Yep. Launch just went “next level.” Does it really surprise anyone? It shouldn’t, if you’ve followed the progression of the Launch Festival over the last couple of years, as it moved from a one day fashion, music and art shindig at the Greens Hotel on Del Paso in 2011, to a weeklong series of individual events around town, culminating in a blowout festival at Cesar Chavez Plaza in 2012. And now, this. Launch and Radio 94.7 dished up the lineup for the 2013 installment of the Launch Festival on Facebook earlier today, and it is a doozie! Those top two spots are going to get the most attention when Launch fires up on September 7 and 8, again at Cesar Chavez Plaza, with hot-charting arena

Launch 2012 presented an exciting evening full of art and music on 20th Street between J and K Streets. The front of the Midtown Art Retail Restaurant Scene (MARRS) building served as the stage for some great music. The Honey Trees, I’m Dirty Too and Doombird played and also featured a CD release and performance by Exquisite Corps. Terra Lopez of Sister Crayon was also on hand and served as DJ for the event. The first band to perform was The Honey Trees. The band is composed of musicians from Sacramento and San Luis Obispo. Becky Filip and Jacob Wick founded The Honey Trees in 2008. The current line-up includes Jacob’s brother, Aaron Wick on drums and Austin I'Anson on bass. In betw

The MARRS building in Midtown was temporarily transformed into a live music venue and architectural exhibition space for day three of the Launch 2012 music festival. Large architectural formations made from recycled cardboard beams lay spread across 20th Street between J and K streets as the crowd mingled between vendor booths and live music from Doombird, The Honey Trees, I’m Dirty Too, Exquisite Corps and DJ Terra Lopez of Sister Crayon. The pavillion was created by Jason Silva of Dreyfus & Blackford Architects in Sacramento. It can also be seen on Saturday at Ceasar Chavez Plaza for the final day of Launch, when Chromeo, DJ Shadow, Grouplove, !!!, The Joy Formidable, White Arrows and

Broadacre Coffee hosted their first live music night this past Friday night, featuring the musical talents of Exquisite Corps and Garrett Pierce, along with dj sets by Nico Turner and Sister Crayon's Terra Lopez and Dani Fernandez. Over 100 people turned out for the all ages show, making it a huge success. The next show at Broadacre will be February 24, so mark it on your calendars!

Opening night of “The Known and Travel” gallery show took place during Beatnik Studios’ Final Friday. The opening for the P.R. Brown exhibit turned out to be a family affair that showcased the talents of the Brown family. The Known and Travel exhibit also included a silent auction and wine tasting with proceeds going towards transforming the lives of orphaned and poverty-stricken children. Several projects are supported by the nonprofit organization, 2Build 4Ward International. Friday’s event highlighted a major project, the building of an orphanage in Tuxpan, Jalisco, Mexico. The UN estimates that over 10 million orphans live in Mexico and 2x4 International, operated by state workers

I’ve missed you too, Sactown! All of the letters and emails encouraging and pleading for the return of the Rundown have all been very comforting – as has my own laughter at the sheer ridiculousness of that statement. Ego-tripping aside, it’s good to be back with the "redheaded cello" version of the Rundown (wait for it…). This is definitely the time of year when we start to lament the pending end of summer and the compression of the local concert calendar. We ain’t there yet… Toad the Wet Sprocket –Parents weren’t sure if the band name was inappropriate or just plain weird when their kids started going nuts over songs like “All I Want” in the early ‘90s. Twenty years later, they still

Fresh of an exquisite performance at Launch 2011 Exquisite Corps performed at Thursday’s Hot Lunch Concert Series. Exquisite Corps braved the heat and played a wonderful set. I arrived later than I intended but arrived in time to listen to one song before they took a break. The blistering heat did not seem to have much of an effect on concert goers as Exquisite Corps was able to draw a good size crowd. The audience sat wherever there was shade and enjoyed a great show. I’ve been a fan of Exquisite Corps from the first time I heard them. The orchestral strings first drew me to them when I first saw them play last year. The cello and violins makes their sound a bit more distinctive than

A great evening was had by all who attended Launch 2011 at the Greens Hotel. Dozens of artists, vendors, musicians, architects, designers, photographers and fashionistas contributed to this grand event. Launch 2011 began at 5 o’clock on Saturday, July 23 and continued well into the early morning.  As guests entered the hotel, the pool area was used as the main entrance. DJs Mike Diamond, My Cousin Vinny and Jon Droll provided some great sounds for pool party guests. Architectural and furniture designers showcased their products and many of the hotel rooms exhibited their work. Other rooms were occupied by fashion, photography, art, music and Launch guests. Other DJs played on stage i

Launch 2011, a design, music and fashion festival, will take place at the Greens Hotel on Del Paso Boulevard on July 23, 2011. Launch is a multidisciplinary audio and visual festival. The event aims to create an experience that allows Sacramento artists to join forces in producing a creative community that works for art and the community. Launch brings together artistic individuals to Sacramento to showcase local and national works of art, music and design in one place. The event will include live music by Little Foxes, D.A.M.B., Exquisite Corps, ReSA, The Dreaded Diamond and Chain Gang of 1974, as well as many others scheduled to appear. Artists, DJs, fashion designers, architects and

Harlow’s hosted an outstanding evening of music Tuesday night with Exquisite Corps, Musical Charis and Agent Ribbons performing. Jerry Perry put on another great promotion for the many guests that attended the show. Exquisite Corps started the show; actually they did an extended sound check so those who were there got to enjoy some great pre-show music. I’ve seen Exquisite Corps play a couple of times and was intrigued the first time I saw and heard them play. I thoroughly enjoy the mix of the orchestral strings in their music. It makes them unique not only for that but for their overall sound. Their mixture of violins and the deep cello sounds gives their music a rich dramatic sound

Beatnik Studios hosted its Last Friday art showings for November. Musical guests were The Dreaded Diamond and Exquisite Corps. Art surrounded the walls on the entrance area and a fashion show took place in the Beatnik studio area in the back of the building. I got the opportunity to listen to one of Dreaded Diamond’s songs as they were ending their set when I arrived. . Exquisite Corps followed and I was able to enjoy some of their set. The last time I saw them was at the Chalk It Up event in September and enjoyed their venue. Their unique blend of a cello, violin, drums, guitar and vocals always makes it a joy to listen to. (Exquisite Corps) A charity fashion event benefiting Feeding

It wasn't your mama's "Nutcracker" at the Crest Theatre Friday evening, when Pamela Hayes Classical Ballet Theatre collaborated with a quartet of contemporary Northern California bands for "Ballet + Live Local Music," a Concerts 4 Charity-produced event designed to "showcase Sacramento's diverse arts community while raising money to keep children involved in the performing arts." Sequestered stage left on floor level, bands DoomBird, Exquisite Corps, Drifting Shapes and Sister Crayon offered a moody, rhythmic mix of indie, electronica, world music (think big, big drums)  and trance-flavored numbers that provided the inspiration for the amazing, mind-bending work by choreographer Zara Haye

 It’s a cool April evening, but inside Clubhouse 24 in downtown Sacramento the densely packed bodies of concertgoers have the mercury rising steadily. The first band of the evening causally sets up its equipment as the audience chatters. The atmosphere is relaxed, however in the corner of the venue the bartender is working at a feverish pace. As the band finishes its set-up and waits for sound check, the bartender grabs a nearby friend to pour drinks as he pushes his way toward the soundboard. As he works to balance the various instruments with the vocals and drums, he hears his interim bartender shout: “You’re out of Ice!” When asked how hard it is to set-up, promote, and run a second Sat