THE BAY AREA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2020 | P5 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTOBERFEST Award-winning quintet to Invites Artists To Participate share sounds of Ireland In 23rd Annual Artoberfest at Bayou Theater Set For October 17-18, 2020 In Historic Downtown Galveston Island, Texas

HOUSTON, TX - It’s not easy to pro- World Academy at the University of Lim- GALVESTON - ARToberFEST Galveston Metal, Mixed Media, Painting (Acrylic, Oil, nounce “Goitse” but the award-winning erick, where they were all students. “One - the Island’s premier juried fine arts Festi- Watercolor), Photography (digital and tradi- quintet from Ireland, recently named Live day in the first year, Aine was asked to put val – is inviting artists from throughout the tional film), Printmaking (intaglio, relief and Ireland’s Traditional Group of the Year, is a small group together for a charity event, United States as well as from the Houston/ planographic), Wood, Sculpture (made from certainly easy to listen to. They’ll be shar- and we really liked the vibe playing togeth- Galveston Gulf Coast region, to participate any medium), and other. ing their distinctive sounds, combined with er. So we decided to make a band,” he said. as exhibitors in the upcoming 23rd Annual Application deadline is midnight, Friday, the traditional tunes of Ireland, at University “But for me, ever since I got over the half- ARToberFEST event – set for Saturday, May 1, 2020. Jury occurs the week of May of Houston-Clear Lake’s Bayou Theater on astronaut, half-secret agent stage, I thought October 17 from 10am-6pm; and Sunday, 4, 2020. Acceptance notification – May 11, Wednesday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m. I would be a teacher. When it came time to October 18, from 11am-5pm – on Postoffice 2020. Accepted artists fee deadline – June The audience will experience five musi- choose my college, I decided that teaching Street, between 21st and 23rd Streets. This 30, 2020. Only one application per artist ac- cians playing instruments they might not could wait and I wanted to spend more time popular Festival will again transform the cepted. be familiar with, such as the bodhran, the pursuing music, so in my late teens, I de- city’s historic downtown Cultural Arts Dis- For application, information, booth fees, bouzouki and the oud, as well as the more cided this would be my profession.” trict into an open-air gallery bursting with available booth sizes, sales tax information familiar fiddle, guitar and banjo. Goitse has released four critically-ac- color, charm and culture. Deadline to submit and Texas Sales Tax Permit requirements, Goitse (pronounced “Go-witch-ee”) pia- claimed recordings and maintains a year- an application is midnight, Friday, May 1, as well as all the special amenities offered nist Tadgh Ó Meachair explained the name, round recording schedule that includes 2020. to enhance your participation, please visit which means “come here” in Gaelic, was performances throughout Ireland and the With past attendance between 6,000-9,000, http://bit.ly/ARToberFEST2020. For addi- chosen for the group almost as a joke. “I’m United Kingdom, Germany, France and the fine arts exhibitors can look forward to at- tional information, contact Festival Director, one of two Gaelic speakers in the group,” U.S. tendees who are eager to view - and purchase Sarah Piel at 409.770.5066, 800.821.1894, Ó Meachair said. “One day, early on in col- “I hope the audience comes away having - fine art and crafts. A relaxed ambiance on or via email at [email protected]. lege, the lads heard (the group’s vocalist and had a great time,” said Ó Meachair. “We’re the Festival grounds – combined with the ARToberFEST is presented by The Grand fiddler) Aine McGeeney call after me, say- looking forward to a fun night ourselves, Island’s reputation for gracious hospitality, 1894 Opera House – celebrating its 125th ing ‘Goitse!’ They’d never heard the word and we’ll do our best to share some songs, should only enhance your participation in Anniversary this year. Listed on the National before and found it hilarious, and it just sort stories, jokes and energetic music with ev- and enjoyment of this popular Festival. Register of Historic Places, The Grand 1894 of stuck. We like it because it points to our eryone, along with a little taste of Ireland.” All artwork must be original art created Opera House is located at 2020 Postoffice Irish roots and spreads awareness of the For more information or to purchase tickets by the artist applying. Mediums accepted Street in Galveston’s historic downtown Irish language.” to an event at the Bayou Theater, visit www. include Ceramics, Digital, Drawing, Fiber/ Cultural Arts District, and recognized as The five-member group met at the Irish uhcl.edu/bayoutheater. Textiles, Functional Art (includes furni- “The Official Opera House of the State of ture/wearable art), Glass, Jewelry, Leather, Texas.” All major credit cards accepted. Ragtime orchestra combines Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee music, silent film at UHCL Steve Dorff to perform hits at UHC

HOUSTON, TX - Steve Dorff is one of the each of these songs has its own journey,” he most popular guys you’ve never met. You said. “I wrote ‘I Cross My Heart’ over eight HOUSTON, TX - Named for iconic Texas- “We’ll be screening the movies and perform- already know him, you just don’t realize it. years before George Strait recorded it for born ragtime composer Scott Joplin’s 1901 ing the live score at the same time,” Greene Dorff, a 2018 inductee in the Songwriters that movie. Bette Midler recorded it previ- composition, “The Peacherine Rag,” the continued. “We’ll also have the sound ef- Hall of Fame, will be putting a face to the ously. But when I wrote it, I had Boyz II Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra will fects of the film coming from our drummer, music you have been humming along with Men in mind. I played that song for every- transport the audience back to the era of si- who will be looking up at the screen from for decades at the Bayou Theater at Univer- one I knew and they all passed on it.” lent movies and syncopated rhythms at the the pit and reacting when Buster does some- sity of Houston-Clear Lake on March 22 at Even Strait had at first said the song had Bayou Theater on March 8 at 5 p.m. thing funny. We encourage booing and hiss- 2 p.m. too many chords and it didn’t sound like a “This year marks Peacherine’s 10th anni- ing at villains, cheering on the good guys, “Everyone knows my songs,” said Dorff. song he’d sing, but he recorded it. “Now it’s versary and we’re doing a special focus on and laughing when it’s funny.” “This concert is the story behind my new a standard,” he said. “What makes a hit is silent film star Buster Keaton,” said Andrew Greene said he began playing ragtime mu- book, entitled ‘I Wrote That One Too…A that marriage between the right song and the Greene, the Orchestra’s director and founder. sic almost as an accident, when he was 11 Life in Songwriting from Willie to Whitney.’ right voice. That’s what made it a big hit.” “We will show two of his short films—‘The years old. “My piano teacher was noticing I I am Oz behind the curtain, and I’ve been He said that when people hear a hit song Haunted House,’ from 1921, and ‘Cops,’ was getting bored and frustrated with Bach writing the soundtrack of people’s lives for that they love on the radio, they assume it’s from 1922, set to our historic orchestral and Chopin and all the classical composers, years.” a brand-new song just because it’s the first scores. And we are marking our anniversary so she said that if I could just get through Even though he’s not the face of such time they’ve ever heard it. “People don’t and the centennial of Buster Keaton’s com- this Chopin etude, she would let me play hits as “Through the Years,” made famous know it takes years between the time a song edy shorts as a solo actor by going back to the ‘Maple Leaf Rag,’ by Scott Joplin,” he by Kenny Rogers, or “I Cross My Heart,” is born till it’s on the radio,” he said. “Sev- some of our favorite venues, which includes said. “It was so much fun, it latched on to performed by George Strait—among many eral artists passed on ‘Through the Years’ be- University of Houston-Clear Lake.” me and I never let go. One of my missions more, Dorff said this concert tour is his fore Kenny Rogers recorded it. And ‘I Just ‘Cops,’ said Greene, is known as the quint- while performing is to show the audience chance to let the audience put it all together. Fall in Love Again,’ which was one of Anne essential chase film by silent film enthusiasts. how much fun it is and what a crucial role “People are really surprised to know all that Murray’s biggest hits in 1979, was passed on “We are a direct recreation of an ensemble it’s had in music we know today.” I have written,” he said. “My career is all by Karen Carpenter and Dusty Springfield. that would have existed a century ago,” he These days, Greene said, Peacherine is about diversity. I have composed TV show They didn’t want to put it out as a single, so said. “We now have 15,000 pieces of music working on modern tunes as ragtime covers. themes, film scores, and hit records in pop, Anne did, and it became a monster hit.” in our library from the 1880s to the 1920s. “We’ve done the Bee Gees ‘Stayin’ Alive’ country and other genres. I think this is what But, said Dorff, there’s a reason why he’s Our concert experience is a total immersion and A-ha’s ‘Take On Me,’ and they’re really got me into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.” not the front man for his music. “When you into the 1920s, with me acting as the emcee.” fun,” he said. “We’re showing our audience Dorff’s dossier also includes three Grammy hear me sing one or two of my songs, you’ll Peacherine will play music composed by what it sounded like 100 years ago, and then nominations, six Emmy nominations, nine know why I’m a composer, not a singer,” Texas natives including Joplin, as well as show them that whatever we’re listening to number one film songs, 15 Top 10 hits, and he said. “I was never about performing. I Euday Bowman, composer of the classic today has its roots in ragtime.” 11 Billboard Number One awards. Over 250 was always about arranging, producing, “Twelfth Street Rag,” known as a classic For tickets or more information about artists from all genres have covered his com- and working behind the scenes. I loved the honky-tonk piano song, along with some events at the Bayou Theater, visit www. positions. anonymity. But with the book, I have been other surprises. uhcl.edu/bayou-theater He added that he will perform a number coaxed into coming out and becoming the of “little gems” that weren’t necessarily big face of my songs.” hits, but people still remember. “I’ll play a Dorff said he hoped the concert and the song from a TV show and people will react,” book were both a trip down memory lane he said. “Most people know me for the big for the audience. “I do some new songs that hits from the films and the pop and country I hope are hits waiting to happen,” he said. charts, but the big surprise here is that I’m “For the most part, I play songs that people SUBSCIBE ONLINE AT the guy with the crazy hair and glasses and have heard and will remember where they I’m saying I wrote these things.” were in their lives, and they know what cer- Dorff said that one of the most fun stories he tain songs mean to them. This evening will www.BayAreaObserver.com tells in his book and at his concerts is about be a combination of all that.” “I Cross My Heart,” from the movie, “Pure For tickets or more information about the Country.” The song was released in 2004 Bayou Theater, visit www.uhcl.edu/bayou- by George Strait. “People don’t realize that theater.