Experimental film by Kate McCabe at minicine?, 846 Texas Ave, Sat, Ap 23, 8 pm

Shadowy filmmaker Kate McCabe edits for vibe and uses time lapse and image superimposition in her experimental films. Part of the Kidnap Yourself art collective, McCabe has been been in and out of Joshua Tree, California, since the 90's. On Sat, Ap 23, she lands at minicine?, 846 Texas Ave, with film to be rolled.

Her 90's work with the psychedelic musician Brant Bjork reached for an understanding of life in the desert. Called "Sabbia" (sand), it used Bork's sinuous guitar and bass lines and McCabe's sense of the rocks, girls and beers of the Mojave to evoke that particular life.

Does it occur to film lovers that Shreveport has no less than a steady diet of indie work to be consumed? From the straight independent work seen at Robinson Film Center and in the shorts associated with the Louisiana Film Prize, to the offbeat films aired by the Centenary Film Society and the idiosyncratic work shown at minicine? this is a city where you can study or simply enjoy the world away from Hollywood.

Doors @ 8pm. Films roll @ 8:30.

Seratones In Wash, DC, on Tiny Desk Concert at NPR.org

AJ Haynes, Shreveport, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

"Seratones singer-guitarist A.J. Haynes takes gospel into the garage," says Bob Boilen of NPR Music, "and what comes out is fiery rock 'n' roll. The Shreveport, La., band is a joy to see and hear, and this Tiny Desk concert provides a fiery peek at what you'll soon hear on the group's debut album, Get Gone."

That's Connor Davis on lead, Jesse Gabriel on drums and Adam Davis on bass. Raised in Shreveport, the guys all went to Caddo Magnet HS. AJ Haynes graduated from CE Byrd.

Will the Seratones be able to extend their media success with the arrival of the new songs, "Get Gone"? This Tiny Desk Concert augurs well.

Rest in peace Shreveport personality Clarence "Cat Daddy" Spurs, age 58

Saddened to hear of the death of Clarence "Cat Daddy" Spurs, a radio personality, restaurant owner, car lot owner and the unofficial mayor of Mooretown.

He was 58 and died of a heart attack, says KSLA.

Cat Daddy will be missed. Check him out in this 2009 profile.

Poetry and piano pounding at Shreveport House Concert Series Sun, Ap 17, 7 pm: Alan Dyson, Erich Avinger, Juliann Banks

“Stray Dogs by the Highway” is a fresh recording featuring lyrics by poet David Love Lewis, piano and vocals by composer/songwriter Alan Dyson, and perfect accents by jazz guitarist/ producer Erich Avinger.

Dyson's piano and vocals reminds me of Billy Joel or Randy Newman. Erich Avinger is a sizzling accompanist. The House concert also features journeywoman singer-musician Juliann Banks. She, too, has a new album.

"Lewis, Dyson and Avinger are Southern artists motivated by the hypnotic Om of the cicada, the hum of road, and the mantra of familiar hymns permeating the piney woods of East Texas and Northwest Louisiana," says Dyson.

Catch their musical wordplay on Sun, Ap 17, 7 pm, at 1508 Fairfield Ave, Shreveport.
$20
(318) 670-3567

"I Saw the Light:" a thoughtful, elegant story of Hank Williams currently at Robinson Film Center

"I Saw the Light," a movie made on location in and around Shreveport, is an elegant, personal inquiry into the life of singer-songwriter Hank Williams. It is a slow movie, and deliciously so, since the golden light captured by Dante Spinotte helps tell the story. British actor Tom Hiddleston sings and inhabits the Hank skin capably.

It is not an exciting story. It reflects upon the rotten roles played by men and women in the 1950's. It muses on the mystery of Hank's gifts, explains his back pain (spina bifida, long before anyone knew the ailment as such) and confronts his alcoholism.

"I Saw the Light" humanizes the legendary figure. Interestingly, critics from coast to coast have jumped upon the movie, written and directed by Hollywood veteran Marc Abraham. Rottentomatoes.com says, "it boasts a terrifically talented cast, but their performances aren't enough to enliven an unfocused biopic that never comes close to capturing its subject's timeless appeal."

I disagree.

I believe this movie will find its audiences in Europe, Asia and in independent movie houses, such as Robinson Film Center - which is where it is currently airing.

Exploring Regional Broadband for North Louisiana

Exploring Regional Broadband for North Louisiana

Date:    December 19, 2015         

Time:   10am 

Place:   CoHab, 500 Clyde Fant Pkwy #200, Shreveport, LA 71101

The Louisiana Coalition for Broadband Now, CoHab and State Representative Elect Cedric Glover will sponsor a three session event to discuss the benefits of community broadband fiber networks for north Louisiana. Communities across America have sought to attract, partner for, or develop their own fiber networks, and a rapidly growing number of public and private service providers have 
embraced gigabit connectivity as the minimum standard for next-generation 
networks.

Session 1: Focus on the enhanced education and economic potential of 
fiber communities- It’s working - There are many paths to fiber to the home 
deployment for a communities. Michael Harold and Keith Hanson will discuss the 
economic and educational potential of fiber communities and how they will effect 
potential growth in north Louisiana. 

Session 2: The current regulatory environment in Louisiana -led by Tom 
Arceneaux; providing an overview of the legal environment faced by community 
driven broadband fiber initiatives. 

Session 3: Keynote speaker Mayor Joey Durel from Lafayette Louisiana Mayor Durel of Lafayette Louisiana will be speaking on how he made broadband a reality in the heart of Cajun Country resulting in reliable and affordable broadband services to its citizens. 

Chit and Chat: Light refreshments will be provided.

Keynote Speaker Mayor Joey Durel- Elected in 2003, he became only the second Republican mayor of his city and the second person elected as "City-Parish president" of the combined City of Lafayette and Lafayette Parish government. Self described as a “progressive” Republican; Mayor Durel led his city to positive impact by building an ultra-fast broadband network responsible in part to Lafayette’s growing economy. The success of the LUS Fiber system is reason businesses continue to choose Lafayette. Four high-tech companies have recently announced bringing a total of 1100 direct new jobs to their community with total new wages exceeding $65 million per year. Mayor Durel will be sharing how he led Lafayette to create their own fiber system.

Panelists include:

Tom Arceneaux- Practicing law for over 35 years, Mr. Arceneaux  has run the 
gamut of the law practice experience, from United States District Court law clerk 
to associate at a large Houston law firm (Vinson & Elkins) to small partnership 
practice to in-house counsel to solo practice. His practice is primarily commercial 
law, with emphasis on commercial transactions and commercial litigation, but he 
also has a substantial practice in state and local government law. From 1982-
1990, Tom served as a member of the Shreveport City Council, including holding
office as Chairman and Vice Chairman of that body. 

Michael Harold-Systems architect and inventor in five global markets: Enterprise Application Integration (EAI), Last-mile Computing, Cloud Computing, Enterprise Information Archiving (EIA) and the Mobile Internet of Things. Founder of four technology startups. Inventor with patents and patents pending in encryption, compression, last mile computing, cloud computing and mobile computing. Michael is the founder of Little Big which uses smart phones to control and communicate with out-of-home digital signage applications.

Keith Hanson-  Cofounder, CEO and developer of Twin Engine Labs, a software engineering firm that specializes in turning “blue sky” entrepreneurial ideas into profitable products. Specialties include, Mobile Monetization, Ideation, Resource Management, Mobile API, and Scalable Server Architectures. win Engine Labs has also worked with brands large and small, working with Cisco Networks, American Songwriter Magazine, Symantec, and many others. Keith fosters a quickly growing local alliance of technology companies and has been recognized with the Rising Star of the Year award by the Governor of Louisiana. 

Moderator
Cedric Glover: - Two term former Shreveport Mayor and State Representative Elect jumped started the region's cultural economy by building in Ledbetter Heights the $14 million Millennium Studios and Worldwide FX complex, initiating the Central ArtStation, the LA Film Prize, laying out the vision for the Shreveport Common and securing city ownership and control of the previously failed Red River District.  As a staffing industry professional, Cedric understands the benefit of providing opportunity to thousands of our youth in the Mayor's Summer Jobs and Internships initiative. Representative Elect Glover is known for his technology savoir-faire, communicating with citizens over Twitter and other social media, making himself available to the public.

Media on Lafayette, Louisiana’s fiber system 
Bill Moyer – “Bringing High Speed Internet to Cajun Country”


**Attendees will be eligible for a free drawing for gift cards for Star Wars- The Force Awakens**

For more information please contact:
Deborah Allen- Louisiana Coalition for Broadband Now-
lacobroadnow@gmail.com

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Shreveport Blog transitioning from Blogger to Facebook - after 10 years on Blogger

Shreveport Blog is transitioning to a Shreveport Blog on Facebook in order to re-direct and focus. My ambition is to add more personal insight into the events at hand, write more reviews and see whether the blog can grow.

Please join me.

Shiloh Baptist Church, Mooringsport: Lead Belly's grave and annual jam at noon on Sat, Nov 7

The annual Lead Belly graveside memorial jam will be banged out at noon on Sat, Nov 7, about noon at the Shiloh Baptist Church graveyard in Mooringsport, Louisiana (10395 Blanchard Latex Rd, Mooringsport, LA 71060-9150), says Katy Hobgood Ray. Louisiana musicians will gather at the grave of Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter to perform his songs from noon - 1 p.m. All are welcome.

The legendary Huddie Ledbetter was a larger-than-life American singer called King of the Twelve String Guitar, and, sometimes, the Father of American Folk Music. He was known for a vast repertoire of songs - ranging in style from children's ditties to political rags to waltzes to country blues. Many of his songs have become standards, including “Goodnight Irene,” “The Midnight Special,” “Rock Island Line,” “Alberta,” “Pick A Bale Of Cotton,” “The Bourgeois Blues,” and “Birmingham Jail.”

Kathryn Hobgood Ray, 504-650-1238, kathryn@bienvilleray.com or Danny Wilder, 318-751-2733.

The drive to Shiloh Baptist Church traverses some of the lovely woods of North Louisiana. The route also passes the Longwood General Store and Mobil station where drivers can fill a tank and fill numerous hungry bellies. Take I-20 Exit 3 (LA -169), North 10 miles to Caddo Parish #6. (a.k.a. Blanchard-Latex Rd.). Turn left on Caddo Parish #6, drive 2.6 miles to Shiloh Baptist Church.

Voces Castellanas presents Dia de los Muertos celebration in Columbia Park on Sat, Nov 7, 1 pm to 4 pm

Voces Castellanas and Multicultural Center of the South happily invite you to the Day of the Dead Festival, says Janine Gomezjurado Demerath.

Día de los Muertos, A Celebration of Life, takes place on Sat, Nov 7, 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Columbia Park.

"Bring your family to do hands-on crafts, enjoy music performances, folkloric dances, exhibition of ofrendas, face painting, Bread of the Dead, games and more. Admission is free," says Lee Spruell.

Columbia Park, 600 Columbia St., Shreveport

Info: 840-9701.



Photo Julia Miranda Bonet 2015.

Math and art in hands-on exhibit at Artspace Shreveport: interactive work by painter-designer Harriet Stone Evans opens Thurs, Nov 5, 5 pm - 8:30 pm

Harriet Stone Evans loves math. She also is an accomplished designer and painter. Thus the exhibit of her work, “From Flowers to Form: Art Inspired by Mathematics,” will illuminate the mathematical elements in art. Viewers can expect to experience the power of geometry and algebra as artforms through Evans' artworks. And most of her work is interactive.

The Evans exhibition has been presented at the Museum of Science in Boston and the Louisiana Children’s Museum in New Orleans.

Tours will be led by the artist, Harriet Stone Evans - who is a dancer and yoga devotee and vibrant conversationalist - and professional leading area artists from Monday, November 9 through Thursday December, 17.(318) 673-6535

Cirque de la Symphonie with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra: aerialists, jugglers and surprises on Sat, Oct 31, 7:30 pm, Riverview Theater

"Aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, balancers, and strongmen," says Cirque de la Symphonie, are what audiences can expect on Sat, Oct 31, in Cirque's performance with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. Indeed, "Each artist's performance is professionally choreographed to classical masterpieces and popular contemporary music in collaboration with the maestro."

Cirque performed to acclaim in Shreveport in 2009. The SSO audience seemed awed by the variety and high quality of the circus performers.

Tickets.

Making sure not to ignore that it is Halloween, the SSO says "Join us at 6:30 PM before the concert for some Halloween fun: face painting, Halloween-themed carnival games and treat bags for kids. We invite kids and adults alike to come in costume and join us for a costume parade."

Because you never know when parking on the riverfront is going to be a hassle, there's a free shuttle service which starts at 6:30 pm. The bus picks up at Regions Bank parking garage at the corner of Milam & Market Streets.

Improv in classical piano: composer Steven Termini performs in Anderson Auditorium, Centenary College, Shreveport, 7:30 pm Tues, Oct 27

Pianist, composer, and improvisatory artist Steven Termini will visit Centenary College of Louisiana on Tues, Oct 27, says Gale Odom. He will perform a concert of improvisatory piano music in the Anderson Auditorium at 7:30 PM. The concert is free and open to the public.

Prior to the concert, Dr. Termini will conduct a workshop with Centenary’s new improvisatory student ensemble, Genesis Jam, at 6:00 PM. “Being able to improvise well is a rare skill, but there is an increasing need for that skill in today’s musical world,” said Dr. Odom, Dean of the Hurley School of Music.

Dr. Termini earned his Ph.D. in Performance Practice from the Royal Academy of Music in London; he also holds a Masters in Fine Arts (Jazz) from California Institute of the Arts and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin, said Odom. More at centenary.edu/news/.

Those who attended the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra concert featuring pianist Gabriela Montero will remember that she touted her encore as a breathless moment of improvisatory freedom. She asked for audience suggestions for her theme and stopped when she heard the crowd pleaser "You are my sunshine." I am not so sure that it was a spontaneous, unrehearsed bit. Still, she ran a lot of scales and dazzled the crowd with her knowledge of stock material. She approached the famous melody from several directions and won more applause. As a jazz buff, I was not impressed with what she played for the SSO audience. Then again, how can you play something interesting for a middle of the road audience in a tertiary city?

Surely Termini, performing in a quiet, academic setting, will set his sights high in regards his extemporaneous adventure.

Chamber music in Shreveport: Noel Foundation performance at Anderson Auditorium on Sun, Oct 25, 3 pm

One hates to say that a dynamic performance of classical music by professional musicians is "free." In so many ways, the word "free" is a sickly and false word. A better description of the Noel Foundation Chamber series on Sun, Oct 25, 3 PM, is no charge. The fees for the Shreveport Symphony production have been paid by the foundation.

The concert features Debussy/Schoenberg, Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, Schoenberg's Transfigured Night and Strauss Jr./Schoenberg, Emperor Waltz, says Lois Robinson.

In the chamber orchestra: Matt Albert, Jennifer Carsillo, Rachel Bundy, Russell Lewis, Todd Gabriel, Sherri Fleshner, Charles Regauer, Ruth Drummond, David Jankowski, Belinda Viesca, Christopher Allen, Tim Wright, Sally Hundemer, Theresa Bridges, Chan Teague and Gay Grosz.

A unusual note is that Daniel Ley will play harmonium. The last accompaniment by harmonium that I remember is when Allen Ginsberg played a portable harmonium while reciting poetry in the Shell amphitheater at Centenary College.

Friendly, award-winning high school seeks students; visit on Halloween day, 10:30 - 12:30 during 8th grade preview or at JAMbalaya Music Fest, 12:30 - 4 pm

Caddo Magnet High might be a good fit for you.

It is a medium-sized school with enough students (about 1100) to provide a variety of course choices (for instance, I teach African-American Studies, Fine Arts Survey and Video journalism as well as world geography) yet small enough to feel comfortable. It has a wealth of sports - lacrosse, volleyball, fencing, gymnastics, tennis, cross country, soccer and more - and the ROTC program provides a world of additional choices - such as orienteering and activities in Rangers.

Magnet is known for the academic tone of its campus as well as its friendliness and acceptance. Yet there are small worlds within the campus: among them the drama family, the theater tech group, the orchestra students, the Quiz Bowl teens, the debaters, the band musicians, the Student Council workers.

Magnet teachers give individual attention to their students before school and after school. Actually, it is a school where the average student submits their homework on time. Yet across the school students are helping each other study and cooperating to make their deadlines.

Please visit the campus and meet students Sat, Oct 31, Halloween, between 10:30 and 12:30. If you arrive later, you may check out Magnet's newest music and food fest, JAMbalaya ($8).

Regardless of the time, if you'd like to visit, we'd like to make it happen. Please call assistant principal Sheryl Thomas, 318.221.2501, to schedule a visit.

French romance at Robinson Film Center: 2 movies En Francais Oct 23 - 29

“French cinema, at its best, is very smart, stylish, and innovative,” said Jeff Hendricks, Film Society chair and professor of English and film studies at Centenary College. “Bringing these films to our community via Robinson Film Center helps remind us of the long-standing political, economic, and cultural relationship between France and the United States. And we couldn’t do this were it not for the support from the French embassy and Consulate General in New Orleans.”

From Oct 23-29, RFC will screen a pair of contemporary French movies that both center around unconventional romances: “The New Girlfriend” and “3 Hearts.”

And there's a French Dinner, avec les grands fromages from the Embassy.
$30 (includes dinner and two movies passes good for any movie during French Week)
Evening films: $9.50 ($7.50, RFC members) Matinee films: $7.50 ($5.50, RFC members)
318.459.4122.

Planting trees and policing the grounds around Highland Park: Shreveport Green and Highland Restoration Assoc sponsor volunteer beautification on Sat, Nov 7 , 8 am to noon

Highland Restoration Association and Shreveport Green are gathering Highland neighbors for a morning of beautification, says Stephen Pederson.

"We will be picking up trash at and around Highland Park," Pederson says. Perhaps more importantly, "We're also planting 30 trees to help replenish Highland's aging trees."

Highland chef extraordinaire Andrew Parsons will serve up a delicious lunch from 11 until noon.

Illustration: mask made from Highland trash by Kathryn Usher.

Sheveport Farmers Market opens Sat, Oct 24, 8 am til noon; runs through Nov 21

Shreveport Farmers' Market will open on October 24 for its fall session, says Noma Fowler-Sandlin. It will run each Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon through November 21.

Under the East Pavilion in Festival Plaza, at 101 Crockett Street in downtown Shreveport, there will be a large selection of locally-grown fruits and vegetables, locally-raised meats, gourmet, baked and canned goods. No medical marijuana, but just about everything else.

At the Market Cafe under the Spring Street Bridge, various types of ready-to-eat foods will be available, along with tables at which to dine while listening to music performed by areated musicians.

Hydrogen Child charting with "I Know" from "The Sirens" EP; groove to Hydge in costume on Halloween at Strange Brew, Shreveport

"Y'all, what the af is going on?? We're charting now?!" says Chris Rimmer of Hydrogen Child. "I Know" is listed at #12 in Spotify's US Viral 50 and is 18 in the Global Viral 50.

Little do listeners know what rich tunes they are about to discover if they follow a purchase of "I Know" with more from Hydge, masters of the pop hook.

Strange Brew is a salubrious room for a performance of the quintet's arena-sized tunes. On Halloween they will perform at Shreveport's capacious Strange Brew along with Seratones and, Ansley Rimmer says, "a wonderful group from down south - Lafayette - called Rareluth."

Voices. Costumes. Romance. Shreveport Opera performs Carmen at Riverview Theater on Sat, Oct 24, 7:30 pm

The 67th Season of Shreveport Opera: Bizet's Carmen on Sat, October 24, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. at Riverview Theater, 600 Clyde Fant Parkway in Downtown Shreveport.

Tickets: $25-90 and $15 for students. (318) 227-9503 or shreveopera.tix.com.

Cast information.

Chris Fowler-Sandlin knows books; see his book sale on Sat, Oct 17, 8 am to 2 pm, 505 Wilkinson

Chris Fowler-Sandlin is the kind of knowledgable, passionate book seller who was more common in a recent era.

Trust his judgment on books.