JACKSONVILLE Canary In The Coalmine • 10 Years Of Art Walk • Movember • Veg Fest • Jax Symphony Orchestra free monthly guide to entertainment & more | november 2013 | eujacksonville.com 2 NOVEMBER 2013 | eu jacksonville monthly contents NOVEMBER 2013 page 24 nadine turk’s cancer portraits features page 25 10 years of art walk pages 4-8 canary in the coalmine page 27 theatre events page 9 north florida acoustic fest page 27 swamp radio page 10 robbie freeman page 11 chillakaya1 music page 12 jacksonville symphony orchestra page 29 stay tuned / sound check page 13 damian lahey on the web page 30-35 music events www.eujacksonville.com life + stuff on screen page 14 family events page 36 movies page 18 eco events page 37 bettie page documentary page 18 on the river eu staff page 38 view from the couch page 25 movember publisher William C. Henley dish on the cover managing director page 16 veg fest Shelley Henley page 17 jacksonville farmers market Local band Canary and the creative director page 20 dish update Coalmine, photographed by Fran Rachel Best Henley page 22 what’s brewing: hallowivingmas Ruchalski. See pages 4 through copy editors 8 for their story & take on the Bonnie Thomas Erin Thursby art + theatre Jacksonville music scene. Kellie Abrahamson page 19 arboretum’s 5th anniversary page 23 art events music editor food editor Kellie Abrahamson Erin Thursby contributing photographers Richard Abrahamson Fran Ruchalski contributing writers Faith Bennett Morgan Henley Shannon Blankinship Dick Kerekes Jon Bosworth Heather Lovejoy Aline Clement Liza Mitchell Adelaide Corey-Disch Joanelle Mulrain Jack Diablo Nathaniel Price Katie Gile Anna Rabhan Rick Grant Richard David Smith III Regina Heffington Madeleine Wagner Published by EU Jacksonville Newspaper. P.O. Box 11959, Jacksonville, FL 32239. Copyright 2012. Repro- duction of any artwork or copy prepared by EU Jack- sonville is strictly prohibited without written consent of the publisher. We will not be responsible for errors and/ or omissions, the Publisher’s liability for error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the error. Articles for publication are welcome and may be sent to info@ entertainingu.com. We cannot assume responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. For in- formation concerning advertising phone 904-730-3003 or email [email protected]. eujacksonville.com | NOVEMBER 2013 3 CANARY IN THE COALMINE A Breath of Fresh Air to Jacksonville’s Music Landscape BY HEATHER LOVEJOY // PhotoS by FraN RUChalSKI It felt like fate, that first meeting in 2010 between Wicker had been living in Johnson City, TN, and Pounds in Jacksonville. “I kept passing Sandy,” says Pounds, who was on a sort of quarter-life, soul-searching vaca- Jessica Pounds and Sandy Wicker. “I didn’t think tion. They exchanged introductions and before long sat down to play a few songs together. They were struck by how perfectly their voices harmonized. That’s rare enough, but here’s the weird part: They it was right to deny it,” says Wicker. It’s as simple figured out that Wicker was dating a bassist from Jacksonville who had been playing with Pounds. “I had seen pictures of Jessica but never met her,” Wicker remembers. “This is such a great story,” says guitarist Arvid Smith, leaning back far in his chair. He’s prob- and as complicated as that. “We clicked in a way ably heard it a dozen times but is obviously as charmed as ever. “I thought, ‘Somehow, that can’t be the end of the story,’ ” says Pounds. Back in Jacksonville, that was unusual,” Pounds recalls. Thus began the she called Wicker and said, “Move here and let’s start a band.” The concept of Canary in the Coalmine has always been based on harmonies. That, and songs journey they call Canary in the Coalmine. with a sense of eerie hopefulness, says Pounds. They played a few gigs as a duo before trying out several drummers and bass players. Smith, The six members of the Jacksonville-based Americana group, collectively called the Canar- a respected acoustic/electric/dobro guitar and sitar player, was the first to officially join. Pounds and ies, are gathered around a table on a Sunday morning. Joining Pounds and Wicker, the singers and Wicker met him during open mic sessions at The Loft in Riverside, but they thought of him as being songwriters for the band, are guitarist Arvid Smith, a longtime fixture of the Florida folk music circuit; out of their league. “Arvid was like a little celebrity to us,” Wicker says. “We thought, ‘There’s no way fiddler Philip Pan, better known as the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra’s concertmaster; upright he would want to play with us.’ ” bassist Pete Mosely, also of the pop-punk band Inspection 12 and formerly of Yellowcard; and drum- To their amazement, he was interested in their songs and later invited Pan to sit in on a local mer Eric Bailey, who has played in heavy metal and hardcore bands. set. Pan had been playing off and on in Smith’s established folk band, Tammerlin. Pounds and Wicker They appear to be an unlikely assembly of individuals, ranging in age from 20 to 63 and in musi- reacted similarly to Pan as they did to Smith: “Oooh, wow, the concertmaster.” When Philip was late cal background from classical to metal to country. Their easy, open-armed camaraderie, though, is for the set, they thought, “He’s the concertmaster. He’s never going to want to play with us.” But then immediately apparent. The bonds that seem to tie them are curious minds, laughter and a shared love of suddenly he was behind the band, “going off like Charlie Daniels,” recalls Pounds. authentic, thoughtful folk music. Mosely joined a little over a year ago, and until recently had been doing double duty in the band, The story starts after Pounds and Wicker crossed paths several times while visiting Asheville, adding percussion by thumping his bass and stomping his feet. Now, with drummer Bailey on board, N.C. They both grew up in Northeast Florida—Pounds in Baldwin and Wicker in Macclenny—but the band’s sound is more complete. 4 NOVEMBER 2013 | eu jacksonville monthly “I’m the new guy,” Bailey comments, “but there was never any tension or awkwardness walk- ing into this.” Indeed, the feeling at the table is relaxed, fun and friendly. There’s no single personality dominating the conversation, and there is a remarkable absence of cynicism and competition. RITZ JAZZ JAMM IN ASSOCIATION WITH “Music’s not really like a choice. I have to do it, so it’s great to do it with people you feel like are STREET SCHOLAR MUSIC GROUP family,” Pounds says. In spring 2014, the group plans to release its debut album, which does not yet have a title but has already been recorded in New Orleans by producer and musician Matt Grondin at Parlor Studios. Gron- din has Northeast Florida ties, as his father was the late Jack Grondin of .38 Special and his mother is Judy Van Zant-Jenness, owner of Freebird Live and widow of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ronnie Van Zant. After the album is released, the band hopes to hit the road touring in summer. They have played PRESENTS shows regionally already, but the summer tour would be their most extensive to date. Also, within the next couple of months, look for a music video produced by the local company TigerLily Media. The group has several shows scheduled, including the North Florida Acoustic Music Festival at the Flamingo Lakes RV Resort on Nov. 9 and the Harvest Festival at the University of North Florida on NORMAN Nov. 22. Check the band’s website, www.canaryinthecoalminemusic.com, for upcoming news and more show dates. CONNORS TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR The Jacksonville Music Scene: 40 Through the Eyes of the Canaries WITH SPECIAL GUEST TOM 7 & 10 PM BROWNE Tickets: $25, VIP Tickets: $45 This travelingIncludes exhibition Meet was & made Greet possible with the by Artiststhe Exhibition researched, designed, and presented by James E. and Emily E. Clyburn Endowment for Ar- the Smithsonian’sSATURDAY, Anacostia Community Museum DECchives & History7, at South Carolina State University EVENTS DON’T MISS OUR FIRST OF THE MONTH EVENTS FIRST THURSDAY: SPOKEN WORD | 7PM | FREE FIRST FRIDAY: AMATEUR NIGHT | 7:30 PM | $6 NOV. 15 Amateur Night Semifinals | 7:30 pm | $8 NOV. 16 Sweetgrass Basket Demonstration and Workshop | 11 am- 2 pm Ann Caldwell & the Magnolia Singers in Concert 3 pm | $16, includes museum entrance prior to concert NOV. 19 Gallery Talk: ”Sapelo Island’s Hog Hammock” 10:30 am and 6 pm DEC. 6 Amateur Night FINALS | 7:30 pm | $10 DEC. 7 Jazz Jamm Norman Conners & Tom Browne | 7 & 10 pm | $25 JESSica POUNDS DEC. 14 Christmas at the Ritz concert “I think a lot of times, we take our scene for granted,” says 28-year-old Pounds. Back around 1 pm 2006, the singer/songwriter wanted to get out of Jacksonville—a sentiment not unusual among local Gullah Food Tasting and Book Signing | musicians and artists seeking larger, more welcoming audiences. As her musical direction shifted DEC. 28 Creative fabric workshop “Make and Take” | 11 am – 1 pm from alternative to Americana though, she came to appreciate northern Florida for its rural, down-to- earth side. Growing up in Baldwin, country and gospel music were what she heard the most. “Rather IN THE MUSEUM Exhibition: Word, Shout, Song: Lorenzo Dow Turner Connecting than trying to push away from that,” she says, “I started to embrace it and be more influenced by it.” Communities through Language. On Exhibit From Sept.