The Loafer June 9th

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Little River Band Back By Popular Demand!

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“Hindsight” on exhibit

...plus so much more


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June 9, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 3

Volume 29 • Issue #27

Mountains of Music Homecoming

Publisher Luci Tate

Editor Graphic Arts Director Don Sprinkle Office Manager Luci Tate Cover Design Bill May Advertising Dave Carter Elaine Farris Terry Patterson Lori Hughes Contributing Staff Jim Kelly Andy Ross Ken Silvers Mark Marquette Brian McManus Joshua Hicks Jeff Ginther, M.D. Karie Grace Duncan Nathan Cox Published by Pulse Publishing, LLC., P.O. Box 3238, Johnson City, TN 37602 Phone: 423/283-4324 FAX - 423/283-4369 www.theloaferonline.com info@theloaferonline.com e-mail: editorial@theloaferonline.com (editorial) adcopy@theloaferonline.com (advertising) All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the representation that the agency and/or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any loss of expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement, including claims or suits for defamation, libel, right of privacy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement.

Founder: Bill Williams

in this issue .... 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 14 13 14 22 27 28 30 31

Mountains of Music Homecoming Fiddlin’ Billy Baker to play at Heartwood Fifties Musical Come To Life SGK Kid’s Dash T-Shirt Contest Winner “Outcast” To Show At Film Festival Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit Comes To Greeneville Harvest Table joins “Build A Better Burger” Competition “Elvis” Helps Deaf Kids Hear Annabelle’s Curse to release 3rd album Ed Stivender to host Storytelling Live! Free Movie In The Park Sol Driven Train at The Willow Tree Jonesborough Welcomes Kate Campbell Appalachian Trail at Carter Family Fold Summer Past History Programs at Tipton-Hayne

music & fun 16 32

Spotlight - Great Music & Fun Times Crossword & Sudoku

columns & reviews

15 Batteries Not Included - “How To Use Your Middle Finger” 20 Stargazer - Summertime Stargazing Trainig Ground 21 Skies This Week 24 Screen Scenes - “San Andreas” 25 She Does It Herself - “Fabulous Glasswear” 26 The Trivial Traveler - “Someone Built It...You Should Go” 29 Lock, Stock & Barrel - Personal Tactical Training - Pt. 2 34 Kelly’s Place - “The Long Haul”


Page 4, The Loafer • June 9, 2015

The Crooked Road Sets Stage For First Ever Mountains Of Music Homecoming The Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, is pleased to announce the Mountains of Music Homecoming, a nine-day celebration of the communities in Southwest Virginia – their heritage music, cultural assets and outdoor amenities. This inaugural event, covering 19 counties, four cities, and over 50 communities, will be held June 12 - 20, 2015 and features Crooked Road concerts in more than 30 communities, dozens of community cultural experiences, and over 70 existing traditional music-related concerts, jam sessions and festivals. Known internationally as a mecca of old time, bluegrass and gospel music, The Crooked Road connects the home places of some of the most cherished figures in American music – the Carter Family, the Stoneman Family, the Stanley Brothers and bluegrass pioneers, Jim and Jesse McReynolds, among others – and spans across a region celebrated for its beautiful landscape, storied culture, and seminal contributions to the nation’s art and music. The Mountains of Music Homecoming has been made possible through the generous support of the Virginia Tobacco Commission, Virginia Tourism Corporation, Food City, the National Endowment for the Arts, and significant sponsorships from numerous businesses and organizations in Southwest Virginia. “The contributions made to American music by this area of Virginia are profound,” said Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe. “The Mountains of Music Homecoming will highlight not only those historical traditions, but also showcase just how vibrant those

traditions, and the entire culture, are today.” “The Tobacco Commission is honored to be a leading funding partner in this historic homecoming event that will highlight our regional assets,” stated Delegate Terry Kilgore, Chairman of the Virginia Tobacco Commission. “The Commission continues to fo-

Family Fold at the foot of Clinch Mountain, exhibits at the Ralph Stanley and Birthplace of Country Music museums, classes in flatfoot dance, seminars on traditional music, and long-running community jam sessions at places like the Floyd Country Store where visitors are encouraged to bring their own instruments and join in. Each

to experience both in a whirlwind nine-day period,” said John Kilgore, president of The Crooked Road. “For centuries, people here have come together with extraordinary handmade instruments, iconic songs and melding of voices and heart. The Mountains of Music Homecoming is a first-ever celebration that will give voice to the

cus on economic development opportunities that will diversify our part of the Commonwealth.” Festival events will be as wideranging as the Southwest Virginia region they cover, including concerts at the legendary Carter

evening, festivalgoers can choose from two to four Crooked Road concerts in different communities in the region. “We have a tremendous wealth of artists and performance venues, and this event will allow visitors

rich tapestry of lives and heritage that have significantly influenced music worldwide.” Travelers seduced by the sweet sound of all that music will also discover first-rate wineries, excellent cycling opportunities, fly-fish-

www.mtnsofmusic.com

ing, hiking, theatre, world class galleries and museums, community picnics, pancake breakfasts, and a wealth of unforgettable experiences and activities to wile away the hours between the ancient tunes and encores. As Crooked Road executive director Jack Hinshelwood put it, “This is where people have unforgettable encounters with a unique culture. Some visitors have said they felt like they found the real America along The Crooked Road, and it was because they were able to connect so easily with the people who keep this musical heritage and culture alive.” Southwest Virginia’s musical heritage is as vital today as it was when its iconic figures blazed new pathways in American music. The Crooked Road’s Mountains of Music Homecoming seeks to insure that, for current and future generations, the song remains the same. “The variety of experiences that await a visitor to Southwest Virginia is truly incredible,” said Rita McClenny, CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “This is an area of the country with a very authentic and distinctive culture that is reflected in many things besides just the music.” “Flower lovers go to Holland when the tulips are in bloom – traditional music lovers will be able to come to the Mountains of Music Homecoming when our music and culture are in full bloom for nine magical days,” said Kilgore. For a complete listing of all Mountains of Music cultural events and ticketing for the 34 Crooked Road Concerts, visit www.mtnsofmusic.com


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June 9, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 5

Fiddling’ Billy Baker, Bluegrass Kinsmen and Bogtrotters To Play Heartwood

Former Bill Monroe bandmate Fiddlin’ Billy Baker will perform Heartwood in Abingdon on Friday, June 19 at 7 p.m. He will be joined by the Bluegrass Kinsmen and old time string band, The New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters. A native of Pound, Virginia, Billy Baker was part of the golden era of Bluegrass, playing fiddle with many of the genre’s pioneering artists like Del McCoury, Jimmy Martin, Ralph Stanley, Carl Story, and Bill Monroe. He has recorded several albums with the Bluegrass Kinsmen, a legacy band from Buchanan County that has been a training ground for musicians like Darrell Webb, and Blue Highway’s Wayne Taylor. Rounding out the concert will be the Bogtrotters, one of the region’s finest old time string bands. They are a significant keepers of the old time music that has been heard in the region since colonial times. Tickets for the June 19th con-

cert are on sale now and available locally at the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, 1 Government Center Place, #D, Abingdon, Virginia; at Food City Stores; and online at www.mtnsofmusic.com. A nine-day celebration of Southwest Virginia’s heritage and music, The Crooked Road’s inaugural Mountains of Music Homecoming will take place June 12-20, in cities and towns across the 8,600-squaremile Crooked Road Region. Over 200 artists will perform 34 different Crooked Road Concerts. The Homecoming will feature over 260 additional cultural experiences presented by local communities and organizations highlighting the culture of scenic Southwest Virginia. Known internationally as a mecca of old-time, bluegrass, and gospel music, The Crooked Road connects the home places of some of the most cherished figures in American music – the Carter Fam-

Crooked Road Concerts, visit www.mtnsofmusic.com. Mountains of Music Homecoming has been made possible through the generous support of the Virginia Tobacco Commission, Virginia Tourism Corporation, the National Endowment for the Arts, Food City, Your Local Farm Bureau Insurance Agents, Emory & Henry College, Barter Theatre, Blue Ridge Beverage, Virginia Commission for the Arts and many other organizations and businesses.

ily, the Stoneman Family, the Stanley Brothers, and bluegrass pioneers, Jim and Jesse McReynolds, among others – and spans a region celebrated for its beautiful landscape and seminal contributions to the nation’s art and music. Travelers seduced by the sweet sound of all that music will also discover first-rate wineries, out-

standing cycling, fly-fishing, hiking, theater, galleries and museums, community picnics, pancake breakfasts, and a wealth of unforgettable experiences to wile away the hours between concerts along The Crooked Road. For a complete listing of all Mountains of Music cultural events and ticketing for the 34


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Classic Fifties Musical Comes To Life at Barter Stage II “The Marvelous Wonderettes” has sold out theatres around the country and now, for the first time, this fun filled production comes to Barter Stage II beginning June 11. This two-act musical production follows four high school friends through their 1958 senior high school prom and their 1968 high school reunion. The girls have all been nominated for prom queen and each is determined to prove she should win. Missy, Cindy Lou, Betty Jean and Suzy don miles of crinoline, their best dancing shoes and plenty of rouge to belt out their favorite hits. The musical numbers in “The Marvelous Wonderettes” make it the perfect play for a girls-nightout. The show includes more than 25 total songs such as: “Mr. Sandman,” “Stupid Cupid,” “It’s In His Kiss,” “It’s My Party,” and “Leader of the Pack.” The cast of “The Marvelous Wonderettes” includes some of Barter Theatre’s most notable ladies. Abbey Hunt, who audiences will remember from “Love, Sex and the I.R.S.,” appears as Cindy Lou Huffington, “the prettiest girl at Springfield High School.” Esco Jouléy plays Betty Jean Cindy Lou, Betty Jean and Missy look on as Suzy Simpson Reynolds, the tomboy of the blows the biggest bubble they have ever seen. bunch. Jouléy appeared in “Anything Goes” and “The Miracle Worker,” appears as Susy Simp- ed out Annie Simpson who has Worker” earlier this year. son, a crafty but love-struck sweet- most recently appeared as a BarSarah Laughland, who starred heart. ter Player in shows for children. as Helen Keller in “The Miracle The four-woman cast is round- Simpson plays Missy Miller, the most focused Wonderette with a passion for organization. Amanda Aldridge, who was responsible for the knockout dance routines from “Anything Goes” in the spring of this year, is playing not one, not two, but three huge roles in the design of “The Marvelous Wonderettes.” Aldridge is the director, costume designer and cochoreographer of this can’t-miss musical. “The Marvelous Wonderettes” is made possible by Corporate Sponsor, The Virginia Highland Small Business Incubator. Barter Theatre is funded in part by The Virginia Commission for the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts.


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June 9, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 7

Tri-Cities Affiliate of Susan G. Komen® Announces Winner of

Kid’s Dash T-Shirt Contest Winner

Since the first Kid’s Dash for the Cure, Susan G. Komen Tri-Cities has been delighted to watch this fundraising event grow alongside the annual Race for the Cure. As years have passed, more community members have participated in these October events to support locals impacted by breast cancer. Even area youth have increased participation, as involvement in the 100-yard and 1-mile Kids’ Dash Races have grown. Each year, the 100-yard and 1-mile Kids’ Dash Races have a special t-shirt to commemorate the event. This year, the Tri-Cities Affiliate placed the t-shirt’s design into the hands of area students. The design with the most votes was be chosen as the face of 2015 Kids’ Dash t-shirt. “Kids love the feeling of empowerment that comes with knowing they have contributed…that their actions matter and that their participation in an event, such as the Dash, may make a different in the life of someone in the community, even someone they may know,” stated Komen Tri-Cities Executive Director, Lisa Marie Pierson. “As we prepare to celebrate our 10th Anniversary, it was important to us that we find a creative way to recognize and honor the contribution our Kids’ Dash participants have made. A t-shirt design contest seemed like a great way to get them involved.” After a few conversations between Komen Tri-Cities Board Member, Sunnie Stewart, and Abraham Lincoln Elementary School Principal Sheila Newland and Visual Arts Instructor Hollie LaRue, the 10th Anniversary Susan G. Komen Tri-Cities Kids’ Dash T-shirt Contest was born! Hollie LaRue states, “We were delighted to have this special opportunity to involve our students in such a worthy cause. It’s exciting to think that Labrette’s design will be featured on all the Kids’ Dash t-shirts at the 10th Anniversary Komen Tri-Cities Race in the fall.” The first place winner, Labrette Lange, will have her design featured on the 2015 Susan G. Komen Tri-Cities Dash t-shirts. Second and third place awards were also

Labrette Lange, 1st place winner; L to R: Sheila Newland, Prinicpal; Sunnie Stewart, Komen Board Member; and Hollie LaRue, Visual Arts Instructor

presented to Annette Beverly and Zody Harmon. Prizes for the winners were generously donated by Bear ‘N Friends Toy Shoppe and Leaping Lizards, both of Kingsport. Komen Tri-Cities appreciates the support of Principal Sheila Newland and Mrs. Hollie LaRue. “This was a dream for us,” said Komen Board Member, Sunnie Stewart. “We couldn’t have made it happen without the support of our friends at Abraham Lincoln Elementary. Being able to announce the winners at the school’s Awards Day, in front of their classmates and families, was just the icing on the

cake!” Mark your calendar! Join us Sunday, October 25, 2015 at Memorial Park in Kingsport for the Susan G. Komen Tri-Cities 10th Anniversary Race for the Cure. We anticipate that more than 6,000 participants and supporters will be present at this year’s Race. Let’s have fun, celebrate our breast cancer survivors, and make an impact in our community for years to come. For more information about the 2015 Tri-Cities Affiliate Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, please visit www.komentricities.org or call your local office at 423-7659313.


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Inaugural Film Festival Will Show Documentary “Outcasts: Surviving the Culture of Rejection” Great news! “Outcasts: Surviving the Culture of Rejection” has been selected and will be screened at the PUSH! Film Festival, a firstyear event that will take place on the weekend of June 12-14, 2015 in bustling Historic Downtown Bristol TN/VA. This is the fourth film festival that “Outcasts: Surviving the Culture of Rejection” has been selected for and will be playing. Outcasts will be shown on Sunday June 14th at 11am at the Paramount Theatre (518 State St. Bristol, TN). As a celebration of the cinematic and visual arts in the heart of the twin cities of Bristol, the festival will bring diverse films to our community and showcase the best regional filmmakers. PUSH! aims to expand the artistic image of our region, engage new audiences in the world of film, and inspire creativity in all of us. The festival

will also play host to exciting parties and workshops for filmmakers and audience members alike. PUSH! will offer something for people of all ages; you won’t want to miss any of the three days of this unique cultural experience. Locally produced by Hillhouse Video Works LLC of Kingsport, Tenn., the documentary examines the devastating effects of recidivism and its impact on Tennessee communities. Recidivism refers to a person’s relapse into criminal behavior after previous incarcerations. Local film producer Stephen Newton wrote and directed the film, which examines the history and causes for the high rate of recidivism in Tennessee, where more than 50 percent of all released prisoners return to jail or prison within three years. Nationwide, recidivism is a $50 billion problem. “Once you’re convicted of a fel-

ony crime, your chances of having a normal life after you serve your time are slim to none,” notes Newton of the film’s content. “Being branded as a felon means you’re barred from most jobs, denied public housing and food stamps; probably you have no transportation and cannot vote. Unless you have family support or qualify for rehabilitation, your felony record condemns you to live your life as an outcast.” The film, which will also premiere later this year on Knoxville’s East Tennessee PBS station, dramatically shows how recidivism devastates Tennessee families and communities. It also offers possible solutions, such as work carried out at John R. Hay House in Kingsport. Notably, statistics show that the United States leads the world in the number of people behind bars. One out of 107 Americans is incar-

cerated, and one out of every 34 Americans is under some kind of correctional supervision. The musical score for “Outcasts” is by Paul Vanderbeck, a multiple award-winning composer and music producer who has worked with such notable artists as Johnny Cash, Melissa Manchester, Carole Bayer Sager and Peter Allen. Motion graphics designer is Sergei Prokhnevskiy.

Hillhouse Video Works LLC is a division of Hillhouse Graphic Design LLC and produces documentary films for regional nonprofit organizations. For more information about the documentary , please visit www. cultureofrejection.org. For more information about the local film festival, http://www.pushfilm. org/.


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Civil War Living History and Battle Scenario to Take Place June 13 - 14

Washington College Academy, 116 Doak Lane in Limestone, Tennessee, will host a Civil War Living History and Battle Scenario on the Academy Campus on Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and 14. The historic school, founded in 1780, is “The Oldest Institution of Learning West of the Alleghany’s.” Soldiers of both sides occupied the school during the Civil War, with extensive damage done to the College’s buildings and equipment. A bill for damages was sent to the Federal Government and payment of $4,400 was received in 1914. The purpose of this event is to commemorate the occupation of the campus as part of the end of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. The two days of activities will include public interaction in the soldiers’ camps, infantry, artil-

lery and cavalry demonstrations. There will also be a field hospital demonstration, a civil War Embalming Surgeon, children’s demonstrations and a ladies tea. A memorial service will take place at the historic Salem Cemetery, adjoining the campus, honoring not only Civil War veterans of both sides buried there, but veterans of all wars that are also resting there. Period music will take place throughout the day with a special music presentation on Saturday evening in the school’s auditorium Battle scenarios will occur each day at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, contact Alan Hayes at alanhayes@embarqmail.com, Ric Dulaney at 423863-5247, or the Academy Office at 423-257-5151.

JC Parks and Rec to host Gospel Music Day

Johnson City Parks and Recreation will host the inaugural DOTHERT Gospel Music Day on Saturday, June 13 from 2-8 p.m. Citizens are invited to the Memorial Park Community Center Amphitheater, 510 Bert St., for this free concert event featuring area choirs, soloists, and musicians. Friendship Baptist Church Choir, Trey Garland, Loretta Bowers, Leslie Fletcher, and Stacie Wilson

are among some of the performers who will share ministry through music. Attendees are encouraged to pack a picnic, as there will not be concessions available. Inflatables will be on site for children. The concert will move indoors in the event of inclement weather. For more information, please contact Memorial Park Community Center at (423)434-5758.

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Bittersweet Harvest Exhibit Comes To Greeneville

History Museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 12N-5PM, and Saturday from 11AM-4PM. The museum is located at the corner of South Main and McKee Streets in downtown Greeneville. This exhibit is free to the public. www.GreenevilleGreeneCountyHistoryMuseum.com

The Greeneville Greene County History Museum welcomes the Smithsonian Institution’s traveling exhibit, Bittersweet Harvest, June 5th through July 18th. Bittersweet Harvest is the story of the Bracero program that brought Mexican workers to help on US farms and railroads from 1942 until 1964. The program began during World War II, when American workers were fighting around the world. Replacement labor was needed, and the program continued in the post-war booming economy. The program operated in 28 states, including Tennessee. Prominently featured in this exhibit are photographs by Leon-

ard Nadal, who photographed the plight of migrant workers during the late 1950s. The Smithsonian later acquired these photos, which form the base for this exhibit. Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program was organized by the National Museum of American History in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, and received federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center. The exhibition tour in Tennessee is made possible by Humanities Tennessee, an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Greeneville Greene County


Page 10, The Loafer • June 9, 2015

Harvest Table Restaurant Announces Local Grass-Finished Bison and Mushroom Burger in The James Beard Foundation Contest

Harvest Table Restaurant, the acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant in the Appalachian mountains of southwest Virginia, is joining a national competition to “build a better burger.” The James Beard Foundation’s (JBF) Better Burger Project™ is a nationwide contest and challenge to make a “better burger” by blending ground meat with mushrooms to create a delicious, healthier, and more sustainable burger. Harvest Table Restaurant is 100% farm-to-table, serving locally grown produce, meats and products, many of them from the Harvest Table farm, just 2 miles away in Meadowview, VA. The menu reflects the chefs’ creativity as they strictly use what is seasonally available from local growers. The Harvest Table’s Local Burger features grass-finished bison blended with fresh shiitakes, topped with smoked gouda cheese, sourgum cured bacon, inhouse strawberry butter, and kickles (pickles with a kick!). Contributing farms include: Harvest Table Farm, Wolf Farm, Appalachian Harvest, Kenny’s Farmhouse, Southern Culture, and Melrose Bison. Chefs Philip Newton and Bradley Griffin are featuring The Local Burger to showcase a healthier burger through July 31, 2015. Blending meat with mushrooms reduces calories, fat, and sodium

while adding important nutrients like vitamin D, potassium, and B vitamins. A blended burger also brings more sustainable, plantbased items to menus allowing Americans to enjoy the taste and flavor of the burgers they love, knowing it’s a healthier and more sustainable preparation. America will vote for its favorites through an Instagram-based social media challenge. Diners can vote and support the Harvest Table’s Better Burger Project™ by: • Visiting the restaurant between now and July 31st and ordering the “The Local” • Posting a photo of the burger on Instagram • Using the hashtag #betterburgerproject and the handle of

the restaurant and/or the chef who created the burger (@HarvestTableMeadowview) • Sharing what’s better about the burger in the caption. (Example: “Just ate this amazing burger blended w mushrooms in support of #betterburgerproject from @ HarvestTableMeadowview”) • Come back and dine often to help them win! When the promotion concludes at 11:59pm EST on July 31st, 2015, the five (5) chefs with the most photo uploads on Instagram by consumers will win a trip to NYC in October 2015 to cook their “better burger” dish at the James Beard House. Visit betterburgerproject.org for a list of participating restaurants and follow #betterburgerproject on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Harvest Table Restaurant is located in the small community of Meadowview, VA, just outside Abingdon, VA on interstate I-81. For more information about the restaurant or the farm, search for The Harvest Table on Facebook, or Meadowviewharvesttable on Instagram. Check out their website at www.harvesttablerestaurant.com. The James Beard Foundation administers a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships for culinary students, publications, chef advocacy training, and thought-leader convening.


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Back by popular demand! NPAC welcomes Little River Band

Back by popular demand! NPAC welcomes Little River Band on Saturday, June 13th at 7:30 PM for a special summer concert event. Little River Band was formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1975. The band chose its name after passing a road sign leading to the Victorian township of Little River, near Geelong, on the way to a performance. It was originally a blend of musicians who had enjoyed success in other Australian bands. Their new focus was to receive airplay on US radio stations, and they achieved that goal with great songwriting, powerful vocals, and guitar harmonies. Between 1976 and 1983, Little

River Band had amazing US music chart success including the following singles: “It’s a Long Way There”, “Help Is on Its Way”, “Happy Anniversary”, “Reminiscing”, “Lady”, “Cool Change”, “Lonesome Loser”, “The Night Owls”, “Take It Easy On Me”, “Man On Your Mind”, “We Two”, and “The Other Guy”. Little River Band is considered to be one of Australia’s most significant bands. Worldwide album and CD sales now top 30 million. They also set a record for having Top 10 hits for 6 consecutive years; the first band to achieve that mark. According to BMI (a music licensing company), “Reminiscing” has garnered rare status with over 5

million airplays on US radio stations, and “Lady” is close behind with over 4 million. LRB was rightfully inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame at the 18th Annual ARIA Music Awards of 2004. The current lineup of Wayne Nelson, Greg Hind, Rich Herring, Chris Marion, & Ryan Ricks brings new energy and arrangements to the classic hits, making new memories for the audience out of each live performance. Little River Band will perform at Niswonger Performing Arts Center (NPAC) in historic downtown Greeneville, TN on Saturday, June

13th at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $40 for orchestra and mezzanine level seating and $30 for balcony level seating. Tickets may be purchased online at www.npacgreeneville. com, in person at the NPAC box office, or by calling 423-638-1679. NPAC offers online seat selection and no fee ticketing. The box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 AM until 5 PM. The 1130 seat performing arts center is located adjacent to the campus of Greeneville High School in Greeneville, TN. For venue information, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.npacgreeneville.com.

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Page 12, The Loafer • June 9, 2015

The Hero In You Foundation To Provide Three Scholarships

This Fall, when school begins, in memory of Buster Watts, The Hero in You Foundation will provide three scholarships, each of $250, to the elementary classrooms who write the best description of a person who is a hero to them. A selection of work will be exhibited in The Gallery at City Hall and/or the Atrium Gallery at the Renaissance Arts Center. The 3 winning essays will be selected by the Kingsport Fire Department. Buster recently worked with Bunni & Rick Benaron who created The Hero in You Foundation which is dedicated to honoring the heroes in our lives and inspiring kids to want to be a hero in their own life. Kingsport is part of the ‘Dalmatian Nation’ and friendly red and black Dalmatian sculpture, designed by Karen and Tony Barone, can be found at Fire Station #1 on Island Street in Downtown Kingsport. Buster Watts was a beloved mem-

ber of the Kingsport community, a longtime art supporter and an avid community volunteer. Buster died on May 26 after a lifetime of service to his community. He will be sorely missed. Teachers wishing

to have their students participate are encouraged to get details of the program from the Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts and Kingsport Fire Department.

Medical students cook up successful fundraiser

The Class of 2018 at East Tennessee State University’s Quillen College of Medicine raised more than $1,700 for a local non-profit through the creation of a cookbook. With help from the Organization of Student Representatives, the medical students collected recipes from their peers and family members, as well as faculty, administration and staff at the medical school. Using those recipes, they produced a cookbook that was then published by the College of Medicine’s Department of Biomedical Communication.

The cookbook cover features original watercolor paintings of Stanton-Gerber Hall and the Medical Student Study Center, both by Nancy Jane Earnest. The book contains more than 130 recipes, including medical student Omar McCarty’s prize-winning chili recipe from last fall’s College of Medicine Chili Cookoff. The group sold 180 cookbooks and presented the money raised to One Acre Café, a non-profit community restaurant located on West Walnut Street, last month.


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Aberdeen Green Show Announced

Aberdeen Green has been touring Nationally for three years, and this year they will kick off their summer tour in Johnson City, TN. Its easy to get hooked on Aberdeen Green’s cool, Americana vibe. Their sound has been compared to Little Big Town, Shovels and Rope, Fleetwood Mac and The Civil Wars. This female duo from Nashville has performed on many stages, including that of the 91st National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Presidents Park in Washington, DC. They opened for artists such

as Aretha Franklin, Maria Carey, Train, Janelle Monae, Renee Fleming and The Avett Brothers, and according to DC’s Examiner “the phenomenal opening act nearly stole the show.” They have shared rosters with several nationally acclaimed country artists such as Trace Adkins, Wynonna Judd, Craig Morgan, Montgomery Gentry, Neal McMcoy and Lonestar. You can catch them at the intimate Acoustic Coffee House in Johnson City on June 10th at 10pm.

June 9, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 13

Grocery Opens in Downtown Johnson City

The John Boys, John Campbell and John Jimison owners of Two Guys Hotdogs, have expanded their business to include a grocery store and delicatessen located in the west corner of Downtown Square on State of Franklin road between S. Roan and Spring Street in downtown Johnson City. The grand opening for Downtowne Grocery Co. & Delicatessen is scheduled for Friday, June 5, the first day of the Blue Plum Festival.

Over the past 10 years downtown Johnson City has seen a steady increase in redevelopment activity from both public and private interests. With the popularity of urban living, downtown buildings are being renovated to include residential units and the need for a place nearby to buy unprepared foods and other household goods has never been stronger. Campbell said his store is not intended to compete with the large

national chain supermarkets, but rather to provide those downtown with a convenient place to buy the essentials and local specialties. Washington County Economic Development Council Downtown Development Manager Dianna Cantler was reported by the Johnson City Press to say downtown residents have lived in a food desert for quite a while. “We do have a growing number of people living downtown, and access to essential foods is going to be well received,” Cantler said. “In this portion of town, especially since IGA closed, there has been a huge need, and I think John will fill the need that we currently have. Downtowne Grocery Co. & Delicatessen is located at 11 Downtown Square in Johnson City Tennessee offering quality products and foods. For more information, visit Facebook/Downtown Grocery Co.


Page 14, The Loafer • June 9, 2015

“Elvis” Helps Deaf Kids Hear In The Tri-Cities “HEARING: From the King” coming to Kingsport

Waiting to Hear is teaming up with the Lamplight Theatre and award winning Elvis Presley tribute artist Stephen Freeman to bring the gift of hearing to deaf children in our region. On Saturday June 13, 2015 at 7:00PM Waiting to Hear kicks off their inaugural Music to Our Ears concert with HEARING From the King: a Tribute to Elvis Presley. The show is designed to raise awareness about cochlear implants and raise money for programs that support hearing and spoken language outcomes for deaf and hard of hearing children in our area. The event stars Stephen Freeman and his Echoes of a Legend Show Band. Stephen was named the Country Music Associations’ 2011 Tribute Artist of the Year, and was recently named one of the top 10 Elvis Tribute Artists in the world. Local artist Greg Cornett and His All Star Band will open the show. Jessica Larkin, Morning anchor of ABC 19 WKPT TV will serve as emcee. Tickets can be purchased online at www.Wai-

Stephen Freeman tingToHear.org reserved seats are $20 and there are a limited number of VIP seats available for $30. The event is sponsored by Advanced Bionics, Cochlear Americas, and Advanced Call Center Technologies. Media advertising partners include Bristol Herald Courier, Kingsport Times-News, Johnson City Press, and the Loafer. About Waiting To Hear: Waiting to Hear is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in the Tri Cities. Their Executive Officer and Founder, Shannon Ball explained the need for more awareness by saying “Currently 95% of newly diagnosed deaf individuals do not receive ANY information on cochlear implants. We’re working hard to change that. All too often children are simply being labeled ‘deaf’. We prefer to think they are only...waiting to hear.” Ball formed the organization in 2013 after his daughter lost her hearing and received two cochlear implants.


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June 9, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 15

Last night a friend informed me how gutted he was by the news that his producer rejected his favorite song for his album, a song he’d been working on for months. Not only was it rejected, but it seems the producer also said—and this is

finger to its mightiest form, and say to the world “You are wrong, and I refuse to accept your evaluation of me.” If you know the song, then you know why it’s ideal for the situation. It’s loud and it’s aggressive. The first line of “Search & Destroy” is “I’m a street walking cheetah with a heart full of napalm.” That, my friends, is why I listen to the song. You have be reminded that you ARE a street walking cheetah with a heart full of napalm. God help your detractors if they stand in your way when you Hulk-out on them. Sometimes the simple act of enduring is stronger than anything you could say or do. When I started getting serious about walking a few months ago, the world tells you that you’re not about whatever the problem may I made myself a playlist of songs worthy, or that you can’t do some- be. I listen to “Search & Destroy” to keep me going on the track as thing. I know this, because I often by The Stooges. Why? Simple. It’s I worked myself up to three miles feel “ready to throw in the towel” the perfect song for fueling your a day. “Search & Destroy” was on myself. There’s a book I’ve been feelings into getting things done on that playlist, as was “I’m Not Like working on for almost three years an epic scale. It’s the overture to the Everybody Else” by The Kinks. now and when I work on it I some- point that you extend your middle When you are in the middle of

perhaps an exaggeration—that the work “sucks beyond control.” My friend was rightly upset by all of this, and told me he was ready to throw the song in the garbage. “Think of how far you’ve come,” I told him, “you can keep going the rest of the way and get the song on the album.” Then I said, “Use your rage to create a masterwork just to spit in the face of the producer.” Rage can be helpful when

times think, “This is a giant ball of suck, why do I bother working on this?” One of my worst traits is that I am really hard on myself, I can take small insignificant things and turn them into unconquerable mountains. I’m not happy this is a part of the way I’m wired, but it is, and I have to learn to live with it. How do I do it? I do one simple thing to change the way I think and feel

How To Use Your Middle Finger

whatever it is that you feel you can’t do, you need to be reminded that you’re not like everybody else, that you can get this done. Not to mention the satisfaction that will come in seeing a lot of people eating a whole lot of crow. So why have I made this the topic of this week’s column? A few reasons. You may be a fresh high school graduate looking at going on to college, or you may be in grad school, or stressing over a big project at work; you may be pondering any number of a million things and feeling that you’re not worthy enough do it. I know these feelings, and trust me when I say unto you that you are worthy, and you can do it. You’ve got a heart full of napalm, and they’re all gonna wish they had kissed your hind quarters when they had the chance. Play The Stooges nice and loud. Divide, conquer, search, destroy. You’ve got this. You’ve so got this. See you next week.


Page 16, The Loafer • June 9, 2015

FRIDAY - June 12 TUESDAY - June 9 JASON LLOYD & FRIENDS at Biggie’s Clam Bar

OPEN MIC w/ DAN HERRELL

6pm at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe

VANEESE THOMAS GROUP at NE State Performing Arts Center

JARED WOODRUFF 8pm at Acoustic Coffeehouse

WEDNESDAY - June 10 OPEN MIC

at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room

JEFF SHAYNE

6pm at Sonny’s Cafe

STUART WICKE (Folk, Americana) ABERDEEN GREEN (Americana, Roots, Pop) at Acoustic Coffeehouse

THURSDAY - June 11 JAZZ at Wellington’s - Carnegie Hotel DJ LILLEY 7pm at Sonny’s Cafe HUMMING HOUSE w/ ANNABELLE’S CURSE Thursday Jams 7pm at Abingdon Market Pavilion

SHOOTER

(Country, Classic Rock, Oldies) 7pm at Bristol State Street Mural Full Moon Jam

THE WORLD OF WENDEL WERNER/ALEX RENBARGER w/ MAX WALKE (Alternative) at Acoustic Coffeehouse

JANA SALTZ BELMONT & JONES at The Acoustic Coffeehouse

KATE & COREY

at Holiday Inn (exit 7)

(Country) at Kingsport Renaissance Center

SHOOTER 9pm at Elizabethton Elks ANCIENT CITIES 8pm at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room

DAISI RAIN

at Elizabethton Covered Bridge

DOUBLE$HOTT

STEPHEN FREEMAN & THE ECHOS OF A LEGEND SHOW BAND (Elvis Tribute) 7pm at Lamplight Theatre

SOUTHERN SOUND Country & Southern Rock) 8pm at Silver Spur

(Classic

BAKERSFIELD

APPALACHIAN TRAIL

WARNER HODGES w/ SPECIAL GUESTS at Woodstone Deli DAVID & VALERIE MAYFIELD at Bone Fire Smokehouse 8pm TBA at Triple B Brewery ACOUSTIFRIED (Country)

SUNDOWN BAND (Country) at David Thompson’s Produce

6pm at Elizaebethton Covered Bridge

7pm at Marker “2” Grill

MOUNTAINS OF MUSIC KICKOFF CONCERT at Carter Family Fold

ROCK ’N’ ROLL FREAKSHOW at Biggie’s Clam Bar SOUTHERN COUNTRYMEN BAND (Country) at The Outdoorsman RAILWAY EXPRESS 9:30pm at Country Club Bar & Grill

SATURDAY - June 13

AUSTIN CRUM

at Bone Fire Smokehouse

5pm at Elizabethton Covered Bridge

SUNDOWN BAND

7pm at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe

ALI RANDOLPH at Marker “2” Grill SHOOTER

JAMEN DENTON

ACOUSTIFRIED (Country)

CROCODILE SMILE

FAIRVIEW UNION

7pm at Marker “2” Grill

at Capone’s

at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room

SOL DRIVEN TRAIN

at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 8pm

SOUTHERN REBELLION

7pm at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe

(Country, Classic Rock, Oldies) 8pm at Stone Drive Eagles

ONE GOOD THING

at Carter Family Fold

DECEPTION PASS 7pm at The Showplace

WYLDEHEART

at Country Club Bar & Grill

MICK KYTE at Triple B Brewery WILL OVERMARY at Bone Fire Smokehouse

HOPE GRIFFIN (Acoustic, Americana)

FISH FISHER

(Folk, Outlaw Folk, Mountain Music) at Acoustic Coffeehouse

SUNDAY - June 14 JOSH ARNOLD

6pm at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe

IVY ROAD at Marker “2” Grill GARY HENSELY at Bone Fire Smokehouse

OPEN MIC at Acoustic Coffeehouse

MONDAY - June 15 THE FUSTICS

(Rock, Americana, Folk Rock)

at Biggie’s Clam Bar

BLUE EYED BETTYS

at Smith Brothers Harley Davidson

OPEN MIC at Acoustic Coffeehouse

BART WALKER BAND

at Wolf Hills Brewing Company

KARAOKE TUESDAY Karaoke At Numan’s - Johnson City TN *********************** WEDNESDAY Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Marker “2” Grille Karaoke At Bristol VFW - Bristol TN Turn the Page Karaoke At VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN *********************** THURSDAY Karaoke At Numan’s - Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Electric Cowboy - Johnson City TN Turn the Page Karaoke At Holiday Inn - Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment At Everette’s Bar & Grille Johnson City TN *********************** FRIDAY Karaoke At Bristol VFW - Bristol TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertaiment at Rainbow Asian Cuisine Johnson City TN Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN Karaoke At Elizabethton VFW Elizabethton TN Karaoke w/ DJ Marques At Holiday Inn (Exit 7) - Bristol VA Karaoke At Numan’s - Johnson City TN *********************** SATURDAY Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN Karaoke At Numan’s - Johnson City TN *********************** SUNDAY Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Mellow Mushroom Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment At Everette’s Bar & Grille Johnson City TN


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June 9, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 17

Warner E. Hodges is coming to Kingsport on June 12th to rock the original Woodstone

sponsors include Phil’s Dream Pit and Jon Tipton Guitar instruction. Hodges a world renowned guitarist and son of an Army officer originally hails from Wurtzburg Germany. Upon returning to the United States the family settled in Nashville. Hodges entered the musical arena as a drummer for his parents’ band. After seeing an AC/DC concert in 1973 he switched to guitar and a legend was born. Hodges combines blues, rock and country like no other. His major influences were Jimmy Page and Don Rich. He has combined their styles to form a unique sound of his own. He originally gained notoriety with Jason and the Scorchers. This year will be the thirtieth anniversary of The Scorchers, who are kicking off a European tour this summer. He has performed with The Georgia Satellites and formed The Bluefields in 2011. His solo album, Gunslinger, was released in October 2014. This fall he will tour with Drivin’ n Cryin’. Do not miss this opportunity to see a real American guitar icon. Guest performers include Dan Baird (Georgia Satellites), Brad Pemberton (Ryan Adams), and Joe Blanton (Royal Court of China).

Spotlight Directory Acoustic Coffeehouse 415 W Walnut St. Johnson City 423/434.9872 Biggies Clam Bar 417 W Stone Dr Kingsport 423/765-9633 Bone Fire Smokehouse at the Hardware 260 W Main St Abingdon Va 276/623-0037 Bristol’s Pickin’ Porch 620 State St Bristol 423/573-2262 Buffalo Ruritan 200 Willowbrook Dr. Bluff City 423/391-7382 Carter Family Fold 3449 A. P. Carter Hwy Hiltons Va 276/594-0676

Country Club Bar & Grill 3080 W State St Bristol 423/844-0400

David Thompson’s Produce 251 Highway 107 Jonesborough 423/913-8123 Elizabethton Moose Lodge 288 Lovers Lane Elizabethton 423/542-5454

Holiday Inn (Exit 7) 3005 Linden Dr Bristol Va 276/466-4100

Marker “2’ Grill at Lakeview Marina 474 Lakeside Dock, Kingsport 423/323-4665 The Mecca Lounge 117 Spring St Johnson City 423/928-9360 The Outdoorsman 4535 Highway 11W Kingsport

Renaissance Center 1200 E Center St Kingsport Show Palace 14364 Lee Hwy Bristol Va 276/494-6610 Silver Spur Gate City VA

Sonny’s Marina & Café 109 One St. Gray TN 423/283-4014

Stone Drive Eagles 926 E Stone Drive Kingsport 423/2456-6148

Triple B Brewery 935 Wilcox Ct. #105 Kingsport 423/963-3609 Wellington’s Restaurant Carnegie Hotel 1216 W State of Franklin Rd Johnson City • 423/979-6400

The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 216 E Main St Johnson City Wolf Hills Brewing Company 350 Park St. SE Abingdon VA 276/451-5470


Page 18, The Loafer • June 9, 2015


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June 9, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 19


Page 20, The Loafer • June 9, 2015 mosquito spray! • Set up before dark. Early twilight after sunset is a perfect time to get out your lawn chair, small table and observing accessories. • Organize observing tools. That includes a red flashlight to keep your night vision (red cellophane or nail polish will work), star charts and pencil and paper for an observing log (a small notebook of your night conquests is a great celestial diary). Of course you can find observing forms and outlines on the Internet, but don’t forget your local library for plenty of “How to” books for amateur astronomers. • Prepare during the day. Paint a flashlight bulb red; make sure your chair is comfy, round up some blankets; drink thermos or cooler, snacks; and maybe a radio. And by all means, spend a little time studying star charts and guide books to plan the evening’s prime targets. • Start with your eyes only. Walk around with your head up checking out the first stars to pop through the deep blue twilight and any planets like Venus and Jupiter in the west this Summer of 2015. Then enjoy your recliner as your eyes become adapted to the dark and you see much more than the first 15 minutes of wandering around the night sky. One of the pleasures I enjoy are all the night sounds that come alive, from the shrill songs of crickets and grasshoppers to a car backfiring. • Binoculars are fun to roam about the sky. Almost everyone has a pair discovered girls!) It was a great of binoculars around the house. mind expander in many ways, in- Point skyward that pair you take cluding getting organized with to the NASCAR races or football simple equipment and making games and you’ll be amazed at all plans for the night to see as many objects as possible. Here’s a list of 10 easy steps to stargazing at any level, whether a novice exploring the summer skies for the first time, of a veteran sky watcher who has these items down as a healthy habit: • Find a suitable observing site. Even if in your backyard, chose a place that affords the best sky view as well as blocking unwanted light pollution for neighbors. • Dress appropriately. That means maybe a light jacket, dry socks comfortable clothes. Remember the evening will bring dew as moisture condenses on everything, including any extra clothes you leave handy. And don’t forget the

Summertime Stargazing Training Ground

The upcoming months summer months are perfect to enjoy the night sky and learn a little about becoming a stargazer. Whether looking for a hobby in retirement or a teenager with too much time on their hands, spending a little time figuring out the constellations and the names of familiar stars is good for anybody. Remember, there is a spiritual side of bathing under the stars. Some of us stargazers will contend a true connection with the Universe and a “sixth sense” that other civilizations are undoubtedly in it. That is because each star represents a piece of light that began inside a star Light Years away. Traveling through space, a photon of starlight strikes the human retina to be recorded in our brain. That’s one of the rewards of stargazing, looking up and completing

if anybody is looking back. And summertime is a great opportunity to begin that journey among the stars. Or course it’s warm and that makes stargazing comfortable. But it won’t get real dark until 10 pm Daylight Saving Time, so you have a good reason to stay up late if you’re a kid—and maybe lose some sleep if a working adult. One thing you’ll quickly learn about stargazing—the fun is all dictated by clouds. The enemy of all amateur astronomers is bad weather that brings cloud cover. You’ll quickly learn a little about meteorology when undertaking stargazing as a hobby! My stargazing really took off one summer when three of us boys about age 13 took to the night skies every chance we could. (That all changed a few year later when we

the stars you can see. In fact, some objects like The Pleiades star cluster, look better in the low power of binoculars. The challenge will be holding the binoculars steady, and there are some tripod devices to solve that problem. • Relish the moment. As you look about the sky, check your charts and enjoy the cacophony of night creatures in the honeysuckle air, breathe deep and take in the starlight bathing your body and mind. A distant train whistle can transport you off this world into the depths of an exploded star or distant galaxy. The experience is even better if you have a friend or two also enjoying the star therapy. You might sense some subtle changes in your daytime attitude the more time you spend under the influence of the cosmos at night. • Be prepared for the unexpected. That flashing needle of light you glimpsed as a meteorite; the slowly moving satellite silently unblinking; the breath-taking star clouds of the Milky Way; and maybe the faint glow of aurora in the distant north. • You can make plans, but you can’t plan the outcome. I’ve been distracted by a neighbor’s back porch light left on all night; star maps have been ruined by heavy dew soaking the paper; batteries always go dead; sometimes a critter might drop by, i.e. stray cat, possum, raccoon…or God forbid a skunk! and there are those darn clouds that can outfox any forecast by the local TV meteorologist. This list is a good place to start your journey among the stars. Give stargazing an honest try and I’ll be you’ll be back for more.


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June 9, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 21

Celestial events in the skies for the week of June 9- June 15, 2015 as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette. A spectacular close approach of the planets Venus and Jupiter, called a conjunction, is beginning to take shape that will climax the evening of Wednesday, June 30th. High in the western sky when darkness grips our land around 9:30 pm you can’t miss the two planets. Venus is brightest and lowest, and Jupiter is yellow above. Venus will inch closer to Jupiter night by night as it leaves the constellation Gemini to enter Jupiter’s domain of Leo the Lion. Watch this fascinating celestial motion-something that would have had the world on edge 2,000 years ago for the cosmic meaning and how it will affect humans. Today we know it’s just a beautiful conjunction of two solar orbiting bodies that have little to do with each other. But millennia ago this was the sort of sky spectacle that might have been the famous “Star southeast and easof Bethlehem.” ily visible by 10 pm. Tues. June 9 The planet is the The Moon is at Last Quarter top and brightest rising after midnight and in the “star” of a row of domain of the predawn skies. That three that make up leaves the evenings free of moonthe claws of Scorlight, allowing the constellations pius. Use that small, to be seen easily. department store Wed. June 10 telescope and start The Big Dipper is easy to find with low power— in the North, its outside stars of the highest number the bowl pointing to Polaris, the eyepiece (probably North Star. Watch as the night 25 mm). Take a long moves along and the Big Dipper look and you’ll see flips to the west, or left. more and more.

Thurs. June 11

Rising in the southeast and visible by 11 pm is the red star Antares, the heart of Scorpius the Scorpion. This creature look like a giant fish hook as the tail curls down the horizon. At the top of the hook, or the upper claw of the scorpion, is bright, yellowish Saturn.

Fri. June 12

Take a look at the magnificent rings of Saturn, rising in the

Sat. June 13

Arcturus is the bright orange star directly overhead at dark, the bottom of Bootes the Herdsman. This constellation looks like a huge kite, or ice cream cone, and is one of the most ancient constellations, dating back to the early Sumerian stargazers 4,000 years ago.

Sun. June 14

As darkness grips the late Spring landscape by 10 pm, Leo

the Lion is dipping down toward the western horizon, soon to be gone by midnight. Ahead of it is bright planet Jupiter.

Mon. June 15

Looking south, the scales of Libra are an indistinct small group of stars that garners attention with the famous planet’s presence. To the east are the claws of Scorpius, on the border of the Milky Way.


Page 22, The Loafer • June 9, 2015

PUSH! Film Festival Partners with BVU for Free Movie in the Park, Ticket Prices Set

PUSH! Film Festival is partnering with BVU to host a free movie in the park as part of the first-year festival over the weekend of June 12 – 14, 2015, in Historic Downtown Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia. PUSH! Film Festival and BVU have agreed to show the family classic “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” Friday, June 12 at sundown, approximately 9:00 p.m in Cumberland Square Park. The Festival Committee is encouraging filmgoers to bring their bicycles and wear their red hoodies in honor of the film’s main (human) character Elliott from the 1982 classic film. “We are excited to partner with BVU to bring E.T. to life for a new generation of film lovers! It’s sure to also be a nostalgic hit for a lot of festival attendees,” stated Jessica Barnett, chair of PUSH! Film Festival Committee. “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” is about a brave child, Elliott, who befriends the alien E.T. and helps him escape earth to return to his home world. The film was directed by Stephen Spielberg and starred Henry Thomas as Elliott. The festival has also set its ticket prices and box office hours. The box office will be located at the Believe in Bristol office at 36 Moore Street, Bristol, VA. Festival attendees should note that because

seating is limited, film attendance will be based on a first-come, firstserved basis at each film venue. Venues will be the Paramount Center for the Arts, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, the Bristol Public Library, and Cumberland Square Park. Box office hours leading up to PUSH! Film Festival weekend will be 1:00 – 5:00PM at the Believe in Bristol office. Single screenings can only be purchased at the film venue for $6. Any Friday screenings need to be purchased separately, or are covered by the weekend wristband option. Saturday wristbands are $30 and can be purchased at the box office or by contacting Believe In Bristol at 276-644-9700 for will call. Sunday wristbands are $20 and can be purchased at the box office or by contacting Believe In Bristol at 276-644-9700 for will call. Weekend wristbands (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday screenings) are $50 and can be purchased at the box office or by contacting Believe In Bristol at 276-644-9700 for will call. For more information about PUSH! Film Festival, visit “www. pushfilmfest.com, or contact Christina Blevins at 276-644-9700 or cblevins@believeinbristol.org.


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Selected paintings from the recent Solo Exhibition

“Hindsight”

by Jennifer Kirk Hamilton, will be on exhibit at Kingsport’s City Hall Gallery through July 31, 2015 “Hindsight” is a series begun in 2001 based on her daily walks with her two dogs followed by a painting session. This work represents selected pieces from Ms. Hamilton’s solo show “Hindsight” which was on exhibition at the Renaissance Arts Center Main Gallery in the month of May 2015. The artist states, “You’ll never see your morning walks the same. The walk is a ritual that all dog walkers share. The dogs I painted represented reality, they were moving forward in time, yet the space surrounding them is surreal and became a fanciful representation of my understanding of the world I see in my mind. Color and lines become sounds and smells and emotional responses to daily bombardments and person inner turmoil. The dogs were guides. The two-dimensional works are painted with oil and acrylic on various surfaces from canvas to illustration board to wood.” Jennifer has work in various business and private collections and is a frequent exhibitor and winner in shows throughout the southeast. Her most recent accomplishments include first place in the South Carolina State Fair in 2011 and best in show in the South Carolina Watermedia Society Show in 2008. WATERCOLOR

magazine recognized her in 2006 as one of 20 Emerging Artists in their anniversary issue. She has been on the staff of Springmaid Watercolor Workshops since 1984. The exhibition will be up through July 31, 2015. The Gallery at Kingsport’s City Hall is open

weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm and is located at 225 E. Center Street in beautiful Downtown Kingsport. The gallery is always free and open to the public. For further information contact Jennifer Hamilton at 803-322-7129 or www.jenniferkirkhamilton.com

Olive Oil Divine Grand Opening Slated for June 11th

Olive Oil Divine,the Tri-Cities premier Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar tasting bar, will hold its grand opening June 11th. Throughout the day, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., samples will be provided for guests, who can taste a wide variety of olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Olive Oil Divine also has a diverse selection of gourmet olives, spices, pastas, cosmetics and much more. Door prizes and giveaways will be part of the grand opening. WJHL’s Daytime Tri-Cities will be

broadcasting live at 10 a.m. that day. Musician Brim Leal will be on hand from 3-7 p.m. while the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting at 5 p.m., followed by an After Hours event at 5:30 p.m. Ten percent of all sales on June 11th will benefit the local Junior Diabetes Research Foundation. Independently owned and operated by Greg and Shirley Muel- Tenn. For more information about Oller, Olive Oil Divine is located at the Shoppes at Peerless Center, ive Oil Divine, call 423-707-7087 or 2517 North Roan St., Johnson City, visitwww.oliveoildivine.com.

June 9, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 23


Page 24, The Loafer • June 9, 2015

In Theaters Now

Box Office Top 10 San Andreas (2015)

In the aftermath of a massive earthquake in California, a rescuechopper pilot makes a dangerous journey across the state in order to rescue his daughter.

“San Andreas” I will begin this week by advising you to take most of the happenings in the new film “San Andreas” with a “grain of salt”. If you have read or studied about the famous California fault line, you will know the film has heightened the effects of a major quake on the west coast to epic proportions for entertainment value. The same can be said of the 1974 film “Earthquake”, famous for shaking ground and fake looking blocks of cement falling from buildings. Of course with the special effects of 2015, nothing looks fake, except for some of the acting. The film is a super thrill ride, and begins by introducing us to various characters so we will care about them when they are in peril. The main character we meet right away is Raymond ‘Ray’ Gaines (Dwayne Johnson), a helicopter-rescue pilot in the midst of a divorce from his estrange wife Emma (Carla Gugino). Ray is part of the Los Angeles Fire Department, and between rescue missions, is trying to maintain a relationship with his daughter Blake (Alexandra Daddario), who is mostly hanging out at her Mom’s billionaire boyfriends house (her posh surroundings are suppose to make us care?). Despite her luxurious surroundings, we do eventually discover Blake has the heroic values of her dad. While Ray and company are going about their business, a teacher at Cal Tech, Dr. Lawrence Hayes (Paul Giamatti) and his students are devising ways to predict earthquakes. Not long after we meet Dr. Hayes and his cohorts, a 7.1 quake strikes in the Hoover Dam area of Nevada, where the doctor just happens to be with one of his col-

Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)

After a humiliating command performance at Lincoln Center, the Barden Bellas enter an international competition that no American group has ever won in order to regain their status and right to perform.

Tomorrowland (2015)

Bound by a shared destiny, a teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor embark on a mission to unearth the secrets of a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

A celebrated military contractor returns to the site of his greatest career triumphs and reconnects with a long-ago love while unexpectedly falling for the hard-charging Air Force watch-dog assigned to him.

Poltergeist (2015)

A family whose suburban home is haunted by evil forces must come together to rescue their youngest daughter after the apparitions take her captive.

Far from the Madding Crowd (2015)

In Victorian England, the independent and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak, a sheep farmer; Frank Troy, a reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood, a prosperous and mature bachelor.

In a stark desert landscape where humanity is broken, two rebels just might be able to restore order: Max, a man of action and of few words, and Furiosa, a woman of action who is looking to make it back to her childhood homeland.

Hot Pursuit (2015)

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Oh, an alien on the run from his own people, lands on Earth and makes friends with the adventurous Tip, who is on a quest of her own..

When Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program called Ultron, things go horribly wrong and it’s up to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans.

leagues. The quake results in a tragedy for the doctor, and when he returns to Cal Tech, discovers the Nevada quake is the beginning of a major quake event for Los Angeles and San Francisco. Meanwhile, Ray and his fellow

Aloha (2015)

pected rescues by Ray. The San Adreas is not the only “fault line” in the film, as plenty of cheesy dialogue and unbelievable plot developments cause major shake ups. There are even a couple of British brothers added to the plot, one of which provides a love interest for Blake, and some moments rescue pilots are about to head of levity. Highlights of the film to Nevada when a 9.1 quake hits include Giamatti having over-theLos Angeles. When the quake hits, top moments of concern, the aweEmma is in the top story of a high some special effects, and Super rise, and Blake is in San Francisco Johnson if full hero mode. In fact, with her future step dad Daniel there were certain moments when (Ioan Gruffudd), setting up ex- Johnson is so fired up I thought

An uptight and by-the-book cop tries to protect the outgoing widow of a drug boss as they race through Texas pursued by crooked cops and murderous gunmen.

Home (2015)

Source: IMDb.com (6/6/2015)

he might take flight. Despite the films obvious flaws, there is still fun to be had, which seems odd in light of the subject matter. This film definitely falls in the category of “bad movies we love”, and is a pure summer action film. For a bit of intense excitement, hit your local theater, don your 3D glasses, and watch The Rock battle “San Andreas”.

Rated: PG-13

B+


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June 9, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 25

Fabulous Glassware

My mom always told me that I had a champagne taste on a beer budget. Of course, mother knows best; I’m attracted to expensive things that I can’t afford. These pricey items can be the simplest of products (fancy glassware) or unnecessarily fabulous merchandise ($75 designer socks). Although I’ve not yet mastered the art of sewing socks, I am pretty handy with a paint pen. So, I thought that I could knock off an adorable set of Anthropologie cups and a monogramed one I found online for around $30 and $50 respectively.

I paid less than $4 for a set of four small glasses at Walmart. If you already have glasses to use, feel free. If you don’t have a Walmart then scope out your local thrift stores for cheap glassware. Before you begin, clean your glasses with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol. Let them dry completely. The Anthropologie glasses are the easiest to make. They’re a confetti style dot pattern that gets less dense as it reaches the top of the glass. I used white, blue, grey, and purple paint pens that I bought for

$2 each. For one design, I pressed the white, blue and grey pens into the glass, lifting up immediately. This creates nearly perfect dots. I placed fewer dots on the glass near the rim of the cup; at the rim, I used only the white marker, sparingly. This glass is my favorite because it has a beautiful pastel effect. For the second glass, I did the same thing, adding the purple marker and dotting faster for a more haphazard, confetti style. To create monogram glasses, I used a template. You can easily

find your monogram online in any font and style you want. I chose a circle format that I thought fit with my rounded cups. After cutting out the area around the monogram, I taped it inside the glass. I used this as a guide to draw on my monogram with the white paint pen. On another glass, I did the same with the blue paint pen. If you make a mistake, simply take a Q-tip with some alcohol and wipe it off. In order to seal your designs on the glass, you must bake them

or let them cure over 21 days. Because I am impatient, I baked mine. First, I placed my cups on a flat pan in the oven. Then, I preheated to 350 degrees and set a timer for 30 minutes. It’s important that the cups heat up with the oven and that the heating time is included in the 30 minutes of baking time. When time is up, leave the cups in to cool down with the oven. The next day, I used and washed one of my cups and the design help on strong.


Page 26, The Loafer • June 9, 2015

Someone Built It... You Should Go

It’s the place where dreams come true - though admittedly, the dreams have to be very specific. Good examples are dreams along the lines of reliving baseball history, reuniting with long dead loved ones, or remembering that modest, simpler time when Kevin Costner used to make good movies. Or perhaps your dream is that of finding anything remotely interesting to do amid the monotony of eastern Iowa (aka the gateway to western Iowa). If any of this

applies, then the Field of Dreams Movie Site, located outside of Dyersville, Iowa is for you. I had actually known of this place for many years, as likely have most of my closest friends (you see, watching and appreciating Field of Dreams is sort of a prerequisite to becoming my friend). I didn’t make it there until 2012 though because it’s kind of in the middle of nowhere and I’d never had much of a reason to visit eastern Iowa. Then, a buddy of mine

had a wedding in nearby Illinois, so my wife Laurel and I took an extra day, and off we side-tripped to Dyersville. I won’t say the place was lifechanging or anything, but it was pretty cool. The owners seem to have found that running a small souvenir shed nearby makes them enough to offset the costs of keeping up the field, so the site is completely free to enter and you can mill about for as long as you feel like it. I went ahead and did

my part - I bought a coffee mug festooned with ballplayers who slowly disappear as your coffee cools off. I suppose you can just take advantage of their hospitality if you wish though. Anyway, what you see in this photo here is pretty much the main idea. I’ll assume you have at least a minimal grasp of what a baseball field is, so I’ll spare you any discussion of base paths, pitcher’s mounds, grass, etc., but I will tell you that this is not just some clever recreation of the film’s setting. No, it’s the actual field,

house, and corn where Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, and Ray Liotta explored the metaphysics of life through baseball and showed us that 1) you can always have a second chance and 2) Heaven may or may not be in Iowa. There’s really not a whole lot else to say about this, but go ahead and check it out sometime if it’s convenient (though it probably won’t be). Buy a reasonably priced souvenir and throw the ball around with your kids. Hey, somebody built it, so…you know what to do.


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June 9, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 27

Sol Driven Train to Play at The Willow Tree!

The Willow Tree Coffeehouse and Music Room is very proud to announce that Sol Driven Train will be returning Thursday June 11, 8p $10 $5 for students. “We have been huge fans of Sol Driven Train for years, seeing them whenever they come near the tri cities and also making road trips to see them as often as we could, so it is a really big deal for us when they come play at The Willow Tree.” Says, Teri Dosher, owner of The Willow Tree. “They are one of those bands, that as good as they are recorded, nothing compares to their live shows.” Sol Driven Train’s music weaves through genres like images in a Tom Robbins paragraph. The band’s sonic schizophrenia absorbs songwriting influences like John Prine and Paul Simon, afrocaribbean rhythmic explorations, and funky New Orleans-style brass into earnest songs of life, love, loss, and long johns. The versatile 5-piece band, based in Charleston, SC, features rotating lead vocalists, and multi-instrumental talent

spread across horns, strings, and percussion. Combining rich varieties of American pop and folk music into their own port-town sound, Sol Driven Train has carved out a unique musical identity within the burgeoning roots music scene. “If you need to visualize the soul, think of it as a kind of train. Yes, a long, lonesome freight train rumbling from generation to generation on an eternally rainy morning: its boxcars are loaded with sighs and laughter, its hobos are angels, its engineer is the queen of spades – and the queen is wild. Whoo-whoo! Hear that epiphanic whistle blow. The train’s destination is the godhead, but it stops at the Big Bang, at the orgasm, and at the hole in the fence that the red fox sneaks through down behind the barn. It’s simultaneously a local and an express, but it doesn’t transport weaponry, and it certainly ain’t no milk run.” -Tom Robbins, Villa Incognito Named “2011 Rock Band of the Year” “2012 Jam Band of the Year” and “2013 World/Groove/Reggae

Band of the Year” by the Charleston City Paper, and “On the Verge” by Relix Magazine in January 2012, Sol Driven Train is an independent band breaking into the national spotlight. Ten independent releases including two critically-acclaimed albums for children, a live concert

DVD, a live album, five full-length studio albums, and last summer’s popular “Watermelon” EP document the band’s winding musical development. The band has recently released their full length album “Dance” to rave reviews. “It’s gonna be a fantastic show.”

Says Teri. Also at The Willow Tree this week: Ancient Cities on Friday night and Kate and Corey on Saturday. The Willow Tree Coffeehouse and Music Room is located at 216 east main street, Johnson City Tn 36704.


Page 28, The Loafer • June 9, 2015

Jonesborough Welcomes Kate Campbell

Following her hugely popular performance at the National Storytelling Festival last fall, singer-songwriter Kate Campbell is returning to Jonesborough for a weeklong residency at the International Storytelling Center.

A Nashville-based musician who specializes in country, folk, and Americana, Campbell will have her guitar on hand to play songs from her 13 albums. There will be a tale for every tune—some that provide the story behind the

music, and others that are the story of writing the song itself—and a new set of stories for every day of her residency. As the daughter of a Baptist preacher, Campbell heard a lot of stories growing up. She

learned about storytelling from the church, though she’s quick to point out that her musical talents weren’t courtesy of her father. (He couldn’t really carry a tune.) Much of her work focuses on her childhood in Mississippi. She came of age in the midst of the Civil Rights movement, which was a huge influence. Southern through and through, she’s been compared to Flannery O’Connor and Harper Lee. Those writers heavily influence her thinking and her lyrics, and often find their way into the stories themselves. Musically, Campbell’s biggest influences have been Dolly Parton and Kris Kristofferson. She’s often compared to Emmylou Harris (who she had collaborated with), but her story-based songs set Campbell apart from her contemporaries. A careful lyricist, she often works on the words long after she’s found the melody. That’s always been her method, though it took her time to find her niche. When she first started playing around Nashville, she thought she was more of a gospel or a contemporary Christian kind of singer. But it wasn’t until she started playing country venues that she really found her audience. During her residency, Campbell will host regular matinee performances June 16 – 20, Tuesday through Saturday. Shows start daily at 2:00 p.m., and tickets are just $12 for adults and $11 for seniors, students, and children under 18.

Photo by Michael Wilson

Reservations are highly recommended, and all ticket holders will save 10 percent on same-day dining at The Dining Room, Jonesborough General Store and Eatery, or Main Street Café. A popular concert series produced by the International Storytelling Center, Storytelling Live! hosts more than two-dozen tellers each year, inviting some of the industry’s top talent for weeklong storytelling residencies. Season passes that offer nearly half off the price of regular admission are available while supplies last. Information about this season’s performers, as well as a detailed schedule, is available at www. storytellingcenter.net. Storytelling Live! is supported by program sponsors CrestPoint Health, Eastman Chemical Company and Eastman Credit Union, and media sponsors News 5-WCYB, FOX TriCities, Tri-Cities CW, Johnson City Press, Kingsport Times-News, Herald & Tribune, Cumulus Media and Foster Signs. Additional funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, the Niswonger Foundation, and the Arts Fund of East Tennessee Foundation. The International Storytelling Center is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information about Storytelling Live! or to make a group reservation, call (800) 952-8392 ext. 222 or (423) 913-1276.


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June 9, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 29

Personal Tactical Training Pt 2

Last week we looked at drawing from the hip, this week we will look at drawing from a handbag. Now ladies’ drawing from a handbag is a horse of a completely different color than drawing from the hip, although the steps are very similar. The first thing you want to do is make sure that your handgun is in a holster inside the bag. Otherwise all it takes is one tube of Chap Stick or a pen to make you

have a really bad day. You also want to make sure your gun isn’t buried under all the mysterious things women keep in their purses. It is recommended that you keep your gun in a separate compartment, or find a way to secure the holster to the inner wall of the bag. There are actually concealed carry handbags available with hidden compartments for your handgun. Also the smaller the bag

the quicker the draw. Now to the steps for drawing from a bag. 1. Grip the handgun; in most cases the trigger will be inside the holster practice gripping the gun in such a way that your trigger finger is straight and at least half an inch away from the trigger guard. This is to prevent accidental discharge. 2. Lift the handgun out of the holster, and the bag this is known as clearing. It is imperative that you learn how far you have to lift your particular gun to clear the holster. If the attacker is too close or has grabbed you, you can attempt to shoot the attacker through the bag; this is not recommended as hot gases are likely to burn your hand. If possible wait until step three to attempt to fire. Keep the gun horizontal to your body until you move into step three. 3. Once clear of the holster and the bag bring the muzzle of the gun up towards the target, extend-

ing it slightly bring your support hand up, two-hand gripping the firearm. Train yourself to place your trigger finger below the slide on a semi-automatic still pointed straight, or bent slightly touching the front of the trigger guard on a revolver. This allows you move into step four without fear of accidental discharge. If you have not chambered your semi-automatic now is the time to do that, you may also hammer your revolver. If you find yourself in a situation where the attacker is too close to extend to step four then it is suitable to shoot from this position. 4. Once you have established a two hand grip on the firearm, move into your shooting position. Extending the firearm into full position aligning your sights and locking in your target picture. You may now move your finger into the trigger guard touching the trigger. Onceyou take off the safety you are ready to shoot. Most concealed carry guns lack external

safeties so as to remove that step increasing efficiency. Revolvers also lack external safeties. Some of the issues with carrying in a handbag or purse are:what happens if the purse gets swiped or stolen? One thing to do is to train yourself to walk while gripping the gun, that way if they snatch your bag off your arm you’re left holding your gun. Keep in mind however that if they run you can’t shoot them, but at least you haven’t armed them. What if you forget you have your handgun in there and you drop your child off at school? I recommend training yourself to remove the gun when you enter your vehicle, placing in an accessible console then replace it before leaving the vehicle. This is to prevent you accidently bringing a gun into a prohibited area. Was this article helpful? As always if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me. I look forward to your feedback.


Page 30, The Loafer • June 9, 2015

Appalachian Trail at Carter Family Fold

Saturday, June 13th, 2015, at 7:30 p.m., the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert of traditional bluegrass music by Appalachian Trail. Adult admission to the concert is $10, $1 for children 6 to 11, and under age 6 free. Appalachian Trail is a union of seasoned and innovative singers, songwriters, and musicians who are breaking new ground in the bluegrass arena. Ireland, Scotland, England, Russia, Sweden, Canada, Holland, and Switzerland are some of the countries that have hosted the talents of the individuals in this band, as well as coast-to-coast here at home. Formed in 1984, the band combines strong lead vocals, tight harmonies, and distinctive picking. Tommy Austin is no stranger to the bluegrass community. He started playing guitar and singing

with his mother in church growing up in Fall Branch, Tennessee. After hearing Jim McCamey play, he moved to the mandolin when he became interested in the bluegrass sound. Through the years, he has played in several bands including the Horsecreek Mountain Boys, Clear Creek, the Rising Wind, Limited Edition, Tennessee Skyline, and the Hopsons. Currently he sings lead and harmony, plays mandolin, and shares the songwriting and arranging with the other members of Appalachian Trail. Vickie Austin began singing at an early age with her dad in church. At age 13, she was given an old upright piano for her birthday. She sang with her sister for many years and eventually discovered a love for the bluegrass sound. Vickie sang and played bass for Twin Springs Bluegrass Band and eventually joined her

husband in Appalachian Trail. She developed an extensive vocal range and honed her skills on the upright bass. Vickie plays bass for the group and sings lead and harmony vocals. Allen Hughes has played guitar with Appalachian Trail for six years. A life-long love of music became apparent to his family, when, at the age of four, he declared he wanted to be “Johnny Cash” when he grew up. Traditional country, especially Merle Haggard, has been a big influence to him. As a teenager, he was introduced to, and took lessons from G.C. Matlock in Jonesborough, Tennessee. Soon after, he played with several friends from college in the band Blue Ridge Tradition. While playing jams at festivals, the back room of the Down Home, the Chuck Trading Post, and the Rheatown Store, he met his friend and band mate, Tommy Austin. Their first

musical experience began in the late eighties in the band, the Rising Wind. Their friendship and music has grown over 25 years. He lends his vocals to several songs on lead, baritone, and bass. His distinctive style sets him apart from most guitar players. Glen Rose has been playing the banjo since the age of 10 and was inspired by his cousin Buddy Rose who gave him lessons. Other influences include Earl Scruggs, J.D. Crowe, Carl Jackson, and countless others. Glen has played with several groups through the years and at an early age of 14, Glen and his brother John performed as special guests of Lester Flatt on the Grand Ole Opry. He has been a part of the ETSU Bluegrass Band while working on his BS degree in computer science. He has appeared on several albums over the years and has his own solo banjo instrumental album. In his spare time, Glen teaches guitar and banjo. For some of the best traditional bluegrass music around, don’t miss Appalachian Trail at the Carter Family Fold! For additional information on the group, check out their web site – http://www.

appygrass.com/. Vickie has been playing on the Carter Fold stage since she was a little girl, and Appalachian Trail has performed many times over the years. The Fold is always proud to welcome them back. Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, rural arts organization established to preserve traditional, acoustic, mountain music. For further information on the center, go to http://www.carterfamilyfold. org. Shows from the Carter Family Fold can be accessed on the internet at http://www.carterfoldshow.com. Carter Music Center is part of the Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. You can visit the Crooked Road Music Trail site at http://thecrookedroad.org. Partial funding for programs at the center is provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054. The Fold is on Facebook – page Carter Fold – and Twitter – Twitter @carterfoldinfo. To speak to a Fold staff member, call 276-594-0676.


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June 9, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 31

Indie Singer/Songwriter Matthew Frantz To Appear at Accoustic Coffeehouse Ghost Note Records is proud to present nationally known singer/ songwriter, Matthew Frantz in concert on June 16th, 2015 at 7:30 PM. The concert will be held at Acoustic Coffee House 415 W Walnut St Johnson City TN 37604 Chicago based singer/songwriter Matthew Frantz is a maverick in the indie/freak folk music world. Not easily pigeonholed, Frantz’s music is soulful, honest, gritty and relevant to what’s going on in the world now. Matthew Frantz released his debut album, “Odessa Days” on Ghost Note Records mid 2012 through all major music outlets. His debut album features a broad spectrum of Americana/ Indie/Anti-Folk music, from the melancholy “Silver Dollar Stream” and “Docks” to the driving and dark, “London Honey Bee” and the emotionally epic “Epic Of Harvey Dylan”. He tours extensively and has performed in concert with the

post-punk band, Girl In A Coma, a rare appearance with Tom Waits in Sonoma, opened for both Calexico and The Swingtips, and many others. ”After four years of building his repertoire of songs and getting comfortable in his new genre,

Frantz is ready” CHIP CHANDLER – AMARILLO GLOBE ”Matthew Frantz’s amazing voice sells itself. You hear him and think, man, this guy’s the real deal.” KYLE DAYNE -- THE ART OF CELEBRATION

Summers Past History Programs at Tipton-Haynes

Tipton-Haynes is pleased to announce the start of its SUMMERS PAST HISTORY PROGRAMS. This year there are four weeks of camps, each of which features special activities designed to teach children about local history. The first week is a new program, the Pioneer Trades camp, designed for ages 11-14. Campers will learn about the crafts and trades of the early pioneers, including paper and ink-making, block printing, and harnessing the power of wind and water for mills. The other three sessions are for ages 6-12 and focus on different time periods in Tipton-Haynes’ history. The first session features the Native Americans and is June 15-19; the second features the Early Settlements and is June 22-26; and the third features

the Civil War and is June 29-July 3. Every program includes different activities such as making fry bread, spinning wool, and learning to use signal flags. Each week ends with a performance of music or a skit. Cost is $100/one child and $95/ each additional child for non-members or $95/one child and $90/ each additional child for current members. All camps start at 9:00 every day and run until 2:00, with optional aftercare for an additional $3/child per hour until 5:00. Sign up today by sending your $20 deposit to Tipton-Haynes, PO Box 225, Johnson City, TN 37605. For more information, please call us at 423-926-3631, email us at tiptonhaynes@embarqmail.com, or find us on Facebook.


Page 32, The Loafer • June 9, 2015


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“New England Trio plays for Special Contra Dance in Jonesborough!”

The Historic Jonesborough Dance Society will host the next contra dance of the season on Wednesday June 10, 2015 at the Pavilion at Serenity Knoll, 542 Bacon Branch Road, Jonesborough. The featured band is NOVA from Boston, MA. The caller is Will Mentor from Vermont. Admission for the dance is $8 for all comers. The evening will begin at 5:30pm with a potluck dinner and a concert by Morgantown, VA based fiddler Rachel Eddy. Admission to the concert is $5-10 suggested donation. Rachel Eddy is a welltraveled singer, songwriter and teacher who just recently released a CD called “Nothing But Corn”. She is currently living in Morgantown, teaching Appalachian music at WVU. She lived, toured and taught in Sweden/Europe 20092014 while playing fiddle, banjo, guitar and singing. The NOVA Trio consists of Kathleen Fownes on fiddle, Everest Witman on guitar and Guillau-

me Sparrow-Pepin on piano and accordion. Fiddler Kathleen Fownes plays with a fire and versatility that shows her deep passion for the music. Beginning as a child, Kathleen studied both folk and classical playing. Her lyrical playing, coupled with her fearless improvisation, create a powerful and dynamic musical range which make her one of the most sought after young fiddlers on the scene. Besides playing in Nova, Kathleen also plays in a duo, with her father Jim Fownes, called Light Reaction. Everest Witman’s guitar playing is energetic and full of life. Heavily influenced by the playing of his former teacher Keith Murphy, he provides a compelling and driving backup guitar style. After finding the folk music scene in his early teens, he quickly fell in love with music and dancing. Everest plays in the DADGAD tuning and draws from the styles of New England, Québécois and Irish guitar playing

to create a versatile and satisfying sound. Everest plays in a variety of other bands besides Nova and also teaches guitar lessons. Guillaume Sparrow-Pepin draws on jazz, traditional, and world music to play with an expressive and dynamic style melding the worlds of accompaniment and melody. A singer and pianist, he picked up the accordion in 2012 and, under the tutelage of Jeremiah McLane, found his way to the folk music scene. He studied computer science and music at the University of Vermont and currently works as a musician and freelance web designer. “These three young musicians are taking the country by storm. They just recently headlined at the annual Great Bear Groove in Oswego, NY, and will be touring this area all week long. We are so excited to showcase their talent here as they have already been booked for our annual Jonesborough Dance Weekend, Mountain

June 9, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 33

Madness, to be held October 9-11, 2015.” Added event organizer, David Wiley, HJDS President. Will Mentor, art professor at St. Michael’s College in Colchester, VT, will teach a contra class for beginners at 7:00 PM and the dance will run from 7:30-10:30 PM with a waltz and Klondike Bar break at 9:00pm. No partner is necessary. It is customary at contra dances to change partners after each dance.

As always, our dances are smoke, alcohol and fragrance free. Families, students and singles are welcome. All dances are taught by the caller. No previous dance experience is necessary. For more information, contact David Wiley at 423-534-8879, or email to david@historicjonesboroughdancesociety.org. Also visit the Historic Jonesborough Dance Society on FACEBOOK.


Page 34, The Loafer • June 9, 2015

The Long Haul

The Internet is indeed a moving target, and one of the most fruitless of activities is trying to keep up with what’s new in the online environment. But I am going to do this anyway, with the understanding that by the time you are reading this a completely new set of items will be trending. Earlier this Spring, we lived through the seemingly-never-ending debates over the color of a dress and this week we are witnessing a spike of interest in the controversial “Charlie Charlie” pencil game that is spooking out lots of people. Never mind that this is just another variation of the ever-popular Ouija board game and that both games have perfectly reasonable—and far from supernatural—explanations (along with the totally explained and not-very-mysterious “what color is the dress?” phenomenon).

Of course, most people would rather retain the mystery and stir the controversy pot rather than listen to reasonable explanations. Let’s face it—reasonable explanations are often boring. This week let’s take a look at a TNW News item about what’s popular and trending on YouTube. Owned by the folks over at Google, YouTube is our most popular repository of American (and World) Popular Culture, and it’s been around long enough to attract the interest of those who like to categorize our ever-changing behavior and shopping habits. In a piece titled “The fastest-growing category of YouTube video blogs? Sneaker hauls,” columnist Natt Garlin reports about some facts and figures released by Google that shed light on what we’re watching (and buying).

In its report, Google “says searches for ‘how to’ on YouTube have grown 70 percent year over year.” In fact, “more than 100 million hours of content in the category has been watched this year in North America alone,” with Home Improvement being the most popular category. Interestingly enough, three of the top searches focus on how to unclog toilets, remove wallpaper, and fix leaky faucets. Coming in at second place are how-to videos about Beauty, which have cultivated nearly twenty-five percent more viewers than this time last year. Needless to say, we aren’t told how successful these videos have been. I know I still can’t figure out the mysteries of my toilet no matter how many YouTube videos I watch. In fact, the more I know the more dangerous I become.

Although I watch quite a few YouTube videos, I have completely missed what is turning out to be the most watched category— so-called Haul videos that feature people obsessing over their sneaker purchases. This category has, according to the Google report, grown nearly seventy-five percent in viewership since last year. According to Garlin, we shouldn’t be “surprised if sneaker sales and obsession continue to explode over the next year.” And what exactly is a “haul video?” While doing extensive (i.e. Wikipedia) research for this topic, I discovered that this genre has been steadily growing in popularity since it first appeared around 2007. Hauls refer to the items that are picked up (and hopefully paid for) during shopping sprees, with the most popular item (at this point at least) being sneakers. Hauling has inspired, among other things, a parody site (HaulBlog) and a monthly web series, “The Haul Monitor.” It seems there is a very thin line separating haulers from hoarders. And if you don’t believe me, check out some of the very many Haul videos that currently exist, especially the ones featuring sneakers (boxes and boxes of sneakers). Last week Google published on its blog a very interesting piece titled “New insights launched to help marketers capture the micro-moment opportunity.” In this piece, we are told that “There’s no question that today we’re facing a consumer behavior shift that has huge implications for how brands should reach and engage customers—especially on mobile.” It probably should come as no surprise that “more Google searches take place on mobile devices than on computers in 10 countries including the US and Japan.” And, again not surprisingly, “it’s not just the fact that there is more mobile usage; mobile devices are actually changing the way people engage with brands—online and offline.” Closely related to these findings is the fact that “we no longer research purchases in long dedicated sessions on a laptop or a desktop. Instead, we reach for our devices in the moment, we access information faster than ever before, and as a result we make more informed decisions. . .more quickly.” Smartphones, in particular, are being

used to instantly make purchase decisions, and in different ways than in years past. Be honest—how many times have you been in a store, seen something you wanted, and then ordered it online rather than making an in-store purchase at a higher price? Ever take a picture of a product with your phone for future reference? Do you compile “wish lists” of product photographs? And, getting back to the research I cited previously, how many times have you consulted a YouTube how-to video while you were in the process of unclogging a toilet or putting together a bookcase? These little impulses now have a name—they’re called “micro-moments,” and are fueled by our smartphones. The hauling phenomenon is an offshoot of these “micro-moments.” We like to watch other people hauling in their purchases, and we really like to see all the sneakers they’re buying (and perhaps even hoarding). Haul videos are, in fact, a form of advertising without the expenditure of advertising dollars. When I was contemplating purchasing a new portable digital piano, I first went to YouTube and checked out customer videos. I especially became intrigued by those showing proud customers bringing their keyboards home and unboxing them. Before I finally purchased my instrument, I already knew what to expect when I opened the box. If I were a sneaker aficionado, I’m sure I would enjoy watching sneaker haul videos as well. I did watch one that panned around the room, showing the very large number of sneaker boxes (I think around 80) that one consumer had stacked in his closet and on the floor in front of his closet. Interesting indeed. I will leave you with your own “micro-moments” and haul videos. If you get bored, you can always play “Charlie Charlie.” Of course, I am not responsible for any spooky things that might happen as a result. Hopefully the worst that will happen is that you will be possessed with the urge to go out and buy multiple pairs of sneakers and then upload your sneaker videos to YouTube. Think I’ll go and make my own haul video featuring multiple copies of “Kelly’s Place” articles from my vast collection.


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