Newest articles and comments on The Sacramento Press written by Shawn Williams

Shawn Williams on "Exquisite Hot Lunch Concert "

2011-08-03T21:15:04Z

Thanks for posting this David!!! Great as usual...

BICYCLE FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO SACRAMENTO FOR MAY IS BIKE MONTH

2011-04-12T22:00:52Z

The Bicycle Film Festival (BFF), a celebration of bicycles through film, art, and music, returns to Sacramento for a second year in it’s 11-year history on May 12th–14th. Originating in New York City, the festival added California’s Capital City last year to its roster of 40 global cities, including Amsterdam, London, Milano, and Tokyo. For 2011, BFF Sacramento is expanded to include an additional night of films and activities.

Featured in Vanity Fair, The New York Times, Vogue, Dazed, TIME Magazine, MTV, and every notable international and national bicycle magazine, the BFF brings together many creative communities, including fashion, music and art as well as various bicycling communities – including fixed gear, BMX, and road cycling – over a shared passion for bike riding.

“I’m stoked we’re bringing the Bicycle Film Festival back to Sac, where we had such a huge turnout last year,” stated BFF Founder and Director Brendt Barbur. “Sacramento is a perfect city for BFF due to its love of the arts and music and rich cycling heritage. The bonus of coming back to town the same time as the Tour of California makes for an awesome weekend for bike lovers.”

The expanded three-night schedule opens Thursday night, May 12, at the New Crocker Art Museum. The epicenter for BFF Sacramento will be Fremont Park at 16th and Q Streets in Midtown Friday and Saturday (see schedule below). There is no charge for admission for the BFF and free valet bike parking is provided by Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA).

Thursday, May 12 – Crocker Art Museum

Opening Party presented by Sierra Nevada 5:00 - 7:00 p

Bike Shorts (films) 7:00 - 9:00 p

Friday, May 13 – HOT ITALIAN/Fremont Park

Savage Sprints 6:00 – 9:00 p

Feature Films 9:00 p - 10:30 p

After Party presented by Red Bull Music Academy at the Sol Collective

Saturday, May 14 – Fremont Park

Trick Competition presented by PedalHard 4:00 – 7:00 p

Music In the Park 7:00 p - 9:00 p

Feature Films 9:00 p - 10:30 p

After Party presented by HOT ITALIAN

BFF Sacramento 2011 is presented by HOT ITALIAN, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, MetroPCS, and SMUD. For more information, log on to www.bicyclefilmfestival.com

About the Bicycle Film Festival: In 2001, Brendt Barbur, Founder and Director, was compelled to start the Bicycle Film Festival after being hit by a bus while riding his bike in New York City. Instead of being deterred by this experience, it inspired him to create a festival that celebrates the bicycle through music, art, and film. 250,000 people worldwide are expected to attend this year.

Shawn Williams on "African-American art tours kick off this month"

2011-02-04T15:44:08Z

Great article! Two thumbs up...

Shawn Williams on "ZuhG Life"

2010-12-14T18:36:12Z

Nice!! The Unseen Heroes team will definitely have to get in there to check it out ASAP!! Congrats fellas!!!

Sacramento Musician Invites Listeners To Be A Part Of A Complex Experience

2009-10-06T15:39:40Z

New Single, “Too Complex”, Offers Exclusive Incentives For Downloaders

SACRAMENTO, CA – October 6, 2009 – It seems almost too simple: record a song, mix it down, post it online as a free download, and fans now have a free song from an artist to enjoy anytime. But when every artist from here to El Segundo is following the same model, things tend to get old fast. In hopes of bypassing other artists following this same broken model, TAIS says he’s decided to release his newest single, “Too Complex” with a little more complexity this time around.

“So many people are doing free downloads nowadays, and I feel like it takes away from what free music is supposed to be,” TAIS says. “It used to be a big thing if artist gave away music, but now it just seems like so many people are doing it that listeners are on free music overload.”

So how does one bring back the exciting feeling where listeners look forward to free stuff from an artist? TAIS says it is as easy as making the “experience” of downloading a song just that, “an experience”. You see, not only will TAIS have the newest single “Too Complex” available for downloaders on October 13, 2009, there will also be a bundle of other exclusive goodies for listeners to take away from the experience. Inside the download link, fans will find album artwork, a promo video for the song, exclusive live show footage, a screensaver for phones and desktops, a ringtone, and promo codes for a discount at UnitedStateonline.com.

“I want this download to be an experience that allows people to not only get free music, but also feel compensated for taking the time to listen to my music,” TAIS says. “I know how valuable peoples time is nowadays, and I wanted to be mindful of that concept.”

As if that wasn’t enough, TAIS will also be holding a “Too Complex” contest where he will give away free T-shirts and stickers to 20 select people who download the single. To enter the contest, current and new fans can visit www.taismusic.com and fill out an official entry form. TAIS will randomly pick 19 winners, and one grand-prize winner. The grand-prize winners will receive 2 free tickets to a TAIS show with behind the scene access, a free TAIS Music Crew pack with an autographed copy of the new mixtape, and an exclusive day with the TAIS Music Crew.

“This download should give listeners a glimpse of how getting free things should feel. I’ve always loved that feeling, and I want to give that back to them,” TAIS said. “I’m also excited to welcome one of my listeners to experience firsthand the care and dedication that I put into my music and my daily life.”

To download the single on October 13th, 2009, or enter the “Too Complex” contest and read complete rules, please visit www.taismusic.com

Shawn Williams on "The Sacramento Press Journalism Open starts today!"

2009-10-01T18:53:38Z

I like this!

UnitesState Boutique Celebrates Fourth Year In Business

2009-10-01T18:51:35Z

Sacramento has never been known to be a place that is “ahead of the times” in any spectrum of life. As a matter of fact, most travelers come into the city expecting to see people ringing cowbells, and tumble weeds blowing past them on desolate streets. You see, no one acknowledges the rising growth of the urban market, or the fact that Sacramento is now the home of mall conglomerates that sell the "urban" look to suburban teens. They don’t talk about the city's recent sprawl of niche specific boutiques that are only found in major cities around the world. Except if you were around four years ago nurturing the very culture to which the stores are trying to solicit.

Meet Paul and Brandy Brizuela, owners of UnitedState Boutique. Paul and Brandy established the moderate sized boutique back in 2005, with one simple goal in mind: to fill a void in the Sacramento urban culture. Although it sounds easy, getting to that point was not as glamorous. The couple built one of the last DJ/Boutiques in Sacramento that fully support local independent music and DJ culture. And they did it amongst a marriage, three children, two jobs, and monthly bills. There were no gimmicks or tricks to get customers to continue to shop at their store, nor do they have secret "selling drugs to make rent" stories lurking in the past. Paul says they have spent the last four years earning their keep, and doing it the only way they know how: hard work.

"I hear stories all the time about how some of these places got started or keep running, and it amazes me." Paul says. "It was never like that for us. I guess we did it the hard way."

And with the recent fall of vinyl record sales, their path became that much harder. Just two years ago, Paul and Brandy were looking down the barrel of a load gun when it came to numbers and meeting their sales quotas. But instead of doing what others did in the shaky economic times, they decided to do what other boutiques couldn’t: reinvent the wheel by creating a fully functioning lifestyle store in the heart of Midtown Sacramento.

"We reinvented UnitedState as a lifestyle store, and we now carry a broader spectrum of product that you can't get at any other store," Paul says. "Most stores only carry pieces of the culture, but we have designed our store to encompass it all.

Now, four years later, you can see that all the hard work that Paul and Brandy put into the store is paying off. They are celebrating their fourth year in business, and they are enjoying every moment of the growth. UnitedState has managed to accomplish what other boutiques would consider ideal in today's market. Not only are sales steadily increasing, UnitedState has managed to create an expansive brand that holds a dominant position in Fashion, Music, Arts, and Events.

So help them celebrate the fourth year in business this weekend by stopping by the shop and saying congrats!