Upcoming Live Music

By Paul Moffett

The State Fair usually sucks up nearly all the audience in August, but somebody forgot to pass the word, as there are lots of other events going on this month. While some shows will be affected by the various acts scheduled into the Fairgrounds August 20-29, promoters and club owners are betting that Louisville has enough audiences with deep enough pockets to support much more music than will be at the State Fair. We hope they're right and you can help by turning off your computers, televisions and gameboys and hitting the streets and clubs in search of your favorite performers.

If it happens that there is no national act to suit you, then go see one or more of the many, many excellent acts from right here in River City. Jes' because they're from here doesn't mean they're not up to national par. Just ask Travis Meeks, if you can catch him between touring with Metallica and recording his band's sophomore album.

Louisville City Stage (Belvedere)

• This free event, which was put together by the City of Louisville in an incredibly short time, is already under way. Every Friday night, from 5 until 11 p.m., three Louisville acts will play their original material for free on the Belvedere. The folks handling the booking pretty much found some of the best of the working bands from the area, although, of course, not all of them by any means.

Here's the line-up through September 4, when the City Stage closes down. Times for the acts are 5-6:30; 7-8:30 and 9-11 p.m.

July 31 - The Jive Rockets; The Pennies; 100 Acre Wood.

August 7 - The Java Men; El Roostars; Superface.

August 14 - The Mudcat Blues Band; L'Woo; X-troi-D-Naire and Southern Komfort.

August 21 - The Splatch; The Velcro Pygmies; Cooler.

August 28 - Crown Electric; danny flanigan & the rain chorus; Big Head.

September 4 - The Galoots; Edenstreet.

Strassenfest

Brats and Polka and bier are the staples of Strassenfest, but that's not all you can get at this festival, which will be held at the Waterfront Festival Plaza downtown, just east of the Wharf. The event will run Friday-Sunday, August 7-9, beginning at 11 a.m. on Friday and noon on Saturday and Sunday.

Besides a steady supply of various Louisville bands in the German tent, Stevie Ray's Blues Tent and the Budweiser Mainstage tent, Louisville Third Century organizers have booked some interesting national acts.

On Friday at 9:30, BTO will grace the Budweiser Mainstage with their nostalgic chainsaw rock. On Saturday, country crooner Steve Wariner will be the headliner for the WAMZ Free Country Concert and on Sunday, folk rockers the Lovin' Spoonful (sans Sebastian) will headline the WRKA Oldies Concert. Check the calendar for the many, many other acts, including Asia Kelly, the African-American country singer.

Americana/AAA

• Rick Towles of the Twice Told Coffeehouse is bring flaming red Patty Griffin and her Band to town but at Headliners, on August 11. You couldn't begin to put Griffin's fans into the TTC. You can get tickets at the TTC, though.

Tix and info: 456-0507

• Misha Feigin will be at the Twice-Told Coffeehouse on August 8, telling tales of his European tour and singing a few songs, perhaps "spontaneously."

• Does ITR give you a Bluebird thrill? Try Alan Rhody, Mickey Clark, Turley Richards and Tim Krekel at the Twice Told on August 21.

Tix and info: 456-0507

• Virginia native Katrina Landon and old friend of Bruce Hornsby is touring behind a new CD, River Voice, and will be at Barnes and Noble on August 12 for an in-store appearance and at the Rudyard on August 13 for a regular show.

Tix and info: 636-1311

• Oxford, Ohio trio Acoustica will be at O'Shea's on August 21 and 22, touring behind their Racer Records CD, Roots of the Traveler. If you like CS&N-style harmonies with a nod in the intellectual direction of Michael Hedges, this act is for you.

Tix and info: 585-5987

All Ages

• Those Initial Records guys, emboldened by the success of their Krazy•Fest event, have set up three all-ages events at Sparks, so when your kids say there's nothing to do, cool old you can say "Yes, there is." Conversely, you can tell your parents that it's okay, 'cause it's all-ages, so there's no alcohol. All shows start at 5 p.m. and the ticket is $6.

On August 2, the bill will feature Chamberlain, Elliott, Eleven-eleven and Out.

Wednesday, August 5, the line-up will be Ten Yard Fight, Ensign, Fastbreak, Eyelid and Automatic.

The last show for August, on the 27th, will feature Harvest, plus more to be announced.

Tix and info: Initial Recs: 589-1003; Sparks: 587-8566

Blues

• If you can't take three days off for the Kenlake Blues Festival -- or if you can -- dig Chicago-based bluesers The Buzz on August 7 & 8 at Stevie Ray's. The Gene Deer Band closes the night.

• Little Mike and the Tornadoes will be at Stevie Ray's on August 12. Josh Smith and the Frost will do the Wednesday thing on August 19.

Tix and info: 582-9945

Christian

• Sandi Patty and the Southeast Christian Church Worship Band will offer a free show at Cardinal Stadium on August 24.

• Kentucky native and Christian music superstar Steven Curtis Chapman will be in concert at the Southeast Christian Church on August 26. Geoff Moore will open. Tickets are $16 in advance, $18 day of show.

Tix and info: 451-5317

Country

Paid Concerts at the State Fair

• LeAnn Rimes and Bryan White kick off the paid concerts at the State Fair on August 20, in Freedom Hall. Rimes is the teenaged monster voice sensation and the young Bryan White has also been making a splash in the country market.

• Vince Gill and Patty Loveless constitute the "home folks" stars for this Fair, as Patty is from Fairdale and Vince spend some time here before hitting the big time. They'll be in Freedom Hall on August 22.

• His hunkness Tim McGraw will bring his "Everywhere" tour into Cardinal Stadium on August 28.

• On August 30, Wynonna and Sawyer Brown will close out the 1998 State Fair with a show in Freedom Hall.

Tix and info: 502-361-3100

Free Concerts at the Fair

• The Oak Ridge Boys will make their annual stop at the State Fair on August 23 in Cardinal Stadium.

• Loretta Lynn and her daughters, The Lynns, will be the twin bill in Cardinal Stadium on August 26.

• The Charlie Daniels Band and Marty Stuart will wrap up the free country shows in Cardinal Stadium on August 27.

• If leaving town for shows is your practice, check out the August 13 show at the Kentucky Theatre in Lexington, when the comic Western swing band Riders in the Sky will present their inspired lunacy and radio show.

Tix and information: 606-231-6997

Jazz

• The Fair is not the only place offering free music. There will be free jazz at the Jazz in Central Park festival on August 22 and 23. Players include Jamey Aebersold, Boogie Morton, Dick Sisto's new band Culture Shock, Ron Jones Quartet, the Flying Martinis, the Sonny Fortune Quartet, the Jack McDuff Quintet and Kamal Abdul Alim & Super Blue. Check Tim Roberts' Jazzin' column for the schedule.

• The Jazz Mandolin Project will be back at the Phoenix Hill Tavern on Tuesday, August 4. Read Tim Robert's Jazzin' column on page 9 for more details.

Tix and info: 589-4957

Musical

• Out at Iroquois Amphitheater, Music Theatre Louisville will present Rogers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! over several weekends.

Tix and info: 367-9493

Pop

• There will be a dab of pop at the State Fair this year. The Temptations kick off the free shows in Cardinal Stadium on August 20.

• Bobby Rydell, the Shangri-las and Leslie Gore might not like being classified as pop, but these days they are. They'll be at Cardinal Stadium on August 25.

• Savage Garden and Billie Myers are the acts for the preteen set at this fair, in Cardinal Stadium on August 29. Tickets are $18.50.

Tix and info: 361-3100

• Get yourself down to Freeman Lake Park in E-town on August 28 for a free show featuring the Association. Showtime is 6 p.m.

Regional Festivals

• Kenlake's 9th Hot August Blues Festival at Kenlake State Resort Park in Aurora is set for August 28-30. This terrific event attracts a cool line-up every year and this year is no exception. Scheduled for Friday night are Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers, Mike Griffin and the Unknown Blues Band, Miranda Louise, Jimmy Hall and Little Ed and the Blues Imperials. On Saturday, the line-up includes the Kelly Richey Band, Mary Ann Fisher and the 10th St. Blues Band, Delicious Blues Stew, MR2 Blue, the Hurd Brothers and Big Al and the Heavyweights. Sunday, the festival wraps it up with the Harper Band, Biersdorf & Kolbe, Crash Daddy's and Lew Jetton ad 61 South.

Tix and info: 1-800-325-0143

Rap

• Ol' Dirty Bastard will be at the Brewery on August 4. With a collaboration in the recent flick, Bulworth, ODB's foulmouthed material will no doubt draw a larger crowd. Engine opens.

Tix and info: 583-3420

Rock

• Former Government Cheese heads will be interested in the August 1 show at Headliners, when former Cheeser Tommy Womack will be there, replete with a new solo CD, Positively Na Na. The James Cole Band will open. Dan Reed will no doubt warble for the Cole band.

Tix and info: 584-8088

• If you just gotta hear Elton John's revised lyrics for "Candle in the Wind," your chance will come on August 29 at Deer Creek in Indy, when John will be in

• Journey hasn't had a hit in a bit but that doesn't stop them from touring the fair circuit. They'll be in Freedom Hall on August 21, sans Steve Perry. Tickets are $20.

Tix and info: 361-3100

• For free at the Fair, you can see a foursome on August 22, with Firehouse, Warrant, Slaughter and Quiet Riot in Cardinal Stadium.

Tix and info: 317-239-5151

• The Bodeco show originally set for July 25 at the Mercury Paw has been rescheduled for August 8 at Headliner's

Tix and info: 584-8088

• At the Toy Tiger, check out the evil Mercyful Fate on August 18. The band has hung around since 1980, spawning King Diamond and a stack of heavy metal imitators.

Tix and info: 456-1137

• You can check out Jimmy V's new band, V-Groove, at T. K.'s on August 14 and 15. We kinda missed them at the Butchertown during the Iko-Iko show . .

Tix and info: 499-5673

Former Gastr del Sol member David Grubbs at the Mercury Paw on August 16. Maybe. . .

• Big Hate will be at the Brewery on August 31. Maybe you should picket . . .

Tix and info: 583-3420

Rockabilly

• Rockabilly goddess Josie Kruezer will croon at Headliner's on August 15. the former Whistlebait leader has been compared to Gene Vincent, only she's lots prettier.

Tix and info: 584-8088