Cara Sullivan drops in to discuss her journey as a Theater Director, her role at Athens Creative Theater, and some upcoming shows including a Shakespeare in the Park production.  You can find info about upcoming shows at:

https://www.accgov.com/646/Shows

BIO: Cara Rose Sullivan is the Program Specialist (Artistic Director) for Athens Creative Theatre. Cara holds an MFA in Theatre Directing from the East 15 Acting School at the University of Essex and a BFA in Musical Theatre from Young Harris College. A lifelong theatre artist, she has been in the performing arts since the age of seven and continues to find her greatest sense of home within the theatre community. Though new to the Athens arts scene, she is thrilled to collaborate with such a passionate creative community. Her recent directing credits include Sylvia, Stonewater Rapture, Sucker Punch, Appropriate (Co-Director), and most recently One Man, Two Guvnors with Athens Creative Theatre, among others. Outside of the theatre, Cara enjoys film, reading, and spending quiet time at home with her beloved dog, Hugo. She extends heartfelt gratitude to her parents, Jackie and Charlie, whose encouragement and presence at every performance have made this journey possible.

About ACT: 

Athens Creative Theatre (ACT) has been a cornerstone of the Athens community for over 60 years, enriching lives through the power of performance and storytelling. Established in 1966 by University of Georgia Drama professor Jane Quinn, ACT began as part of UGA’s Children’s Theatre and Creative Dramatics classes. These early programs not only nurtured young talent but also provided invaluable hands-on training for graduate students pursuing master’s degrees in Children’s Theatre. Each student-director led a full production, featuring a child cast performing for young audiences—a tradition of mentorship and creativity that remains at the heart of ACT today.

Since those humble beginnings, ACT has evolved into a vital cultural and educational asset in the Athens area. After being adopted by the City of Athens’ Leisure Services Department, the theatre expanded its offerings beyond youth productions to include community and university participants. In 2004, Quinn Hall at Memorial Park was dedicated to Athens Creative Theatre and productions also take place at the beautifully restored Morton Theatre in Downtown Athens, where ACT continues to delight audiences with mainstage performances. Seasonally, ACT offers a diverse range of classes and workshops for a variety of ages. Every summer, the theatre hosts multiple theatre camps for students entering grades three through twelve, providing a fun and formative experience in the performing arts.

ACT operates as a proud unit of the Arts Division within the Athens-Clarke County Department of Leisure Services. Despite receiving administrative and technical support, ACT thrives as a largely volunteer-driven organization. Community members are invited to contribute their talents in every aspect of theatre—actors, ushers, musicians, designers, builders, designers, choreography, directing, stage management, and front-of-house operations.

The ACT team includes: Cara Rose Sullivan, Artistic Director and Program Specialist, Paige Baugher, Stage Manager and Program Leader, and Jeremy Miller, Scenic Artist.

We talk with the founder of one of Athen's most popular new festivals Hauntfest.  Learn from Roseann Harpold  how it all got started and what you can expect at this year's event!

For more information about Hauntfest please go to www.hauntfest.net.  

This week Niké and Dana join James to discuss the most popular books of 2025, our favorites, and what we are looking forward to in 2026.

This week we are joined by poet, editor and translator Gerald Maa.  Gerald talks about his origins and rise in the literary world and about his current role as editor of The Georgia Review. Enjoyed this conversation? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review to help others find the show. 

Gerald Maa began as editor and director of the Georgia Review in 2019. Since then, the Review has won, among other things, the National Magazine Awards (fiction and profile writing), the Pulitzer Prize, the Caine Prize, and the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize, reserved for debut publications. In 2010, he founded the arts anti-profit the Asian American Literary Review with Lawrence-Minh Bùi Davis, where he served as editor-in-chief until he joined the Georgia Review.

His poetry and translation have appeared in places like Poetry, Raritan, and Push Open the Window: Contemporary Poetry from China.  His essays have appeared in places like Criticism, A Sense of Regard: Essays on Poetry and Race, and The Routledge Companion for Ecopoetics.  His work has been supported by places like the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, the Library of Congress Asian Reading Room, and the Center for Writing and Translation at the University of California, Irvine.

This week we have a conversation with poet Karla Kelsey who was recently the featured poet for the UGA Diann Blakely Visiting Poet Series.  Karla was a delight to talk with and we hope you will enjoy this conversation as much as we did!

Karla Kelsey’s books of poetry books include On Certainty (Omnidawn, 2023), Blood Feather (Tupelo Press, 2020), A Conjoined Book (Omnidawn, 2014), Iteration Nets (Ahsahta, 2010), and Knowledge, Forms, the Aviary (Ahsahta, 2006) selected by Carolyn Forché for the Sawtooth Poetry Prize. Her book of experimental essays, Of Sphere, was selected by Carla Harryman for the 2016 Essay Press Prize. She is the editor of Lost Writings: Two Novels by Mina Loy, (Yale University Press in 2024). Her poet’s novel, Transcendental Factory: For Mina Loy was recently released from Winter Editions. She is the Charles B. Degenstein Professor of English and Creative Writing at Susquehanna University. 

Learn about Vtubing, Resin art and more with local artist Mothrea Immortalis.

Bio: "this bug knows some stuff or something like that"

Ixian is a one man tour de force of Post Cyber Grinding Noisey Sludge Techno Industrial Blackened doom based out of Athens, GA. His live shows consist of many machines, and masked mystique. There is an unreasonable amount of music for the amount of time the project has been active that can be found at https://ixian.bandcamp.com.

Novelist and entrepreneur Alissa Huelsman-Bell discusses her journey from Star Trek-inspired storyteller to owner of Thunderfoot Studio, a new film production facility at Wire Park in Watkinsville. Her creative path spans writing 20 published books across multiple genres to building a space where both established and emerging filmmakers can create high-quality content.

Bio:

Calm like an F-bomb*, Alissa Huelsman-Bell writes books about fierce women rockers who have a hard time keeping their clothes on, gender-swapped Norse gods who don't understand modern idioms, middle-aged hemophobic Bloodwitches, and the occasional murderer. Her aliases include Kendall Grey (ASGARD AWAKENING, HARD ROCK HARLOTS, and JUST BREATHE series) K.G. Green (ASK THE BLOOD series), Kendall Day (FALLING FOR MR. SLATER), Seven Slade (COMING OUT), and she is 1/5 of Thor Cox (GRAFFITI CITY series).

Alissa owns Thunderfoot Studio, a small but mighty virtual production studio in Watkinsville, Georgia. She lives near Athens, Georgia with her dashing geek husband, a one-eyed dachshund that thinks she's a cat, and an incorrigible yet adorable mutt whose ice-blue eyes will steal your heart and hold it for ransom. She is currently writing an independent television show that she plans to shoot at Thunderfoot.

* Detonation manual not included.

Step into the vibrant world of independent cinema as the Athens Film Festival makes its triumphant return for a second year! Founder Chuck Griffin and PR coordinator Blaire Mars take us behind the scenes of this rapidly growing celebration of film that's quickly becoming a cultural cornerstone in the Classic City.

For more information on the festival go to athensfilm.com

Bio:

Chuck Griffin - I'm a Grady Alumni (2009), and studied Telecommunication Arts (now known as "Entertainment and Media Studies"), and got my degree with a concentration in screenwriting. I worked as a script reader for various companies. Despite my main career in software development, I carried my love and appreciation of film into my later years by founding and creating ScriptMother, a screenwriting platform for writers to workshop their script and collaborate with one another. And of course starting the Athens Film Festival in 2024.

Blaire Mars - I’m a Public Relations professional with experience spanning the mental health field, ancient history, and sports reporting - each rooted in my love for storytelling, community building, and authentic connection. Currently, I serve as Screenwriting Coordinator for the UGA Industry’s Writer’s Room, where I manage workshops, writer showcases, and creative collaboration. I’m also the writer and director of the short film Lonely is the Muse, set to release this winter, and the PR Coordinator for the Athens Film Festival, where I help amplify local voices and give creatives an audience. I see film festivals as the peak celebration of storytelling and the Athens Film Festival sets the standard to meet.

Our guest today is Tara Heaton — a published author, keynote speaker, and master storyteller whose unforgettable memoir invites readers into a world few can imagine. In Life Minutes: Igniting Joy from the Fire of Heartache, Tara shares her journey as a mother navigating trauma, weaving together raw emotion, surprising humor, and heartfelt insight. Her ability to turn deeply personal experiences into universal truths leaves a lasting imprint on the
hearts and minds of readers.
Long before publishing this captivating story, Tara was on a mission-driven quest to help her daughter survive a rare seizure disorder. That journey ignited a lifelong obsession with the brain— particularly how it processes memory, emotion, behavior, and change. Drawing from years of study in neuroscience and her background as a business owner and corporate vice president, Tara founded En Pointe Communication and developed her signature platform, Talk to the Brain™.
Through workshops, keynotes, coaching, and writing, Talk to the Brain™ helps teams and individuals communicate for connection and influence. Tara teaches neuroscience-based strategies that elevate storytelling, deepen trust, and inspire action — all rooted in how the overstimulated brain best receives information in today’s noisy world. She believes that our greatest success and deepest fulfillment come from our ability to build strong, trusted relationships.
You can find Life Minutes wherever books are sold. Learn more at enpointeglobal.com, connect on Instagram @taraheatonauthor, watch her TEDx Talk Is Our Pleasure Killing Our Joy?, and subscribe to her YouTube channel.

Have you ever walked out of a movie theater feeling betrayed by what filmmakers did to your favorite book? Or discovered an incredible novel only after falling in love with its screen adaptation? Our fascinating conversation with Athens librarians Niké and Britton explores the delicate art of transforming written words into visual stories.

Britton is also one of the host for the podcast "Here Come the Sequels"; Check it out on all major podcast platforms.

Meet Caleb Zane Hewitt, the creative force behind Triangle Agency, a groundbreaking tabletop role-playing game that's redefining how we think about narrative control and power dynamics at the gaming table. In this wide-ranging conversation, Caleb shares how his unexpected journey from theater kid to professional game master to acclaimed game designer has shaped his unique creative perspective.

Caleb Zane Huett is a game designer and author of several books including TRIANGLE AGENCY, TOP ELF, BUSTER, and the IRONSWORD ACADEMY series. He is also the creative director for Haunted Table, publisher of Triangle Agency and other tabletop role-playing games.

Learn about local up and coming filmmaker Chris Pendry.  Chris Pendry is a talented multi-hyphenate artist. From acting on stage, writing new works, and making short films in the UGA Masters in Film Arts program, Chris Pendry has had a busy year making art and adding to our beautiful creative scene. Check out his latest films Chase and This Body is a Test (here are the links to watch): https://youtu.be/Ho9itJEiOiY & https://youtu.be/sPkrFz804XQ.

Kendra Collier shares her journey from horseback riding enthusiast to published children's book author. Her book "Amber's Equestrian Alphabet" began as a high school senior project but quickly became a passion project combining her love for animals with new writing skills.

• First fell in love with horses during a trail ride in Tennessee just three years ago
• Competes in show jumping and earned second place in her first competition
• Created "Amber's Equestrian Alphabet" to teach children the ABCs through horse-themed content
• Published through Kindle Direct Publishing with both print and e-book versions available on Amazon
• Designed book with rhyming text and horse jokes to keep children engaged
• Planning to study wildlife biology in college and hopes to work in animal conservation
• Dreams of owning her own farm with horses and creating personal riding trails
• Book launch event scheduled for March 29th from 11am-2pm at the Oconee Library

Visit www.aeabookseries.com for more information or email info@aeabookseries.com to connect with Kendra.

What happens when classical elegance meets modern storytelling? Join us as we sit down with the incredibly talented Eva Elarbee, whose journey from a three-year-old in ballet slippers at the Joan Mann Dance Studio to a multifaceted dancer, choreographer, and living history interpreter, is nothing short of inspiring. 

Bio : Eva Elarbee is an Athens native with a passion for vintage fashion. She grew up helping at her mom’s costume shop, and from that, developed a deep love for historic textiles. Her favorite eras include the 1890s-1910s and the 1950s. When not restoring items in her vintage collection, Eva enjoys bird watching, playing board games, and working as a dance teacher. She’s looking forward to sharing her collection with the Athens community on March 23rd during her “Getting Dressed” demonstration.

Set Lighting Technician Miles Grier share his journey into the film industry.  From essential roles and safety on set to sharing invaluable career advice, the discussion emphasizes the importance of collaboration and respect in the film industry. 

• Understanding the structure and roles in the lighting department 
• Importance of lighting for mood and visual storytelling 
• Anecdotes highlighting challenges faced on set 
• Discussion on safety procedures and risks involved 
• The journey from intern to industry expert 
• Insights into networking and growing in the film industry 
• Aspirations to become a director of photography 
• Encouragement for aspiring filmmakers and technicians to learn and be kind

Miles is a "Film Set Lighting Technician in the state of Ga."

Join us on Classic City Vibes as we welcome back Anthony Zuniga, who takes us on his journey from a church worship team to middle school band, eventually stepping into the world of theater and dance at Brightstone Productions. Despite initial doubts from his family, Anthony's breakthrough moment arrived when his father attended his performance in "Catch Me If You Can," a pivotal event that marked a turning point in his artistic journey. His story is a testament to the power of following one's dreams against all odds.

Anthony shares the challenges and triumphs of navigating the creative world, especially during the pandemic when the arts faced unprecedented hurdles. Hear about his experiences in a prestigious Broadway intensive and the innovative ways theaters kept the show going, even when stages went dark. Discover the intersection of art, culture, and community as we explore the dynamic world of the arts with Anthony Zuniga.

Bio:
Born in California to Guatemalan parents, Anthony Zuniga moved to Athens at the age of 2 and loves living in The Classic City. 

Graduating from Brevard College in 2020 with degrees in Music and Theatre, Anthony has found a path to pursue acting, singing, and writing locally and in Atlanta. His recent collaborations with UGA’s Masters in Film Arts have given him invaluable experience in assistant directing two films, The Reenactment and Whistle in the Dark and starring in two others: Tune in Next Time and Nocturne. As an actor and singer, he’s proud to say he’s played shows at The Foundry, The Classic Center, and the many famous theatres in town like Town & Gown and The Morton Theatre. He’s looking forward to performing in New York City’s renowned off-broadway cabaret, 54 Below in March of 2025.

As the event coordinator for the inaugural Athens Film Fest, he believes that the way forward is through community. His philosophy of abandoning our fight for the singular seat at “the table” and building a table for Athens where we can all eat has been at the forefront of his work, and he is excited to uplift the local artists’ voices to continue adding to the beautiful artistic tapestry of Athens, GA.

What happens when you take an alternate history Earth, sprinkle it with alien curses, and wrap it all in the creative chaos of the Old School Renaissance? Wayne and Dee from Kismet Games join us on Classic City Vibes to answer just that.

Kismet Games is the brainchild of Wayne Peacock. Together with writing partner Dee McKinney, they crafted the world of Rustwater, Kismet’s signature product. You can learn more about us and our writing process on our blog page. New releases twice a month. 

We talk books with some of ARLS's own.  Lindsay, Jen, and Niké join us to talk about the NY Times Greatest Books of the 21st Century list as well as some of the books coming out this fall.  Video Games, Cher, and much more find their way into the conversation.  Hope you enjoy.  

 This week we talk with Director Mac Escalante about his new film “Aubrey’s Understanding”.  You can catch the film at the Georgia Museum of Art on October 19th at 2pm.  

You can find Mac Escalante at:

email: escalantemac@gmail.com

Instagram: @Spongemac99

Aubrey's Understandings Instagram: @aubreysunderstandings 

The Comedy community has really taken off in the last four years and a lot of that has to do with Flying Squid Comedy which offers classes, shows, and a community for local comedians.  This week we talk with founder and comedian Kelly Petronis about his career as a comedian, the origins and evolution of Flying Squid Comedy and the local Comedy community.

Kelly Petronis is the founder of Flying Squid Comedy. A comic, improviser, and serial podcaster, Kelly is one part self-produced punk rock comedian, one part sweater-wearing linguist philosopher. He has performed for audiences of all stripes and ages with his comedy that is logic-bending, poetic, and tantalizingly dry. You can learn more about him at www.kellypetron.is and his comedy theater at www.flyingsquidcomedy.com.

This week we talk with Filmmaker Zachary Markley.  Hear about his recent project, his work on major studio films, his novels, podcast and more!  You can find more info about Zachary at https://www.zacharymarkleyofficial.com/.

Mark van Allen has been playing music his whole life and has shared the stage and studio with some of the biggest stars in music.  Known especially for his unique sound on pedal steel guitar he has had quite a remarkable career.  Mark talks with us about music, life and naturally hypnotism.  You don't want to miss this episode.

We talk this week with local Fashion Designer Tabitha Fielteau.  We hope you enjoy the conversation.

Tabitha Fielteau is a womenswear fashion designer with two unique brands. One label is Chic Riot that specializes in motorcycle gear for women with a high emphasis on fashion. Her eponymous label, Tabitha Fielteau offers custom bridal, evening, prom and everyday glam wear. When she's not creating couture pieces in her downtown Athens atelier, Tabitha enjoys riding motorcycles and going on movie dates with her husband, and most of all spending time with her beautiful family. She is on an amazing journey to mastering the art of fashion design. 

Follow her journey on Instagram: @tabithafielteau and @chicriotapparel
Or visit the website www.tabithafielteau.com
www chicriot.com

This we week we speak with Lora Hogan and Anthony Zuniga of the Athens Film Festival.  This is also our first live recorded episode with some audience questions in the mix. 
Lora and Anthony are part of the team putting on the first Athens Film Festival which will be August 15th through the 17th.   You can find out more about the Athens Film Festival at athensfilm.com.

This week we talk with musician Bryant Perez.  Bryant is a rapper but also has projects in metal and hosting duties on JOKERJOKERtv.  You can find out more about Bryant at https://bryantperezmusic.com/.

We talk with author Comfort Rexford about her new book "Arranged Marriage: The Dilemma Of An African Girl".


Born in Ghana, West Africa, Comfort Rexford embodies resilience as an entrepreneur, mother, and grandmother to two incredible children and a beautiful granddaughter. Her impressive sales achievements in Beauty, Fashion, Insurance, and Real Estate industries highlight her diverse skills. The key to her business success lies in her unwavering determination and ability to transform her life story against all odds, a testament to her enduring spirit and the lessons learned on her remarkable journey.

-

Links:

Website: https://conniecomfort.com/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@connieelove

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connielove_1/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comfort.rexford

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/comfort-rexford-07410411b/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHTM27vZlxO7_GGVGbWZVMw

This week's interview is with Jordan Cleo Argrett.  Jordan makes music, pottery, photography and more.    It was a fun conversation so check it out.

You can find out more about Jordan at:

Website: jordanargrett.com

Instagram: jordancleo.clay

Bandcamp: jordncleo.bandcamp.com

This week we talk with author, actor, and barber Barnard Simms.  

Barnard Sims, pen named: Barnard the Barber is the Award-Winning Author of: 

 THE SOUTHERN AWAKENING: 

A Black Man’s Guide to Liberating the Rural South.  

 Additionally, Barnard is USCF (United States Chess Federation) District Chess Coach and the founder of the 501(c3) Nonprofit, Reach One Chess, Inc. ROC’s mission is to inspire the next generation of thinkers, through literacy, to become authors and storytellers themselves. 

 Barnard is also an actor whose been in a Civil Rights film with the late Congressman John Lewis and was most recently in the movie Till produced by EGOT winner Whoopi Goldberg. 

·      Website: https://www.barnardthebarber.com/

·      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barnardshairsalon/

·      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barnard.sims

·      Twitter: https://twitter.com/bsimsthewayitis

·      Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn9iFSZDQRJzBWOepT3JoPg 

This week we interview game designer extraordinaire Jay Domingo who is among many thing the co-creator of the upcoming Mystic Punks Tabletop Roleplaying Game.  Check out there kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/exaltedfuneral/mystic-punks-table-top-roleplaying-game.

We kick off our new studios (you will be able to hear the sound quality difference) with an interview with Timi Conley.  The musician and visual artist who is also the founder of the Athens hallmark event The Wild Rumpus.  Check out Timi's band The Wonderland Rangers at https://wonderlandrangers.bandcamp.com/album/trouble-treasure-pt-3.  It was great talking with Timi and hope you enjoy the episode.

This episode we talk with multi-talented author Brandy Hayes Angel.  Brandy is a local Photographer, Artist, Writer and founder of a non profit, Be the Change-Brandy Angel Foundation, Inc. She is a self proclaimed poster child for ADHD and always has her hands in something new and creative. She was born and raised in Georgia and began a career as a traveling Surgical Technologist in 2000 and traveled and lived all over the US. After the birth of her two daughters she decided to return home to Georgia. Once she returned in 2012 she began focusing on her lifelong love of photography and began building a business that allowed her to work and still stay at home with her young daughters. Since then she has won many awards and her work has been featured and published all over the world. Last year she fulfilled another lifelong goal by self publishing her first book of Poetry, “Wonderings and Wanderings”. Brandy truly believes that everyone has a voice, gift and story worth sharing and by doing so they make the world a better place. She lives her life by following her passions and looks at her nuerodivercity as a super power that helps her see the world from a different perspective that should be shared and hopes she inspires more people to do the same. She believes our only limits are the ones we put on ourselves. She is currently working on her next book and has no plans of slowing down. 

You can learn more about Brandy Hayes Angel at https://www.brandyangelphotography.com/, https://www.bethechangebaf.com/ and find her book at https://amzn.to/4aXrJu6. 

This week we talk with local filmmaker Aaron Strand.  Aaron Strand is a filmmaker, actor, and podcaster based in Atlanta, GA. He graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in drama and has performed Off-Broadway as well as in films and television (NCIS:NOLA, Dynasty, American Soul, Manhunt). Aaron's journey as a writer began in 2009, developing raunchy on-stage spectacles for New York's most notorious nightclub, The Box. Since returning to Georgia in 2013, he has founded Stranded Entertainment, an independent film production company which has produced award winning short films, music videos, and commercials. He has written multiple feature-film scripts that have appeared in acclaimed screenwriting competitions such as the Austin Film Festival and the Atlanta Film Festival. In 2022, Aaron launched “Behind the Slate”, a film history podcast that explores the lives and work of cinema's greatest directors. It has quickly risen to appear in the top-10 on the American film history podcast charts.
You can learn more about Aaron at :  https://www.aaronstrand.net/home

This week we talk with composer Jacob Schoenle.  Jacob is not only a composer but also plays in three bands and teaches at UGA.  Hope you enjoy our conversation.

Jacob Schoenle is an American multi-instrumentalist, music theorist, and composer of chamber and orchestral music. His style prioritizes harmony and rhythmic groove in a way described by colleagues as witty and effective, and draws inspiration from nature, philosophy, and mathematics. His music has been performed around the globe by world-class ensembles including the Mivos Quartet, the icarus Quartet, and the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra.

You can find more about Jacob at https://www.jacobschoenle.com/.

This week we talk with Stephanie Calabrese about her new documentary feature "Unspoken", her love of photography and her other artistic ventures.  It is a great conversation.  
You can find out more about Stephanie Calabrese at
www.stephaniecalabrese.com/

Bio
Stephanie Calabrese is an acclaimed interdisciplinary artist, recognized for her exploration of the human experience and her talent for capturing transformative moments. Her debut documentary feature, "UNSPOKEN," examines racial division within a small southern town. The film garnered recognition at seven U.S. film festivals, earning multiple awards. She is the author of best-selling book "The Art of iPhoneography: A Guide to Mobile Creativity” (first and second editions), and "Lens on Life: Documenting Your World Through Photography.” These books have been translated into multiple languages and have found a global readership. Stephanie's photography and storytelling have been featured in prestigious publications including The New York Times, Time, Forbes, and LIFE. Her work extends to documentary projects for clients including UPS, The Coca-Cola Company, and CARE International. She delivered a TEDx Talk on "Building a Better World, One Picture at a Time." She resides in Monroe, Georgia.

We talk with the creator of the Zine Atomic Elbow and co-organizer of FLUKE.  Learn more about FLUKE at flukeathens.com and follow Robert on Twitter @atomic_elbow.

We kick off our new season of interviews with Sam Lipkin of Volumes Hip Hop.  Learn more about the Athens Hip Hop scene, Volumes Hip Hop, local Rap festivals and more!  


Volumes Hip Hop, founded by Sam Lipkin in January 2017, is a community-driven organization focused on media and event production. Volumes has two primary goals: capturing the history of the Athens hip hop scene in the present while providing coverage for independent artists that they can use, and helping artists of all experience levels perform on stages in front of their target audiences. Sam moved to Athens in 2011 to attend UGA, where she graduated in 2015 and decided to make the transition to Athens townie. With a passion for journalism and music, Volumes started as a monthly zine before evolving into digital-based media and hosting events of all sizes.

Zakk interviews Joey and Ben of Bleach Garden.  You don't want to miss this fascinating conversation with one of the best local bands around.  You can listen to Bleach Garden at:
https://bleachgarden94.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bleachgarden94/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/74v0EH5Gl2zsUhXXWzGJyI

This week on the podcast we talk about Beach Reads!  We have back with us Lindsay, Carley, and Jen to give their take on the concept, favorite books, suggestions, and more!   If you love books then don't miss this episode.

This week we talk with local realtor and TV host Tara Ewing about her role on the show  American Dream TV and what makes this area such a wonderful place to live, from exotic farms, to music, to painting and much more.

You can follow Tara on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/taraewing90

This week we sit down with uber talented Cassie Chantel.  Cassie is an amzing artist and is doing lots of great work in the community.  Great Conversation that I hope you enjoy.
Check out Cassie's work at:
https://www.tribehouserecords.com/cassie-chantel

Bio

Leading with the story-telling element of classic Hip Hop while being as unorthodox as today’s Rap/Pop music, Cassie Chantel is a recording artist whose body of work cannot be categorized with generic labels. The tone of her voice defies gender and sexuality stereotypes with its ambiguous depth and transcends into her image. Known for embodying both feminine and masculine energy, Chantel gives a fresh perspective to the music industry.

Named Songwriter of the Year for the Vic Chestnutt Award (2021) and Best Female Rapper for the Athens Hip Hop Awards (2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022) Chantel is already considered a legend in her hometown of Athens, Ga. Her small-town support has tumble-weeded itself into international support with more than 400k streams across all countries. 

Zakk of Classic City Vibes sat down with Pascal Cureton for a great conversation about Pascal's work with the local music scene. 

"Pascal Cureton is the current Lighting Director/Designer for the legendary 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA. In addition to his work at the 40 Watt, Cureton designs light shows for local acts. Past design clients include Feather Trade, Sacred Bull, Monsoon, Powerkompany, and the Boybutante Ball."

This week we interview DJ/Producer Ellwin of the Nightshade Family.  Learn about Ellwin's journey and his eclectic taste in music.  You can find some of Ellwin's work at https://soundcloud.com/ellwindubstep.

Today we talk with Athens comic book writer and artist James Burns.  James has been making comics for over 20 years.  Learn about how his popular Grumbles series got started and his various projects through the years.  You can find out more about James at burnscomics.com.

Today's guest is poet Gary Grossman.  Gary has a wide range of talents ranging from musician to poet to forager.  Gary shares his story and takes us through the many different creative endeavors that he has pursued.  You can find Gary's graphic novel and cookbook  at Add Drug and Neighborhood Books in ATH, and his comic at Avid Books.  You can find more information about Gary on his website https://www.garygrossman.net/.

Tyler, Alex, and Briton join us on Classic City Vibes to talk about their podcast "Here Come The Sequels".  It is great conversation you don't want to miss.  You can listen to "Here Come the Sequels" on all major podcast platforms.  

You can find out more about them at https://herecomethesequels.blogspot.com/

This week we talk with Athens R&B artist Trevon.  Don't miss it!

Trevon, a smooth and soulful R&B artist from the music-rich town of Athens, Georgia, has been singing and making music for most of his life. Trevon’s two older brothers encouraged him to begin creating music. While Trevon draws inspiration from the oldies such as Al Green and Stevie Wonder (Songs he’d listen to on car rides with his family), artists of the present such as John Legend and Miguel have impacted him as well. Trevon is probably best known for his rendition of “Arthur’s Theme” which has over 40,000 plays across platforms, but he is working hard to break out with original music. In addition to singing, Trevon writes, produces, records, and mixes most of his own music. While Trevon is both professionally and self-taught in many facets, he is always trying to learn more to make better music for himself and all those who listen. In the past year, Trevon has collaborated with talented artists such as Bokeh Heights,
SYNC.EXE, and Victoria Lagerström. He hopes to work on more collaborative projects in the future.

Links: https://ampl.ink/k3zny (Links to many different platforms where people can listen to my
music)
https://www.instagram.com/3trevon/
https://twitter.com/3trevon

This week we celebrate our 50th episode with some special guests and our favorite topic of books!  Lindsay Josey, Jenn Schumann, and Carley Stewart from ARLS come on to talk about all things books.  It is a fun episode and something we hope to do more of in future.  Hope you enjoy.

This week Zakk talks with the amazing Screamo band Clavus.  Clavus endorses the use of Screamo Money: the Intangible Currency of Passion and Ephemera.  
You can listen to Clavus at:

https://clavusga.bandcamp.com/

This week we talk with the talented Libbaloops.  Libbaloops is an electronic musician and looping artist based in Athens, Georgia. She offers fun interactive shows where audiences of all ages inspire the music and choose the sounds and instruments for each loop! Check out her Twitch channel for live improv looping every Thursday at 7 PM.  We had a blast talking with her and there is even a little live performance.

Twitch:  https://www.twitch.tv/libbaloops
Website: https://www.libbaloops.com

This week we talk with the creative minds behind the amazing JOKERJOKERtv!
JOKERJOKERtv helps our creative community thrive by creating opportunities for artists to innovate, collaborate, and connect with audiences in Athens GA and around the world.

Check out more about JOKERJOKERtv at https://jokerjokertv.com

This week we talk with Dr. Corey Flowers.  Dr. Corey Flowers is a guitarist and composer currently based in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He holds teaching positions at Agnes Scott College, Piedmont College, and with the UGA Community Music School. In addition to classical pursuits, Corey also writes and performs rock/metal music featuring a blending of styles, extended range instruments, mixed meters, virtuosic soloing, and intricate rhythms. His primary projects include the metal bands Beast Mode and Jet Engine Dragons. Additionally, he has recorded several solo instrumental EPs and most recently, a new full-length titled, I Must Not Forget This. He can also be found, mostly on YouTube, performing covers with the project Coriander.

https://linktr.ee/corey.flowers
https://www.instagram.com/corey.flowers/
https://coreyflowers.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/coreyflowersmusic
https://www.youtube.com/@corey.flowers

Projects:
https://www.facebook.com/BeastModeGa
https://www.facebook.com/jetenginedragons
https://www.facebook.com/musicbycoriander
“Let it Go (metal cover)” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibKOs6k0tAU

This week we have LindaMarie who is a crafter, cosplayer, and fursuiter who relocated to Athens, Georgia right before the 2020 quarantine. LindaMarie has been making her own costumes for seven years, and recently leveled up her sewing skills into making fursuit partials. She has a special affinity for darker magical girl anime such as Madoka Magica and shows off her Kyoko Sakura cosplay (pictured in part here) whenever she gets a chance. LindaMarie has also roped her friends, family, and partner into cosplay groups and attending furry conventions. She deeply appreciates their enthusiasm and encouragement of her hobbies, along with their willingness to act as human action figures when called upon. LindaMarie currently works in the computer lab at the Athens Clarke County Library where she spends her time helping patrons and daydreaming about her latest projects. 

Today Nicholas Bradfield of Rabbit Hole Studios joins us to discuss Rabbit Hole Studios and his journey to get where he is today.  It is a great conversation!  You can find more info about Rabbit Hole Studios at :
https://rabbitholestudios.org

Nicholas Bradfield was born and raised in Wisconsin until the age of 10 when he moved to Las Vegas with his father. After 2 years there he relocated to Athens, GA where his mother found a job working for UGA's veterinary school. He attended Athens Academy until being expelled in 2011 for the possession of cannabis. He is an alumni of Nuci's Space Camp Amped where he fell in love with the music scene and was inspired to form a band and recording studio which has evolved into the White Rabbit Collective and Rabbit Hole Studios. Nick remains an avid independent journalist and political commentator publishing thought crimes on a daily basis via his Twitter account @magicrabeye, standing up for principles and causes such as: freedom of speech, freedom of the press, bodily autonomy, the right to privacy, separation of church and State, LGBT rights, political heterodoxy/anti-extremism, natural medicines and ending the failed drug war. Some of his greatest inspirations include Noam Chomski, Chris Hedges, Dr. Cornel West, Matt Taibbi, Glenn Greenwald among others which inform his political activism as a civil libertarian with slightly socialist-leanings. 

This week we have a interview with local musician Josey.  Josey makes amazing intergalactic music with mostly instruments originating from planet Earth.  Check more of Josey at https://joseytwallace.bandcamp.com.

Interview with Tracy L. Adkins the author of "Ghosts of Athens and Beyond: History and Haunting of North Georgia".   You can find out more about Tracy and her new book at www.tracyadkins.com.  Hope you enjoy the episode!

We are excited to have the exceptionally  talented sculptor Noah James Saunders join us for a conversation.  Noah's work in wire is groundbreaking and he is one of the pioneering sculptors in the field.   After listening to the episode make sure and check out some of his work.  It is quite amazing.

https://www.instagram.com/noahjamessaunders/?hl=en

This weeks guest is the Photographer, Writer, and Filmmaker Chris Greer.  It is a great conversation that you don't want to miss!

Chris Greer is an award-winning photographer, author, college professor, and television producer. He produces and co-hosts the TV show View Finders which chronicles the adventures of two photographers in search of beautiful locations to photograph. Chris wrote and photographed the best-selling book Georgia Discovered: Exploring the Best of the Peach State and he photographed the upcoming book Naturally Georgia: From the Mountains to the Coast. His work has been featured in galleries, exhibitions, magazines, and a wide range of online media. When he isn’t taking photos or teaching classes at Georgia College, he resides in Oconee County with his wife and two young boys.

https://chrisgreerphotography.com

This week we speak with the amazing artist and illustrator Sam Watson.  Sam is an Athens born artist, and a recent graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Communication Arts. She is passionate about children’s book illustration, and on a mission to create engaging and inclusive imagery for all ages. 

Check out Sam’s work on Instagram @sam.j.watson, or on her website samwatsonillustrator.com

This week the band The Sundering Seas stops by for a talk about music, Tolkien, video games, and more.  Sundering Seas are an Atmospheric and crushing death/black/doom inspired metal from Athens, GA.    You can check them out on their bandcamp at:
https://thesunderingseas.bandcamp.com/releases
 or on their Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/thesunderingseasband

Warning this episode does contain explicit language.

This week we interview Sascha Smith of the band Maxuma.  Sascha talks about the bands newest release "What is with this Thickness" and also about their work as a sound tech at Flicker.  To find our more about Maxuma you can visit their bandcamp at https://maxuma.bandcamp.com or check them out on IG at  @firstofall.money.shock.

This week's episode features the lead singer of the Welfare Liners, Rob Keller.  
The Welfare Liners came together from the eclectic Athens, GA music scene in 2010 and combined contemporary and traditional influences to create a brand of bluegrass that has earned praise from young and old.  

You can find our more about the Welfare Liners at 
https://thewelfareliners.com/home

This week we speak with Dado and Christina of the record label Nightshade Family.  It is a great conversation and our first look at the electronic music scene in Athens.   Nightshade Family is a deep dubstep record label with an ear to the underground of sound system culture. Created by Dado in 2021 with the goal of providing guidance and support to artists, building community through sound system events, and pushing the roots of deep dubstep. They release underground music, manage artists and throw events in the Southeast.

Check them out at:
www.nightshadefamilyband.com
or
https://nightshadefamily.bandcamp.com

This weeks interview is with Ian Hemerlein of Kwazymoto, Rag Bags, and Saint Syzygy.  Ian a talented musician who also does great work as a Sound Engineer at the Glow Recording Studio.  Don't miss out on this great conversation between Zakk and Ian about the local music scene, his love of Paul Thomas Anderson, and why you are unlikely to find him at a Environmental Economics Convention anytime soon.

Get a quick run down of our first annual FanFest event.  Don't miss out!


FanFest 2022 is a celebration of Comics, Games, Music, Film, and the Arts. Join Oconee County Libraries with the support of Athens Regional Library System for this exciting free event on April 2nd, 2022 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Oconee County Civic Center. There will be food trucks, live music, gaming area, workshops, panel discussions, costume contest, Meet and Greets with authors and musicians, vendors, and much more!  Don’t miss out on this all ages event.  Schedule of events subject to change.  Highlighted events below with more to come!!

9:30 am Doors Open, Vendors Open, and Cosplay

Registration Begins

10:00 Rebecca Sunshine Band

10:00 Gaming Area Opens

10:30 Acting Workshop

11am Joey Weiser Q & A, Autographs and Meet and Greet

11:15 Razzi King

11:30 Historical Fencing

12:30 Cosplay Contest

1:30 Acting Workshop

1:30 Cosplay Panel Discussion

2:15 Sacred Bull

2:30 Getting into Film Panel Discussion

3:30 Gonzoriffic Film Showcase Auditorium

This weeks guest is Aruni Kashyap.  Aruni is the author of His Father’s Disease: Stories and the novel The House With a Thousand Stories.  Along with editing a collection of stories called How to Tell the Story of an Insurgency: Fifteen Tales from Assam, he has also translated two novels from Assamese to English, published by Zubaan Books and Penguin Random House. Winner of the Arts Lab Faculty Fellowship from the Willson Centre for the Humanities, and the Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarship for Creative Writing to the University of Edinburgh, his poetry collection, There is No Good Time for Bad News was a finalist for the Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize and Four Way Books Levis Award in Poetry. His short stories, poems, and essays have appeared in Catapult, Bitch Media, The Boston Review, Electric Literature, The Oxford Anthology of Writings from Northeast, The Kenyon Review, The New York Times, The Guardian UK, and others. He is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Georgia, Athens. He also writes in Assamese and is the author of a novel called Noikhon Etia Duroit, and three novellas. 

This week we are joined by artist Kate Windley and her son Leo.   Kate was born in the agricultural region of northeastern North Carolina. She grew up in a small coastal community located on the Pamlico Sound. For her undergraduate degree she attended two different universities: Appalachian State University and East Carolina University, where she received her B.F.A. in Painting and Drawing. Professor Windley received her M.F.A. from the University of Georgia in Painting and Drawing and has exhibited works at the International Print Center, The Anderson, and Berry College as well as working in partnership with the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation.

Her art focuses on the connections between the expressive qualities of drawing along with the repetition and use of a matrix in screen printing. She is currently making her art and raising her son, Leo, in Athens, Georgia.

This week we speak with the Deaf Condors.  Deaf Condors is a heavy rock duo made up of brothers Bob Jesus Alvarez and Darrick Alvarez.  Bob and Darrick are not only amazing musicians but also really funny guys.  Don't miss this awesome episode.  Warning this episode contains explicit language.

For more info on Deaf Condors:

https://www.facebook.com/deafcondors/

https://deafcondors.bandcamp.com

Today we talk with playwright, musician, and now gubernatorial candidate President Boddie.  Learn about his work with at risk youth and using art to make their lives better.  We also talk about his early start in music and his current quest to become Governor of Georgia.  

You can find more info about President at:
www.governorboddie2022.org/

Today's guest is Bowen Craig of Bilbo Books Publishing.   Bowen Craig and Bill Bray founded Bilbo Books in 2006. If you have a story you want to tell about your life and family that needs to be preserved and passed down through the generations, contact Bowen  through www.BilboBooks.com.

Born-and-raised Athenian Lillah Lawson doesn’t contain herself when it comes to literary genres. Dabbling in horror, southern gothic, fantasy, thrillers and historical fiction, she loves to write outside the lines, blurring different genres to explore the common threads between people. She is the author of three published works: Monarchs Under the Sassafras Tree, Dead Rockstar, and The Wolfden, with a fourth novel, So Long, Bobby, forthcoming in 2023. Find out more about her books, stories, essays and other projects on lillahlawson.com, or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @ LillahLawson. 

This episode we talk  with Joe and Markus of the record store, lifestyle brand, and concert promoter Shadebeast and Shadebeast presents.  Begun as a one-room record shop in 2017, Shadebeast has evolved into a notorious booking and promotions company, as well as the world's premier heavy metal streetwear brand for music heads that value authenticity over mainstream acceptance.

For more info on Shadebeast and Shadebeast Presents:

https://shadebeast.com

https://www.facebook.com/shadebeastpresents/

https://www.instagram.com/shadebeast/

Season 3 kicks off with Jameson Tankersley of the band Jameson Tank.

Jameson Tank is a high-energy rock band formed in the legendary music town of Athens, Georgia. The brainchild of lead singer Jameson Tankersley, he released his debut solo EP in the summer of 2019, to a overwhelmingly strong response. Following the EP’s success and growing excitement, Jameson realized he would need some top notch musicians to help him bring his music to the stage. He recruited Conner Ankerich on drums, Bryce Burnette on Lead Guitar and Javier Solozardo on Bass Guitar. Together, they officially became ‘Jameson Tank’ in 2020 and began playing shows – including a 30 date ‘Too Hot To Hold’ Tour spanning across the southeast. Consisting of an amazing energy, the band owns every corner of the stage while simultaneously playing upbeat originals and classic covers. Together, they plan to expand their grasp in  2022, one venue at a time.

The Jameson on the Rocks Podcast is a passion project created and hosted by Athens rock musician ‘Jameson Tank’. With the goal of telling fellow musicians stories, finding new perspectives and digging deeper on life – Jameson brings on weekly guests from all backgrounds of life to discuss their music, struggles, ambitions and inspirations. Founded in 2020 in Athens, Georgia.

Find out more about Jameson's band and podcast at:
The podcast Youtube Channel 
https://www.jamesontank.com

The last episode of Season 2 is a great one.  We talk with artist and musician Will Eskridge.  Learn about Will's journey and the great art he is producing today.  You can find more info about Will at:

https://www.willeskridge.com

You can find out more about his new band Fog After Dusk on Instagram  at https://www.instagram.com/fogafterdusk/

We hope you enjoyed season 2 and we will be back early 2022 with Season 3.  We have some updated equipment  for better sound, some great guests and a slightly improved format.  Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss out!

Voted in 2015 Athens, Ga Best Hip Hop Artist. BlackNerdNinja has been touring and building his buzz. He has opened for legendary acts like Third Big Star, Blackalicious, Nappy Roots, OpenMikeEagle, Kungfu Vampire, LockSmith, and Turquoise Jeep. He has also collaborated with legendary west coast artist KXNG CROOKED/Crooked.  We talk with him  about his musical journey and also his journey as a comic book creator.  Check out some of his great work at his website blacknerdninja.com and on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3zbQdjll948KwBjkQ7CI0h

Toi Mekhi is a local actor who made her debut on the movie "Remember the Titans" as a featured extra.  She has gone on to do theater, commercials and teaching.  Her latest role is in the upcoming dystopian comic adaptation of DMZ on HBO Max set to be released in early 2022.  Toi has some great advice for those interested in acting wheter it is in film, theater, or commercials.  Don't miss this fascinating conversation.  You can find out more about her acting company Star Academy and  upcoming classes and workshops by emailing her at staracademydrama@gmail.com.  We hope you enjoy the episode. 

This weeks episode of ARLS's Classic City Vibes consist of wonderful duo Sparkle Trauma.  Athens is a city in, among other places, the US state of Georgia. Sparkle/Trauma are there.
They would like you to be aware that the sound
they offer is a Style Independent Genre - or SIG Wave.
Sparkle/Trauma are, perhaps, the first to intentionally promulgate formally the SIG Wave identifier. 

Find out more about them and the music they play at:
https://sparkletrauma.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/SparkleTrauma/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwAIRlX450my1wPGhSKs2ZA

This weeks guest is singer songwriter Trisha Adams.  Trisha is a third generation musician who grew up playing with her parents and grandparents, in church, at the local pub, in living rooms and backyards and the occasional sock hop too.   Don't miss this weeks great conversation and check out some of the links to Trisha's work below!

https://trishaadamsmusic.com

https://trishaadamsmusic.bandcamp.com

This week  we are joined by local rapper Seline Haze.  Seline is a healer through music and an unapologetically carefree black woman. Since a child, Seline has always had a love for the arts. Using poetry as a coping mechanism and to heal her own depression and anxiety, her poetry evolved into music after she fell in love with the craft.

She brought with her as special guests three of her Mindvomit members: Jamee Cornelia, jimmy., and Blvcklvrd.  It was a great conversation.  Warning this episode contains explicit language.

For more info on Seline go to https://www.selinehaze.com/

You can follow mindvomit on Instagram at @Mind Vomitatl 

Seline https://selinehaze.bandcamp.com/album/haze
 Jimmy.  https://z6jimmy.bandcamp.com/
Jamee  Cornelia  https://jameecornelia.bandcamp.com/
Blvcklvrd: https://soundcloud.com/lvrdknows/tracks

This week we are joined by author Josina Guess.  Josina writes about faith, race, family, violence, activism, and home rooted in the rural and urban landscapes of her life and memory.

You can find out more about Josina as well as find links to some of her writing at https://www.josinaguess.com/.   She is also on twitter @josinaguess and you can an see about her farm life on Instagram @stillrisefarm. 

We are joined by the Hip Hop Ambassador of Athens, Montu Miller.  Montu runs ATHfactor-Liberty Entertainment, is on the board of the non-profit Chess and Community, puts out the Classic City Wax series, and much more!  There is no one better to learn about the exploding Hip Hop scene than Montu.  

https://www.facebook.com/athfactor/

Shane Parish devotes much of his time to developing his singular and expressive voice on the guitar. A self-taught musician, he communicates through emotion, unexpected melodicism, technical whimsy, a nuanced sense of form, and rich timbral variety. He is known for his work fronting the electric band Ahleuchatistas, as well as for his uniquely beautiful finger-style acoustic guitar work.

https://shaneparish.bandcamp.com/

Xeke Zayer of Gypsy Farm Collection and of the band "The Humms" joins us to talk about his work with "The Humms" and the evolution of Gypsy Farm.  You can find more info about Gypsy Farm at:
https://gypsyfarm.net/

The Humms at:
https://gypsyfarmrecords.bandcamp.com/music

This week we sit down with Musician and local Activist Beto Cacao.  You won't want to miss this one.
Beto Cacao is an artist, organizer and activist who has been performing in Athens, GA for over 20 years. His album Undocorridos and his collaboration whit Killick Hinds The Art that gives us strength to face tyrant. In Oct 2020 release it's new album Voces en Pandemia, a collection of 5songwriters, telling the stories of the migrant families lives during the pandemic and their own perspective

https://betocacao.bandcamp.com/community

DQ Nguyen Bio

Born in 1975 , at the end of the Vietnam war is where my journey began.  Attending Virginia Commonwealth University and majoring in painting and printmaking I graduating with a BFA. This is where academically I fully studied the evolving history of art, At an early age I started copying comic book characters and began learning about compositions, color, figurative, space.  From this point on I began studying more about different artist and began painting .  What I mostly strive to do is to constantly push the boundaries and explore where my paintings can develop. When I predetermine my subject matters I try to universally keep them relevant to today's culture. Even when I paint purely abstract my goal is to pushes for new ground and discovery as art evolves and rebirths.  

For more info on DQ check out his website at https://dqnguyenart.com/

Annie Leeth is a producer and violinist based in Atlanta, Georgia. She left Richmond,  Virginia to pursue an undergraduate degree in music at the University of Georgia, and found  herself in the world of composition, production, and technology. In 2018, she began working at  Chase Park Transduction as a session violinist and producer, as well as at the Georgia Theatre as  a monitor engineer. Now working as the house engineer at Maze Studios in Atlanta under Ben  Allen, she continues to self-produce her own projects and participates as a session violinist to  artists in both Athens and Atlanta.

https://www.annieleeth.com/

Benjamin Simpson is a talented musician who has released solo projects as well as projects with his band Mother Fore which is a Progressive rock band based in Athens, GA .  You can find more info about Benjamin and Mother Fore at https://themusicofbenjaminsimpson.com .  Their new album is almost out and lots of new shows lined up so make sure to check them out!

The Stumpknockers are a group of local weirdos who play a blues-folk-rock mishmash of fun. They began as a group of friends who met weekly for jam sessions, and they stumbled into becoming an actual band when people started asking them to play at events. They play a mix of originals and traditional Americana and Blues. Several members are formerly of Crash Jam and all are also members of Rebecca Sunshine Band.

Rebecca Sunshine Band plays fun, interactive music that will get everyone singing and dancing! Kids get to sing and play along with family friendly new tunes and old favorites; the band brings instruments for everyone to play. Rebecca Sunshine Band formed from a group of friends who love getting together for a weekly jam session in Rebecca's living room. The band loves playing music of all kinds, but kids are the most fun audience of all!

Members: Rebecca Ballard: vocals, ukulele, penny whistle, melodica; Kris Irwin: bass; Roy Kennedy: guitar, vocals; Jay Shelton: ukulele, mandolin, banjo; Wade Newbury: percussion, vocals

Upcoming Shows:

Athfest - Sept 25

North Georgia Folk Festival - Oct 9

Athens Porchfest - Oct 10

Athens PRIDE - Nov 14

https://www.facebook.com/stumpknockersband

http://www.rebeccasunshineband.com/

https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaSunshineBand/

Vision Video is a Goth-pop band from Athens, Georgia.  We talk with Dusty  the guitarist, singer, and founding member of Vision Video.  It was a great conversation about music, mental health, veteran care, movies, being weird in Athens and so much more.  

You can find more about Vision Video at their website https://visionvideoband.com/
Make sure to check out the tour calendar as they get ready to hit the road this fall.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4svQNinzRKM2BbuPjVXRJF

We were floored to speak with Kat English, actress, director, roller derby skater, and lover of Vincent Price. Kat shares what it's like to work with Gonzoriffic, fills us in on the Athens independent film scene, and offers some Vincent Price trivia.

Kxng Blanco  visited us at the library and shared the details of his recently dropped album, LvrBoy 2 and how his music has grown since he first started recording at age 16. There is a very secret special guest as well. You'll have to tune in to find out!

Check out Kxng Blanco's latest album LvrBoy 2 on Spotify or wherever you stream your music.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6cAzM5zF6cy5ayXqqmPlGg

Liza Stepanova Praised by The New York Times for her “thoughtful musicality” and “fleet-fingered panache,” Liza Stepanova has performed at the Berlin Philharmonie, the Weill and Zankel recital halls at Carnegie Hall; Alice Tully, Merkin, David Geffen, and Steinway halls in New York City and at the Kennedy Center.   She joins us this week to talk about her musical journey and her latest album "E PLURIBUS UNUM".

Episode 5:  This week we talk with Broderick Flanigan of Flanigan's Portrait Studio about his oil and acrylic paintings on display in the library, his roots growing up in Athens, Georgia, and community activism. 

This week we talk with Andrew Shearer of Gonzoriffic about Punk music, why we live in a great region for film, and how women are celebrated through Gonzoriffic films. 

Episode 3: This week we talk with DJ Mike and Razzi King of Echobass Records about how they manage to release an album a month, their musical influences, and how our region can support a live reggae scene. 

La Ruchala Murphy is a mixed media artist and the current director of the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF).  We talk with her about her use of rescued materials (some dumpster diving may or may not be involved), the show she recently curated at the Lyndon House #NotASterotype, and also her work with OCAF.

Join us for a conversation with Sacred Bull.  Learn about their origins on Craigslist,  their favorite Carly Rae Jepsen song, and what in the world is post-reading.  Plus lots of talk about music!  

Sacred Bull is a Post-Metal band from Athens, GA. Known for their rowdy live shows and dynamic compositions, Sacred Bull is a heavy and dark combination of meditative melodies and deliberate cacophony.

 www.sacredbullband.com

https://sacredbull.bandcamp.com