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Chesterfield’s Ellyson adds to the music set for ‘The Nine’ event at The Camel
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ine songwriters performed at The Camel, Wednesday night, May 13. The event, called "The Nine", was started by Justin Trawick in Washington D.C. in December of 2008. "It was based off the idea of having a massive singer-songwriter evening all based on lyrics and artistry and songwriting," said Trawick. "I feel like we're kind of in like an A.D.D. generation where people don't want to sit for an hour and watch one person." The way the show works is geared to this mentality, giving the audience quick changeovers and varying styles of music. A performer will go on stage, perform two songs and then introduce the next performer. After all nine have performed, the cycle repeats so that each has performed a total of four songs. The event travels to Richmond, Philadelphia, Baltimore and D.C. with varying local talent performing each time. Jason Masi, a college mate of Trawick and a member of Richmond band Jubeus, organized Wednesday's event. "A lot of the people I've met before and if I haven't then other people on the bill will recommend them and be like 'Hey, there's these couple of great people who are really making a name for themselves in this town and I think you should put them on the bill'," Trawick said. "It's a great way to meet more people, to get more in tune with the scene. You get to meet other people trying to do the same thing you're doing."
PHOTO BY BRIAN FRENCH
news@midlothianexchange.com
"The Nine" founder Justin Trawick interviews Chesterfield's Darryl Ellyson.
Chesterfield's Darryl Ellyson was among the local musicians added to the set list. Ellyson is in his third year of performing after a 20-year hiatus. Of his past musical-life, Ellyson says he "played all the clubs here in town, traveled up and down the coast in a disco band. If you can believe that! I'm the old man of the crowd tonight." "I grew up on Stax Records, Chess [Records], Ray Charles, Elvis Presley... all that kind of stuff. Michael Jackson and I are the same age. We were all into
the soul, funky blues kind of thing," says Ellyson. "That's where my heart is." Ellyson is a member of the band "Blue Light District" which performs at places like Capital Ale House in Richmond and Blue's Place in Colonial Heights. The Nine returns to Richmond at The Camel on June 21.
Greenfield Elementary’s Reading Celebration
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courtesy of Katey Hall Perdue
reenfield's Reading Celebration was a hit on Thursday, April 23. Students met two alpaca's from Hermes Alpaca Farm in Midlothian, were treated to a the book writing process from Ms. Leigh Defreitas, a local author and Reading Specialist from Bettie Weaver Elementary School and learned how to make yummy fresh spring rolls with Ms. Prissie Nguyen, a Greenfield mom from Vietnam. And Chef David Booth is a Culinary Instructor at the University of Richmond and at Sur La Table. He is also the chef at The Yellow Umbrella. He shared the importance of reading and rereading. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan, also parents of Greenfield students, presented improvisational story telling (pictured right). Mrs. Kerrigan Sullivan is the Department Chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department at John Tyler Community College. And Mr. Sullivan is a pediatric nurse at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children. Students delight in the story telling during the Reading Celebration at Greenfield. PHOTO COURTESY OF KATEY HALL PERDUE
| MIDLOTHIAN EXCHANGE.COM | MAY 21, 2009
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BY BRIAN FRENCH
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