Photo by Adam Harris

Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-Chas headlined the Blues Brews & BBQ event during FestivALL Charleston on Friday night on the lawn of the University of Charleston, set against the backdrop of the state Capitol Dome seen across the river.

Photo by Adam Harris

Eduardo Canelon, lead singer of Comparsa, West Virginia's leading Latin Music group, is flanked by Elizabeth Segessenman and Al Peery, as they cook on some music that had more than a few people dancing in front of the Davis Park bandstand on Saturday during FestivALL Charleston.

Photo by Adam Harris

Alvin Youngblood Hart's Muscle Theory band took to the Blues, Brews & BBQ stage during FestivALL Charleston as the lights in the sky went down and the stage lights turned up.

Photo by Adam Harris

The Carpenter Ants started up the day-long entertainment at the Friday Blues, Brews & BBQ event, a fundraiser for Fund for the Arts, last Friday during FestivALL Charleston.

Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

Patricia Ansley hosted the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest at FestivALL on Sunday, armed with an umbrella she used to ferry contestants back and forth from the Slack Plaza stage to shelter the finalists' guitars from the downpour.

Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

The water came down all day on Sunday at FestivALL, pooling into heavy, stage-threatening puddles atop the Slack Plaza stage set up for a days-worth of live performances. The stage crew from Megazounds at one point fought back -- pushing water off the stage's canvas top. Moments after this shot was taken, the crew pulled the plug on the power because electrical cords were becoming submerged. Mountain Stage NewSong Festival and FOOTMAD performers, scheduled for afternoon shows, accepted a gracious 'yes-you-can' by nearby Capitol Roasters to relocate there. Musicians grabbed coffees and beers and the music went on until the shop closed at 6 p.m.

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

Dave McCormick of St. Albans is named winner of the West Virginia Round of the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest, during a soggy afternoon of competition at Slack Plaza on Sunday at FestivALL Charleston. He advances to the national finals of the contest on Saturday, Aug. 26, during the Mountain Stage NewSong Festival in Shepherdstown. Click on the audio link at the NewSong site to to hear the songs, McCormick's winning songs, "One of Those Angels" and "Where Are Your Moses?" (about the Katrina flooding in New Orleans).

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

Nope, he's not sitting beside a mirror. The twins, Michael and Matthew Polonchak, of Charles Town, make up the duo Transcendent Third. They were among the top 10 finalists in the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest regional round at FestivALL Charleston, held on Slack Plaza this past Sunday during a steady downpour. Their crowd-pleasing sound -- think Indigo Boys -- earned them a 2nd trip in as many years to the top 10 of the West Virginia round of the national NewSong performing songwriters contest.

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

City of Charleston treasurer Vic Grigoraci was among the first proponents of a citywide arts and culture festival in Charleston, akin to South Carolina's Spoleto Festival. While certainly nowhere near as large well-funded as Spoleto, this year's FestivALL Charleston did match the breadth of the arts featured there in smaller fashion, with dance, art, music, theater and more spread in venues, inside and outside, across the city. The kick-off FestivALL pre-event, the 2nd Gazz Gathering and FestivALL Sampler, was held on Thursday at the Scottish Rite Temple building, in a 500-seat theater downtown little known to culture vultures. Which is why Gazz and FestivALL seek to highlight it yearly with such events.

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

West Virginia State University English professor and poet Jean Anaporte was among the thousands who came out onto the University of Charleston lawn for the Wine and All That Jazz event during FestivALL Charleston on Saturday night. Paid admission earned you a complimentary real glass wineglass, which you could use to taste samples of cabernet and chardonnays and more, crafted by regional vinters.

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

David Wohl, dean of arts and humanities at W.Va. State University and co-founder of the Charleston Stage Company, was many places to be seen during FestivALL Charleston. The Stage Compnay hosted packed stagings of its 10-Minute Play Festival in the lobby of the Security Building downtown and also took part in the One-Act Play Festival at the Clay Center's Walker Theater, with a staging of "Desdemona, A Play About a Handkerchief," by Paula Vogel. Wohl is seen here entering the Thursday, June 22 Gazz Gathering & FestivALL Sampler, featuring Drew the Dramatic Fool at the historic Scottish Rite Temple building downtown.

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

OK, this is NOT your usual shot of Bob Thompson. But that is Thompson's chin up there. And this is the way cool Dizzy Gillespie shirt he wore during the Wine and All That Jazz event at FestivALL Charleston. Thompson was as busy man o' music at FestivALL, performing all three days in showcase venues, including Live on the Levee, Wine and All That Jazz and on Sunday's FestivALL-closing Mountain Stage.

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

Chris Botti and guitarist go at it in one of their many musical showdowns on stage at the Wine and All That Jazz event, Saturday night during FestivALL Charleston.

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

Jazz pop trumpet god Chris Botti heats up the stage during Wine and All That Jazz, one of the showcase concerts at FestivALL Charleston 2006. With the beautifully-lit state Capitol to the side and an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 people on the University of Charleton lawn alongside the Kanawha River, it was a memorable evening of music and regional wines. Even the internationally touring Botti remarked from the stage how notable and impressive a setting the event was.

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

Kelli Burns, who with a team of helpers spearheaded much of FestivALL's artistic happenings, stands before one of them. Brawley Walkway was transformed into a corridor of colorful fishes, hand-painted banners and streamers and messages and drawings chalked onto the walls and sidewalks.

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

One of the new features added to FestivALL Charleston this year was an oral history project modeled after the national StoryCorps, which records oral histories for National Public Radio and the Library of Congress. FestivALL director Larry Groce had the idea to do the same thing locally, and the result was "A Tale to Tell." Bob Webb, a local recording engineer (and one of the FestivALL featured local artists on the Slack Plaza stage) set up his equipment in a backroom of Taylor Books. He recorded memories and oral histories like that of this Charleston couple, Roberta Allison and her husband, along with songs. Stay tuned: the gazz.com will feature some of the recordings on our upcoming new GazzStation TV and radio webcasts.

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

The No Pants Players did not live up to their name -- in fact, they DID wear pants. But they did fly by the seat of their pants, doing improvisational routines in the style of Second City and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?," right there in the crosswalk in the middle of Capitol Street.

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

FestivALL headman Larry Groce gets some facetime with his baby daughter, Bonnie, framed by kid-created FestivALL artwork along Brawley Walkway on Saturday. Groce, host of Mountain Stage, led the way on much of the booking and organization for the citywide cultural event.

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

Mountain Stage NewSong Festival producer Gar Ragland (at left) was one of the judges at the FestivALL Round of the 2006 NewSong performing songwriters' contest. After the contest, he headed to the Wine and All That Jazz Event at the University of Charleston, chatting outside in the parking lot with former Gazette copy editor Shannon Wells, son of Del. Danny Wells, of Kanawha County.

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

Drew the Dramatic Fool looks like he knows what he's doing at the Thursday evening Gazz Gathering and FestivALL Sampler. But everything went wrong for this silent performance clown who stands firmly in the tradition of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Red Skelton. Until everywhting went right and -- like hapless humans who finally figure it out -- he managed to juggle the balls, swing the hoops and saw himself in half.

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

Artist Charly Jupiter Hamilton oversees some aspiring Jackson Pollocks as they create and craft their own artwork during Saturday events along Brawley Walkway during FestivALL Charleston.

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

It's a FestivALL Charleston still life on Saturday with two dogs and Mayor Danny Jones. According to media reports, the mayor has devoted upwards of $100,000 of his own and his family's money to ensure the event -- now in its 2nd year -- launches in style. This year, was ample evidence that FestivALL Charleston has arrived, with an array of the arts spread hither and yon across the cityscape.

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

They might look like spillwater catfish on steroids and LSD, but these carp were part of the haul brought in during FestivALL Charleston and hung out to dry along Brawley Walkway during FestivALL. Pictured (l to r): Naomi Settle, Amy Williams and Vasilia Scouras.

Click to enlarge. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno

Amy Williams snags one of the colorful carp, decorated and painted by area artists and arts groups, as she stands amid the group art project along Brawley Walkway on Saturday, during FestivALL Charleston.

Ten finalists have been picked to advance in the West Virginia Regional Round of the 2006 Mountain Stage NewSong Festival performing songwriters contest. The finalists compete live on Sunday, June 25 on the FOOTMAD Slack Plaza stage, as part of FestivALL Charleston, which is co-sponsoring the round. The top winner advances straight to the finals of the international content, held Saturday, Aug. 26, during the Mountain Stage NewSong Festival in Shepherdstown, W.Va. This year's W.Va. Regional Round NewSong finalists are:

Transcendent Third of Charles Town
Michael Wells, Switzer
Rich Allen, Cross Lanes
Nick Fry, Huntington
Kayla Lancaster, Elkview
Dave McCormick, St Albans
Jeff Taulton, Charles Town
Demdranger, Charles Town
Mark Spangler, Lewisburg
Andrew Miller, Spencer.

A separate award for "Best Charleston Song" went to Paul Epstein of Charleston for his song "Charleston."

The NewSong Contest takes "American Idol" a giant step further. While "Idol" contestants must deliver great performances of other people's songs, NewSong contenders must step up to the microphone and deliver a great performance of a song they themselves have written (or co-written). It's open to performing songwriters in all genres of music, from folk, blues and Americana, to jazz, alternative, pop and beyond.

The contest's top winners earn cash prizes and one will be selected to perform on an international broadcast of "Mountain Stage." Entries are still being accepted through Thursday, June 15 to the Advance Round of the contest. It's also possible to enter during the 'Live Round' on Aug. 26 at the NewSong Festival itself. For details, see the NewSong Contest page at the Newsongfestival.com site.

Charleston singer-songwriter Paul Epstein won this year's category for "Best Charleston Song," as part of the West Virginia Round of the 2006 Mountain Stage NewSong Festival performing songwriter contest. Here are the lyrics to his winning song, titled, well, "Charleston." Are you paying attention, Charleston Convention and Visitor's Bureau?

"CHARLESTON" by Paul Epstein
(copyright 2006)

Chorus:
Charleston, golden dome gleams
Rivers flow from mountain streams
Busy people, suits and jeans
Art and music feed our dreams

Daniel Boone lived in Kanawha County
A statesman, pioneer he didn't stay
Our valley was too settled for his taste
George Clendenin wanted it that way

Chorus

Foothills of the Appalachian chain
Barges hauling coal for industry
Statehouse makin' plans for the future
It's messy but it's our democracy

Chorus

We're not growing bigger, we're getting better
People stay because they love it here
Business comes and goes, always adapting
Charleston is a gem that has no peer

Bridge:
And theres rich folks and there’s poor folks
Blacks and whites and plenty more
Together we'll solve problems
That the future has in store

Charleston, golden dome gleams
Rivers flow from mountain streams
Busy people, suits and jeans
Art and music feed our dreams

Thus far in FestivALL blogland, we've touched on the art of music, the art of competition, the art of art and of course, the art of food. But don't think the FestivALL organizers have forgotten about the timeless art of comedy-there'll be comedy all over Charleston as well from June 23-25.

In fact the goofy antics get started on Thursday night, June 22nd, at the official FestivALL Preview Event hosted by the Gazz at the Scottish Rite Theartre on Capitol St. The evening starts with a reception and cash bar at 6 p.m. and concludes with a performance at 7 p.m. by Drew the Dramatic Fool. Drew is the kind of slapstick comedy inspired by the likes of Charlie Chaplin, the Three Stooges and ol' "Stoneface" Buster Keaton. But there's nothing stoneface about Drew the Dramatic Fool. One look at this guy, and you can tell he's suceptable to frequent pratfalls. At the preview party he'll be performing his one-man play "Help! Help! I Know This Title is Long, But Somebody's Trying to Kill Me!" in which Drew is the only member of a vaudevillian stage show left un-deceased and he, in true "show-must-go-on" fashion, avoids the same fate by picking up the slack left by his dearly departed counterparts.

Drew is also set to perform at the Taylor Books stage on Saturday, June 24 at 11 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. Ever pondered unveling your inner goofball? The Dramatic Fool himself (a.k.a. Drew Richardson) will host a clowning workshop in room 202 at the Capitol Center, 123 Summers Street at 4 p.m. that day.

The schedule has been updated on the FestivALL website so you can take a look at the full line-ups for the various stages: the FOOTMAD Stage at Slack Plaza, Blues & Jazz at Davis Park, the Capitol Market Stage, the Towncenter Mall stage and the Haddad Live on the Levee. And that's just for music.

The WV Dance Company and the Charleston Light Opera Guild will all have a presence plus the street fair, visual arts, workshops, children's activities, the list keeps going. Oh, and in case you're an out-of-towner getting overwhelmed by all these landmarks, get your map now and start planning your routes. With the right planning, you could see, hear and eat more than seems humanly possible.

We're one month away. . .better start clicking!

"I guess it's just your typical weekend in Charleston," local piano-legend Bob Thompson jokes with a hardy laugh. His understatement is in refernence to a jam-packed weekend during FestivALL, June 23-25, where he'll be as busy as ever playing out (and promoting his new CD "Hit From the Git.")

On Friday, June 23, at FestivALL, as part of the wonderful "Live on the Levy" series at the Haddad Riverfront Park, the Bob Thompson Unit will do the early evening gig as the sun goes down, a perfect tune-up for anyone off to see the Neville Brothers concert at the Clay Center that same evening. Bring an umbrella and sunscreen because the sun will be the only thing hotter than the music.

On Saturday morning of FestivALL weekend, Thompson acts as a host for the Next Generation Jazz Contest (see previous post) which will be serving up some young jazz talent at Davis Park. Then, later in the evening Thompson joins trumpeter Chris Botti as part of Wine & All That Jazz on the University of Charleston lawn.

You might notice that FestivALL is in good company on the Chris Botti touring page; His Charleston gig falls after a trip to Carnegie Hall and a performance at the Berklee College of Music and before Botti and his band head off to London, England. In other words, you either need to book a flight or secure your passport to see Botti any other place besides FestivALL.

The city-wide arts, music and cultural event comes to a rousing finale at a Mountain Stage taping at the Clay Center. With a line-up so varied, it could only Mountain Stage. Tickets are now on sale here and the lineup includes Bruce Hornsby, making his fifth appearance on the show in what's being billed as a "special extended solo performance" set. Also featured are Australian acoustic-guitar virtuso Tommy Emmanuel; Old 97's frontman Rhett Miller; the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and the Bob Thompson Unit. Besides being house-pianist for the show since 1991, a glance at the Mountain Stage Guest Artist List shows BT's name at the top of the list from the pilot episode in 1981.

There'll plenty of chances to see Bob Thompson during FestivALL, and plenty of chances to take in all the art, dance, theatre and food (the other art) you could possibly stand in one weekend.