Hindugrass Live Studio Recording

Durham-based band Hindugrass is one of our city's most talented and daring world music bands, combining the sounds of classical folk music from Northern India with those of appalachian folk from the mountains of North Carolina.

They are headed up by John Heitzenrater, who plays the sarod, a 23-string fretless instrument with a goat skin head. Hindugrass also includes an interesting array of percussion, and a classically trained string section composed of violin, viola, and cello players that have performed and recorded with the likes of Lost in the Trees, Bowerbirds, and Prypyat.

This upcoming Friday (4/12) is an excellent opportunity for a little field trip over to Manifold Recording, the multi-million dollar Pittsboro recording studio owned and managed by Michael Tiemann, an open source software pioneer. Manifold and Hindugrass working together to open the studio doors to the general public, providing an opportunity for attendees to be a part of the recording process.

They will be recording as an ensemble, in front of a (very limited) live studio audience. Participants will not only add the energy of their attendance to the energy of our performance, but will also be able to witness the process of recording at one of the finest studios in the country. The performance/recording will be followed by a meet-and-greet session with the band. 

For tickets to the event, go to http://hindugrassmanifold.eventbrite.com/ or check out their Facebook invite.

Full disclosure: The author of this post is included on the guest list for this event.

Durham Art Walk Spring Market

Durham Art Walk Spring Market
April 13-14, 2013
Saturday from 10:00-5:00
Sunday from 1:00-5:00

The Art Walk Spring Market is a fine arts and crafts event that showcases all that downtown Durham has to offer.

The Art Walk Spring Market invites art lovers for a weekend full of art and local spirit including: dazzling examples of local artistic talent, world-class restaurants, great shopping, innovative new businesses and fascinating historic sites.

Visitors can purchase fine art and crafts at the Durham Arts Council and other sites such as West Village, The Durham Armory, The Smitten Boutique, Through This Lens Gallery, NetFriends, Urban Durham Realty, Bull City Arts Collaborative, TROSA Furniture and Frameshop, Vega Metals, and Claymakers.

Visitors will also be able to hear live musical performances, and enjoy great food. The event is free and open to the public. Rain or shine.

2nd Annual Wounded Warriors Benefit Concert

Durham hip-hop icon The Real Laww will be championing another wonderful event that will to benefit his brothers and sisters in arms, The 2nd Annual Wounded Warriors Benefit Concert! This event aims to:

• Raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service memebers 
• Help injured service members aid and assist each other 
• Provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.

Motorco Music Hall and The Real Laww have teamed up to host this 2nd Annual Wounded Warriors Benefit Concert. Last year's success resulted in a sell out, so this time they have to moved it to a bigger venue! The goal for this year is to bring the triangle together and raise over $10,000 to this wonderful cause. They're calling it the "Give to those how Gave" campaign. Performers for the evening include:

• Toon and The Real Laww + The BAND 
• The Chit Nasty Band 
• Jessica Long and The New Kind 
• DJ Shahzad 

Saturday, February 16th
Doors @ 8:00pm
Show @ 9:00pm
$10 adv / $12 door / all ages

The majority of the proceeds will go to the Wounded Warriors Project, and sponsors include Runaway Clothes and Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Free Fair Trade Chocolate Tasting

One World Market, a non-profit, Fair Trade store here in Durham will hold a free chocolate tasting on February 9th from 10am-6pm featuring more than 40 different kinds of Fair Trade chocolate. Fair Trade chocolate means that no slave labor was used to grow the cocoa.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, this event has something for all the chocolate lovers in your life. From the purist who might enjoy the 85% cacao bar from Panama, to the adventurer looking for something exotic like salt and pepper chocolate from the Dominican Republic, their chocolate selection is vast!

What is this One World Market, you ask? It is a fair trade, nonprofit store that has been serving Durham for 20 years. Their mission is to alleviate poverty in developing countries around the world, and they do so by offering artisans a marketplace to sell their crafts.  It is mostly volunteer staffed and offers an eclectic selection of jewelry, accessories, décor items and crafts from 60 different developing countries.  The staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about the origin of the chocolates and the principals of Fair Trade.

Defacto Thezpian's Album Release

On January 18th, Durham's latest up and coming Hip Hop artist Defacto Thezpian will be holding an event at The Pinhook from 8pm - 2am, with the show starting promptly at 9 p.m.

This event will be the official physical release of his first album, Adolescent Thoughts. On the marquee he has local curate Bishop Omega hosting, along with artists The Real Laww, Azon Blaze, Skyblew and The Koolest performing.  Defacto Thezpian's set will include a live band consisting of a lead guitarist, bass guitar, saxophonist, drummer, and DJ Johnny Storm.

Here's the music video for the first single off the new album: