Down On The Corner

By Paul Moffett

Perhaps it's the case that the Gospel music genre in Louisville is under-served for concerts; regardless, a new promotion firm, Narrow Gate Productions , has been announced, with the first booking to feature Sandi Patty at Okolona Christian Church on July 27. Natalie Grant is scheduled on September 29, also at Okolona Christian Church. The premium and VIP seats for Patty are already sold out. Tickets are available at attendstar.com/event/show/sandi-patty-live-in-louisville The company plans to book four shows per year

Sometimes the good news for Louisvilale musicians comes in back-handed sort of way; for example,"It Felt Like Love," an independent films currently at the Maryland Film Festival and which features a couple of tunes from SonaBLAST! Records' The Broken Spurs, got a great review in the current New Yorker magazine. (The Broken Spurs were the LMN cover story back in February 2011.) Let's hope it means an increased revenue flow for Adam Kramer and his bandmates.

Fans of Amos Hopkins should put June 14 on their calendar, which is the date the Hopkins' band The Kentucky Hellbenders will have a CD release for Straighten' The Curves, Flattin' The Hills at Uncle Slayton's. Given that Hopkins is moving to Arizona, where his wife will continue her education, the total opportunities to see him are few, so don't dilly-dally.

VinylFest, a record collectors convention devoted to vinyl records, with entertainment, movies and a celebrity panel, featuring Mark Ambrosino, co-founder and president of Sojourn Records; Mark Dunn, an award-winning licensing analyst with Sony/ATV Music publishing; Ken Kelly, an iconic album cover artist; William Stout, a former rock magazine art director and album cover artist; animator, illustrator and graphic designer Joe Busam and Blessing Offor, an R&B musician, is coming up June 14-16 at the Crowne Plaza, Louisville. It all starts with a Friday night pre-show and runs through Sunday. Full details are at VinylFest.com The Crowne Plaza is located at 830 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209. Reservations may be made by calling 800-633-8723 or at www.cplouisville.com

Bardstown's Stephen Foster Productions cranks up for its 54th season, beginning on June 8 with it's traditional musical "The Steven Foster Story," which will be presented on various days from June 8 through August 10, at My Old Kentucky Home State Park. This year, the company will also present a production of "Shrek" on various days between July 6 and August 8. Also on the schedule is the Budweiser Live in the Park Concert Series. John Michael Montgomery kicks this series off on June 17; Yesterday, a Beatles tribute, performs on July 15; the Academy of Country Music's New Female Artist of the Year Jana Kramer croons on July 29; Louisville's The Monarchs and The Devonshires perform together on August 12 and Credence Revived complete the series on August 24. Complete information, including dates and ticket prices, is available at stephenfoster.com

First there was a private festival called Poorcastle Festival, which, it turned out, was named almost the same as another, public festival, Pourcastle Festival , that was being planned by others. The private one will go on as planned and so will the public, to be held at Apocalypse Brewworks, 1612 Mellwood Avenue, on July 6. $5 gets you in. The Uncommon Houseflies Tall Squares Huh Robots The Nick Peay Band Phourist Gangly Youth Plastic Bubble Kristen Cothran and the Darkside Stereo Empire.

Jim James is still busy touring behind his solo project, but that doesn't mean planning for the next MMJ record is on hold. Speaking to Rolling Stone, James said the band is "in the process of nailing down a studio." He went to say that he's currently unsure of the musical direction of the forthcoming record, adding: "I don't know if anything's come together yet. I've got a lot of starting places, I guess you could say." The last MMJ record was released in 2011.

You've got your downtown hotel booked, right? Maybe you laid in a stash just for cab fare (if you can find one) Why the need? Simple. Forecastle Fest is extending the Kentucky Bourbon Trail into the Festival with a lineup of Bourbon offerings, featuring an expanded Bourbon Lodge, bourbon-inspired culinary experience and much more. The 2013 Bourbon Lodge will feature over 12 Kentucky Bourbon brands joining to offer over 30 Bourbon selections, including Four Roses, Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve, Old Forrester, Early Times, Willet, Old Pogue, Heaven Hill, Corsair Distillery, Wild Turkey, Town Branch and Jim Beam, among others.

Head over to forecastlefest.com for more details.

CODAS

Thom, Harold , died on May 24, following complications from a stroke. He was the leader of The Cumberlands bluegrass band. More details to follow.

Beard, James Ronald, 64, died on May 11. He as an alto sax player who was formerly with T he Dynamic Imperials.