A Toast to The Arts

43rd Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival in Louisiana’s Oldest City

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 3rd Tuesday "Go to Natchitoches" show focuses on the 43rd Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival. With the theme "Celebrating Louisiana's Cultural Gumbo," the Festival will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2023 in the air-conditioned Prather Coliseum on the NSU campus. Featured guests are Arlene Gould, Executive Director of Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau, and organizer Dr. Shane Rasmussen, NSU Professor of English and Director, Louisiana Folklife Center. Festival attendees will enjoy 3 stages of music with Cajun, zydeco, blues, Celtic, and country music, free Cajun and zydeco dance lessons, and many traditional food vendors. There will also be a gumbo cook-off, blacksmithing, KidFest, over 70 crafts persons, a harmonica workshop taught by Ed Huey, and the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship from 1-4 PM. Music headliners feature Rusty Metoyer and the Zydeco Krush, the Jambalaya Cajun Band and the Cajun Stompers, Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue, Hugh Harris and the Drifting Cowboys, The Russell Welch Hot Quartet with special guest Aurora Nealand, traditional Native American songs and dances with the Rising Sun Youth Choctaw-Apache of Ebarb Dance Group, and blues by Jimmy “Duck” Holmes. More: https://www.nsula.edu/the-43nd-annual-natchitoches-nsu-folk-festival-2/Founded in 1714, Natchitoches is the original French Colony and oldest city in Louisiana. Celebrating a vibrant blend of French, Spanish, African, Native American, and Creole cultures, this charming city is part of the Cane River National Heritage Area and Louisiana’s No Man’s Land. More about Natchitoches at https://natchitoches.com/Follow Big Blend Radio's "Go to Natchitoches" show here: https://shows.acast.com/go-natchitoches-louisiana Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Victoria Chick - The Southwest Regional Museum of Art and Art Center

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, artist Victoria Chick talks about The Southwest Regional Museum of Art and Art Center in Silver City, New Mexico. It is destined to be a cultural jewel for communities within Southwest New Mexico, and a magnet for art lovers traveling in the state. SWRMA & Art Center will offer exciting educational opportunities and enjoyment in looking at art, studying art, and making art. More: http://www.swrm-art.org/Victoria Chick is a contemporary figurative artist and early 19th/20th century print collector based in Silver City, New Mexico. She appears on Big Blend Radio every 3rd Saturday. See her work: https://victoriachick.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author Jake Wheeler - The Gullfather

Meet the New Boss of the Boardwalk! This episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Wednesday "Writers & Authors" Show with Books Forward features author Jake Wheeler who discusses the new and adventurous middle grade graphic novel series “The Gullfather: Birdsy Seagull." He co-wrote the series with Emmy-winning creator Jeff Sikaitis, and the first installment is out now through Books Fluent is already an #1 Amazon New Release! More: https://www.thegullfather.com/More about Books Forward: https://booksforward.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author Linda B. Davis - Food Fight

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Wednesday "Writers & Authors" Show with Books Forward features author Linda B. Davis who discusses her engaging and empowering new middle grade novel on finding self-esteem with a little-known eating disorder known as ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). Linda’s novel “Food Fight” will be out through Fitzroy Books/Regal House on June 27, 2023. More: https://www.lindabdavisauthor.com/WATCH THIS PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/b7dqpTEB-dAMore about Books Forward: https://booksforward.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Singer-songwriter Lara Ruggles in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast To The Arts & Parks" Show with the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF) features Tucson Arizona-based singer-songwriter Lara Ruggles who talks about her music and creative process, and month-long NPAF residency in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Lara Ruggles is an activist, singer/songwriter, pianist, guitarist, and electronic music producer performing under the stage name “Sharkk Heartt”. Since 2011, Ruggles has released an EP, two albums, and four standalone singles both as Sharkk Heartt and under her own name. More: https://www.sharkkheartt.com/Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation and their unique artist residenty programs at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Arnold - Super Connected Album

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, UK solo artist Tim Arnold talks about his new concept album SUPER CONNECTED that lifts a magnifying glass up to the technology vs. humanity debate! Conceived with guidance from Arnold’s mentors Kevin Godley and the late Lindsay Kemp, the album fuses tech addiction, consumerism, family trauma, and compassion for those affected by screen dependency into 12 new songs. Produced by Arnold with additional production from Jethro Tull bassist Jonathan Noyce, the album spans an elective mix of genres, and includes a vocal cameo from actor Stephen Fry on Track 6 “A Commercial Break”.WATCH THIS INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/PoKziLwEL48 SUPER CONNECTED is also a feature length film drama directed by Arnold in collaboration with the designers of Terry Gilliam’s Brazil and Kate Bush’s "The Line, The Cross and The Curve." More at: http://www.superconnected.technology/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Tarquin - Brothers in Arms Album Supports Veterans

This episode of Big Blend Radio features Part 2 of the "Brothers in Arms" conversation with multi-Emmy award-winning guitarist/composer Brian Tarquin. Hear about his latest Heavy Friends album "Brothers in Arms" that was inspired by those military soldiers who have fought for their country, and, how partial proceeds from the sales go to the Fisher House Foundation who supplies housing to veterans' families while they are hospitalized. DONATION LINK: https://tinyurl.com/bdze82zaNominated for four Josie Awards, the "Brothers in Arms" features iconic guitarists including Joe Satriani, Vinnie Moore (UFO), Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal (Guns N’ Roses), Alex De Rosso (Dokken), Travis Stever (Coheed & Cambria), Jeff Duncan (Armored Saint), Johannes Weik (Son of a Bach), Gerald Gradwohl (Tangerine Dream), Chris Haskett (Henry Rollins Band). Brian Tarquin, a one-man army, composed, produced and performed all guitar melodies, solos, bass, rhythm guitars and used session drummer Reggie Pryor.Info:Part One of the conversation: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/guitarist-brian-tarquin-brothers-in-arms-album/https://www.bhpmusic.com/https://www.briantarquin.com/https://fisherhouse.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lance Laber - Summer Exhibits at DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, Lance Laber, Executive Director of the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, talks about the current Ted DeGrazia exhibits on display this summer at DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun.DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun is a 10-acre historic landmark nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Tucson, Arizona. Opened in 1965, it is home to over 15,000 originals of Ted DeGrazia art pieces including oil paintings, watercolors, ceramics and sculptures. There are six permanent collections on display and several rotating exhibitions each year. More: http://www.degrazia.org/ This Big Blend Radio "Tales of Ted DeGrazia" podcast airs every 4th Sunday. Follow the show here: https://shows.acast.com/artist-ted-degrazia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.