522-8555.  Space is VERY limited, so hurry! Tickets are $75 and proceeds benefit the Blues Foundation.

As a part of Spirit of Memphis, the Memphis Music Foundation will celebrate the Memphis Music Resource Center (MMRC), the nation’s only free education facility and workspace for musicians. The festivities will center around a special Memphis stop of “Smart Touring with Martin Atkins” on April 8th at 7:00pm at the memphis Music Resource Center, 431 South Main Ste 201. The free seminar is a continuation on the MMRC’s education events to help musicians make and increase income in the music industry.

A distillation of Atkins’ thirty plus years in the music business and his book, Tour:Smart and Break the Band, the corresponding presentation will contain not only valuable insight into his methods, but an unusually candid discussion of mistakes and failures. Atkins will cover routing strategies, strategies to sustain a career, sponsorships, geography, guerilla marketing and entrepreneurial activity in the music industry.

Who is this Martin Atkins?

Atkins was a member of Public Image Ltd and Killing Joke. He founded industrial super groups Pigface, The Damage Manual, and Murder Inc., and has played drums for Nine Inch Nails and Ministry. He is the owner of Invisible Records and Mattress Factory Recording Studios (est. 1988) in Chicago. . Martin Atkins wrote Tour:Smart in 2007 and has since spoken around the  world taking his message to musicians through music conferences and educational institutions. Atkins is also a Suicide Girls columnist, a part time lecturer at Madison Media Institute, and the founder of the revolutionary school R3. Atkins is a producer, drummer, documentary filmmaker, DJ, and father of four.

The Memphis Music Foundation will present its Road to the Bluebird show at the HiTone Saturday with a free All ages show. The event features some of the Memphis acts performing on the Memphis showcase during the Tin Pan South Songwriters conference. Featured performers are Jason Freeman, Jeremy Stanfill, Joy Whitlock and Billie Worley. The show runs from 4-6pm. It’s the perfect opportunity to bring the whole family foran afternoon of Memphis music as we cheer on these performers who are heading to Nashville to represent Memphis in only major festival dedicated to songwriters.

“A Salute With A Purpose”

Novella Smith Arnold and Elaine Turner at W.C. Handy Heritage Awards

The Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission will hold its second annual Emissaries of Memphis Music Power Luncheon at The Holiday Inn, 3700 Central Avenue, on Friday, March 26 from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. 

Celebrating Women’s History Month, the Memphis & Shelby County Music Commission will pay tribute to nine remarkable women who have made significant contributions to Memphis music. Proceeds from the luncheon will benefit the Memphis Plan, a free healthcare program for Memphis musicians.  The esteemed emissaries are international blues singer Toni Green, former STAX Records production chief and Black Radio Hall of Fame inductee Novella Smith Arnold, award-winning opera singer Kallen Esperian, music philanthropist Honey Scheidt, country music singer Nancy Apple, Grammy-nominated song writer Mary Unobsky, producer of Downtown Alive for the Center City Commission Leslie Gower and creators of the W.C. Handy Heritage Awards Elaine Lee-Turner and Joan Lee-Nelson.

“The contributions of women to Memphis music are often overlooked and this luncheon is a way for us to salute the career achievements of women who have quietly, but steadily made insurmountable contributions to our music culture,” says Johnnie Walker, Executive Director of the Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission.  “The collective experiences of these women span several decades, and we are proud to honor them,” noted Walker.  Proceeds from the event will be used to fund the Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission’s healthcare plan for Memphis musicians. The Memphis Plan is offered through the Church Health Center and is free for Memphis musicians who meet eligibility requirements.  “With consideration to the current budget crisis, we chose not to go to City Council and request funds, but rather raise funds to support this much needed program on our own, explains Walker. When the musicians stop, the music stops … and no one wants music to stop in Memphis!”

The luncheon host will be Marybeth Conley, co-host of WREG-TV’s Live at 9.  Pamela J. Marshall, Chief of Staff for Shelby County will deliver the keynote address. Ms. Marshall is the first African-American and the first woman to hold the position of Chief of Staff for Shelby County Government.

“For the women being honored, I hope we all leave feeling a little stronger in faith in ourselves and able to walk a little prouder,” says honoree Nancy Apple. “For those attending, I hope they all leave inspired to support Memphis musicians to make better Memphis music.”

 Tickets for luncheon can be purchased for $50. Reserved tables of ten are available for $750. For more information contact the Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission at 901-576-6857.

23 years ago, director Donald O’Conner was looking for way to teach Memphis’ inner city youth about their cultural heritage and to motivate them to achieve, not only on stage, but in their lives. To this end, Watoto De’ Afrika (Swahili for “children of Africa”) was formed as a celebration of Afro-centric performing arts past and present. In the process of developing their innate performing talent, several generations of young people have been inspired to improve their social and academic standing as well. Over the years, the Watoto De’ Afrika ensemble has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe bringing Memphis to the world while bringing the world to these young Memphians. Even so, director O’Conner insists a big part of Watoto’s mission is to teach his young students to love Memphis and to entice them to stay here and contribute their time and talents to our community.

The success of Watoto led to the development of a program directed at school age children who called themselves “The Funzzies.” While the messages of being true to oneself, helping others and overcoming fear may sound serious, the Funzzie approach is lighthearted and fun-filled. And it might be heading toward a TV set near you in the future. Director O’Conner is working with Dan Zanes, a Grammy-winning contemporary kids’ music performer to develop a program for the Disney Channel, an appropriate choice since Mr. O’Conner often refers to the Funzzies as the Mouseketeers meet Sesame Street.

Check out the Funzzies on “Live @9” this Friday, December 4th on WREG, Channel 3. For more information on Live @ 9, go to http://www.wreg.com/shows/liveat9/