Fufilling dreams at the Recher
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Brian Stewart Band performs locally, plans to tour region
Tyler Waldman
Published: Sunday, M...Brian Stewart Band performs locally, plans to tour region
Tyler Waldman
Published: Sunday, March 22, 2009
Brian Stewart had been waiting for this moment on the stage of the Recher Theatre. This is one of his favorite venues.
He wouldn’t let a silly thing like a cold stop him.
“We might turn into a screamo band for tonight,” he warned the crowd of 50 people in front of the stage on March 13.
The Towson alum’s eponymous band, the Brian Stewart Band, formed last fall. Since then, the band has grown a following and has begun touring the northeast.
The 2007 graduate sings and plays guitar and piano with his brother Jason, a Towson senior, on drums and University of Maryland, College Park senior Enoch Rowe on bass.
“I started out solo and I was like, ‘I really need to expand my sound,’ so I got these guys onboard with me,” Brian said.
At Towson, Brian played occasional shows, including 2007’s Welcome Back Concert and a charity battle of the bands.
He released his first EP as a solo artist last year then got together with his brother and Rowe to complete the act.
They joke about sibling rivalries. Jason quipped that he and his brother get into fistfights onstage.
“They just get up and start doing gladiators with their instruments in the middle of rehearsals,” Rowe said. “It’s horrible.”
In reality, the conflicts are few and far between, though Jason takes the occasional opportunity to talk back.
“I only do it because I’m his little brother and I want to mess with him,” he said.
The band’s sound is jazzy and laid-back, comparable to acts like Dave Matthews Band.
Brian acknowledged the similarities but said that their influences are much more eclectic.
Brian said he enjoys thoughtful singer-songwriter acts.
Jason listens to funk, reggae and hip-hop. Rowe grew up on Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix and many jazz artists.
“I think that’s what makes us cool, that everyone has different influences,” Brian said.
Brian, a self-taught pianist and guitarist, started playing in bands in high school but went solo in college, writing his own songs.
Jason got into drums at a very early age, switching briefly to oboe. He said he didn’t enjoy it.
In high school, he met up with Rowe and they started playing “basement jams” together.
When his brother came calling, they joined the band.
Since last fall, they’ve been playing local gigs at the Recher Theatre and Baltimore’s Rams Head Live, where Jason works.
They’ve been stepping up their touring schedule, however, as they prepare to release a new EP on May 1, titled “Unravel the Romance.” The band finished recording the album in March and has shows scheduled in New York and New Jersey.
Once Jason and Rowe graduate, there will be nothing holding the band back.
“We’re really gonna hit the regional area hard,” Brian said. “We’re going to try to build our following and see how it goes from there. It’s going really well so far.”
But for now, the hardest thing he’s doing is fighting his cold.
Artscape - 29th Annual Artscape - July, 2010
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Artscape - 29th Annual Artscape - July, 2010
by Admin ~ June 10th, 2010. Filed under: Artscape, Bal...Artscape - 29th Annual Artscape - July, 2010
by Admin ~ June 10th, 2010. Filed under: Artscape, Baltimore Press Releases.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 9, 2010
THE 29TH ANNUAL ARTSCAPE TAKES PLACE ON JULY 16, 17 & 18, 2010
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts announce the return of Artscape, America’s largest free arts festival, on Friday, July 16 and Saturday, July 17 from noon-10pm and Sunday, July 18 from noon-8pm. The 29th annual festival takes place on Mount Royal Avenue and North Charles Street. The summer arts festival showcases some of the nation’s best visual and performing artists including arts and craftspeople; visual art exhibits both on and off-site; incredible live concerts on outdoor stages; a full schedule of performing arts consisting of dance, opera, theater, fashion, film, music, interactive family fun projects, and children’s entertainers; and a delicious international menu of food and beverages available throughout the site.
Performers on the Wachovia Stage include soul singer Maysa on Friday, July 16 at 6:30pm and Musiq Soulchild at 8:30pm; Cold War Kids on Saturday, July 17 at 6:30pm and blues and rock band Gov’t Mule at 8pm; reggae group Rebelution on Sunday, July 18 at 5pm and hip-hop artist Wale at 6:30pm. The Urbanite Stage at Charles and Lafayette streets hosts jazz and blues bands including Jump Street, Michael Raitzyk Trio and the Eric Kennedy Quartet. The Festival Stage features top regional performers Higher Hands, Mambo Combo and Fools & Horses. The Charm City Stage is new this year for local groups including Word Smith, Analog Anthem, Corrin Campbell & The Election and many more. The new stage is located at Mt. Royal Avenue and St. Paul Street.
The festival’s newest component is BetaScape, a three-day series of demonstrations, exhibits, workshops, and social events focused on innovative, cutting edge, and experimental technology. Visitors can stop by the BetaScape tent and gaming hall to create their own circuits, see a wide range of robots and play locally created video games. The gaming hall is located in Café Doris in The Brown Center and the tent is outside of the building at 1301 Mount Royal Avenue.
Also new is LOL@Artscape, which brings some of the region’s funniest comedians to Baltimore. The event, hosted by comedian Jason Weems, takes place Saturday, July 17 from 8-10pm at The LOF/t, located at 120 West North Avenue Baltimore.
Now in its third year, Midway returns with installations, performances, sculpture, live radio broadcasting and other forms of art and performance. The “Midway III” exhibition is located on the Charles Street Bridge. The 17th Annual Art Car and Other Wheeled Vehicle Show will be located at Charles and Preston streets next to the new Art Car Lounge, which uses refurbished car parts as fun resting area.
Dance at Artscape offers a full complement of styles, movements and approaches to dance. Graham II performs on Sunday, July 18 at 1pm at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The group brings fresh energy, passion and forward vision to the brilliant tradition of Martha Graham. In 2010, dance performances take place in the Theatre Project, 45 West Preston Street and the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral Street.
Opera and theater shows take place in the The Brown Center in Falvey Hall and the Theatre Project. Festival-goers of all ages can experience dynamic performances from American Opera Theatre, Heritage Area Arts Consortium, Opera Vivente, Poetry for the People Baltimore, Red Branch Theatre Company, Run of the Mill Theatre and more.
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra offers live music and fun activities on Saturday, July 17. Weekend highlights include the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Concert featuring rising Metropolitan Opera star Rachele Gilmore, performing a selection of operatic favorites and an instrument petting zoo at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and tours at 12pm, 12:10pm and 12:20pm.
The Artists’ Market showcases an array of crafts and fine arts from national, talented artisans. Festival-goers can browse or purchase one-of-a-kind artwork. More than 120 artists’ work display and sell glass, ceramic and wood items; drawings, paintings, sculptures, jewelry, and photography.
Fashion at Artscape has exciting local and regional fashion shows at Gordon Plaza at Mount Royal and Maryland avenues. Visitors can purchase original pieces and observe the creativity of designers during weekend-long runway shows.
Returning is Film: Maryland Film Festival Shorts at The Charles Theatre, a series of short films offered during the festival weekend. In addition, visiting filmmakers will be on hand for question and answer sessions.
Artscape’s Target Family Art Park has fun arts and crafts projects for children of all ages. Throughout the weekend, kids can enjoy hands-on and interactive workshops from learning to salsa and taekwondo to acting lessons and making ceramics. The Pearlstone Park is located across from the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.
Once again, Artscape’s third annual SOUND-OFF! competition gives regional artists and bands an opportunity to win great prizes including performing at Artscape 2010. Now through June 30, music lovers can vote online for their favorite band at www.artscape.org. The three finalists are Slimfit, Thrushes and TolumiDE. The Chick Webb Jazz Combo Competition, presented by MECU, showcases the talent of regional jazz trios, quartets and quintets. The competition, in its fourth year, takes place Saturday, July 17 from 3-6pm at the Theatre Project.
The fifth annual Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize winner will be announced on Saturday, July 10 at 7pm at The Baltimore Museum of Art, located at 10 Art Museum Drive. The Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize is a fellowship to assist visual artist or visual artist collaborators working in the Greater Baltimore region by awarding the winner with $25,000 and exposure in the art community.
Artscape is supported by corporate sponsors Charm City Hospitality, Target, Wachovia A Wells Fargo Company, 1st Step Diabetes Wellness Center / Pfizer, ZonePerfect Nutrition Bars, Sensodyne, Ocean Spray, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Maryland Lottery, Burt’s Bees and Kashi, Renewal by Andersen, University of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College of Art, Fruit 2o Essentials, Mahatma Rice, Success Rice and Minute Rice, Kraft Lunchables, Vacation Village Resorts & Affiliates, Greyhound, Visit Baltimore, Maryland Transit Administration, Cricket Wireless, Charm City Circulator, Verizon Wireless, State Farm, Municipal Employees Credit Union of Baltimore, Inc., The New York Times, Greenspring Energy and Amtrak. Grantors include ATAPCO, Baltimore County Commission on Arts & Sciences, Richard Davison, Mt. Royal Management, Marino Foundation, Maryland Community Foundation and Maryland State Arts Council. Media sponsorship provided by The Afro-American Newspapers, The Baltimore Times, City Paper, Gay Life Newspaper, Heart & Soul, Maryland Life, 92Q and Magic 95.9, Urbanite, WEAA 88.9 FM, WTMD 89.7 FM and WBAL-TV 11. Additional sponsorship is provided by in-kind supporters.
For a complete listing of information on Artscape, call 1-877-BALTIMORE or visit www.artscape.org.
