Performer Audition and Booth Registration for APA Heritage Fest

Alfa performs at the APA Heritage Festival

As many of you know, I have the privilege of handling performance programming for the CAPA Heritage Festival this year.  We recently sent out our open call for performer auditions and booth registration.  See below for details!

Dear Friends,

We are happy to announce open booth & performance registrations for the 31st Asian/Pacific American Heritage Festival.

We are hosting the day-long celebration in Union Square on Sunday, May 2rd, 2010, from 12pm to 6pm. (Tell your friends!)

We are currently seeking submissions for:

1. Dance performances & musical performers.
2. Booths for community groups & businesses to present at the festival

Our event has a history of media coverage including the NY Times, Newsday, Village Voice, TimeOut magazine, NY1 News, and many ethnic papers.

To submit registration for booths or auditions for performances, please visit our registration site.

Please send any questions to performances@capaonline.org or director@capaonline.org, respectively.

Deadlines:
Performances Submissions: Friday, February 15, 2010
Early Bird Booth Rates:  Monday, March 1, 2010

Lastly, we are a 100% volunteer-based community event and are always looking for new teammates, especially valuable are those with technical skills (ie. sound systems, online media, etc).

Thank you,
Eugene Song
Director of Entertainment

Stephen Chen
Booths Coordinator

Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans
www.capaonline.org

John Balicanta releases new EP on iTunes

John Balicanta

New York – For anyone who has ever sweated, cried, laughed and/or screamed at a Lola Ray concert, you’ll be happy to know that the former band’s intrepid frontman John Balicanta has spun himself into a whole other universe entirely. And in this new universe, it is not dark and cold, but warm, vibrant, and hella cool.

Balicanta, a Filipino-American artist based in Los Angeles, announced on February 1 that he released a new all-instrumental EP on iTunes, a musical score that he has just composed for playwrite Jonathan Goldberg’s new play “Luck of the Ibis”, for which the EP is named.

While Lola Ray is on an indefinite hiatus (yes, as a hardcore Lola Ray fan, my heart can only deal with saying “hiatus” for the time being), Balicanta seems to be leaping and bounding over all sorts of things to bring to life new creations that are simply…in one word…stunning.

“Luck of the Ibis” is a 3-track EP that outlines Balicanta’s first attempt at producing an original musical score. But for a first attempt, this EP is a sumptuous feast for the ears. Deeply rich in depth and magnitude, the music shows how Balicanta adeptly steps outside the realm of shredding guitars, lyrical angst, and that rock god persona to achieve a higher plane of epic countenance.

I have been saying to myself that work such as this belongs not just to the theater stage, but on the big silver screen of movies. Hollywood, are you listening to this!?!?

This EP gives us just a small inkling of what Balicanta is capable of as his ability and songwriting/music-writing process matures. I daresay, Lola Ray fans the world around, our beloved John is alive and kicking. And here is the proof.

To purchase the $2.97 EP please visit iTunes.

To preview a track, Underwater Dance, from the EP please visit Balicanta’s myspace page.

Review by Feliza Mirasol

Simply Richard: Versus frontman plays rare solo gig

New York — I won’t say that I’m old, but really–I have slowed down a bit. For one thing, I rarely go out mid-week anymore for a gig, let alone for a reading and music showcase. And on any given evening in the dead of winter, the call of my comfy, warm bed has grown more enticing than any night-time jaunt.

But about two weeks ago, word filtered through the grapevine (aka, Facebook) that Richard Baluyut was playing a rare solo set.

Yes, THE Richard Baluyut, frontman of longtime indie rock legend Versus.

Alfa @ The Sidewalk Cafe

A few weeks ago, I attended Alfa’s CD release show for her latest album, Second Skin.  The back room of the Sidewalk Cafe is an intimate space (with a freezing draft) that was well suited for Alfa’s set, even with her full band in tow.

After a quick line check, the band launched straight into “Don’t Write Your Goodbyes,” a mid-tempo jaunty tune.  Dave Dodds (drums) and Jon McElroy (bass) held down a solid rhythm to support Alfa’s vocals and guitar.  Backing vocals from Laura Dadap helped give the show an upbeat energy and personality.  Also joining the group for a few numbers was Alfa’s sister Faye.  Called up onto stage by a sisterly, “Hey, poopface!”, Faye lent her skills as a pianist for the performance of the new album’s title track.

John Park: We’re rooting for you!

I don’t really watch American Idol.  But there’s a guy named John Park who sounds phenomental.  Check out his audition here:

I suppose it’s a little weird that everyone keeps commenting on how “surprised” they are at his voice.  I guess William Hung’s legacy still haunts the American Idol audition rooms… But aside from that (and Shania’s obsession with his “bottom end” and his “lips”), the man can sing.

John Park, you’ve got my vote.

-e