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How Sweet the Sound Dallas 2011

31 Aug

Verizon’s annual How Sweet The Sound experience will be at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on September 15th at 7:30pm. Area choirs and gospel celebrities come together under one roof but the same stage for an amazing evening of praise. It’s like Sunday’s Best but on a choir level as they search for the best choirs in America. The performances made by these Texas gospel choirs are ones that you won’t want to miss (especially if you’re a big Gospel/choir fan) as they compete to win the yearly choir competition. Verizon’s “How Sweet the Sound” is hosted by Donald Lawrence and Dorinda Clark-Cole, with one of my own favorite Gospel artists, Marvin Sapp who will be performing as well as judging. Here are some of the choirs participating in Dallas’ How Sweet the Sound 2011:

For the Large choir category:

United Voices of Concord (Concord Church- Dallas)
St. John Music Ministry (St. John Baptist Church- Grand Prairie)
God’s Tabernacle of Deliverance Bishop’s Choir (God’s Tabernacle of Deliverance- DeSoto)
Greater Sweethome Missionary Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir (Greater Sweethome Missionary Baptist Church- Forest Hill)

In the Small/Medium Choir category:

Bethel Tabernacle Choir (Bethel Tabernacle – Houston)
Christ Church Concert Chorale (Christ Church Apostolic- Houston)
Inspiring Voices (Inspiring Temple of Praise Church – Fort Worth)
The Levites (Greater Emmanuel Family Worship Center- Houston)

The program begins at 7:30pm but doors will open at 6pm! Tickets to How Sweet The Sound Dallas can be purchased here. They’re also available for only $10 and/or $15 (not including fees) at the AAC Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets and Ticketmaster.com. Some of the other stops How Sweet The Sound will be making this month include: Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington D.C., Detroit, St. Louis, Chicago, LA & Oakland!

Hosted by Donald Lawrence

Even if you can’t attend How Sweet the Sound live you can still vote for the choir of your choice here! Just follow the instructions and stay tuned for the V Cast People’s Choice Award winner at each regional show! I may be slightly biased but DFW has some of the best gospel choirs in the nation. If you’d like to be a part of this event get your ticket, take some friends or even your own church choir as Marvin Sapp and other gospel choirs rock the house and turn the American Airlines Center into a supersized sanctuary on Thursday, September 15th! Remember online voting is only from August 17th to August 31st! Support your local choirs and see How Sweet the Sound really is 🙂


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Dallas Arboretum 2011 Fall Concerts Sept 4 – Oct 27

25 Aug

Summer is very slowly coming to a close but the Dallas Arboretum’s Fall Concert series are just revving up. Sometimes even after we’ve changed seasons, it still feels summer-like in North Texas, but what better time to attend more outdoor concerts than in the fall when the temperatures are just right. Concerts at the Arboretum ran through spring and summer months, and now after a few weeks to break, the return in September with the 2011 Line-up. All throughout September and October Concerts at the Arboretum will take place on a weekly bases from 7:30pm – 9:30pm. So in addition to being the perfect park setting with the array of flowers, trees and even the nearby lake, the Dallas Arboretum is providing you with Live music by various bands. These are Free concerts, but will be worth your money for the entire family to attend and maybe even picnic together. The typical ticket prices for non-members are: $17 for kids (ages 3-13) and $25 for adults. Tickets can be purchased online, and all tickets are checked upon entry to the gardens. Season passes and Genre passes are also available. The Fall Thursdays Season pass gets you into 7 performances at $105 (non-members) or $42 for members.

Concerts at the Aboretum start back up Sept 4

The fall version of Concerts at the Arboretum will kick off with a Labor Day weekend Concert (& Picnic) at 7pm featuring the “kings of Texas swing” Asleep at the Wheel. Sunday September 4th it all begins at the Dallas Arboretum. After that the concerts will be every Thursday, throughout the months of September and October. Gates open at 6pm so you can grab your spots early and get all set up with your mats, blankets, picnic items, etc. The Dallas Arboretum is located at: 8528 Garland Road, Dallas 75218.

FALL SCHEDULE

September
Sunday, 9/4…..…Asleep at the Wheel (Swing music)
Thurs, 9/15…….Hard Night’s Day (Beatles Tribute)
Thur, 9/22…….Dallas Unlimited (Top Hits of the Decades)
Thur, 9/29……..Max Stalling (Country Singer/Songwriter)

October
Thur, 10/6………Blaze of Glory (Bon Jovi Tribute)
Thur, 10/13.…….4 Way Street (CSNY Tribute)
Thur, 10/20…….Signed, Sealed Delivered (Party and Dance Hits)
Thur, 10/27………Micky & the Motorcars (Texas Country)

During one of my shoots earlier this year at the Arboretum

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Free Texas Power Fall Concert Series at Levitt Pavilion – Arlington

22 Aug

Rest assured that even after the summer months have ended and the kids are back in school, you’ll still have the opportunity to enjoy some free outdoor concerts, And although we can still have heat in September in Texas, it should be cooling off just a little or be the more bearable heat. Texas Power presents a Free Fall concert series at Levitt Pavilion in Arlington every Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday of each week in September. The Fall Concert Series begins on September 1st at 7:30pm. A new artist or band performs each time as the series will only last for a month.

The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts was designed just for this type of thing: to promote and premier local artists for free to the surrounding public.

Jamie Richards - Sept 10

With Levitt Pavilions located across the US (Memphis, LA, Pasadena, Westport & Bethlehem) Arlington shares the commonality of celebrating its own community with free professional concerts displaying a rich array of music. Each year 50 or more take place!

Enjoy Free music under the stars in the weekend evenings of September. Picnic baskets, coolers, lawn chairs and blankets are welcome to the park. While they do allow alcoholic beverages, no glass containers are allowed and concessions are available at the pavilion.

Texas Power’s Free Fall concert series brings Arlingtonians Free music under the stars with various genres of music like: rock, blues, indie pop, indie-rock, salsa, jazz, country, alternative and funk!

Souls Rebels Brass Band - Sept 29

Wayanay Inka - Sept 22

There will be no concert on the 18th and Ecofest falls on September 17th when Velvet Love Box & Spoonfed Tribe will both perform. You can view the full calendar of performances for the Texas Power Fall Concert Series right here! The final performance will be by Deryl Dodd & The Homesick Cowboys October 1st, giving the audience a taste of Texas music with contemporary flair.

The Levitt Pavilion is located at 100 W. Abram Street in Founders Plaza. Not far from the UTA campus it’s right at the corner of Abram and Center Street. It is directly across the street from City Hall.

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Jill Scott LIVE in Dallas | Superfest Summer Block Party 2011

10 Aug

Budweiser Superfest presents Jill Scott’s Summer Block Party with special guests Anthony Hamilton and Mint Condition! Music will be provided by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the block party is hosted by Doug E. Fresh. Jill Scott is taking over North America yet again with her 2011 Summer Tour.

Jill Scott featuring Anthony Hamilton & Mint Condition

The Grammy award winning singer and actress presents her highly antcipated album The Light of the Sun which came out in June, with a debut single featuring Anthony Hamilton “So In Love”. Texas is the last stop for the Summer Block Party Tour and what better place to end it! Her final show for the tour will be in Houston on the 28th.

For those of you still trying to figure out what Gexa Energy Pavilion is and where it came from, it is the former Smirnoff Music Centre and Superpages.com Center located in Fair Park. This outdoor performing arts center in Dallas (renamed Gexa just this year) has a stage/production area and covered pavilion that seats 7,533 persons while a sloping lawn accommodates another 12,578. It’s still gonna be a little hot, but true JILL / Anthony / Mint Condition fans won’t care. Within a matter of days one of my FAVORITE R&B/Neo-Soul artists of all times will be occupying this “Gexa” place with classic hits like “Golden”, “Long Walk”, “Crown Royale” and a host of new tracks from “The Light of the Sun” album too! If your a Jill fan like me go ahead and get your ticket(s) here so you don’t have to miss the Best Block Party of the Summer!

Here’s a video of Miss J-I-L-L S-C-O-T-TeeeeEEEeeeeEEEeeeeEEEE performing live last June at the AAC during her 2010 Summer Tour with Maxwell:

“Golden”




“Not Like Crazy” snippet

This will be a Block Party you WON’T forget! Bring some water, cool clothes and a camera to capture all the fun as some of R&B’s finest hit the Gexa Stage!

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Addison Summer Concert Series: Free Salsa Saturdays in August

5 Aug

With August being the BEST MONTH OF THE YEAR your Saturday nights are about to get even better!! Spice up your Summer with live salsa music every Saturday at Beckert Park in Addison Circle. Addison’s Summer Event Series continues with Salsa Saturdays. You can learn to salsa dance from experts of The Dance Council at 7:00pm and admission is free! It’s all done outdoors so bring some dancing shoes, sneakers or even go barefoot! (If you’d just prefer to learn by watching, be sure to carry a lawn chair, blanket or picnic mat But try to stay outta the way!) The live music will continue on at 8:00pm with a different band/group featured each week. Continue to salsa as the music fills the air of Addison Circle. If you’ve got ants in your pants and you need to dance, then head over to Addison for the Free Salsa dancing and music this Saturday, or next Saturday or even the one after that! So long as it’s within the month of August!

Here’s a schedule for the entire month:

August 6
Orquesta Sabor

August 13
Mi Son, Mi Son, Mi Son

August 20
Havan NRG

August 27
Parranda Venezuela

Join us in Addison as we’re Dancing in the streets! It’s HOT enough outside but summer in North Texas just got even spicier with Summer Salsa Saturdays! See you at Bekert Park!

By the end of the night you may be dancin’ like these two!

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Viva Dallas! Hispanic Expo 2011

4 Aug

This weekend Dallas Market Hall will be hosting the 9th annual Viva Dallas!, a two-day expo geared towards the Latino/Hispanic consumers. Over 30,000 attendees are expected and the community event will take place on August 6th & 7th. Viva Dallas, is the largest culturally consumer-business exposition designed specifically to educate and inform Latino consumers about health/educational opportunities and corporate products and services. It will provide a glimpse of the nation’s fastest growing consumer group. The Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber brings Viva Dallas back on Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday, 10am to 4pm. The yearly event traditionally takes place on the first weekend of August. One can expect free health screenings, live entertainment like cultural dancing and music, food court with Latin American favorites, over 200 exhibitors, a Quiceneras y Novias pavilion and even an education pavilion. Hispanics now account for nearly one-quarter of children under the age of 18 and the best thing we can do for our kids is get them to further their education with college degrees so a number of schools and universities will be present at Viva Dallas with more info on programs and opportunities available. With sponsors like Chase, State Farm Insurance, Texas Rangers, Children’s Medical Center, ECO Latino, El Heraldo, Ford, Verizon, AT&T, Al Dia and more, 2011 Viva Dallas is sure to be as successful as it has been in the past.

With the Hispanic population exceeding 50 million this year, standing firmly at the nation’s #2 spot, it’s only fitting that such an event occur on a consistent basis in North Texas as we continue to educate, cultivate and advance our Latino community. Check out the flagship event of the GDHCC at Market Hall and give your family a taste of everything – health, business and culture. Remember Admission is Free too! See you on the weekend! And remember

“Donde hay gana, hay mana”!!*

Here’s a little something to get you ready for the weekend. My favorite song/dance from “Dance with Me” compliments of Vanessa Williams and Mr. Sergio Mendes…



~EXPO HOURS~

SATURDAY 9:00AM – 5:OOPM

SUNDAY 10:00AM – 4:00PM


Viva Dallas Address:
Market Hall
2200 Stemmons Freeway
Dallas 75207

(*Translation: Where there is the desire there is the ability.)

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Stroll and Sample at the July Wine Walk at Cedar Hill Uptown Village

27 Jul

Uptown Village in Cedar Hill hosts a Free Wine Walk on the last Thursday of each month. If you consider yourself a wine connoisseur then you can appreciate the sips you’ll receive, but if you’re just looking for something to do that gets you a few free treats too then you will also like this event. Usually they require you to RSVP in order to participate but you don’t HAVE to; it’s just encouraged. This month the Wine Walk will take place on July 28th.

Expect live music, special store promotions, food samples, and fun! Pick up your tickets and a bag of goodies with a map laying out all of the participating retailers and restaurants where you can enjoy sales, promotions, samples and wine. It gives you the chance to do a little exercise as well as you circle the Village Green and peek into each store to see what they have to offer. It’s a three hour event happening from 6:00pm – 9:00pm in the evening so you’ll have time to get there after work. Of course you also need to be at least 21 to participate in the Wine Walk. You can e-mail GuestServicesCH@herringgroup.com to make your reservations. Uptown Village is growing more and more each season. They recently added a Black-eyed Peas, taking the spot of the former Petaluma Café. If either of these eateries are open this month, try a taste of Italia Express and Max n’ Cheese. Patrizio’s and Which Wich are also favorites but no guarantee that they’re participating in the event. Get outta the house and into “Sample n’ Sip Stroll”.


Uptown Village is located off of Highway 67 and Pleasant Run.
You can also enter from 1382/Belt Line Road.

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Broadway’s Guys & Dolls at Fair Park | Dallas Summer Musical of July

24 Jul

From July 19 – July 31 catch Guys & Dolls at Fair Park’s Music Hall! Guys and Dolls is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals and is appropriate for all ages! Guys and Dolls is based on two short stories by Damon Runyon- “The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown” and “Blood Pressure” and a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.

Guys and Dolls is a romantic musical comedy set in New York City. The vivid cast of characters brings the story to life on stage with fun and catchy songs, lyrics by Frank Loesser, that bring the spirit of Broadway right into the heart of Dallas!

The organizer of the oldest permanent floating crap game, Nathan Detroit, makes an interesting bet with Sky Masterson who is traveling alone to Havana and believes he could get any woman he wants to company him. Nathan makes an interesting Bet with Sky that he’s sure he’ll win. Nathan proposes that Sky take a ‘doll’ chosen by Nathan to dinner in Havana. He bets that Sky can’t make the next girl he sees fall in love with him. Turns out the lucky contestant happens to be Miss Sarah Brown of the Save-a-Soul Mission. As soon as Nathan chooses virginal Sergeant Sarah Brown, Sky’s confidence fades. Meanwhile, Nate’s ‘doll’ (Miss Adelaide), who is the main attraction at the Hot Box nightclub, only has marriage on her mind after lying to her mother for about 14 years about being married with kids. She is suffering from a psychosomatic cold after dealing with the long overdue engagement. Nathan is in need of $1000 and relies on winning this bet to rent out Gilmore’s Garage in order to maintain the “Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York”. Find out if Sky gets the girl or if Nathan gets the garage when you go see Guys and Dolls this week!

Guys and Dolls is showing at The Music Hall at Fair Park

The Broadway musical first premiered in 1950 at 46th Street Theatre directed by George S. Kaufman with 1200 performances. After the first year the Broadway musical received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1951. Guys and Dolls has received multiple Tony Awards in 1951, ‘65, ‘77, ‘92 and 2009. The musical has had many Broadway revivals and West End productions.

SHOW SCHEDULE

Tue, Jul 19………..8PM
Wed, July 20……….8PM
Thu, July 21……….8PM
Fri, July 22……….8PM
Sat, July 23……….2PM & 8PM
Sun, July 24……….2PM & 8PM
Tue, July 26……….8PM
Wed, July 27……….8PM
Thu, July 28……….2PM & 8PM
Fri, July 29……….8PM
Sat, July 30……….2PM & 8PM
Sun, July 31……….2PM



Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com ranging from $20 to $85. Prices vary based on showtimes, dates and seating levels.
Click here for directions and additional information on The Musical Hall at Fair Park.

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2nd Annual Dallas Reggae Festival

19 Jul

Saturday, July 23rd, marks the 2nd year of the Dallas Reggae Festival! Who said North Texas didn’t have much Carribbean culture? Well, Dallas is no Houston but I bet if you go by Fair Park this Saturday afternoon you may forget that you’re in a state as opposed to an island. The 2nd Annual Reggae Festival will begin at 4:00pm and end at 11:00pm. The doors open at 3:00pm! It will be held at The Bandshell at Fair Park in Dallas.

Richie Spice will hit the stage this year

You can expect live music from Roots Unlimited Band, A-Squad/Anthony Jade, Smurph, Donovan Bulleton, Mark Griffis, Hyron Ferguson, DJ Josh and DJ Cap, Famous Squad Outta Houson, MC Steady Rankin and Sing Kumba. Of course the Reggae music will be accompanied by island cuisine, arts and crafts. You can be sure that two of Dallas’ best island restaurants, Elaine’s Kitchen and Caribbean Grill, will be there selling delicious West Indian food to satisfy you palettes. This event only happens once a year and this is just the 2nd year so make sure not to miss!



Attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs, blankets and drums but please no coolers, food/drinks, pets, drugs of any kind, large umbrellas or tents. Most importantly bring your positive energy for this grand Reggae festival! Come out and represent your country/island, your heritage and celebrate your love for reggae music. Make it an afternoon of Island fun Saturday July 23rd at The Bandshell.

Performances by Reggae artist Sanchez

–TICKETS–
General Admission – $35
Students – $25
Kids under 15 – Free

Click here to purchase tickets online or visit the official website. They can also be purchased at Jamaica Gates (Arlington), Carribbean Grill, Elaine’s Kitchen, Jamaican Jerk Center and Carribbean Riddims.

Reggae Festival will take place at The Band Shell in Fair Park


Event Address:
1200 S 2nd Street
Dallas 75210

If you’re interested in booking a booth for this event or you are an entertainer and would like to be part of the show contact info@dallasreggaefestival.com.

For more information on the 2nd Annual Dallas Reggae Festival click here.

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JAM to Give | Braxton Family Values

15 Jul

The 8-week concert series of Cedar Hill Uptown Village continues this week as DFW saxophonist Tom Braxton returns to the stage. Last year he filled the Village Green with smooth jazzy sax sounds that had the crowd dancing and tapping their heels, and this year will be no different. Believe it or not, he taught my brother to play the saxophone when we were younger, so I know he’s a talented musician! With his new album, Endless Highway, now available in stores, Braxton instills those family values by giving to a charitable cause through his music. As it may not be the same exact values as Toni Braxton and her sisters, Tom Braxton (no relation to the VH1 reality stars) has managed to make a name for himself across the U.S. and most importantly the DFW Metroplex. By supporting the local non-profit Hope Mansion, Braxton can help you support a worthy cause and cool off at the end of the week with some quality live music.

Dallas Saxophonist Tom Braxon plays July 15

Found just last November, the Hope Mansion is a faith-based community partnership organization aimed at providing a support system for women in crisis with unplanned/unwanted pregnancies. Located right in Cedar Hill, Hope Mansion provides women support facilities for women in the metroplex should they choose to keep their child or place them up for adoption with limited availability in the entire metroplex as Elizabeth Homes and Grace Home were both recently closed. You can be a part of supporting the non-profit’s mission of practical support for mothers’ and their babies during a time of crisis by bringing toiletry items to Friday’s evening concert (July 15). Whether it’s toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, lotion, whatever, help make a difference in someone else’s life by providing just a small simple contribution. We, as a community, can make a difference and JAM to Give helps us do just that on a weekly basis. Join us at the Village Green once again for a live saxophone performance by one of Dallas’ best jazz musicians and support this concert for a cause that benefits the Hope Mansion.

The concert will be from 7-9pm so you have a little time to change and unwind after work. The kids can bring their swimsuits and beat the heat playing at the fountain in the meantime. This is the second to last concert of the Summer hosted by Uptown Village so catch it before July 22nd comes!

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