Sat. Sept. 14 @ 7:30 pm. The Musers & Late for the Train. Occidental Center for the Arts.! The Musers -Tom Kuhn on vocals/bass/percussion plus singer/songwriters Megan Mclaughlin and Anita Bear Sandwina make up this high energy multi-instrumental trio who can make you laugh, cry or stomp your feet with pure joy. Late for the Train is a San Francisco-based 4-piece modern string band that weaves folk, funk and bluegrass into powerful arrangements of original/traditional music that feels both fresh and familiar. $15 Adv/$19 at door. Fine refreshments, dance space. www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org. 707-874-9392. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA. 95465. OCA is wheelchair accessible.
Sunday September 8 @ 4 pm. Occidental Center for the Arts. Paul McCandless/Christian Foley-Beining Collaboration. Enjoy a Sunday afternoon concert with this sterling Sonoma County-based jazz quartet, featuring Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist McCandless and guitarist Foley-Beining with Tom Shader on bass and drummer Tom Hayashi playing original instrumental jazz compositions. $18 Advance/$22 at the door. Cabaret/concert seating. Fine Refreshments. Wheelchair Accessible. Art Gallery open. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct, Occidental, CA. 95465. www.occcidentalcenterforthearts.org; 707-874-9392.
Friday Sept. 6 @ 8 pm. Occidental Center for the Arts. First Friday Live! The Dream Farmers. OCA’s local talent showcase presents The Dream Farmers. Headed by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Randall Sequeira, this versatile band features mostly original and highly danceable roots, blues, soul, jazz, funk and world music with thoughtful lyrics and a positive attitude. Amanda Kirkland delivers the vocals. $15 at the door. Fine refreshments include wine and beer. www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org. 707-874-9392. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA. 95465.
Lil Nas X has made history by being the first-ever openly gay man to be nominated for a Country Music Award (CMA).
He was nominated for the Musical Event of the Year award for his song ‘Old Town Road (Remix)’ with collaborator Bill Ray Cyrus, with the awards ceremony taking place on November 13.
Although ‘Old Town Road’ was originally booted off the US Billboard country charts because the company said the song “does not embrace enough elements of today’s country music”, it made its way back into the charts after a remixed version featuring Cyrus was released.
The song then became the longest-running US number one of all time.
Country music has a reputation for being conservative, and the musician has previously spoken out about anti-LGBT+ stigma in country music, explaining: “Within the country and hip-hop communities, it’s not really accepting in either.”
He tweeted: “Thank you guys for this nomination!!”
The CMA nomination means Lil Nas X has made history twice this week, after becoming the first openly LGBT+ artist to take home Song of the Year at the VMAs on Monday, August 26.
Dressed in a red cowboy suit, he took to the stage with Cyrus to collect his first-ever award for his chart topping single.
The singer thanked Cyrus in his speech for helping him take his career to “the next level” and then he pulled out a fake scroll and became an instant meme on social media.
The awards highlight how much has changed for Lil Nas X in a year.
Last month the singer revealed that a year ago he had no money and was struggling to get his music played.
He wrote on Twitter: “Wow man last year i was sleeping on my sisters floor, had no money, struggling to get plays on my music, suffering from daily headaches, now i’m gay.”
Taylor Swift opened the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards on Monday with performances of “You Need to Calm Down” and “Lover.” The performance began with Swift, Todrick Hall and Dexter Mayfield sitting on lounge chairs as she sang the opening lines to “You Need to Calm Down.”
Dancers dressed in colorful ensembles moved around the stage before the drag queens featured in the music video appeared next to Swift as she sang the anti-hate anthem. The first number concluded with the words “Equality Act” largely written behind the performers.
Swift has been an advocate for the Equality Act and has urged her followers to sign a petition in its favor on social media. The House of Representatives passed legislation in May that protects those living in states where it’s legal to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity when it comes to housing, employment and other services.
Sunday June 23 @ 5 pm. Occidental Center for theArts presents Claude Bourbon – Medieval & Spanish Blues. French/Swiss classically trainedfinger-picking acousticguitarist and singer based in U.K. has travelled the world over offering his unique fusion of blues, jazz, classical guitar and his own soulful vocals with Middle Eastern, Russian, Spanish/Latin elements and a dash of folk. Don’t miss this world class performer at OCA! $18 adv/$22 door. Cabaret and concert seating. Wine, beer and fine refreshments available. Art Gallery open during events. www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org. 707-874-9392. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA. 95465
Friday July 19@ 7:30 pm.Zulu Spear Band: Nelson Mandela Birthday Tribute! at Occidental Center for the Arts. Award-winning South African band who pioneered the World Beat music of the 80’s bring their vibrant alternative world/reggae/blues/jazz merged with traditional South African rhythms and dancers to our stage in celebration of Nelson Mandela. Founding member Gideon Bendile leads the ensemble which incorporates electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboard and drums with unique vocal harmonies and mesmerizing dancers in an exciting, uplifting performance that will move your body and soul! $15 Advance/$20 at the door. Dance space, fine refreshments include wine and beer. www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org. 3850 Doris Murphy Rd. Occidental, Ca. 95465
Rather than calming anyone down, Taylor Swift’s latest single is stoking activism.
“You Need To Calm Down,” which was released in the midst of Pride Month on Thursday, champions the LGBTQ community and has an anti-hate message. Since the song — the second single on her upcoming album “Lover” — was released, GLAAD has received an “influx” of donations in the amount of $13. The LGBTQ media advocacy organization suspects the donation amount is a nod to Swift’s favorite number.
“And control your urges to scream about all the people you hate / ‘Cause shade never made anybody less gay,” the “Reputation” artist sings.
“You Need To Calm Down” also alludes to Pride parades and even directly gives a shoutout to GLAAD.
“Why are you mad when you could be GLAAD?” Swift, who released a lyric video on YouTube confirming her intended spelling and meaning of GLAAD, asks.
“Taylor Swift is one of the world’s biggest pop stars,” Anthony Ramos, director of talent engagement at GLAAD, said in an emailed statement. “The fact that she continues to use her platform and music to support the LGBTQ community … is a true sign of being an ally. ‘You Need to Calm Down’ is the perfect Pride anthem, and we’re thrilled to see Taylor standing with the LGBTQ community to promote inclusivity, equality, and acceptance this Pride month.”
Swift herself made a “very generous donation” to GLAAD earlier this month in honor of Pride, which the organization says will be used to create campaigns to fight hate and discrimination against LGBTQ people.
Swift’s LGBTQ political advocacy began during last year’s midterm elections when she wrote an Instagram post endorsing Tennessee Democrat Phil Bredesen over Republican Marsha Blackburn for an open U.S. Senate seat. Since then, she has donated $113,000 to the Tennessee Equality Project, an organization that lobbies state lawmakers on LGBTQ issues, to defeat the state’s “slate of hate,” a group of bills advocates have deemed harmful to the queer community.
Most recently, the Grammy- and Emmy-winning musician has called for the passage of the Equality Act, which would protect LGBTQ Americans from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. Swift wrote a letter to Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., asking him for his support, and she has urged her fans to write their own senators about the legislation.
Friday May 24 @ 7:30 pm. An Evening with Moonalice at Occidental Center for the Arts!Moonalice is a psychedelic roots-rock band of seasoned musicians Pete Sears, John Molo, Barry Sless and Roger McNamee, who feel that live music should be a communal experience. Their songs try to speak to everyone, mixing a variety of genres with extended musical improvisations that evoke a sense of adventure and exploration.Their single, “It’s 4:20 Somewhere” has been downloaded more than 5 milliontimes. moonalice.com.’Big Steve Parish’ of the Grateful Dead family will be joining them! $15 Advance/$20 at door if available. Advance sales end at noon on day of event or when sold out. Wine, beer and refreshments available. Wheelchair Accessible. Art Gallery open for viewing. www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA. 95465.
