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Black Rock Center For The Arts

Thursday, May 23, 2013

BlackRock Announces Summer Concert Series Lineup

BG and the Mojo Hands open the series July 6.

Saturday night is free concert night this summer in Germantown. BlackRock Center for the Arts recently unveiled the lineup for this year’ summer concert series, which begins July 6 with BG and the Mojo Hands, a Washington, DC-based blues band. The shows are 7 p.m. every Saturday on the lawn of the arts venue on Town Commons Drive. Bring your own chairs, blankets and picnics—but keep the wine at home. Here’s the schedule:  

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Arts Brief: VF Dance Makes BlackRock Debut

Maryland-based dance company will perform “Fast Forward”

Maryland-based VF Dance Theater will make its BlackRock debut with a piece called “Fast Forward.” The emerging professional company performs on May 4 and 5. “Fast Forward” explores technology, social media and the abundance of data and how all of that effects human interaction. --- If you go …. Who: VF Dance Theater Where:  BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown. When: 8 p.m. Saturday, May 4; 3 p.m. Sunday, May 5. Cost: $25 Saturday; $23 Sunday. Purchase at the box office: 240 -912-1058 or online at www.blackrockcenter.org.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Blues Hall of Famer is Coming to Germantown

John Hammond will lead free guitar workshop ahead of BlackRock show

If it weren’t enough for blues fans that Blues Hall of Famer John Hammond will be performing at BlackRock next month, Germantown music lovers can get a free guitar lesson from Hammond, the bluesman who had a hand in getting Jimi Hendrix discovered.    Hammond is booked for a show on April 18, part of the art venue’s monthly series of Thursday night shows. Hammond will teach a free workshop on guitar playing at 5:30.  All students of guitar and lovers of guitar music are invited and welcome to either take part or observe, BlackRock announced on Wednesday. Hammond is a Grammy Award winner whose career has included collaborations with Jimi Hendrix—discovered while playing in Hammond’s band—Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Duane …

Monday, February 4, 2013

Germantown: Where Charm City Meets the Big Easy

Baltimore-bred Crawdadies will offer Germantown a taste of Mardi Gras at BlackRock Saturday.

Baltimore-based Crawdaddies will bring their Cajun-tinged tunes to BlackRock on Saturday The five-piece band—whose lineup includes 2008 Emmy-award recipient Kraig Greff, a pianist and accordian player—is set to perform at the arts venue on Saturday. The Crawdaddies draw influence from Louisiana’s Cajun sound, with hints of roots rock and Americana. Or as BlackRock describes them: “Consummate headliners, the eclectic, good-time spirit of their set has allowed The Crawdaddies to share the stage with a wide range of artists including Etta James, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Trombone Shorty, Dr. John, Charlie Daniels, Last Train Home, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Cliff, Joan Jett, The Spinners, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Terrance Simien, G. E. Smith, …

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

BlackRock: No More Seats Left for Seldom Scene Show, But ...

"Newgrass" pioneers perform at BlackRock on Saturday, Jan. 26. Ticketed seats sold out; standing-room tickets available.

For decades The Seldom Scene performed for to sold-out crowds Thursday nights at The Birchmere, pioneering what was dubbed “newgrass.” Well, the tradition continues at BlackRock Center for the Arts. There are no more seats available for the band's concert Saturday—BlackRock spokeswoman Laurie Levy-Page said the tickets sold about two weeks ago. But if you're ticket-less and still hoping to see The Scene in Germantown on Saturday, there's still hope. The venue will offer half-price tickets for those willing to stand. Levy-Page said it's not a bad offer. "There's not really a bad seat in the house," Levy-Page said. "So there's really no bad place to stand." The show comes as fans mourn the loss of founding member Mike Auldridge, who died Dec…

Leggett Hosts Budget Forum at BlackRock Thursday

County Executive Isiah Leggett is expected to outline budget priorities for 2014

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett will discuss budget priorties for 2014 during public budget forum at BlackRock Center for the Arts on Thursday. The forum is the second of five throughout the county, aimed at soliciting public imput. Leggett will formally announce the operating budget on March 15. The County Council will approve the operating budget at the end of May.  Additonal budget forums are scheduled for: • Jan. 28, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Service Center, 4805 Edgemoor La., Bethesda • Jan. 29, Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring • Feb. 4, Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Rd., Silver Spring --- If you go What: Budget Forum, hosted by Montgomery County Executive …

Council VP Rice Hosts Public Meeting in Germantown

Councilman Craig Rice, D-Dist. 2, will meet residents at BlackRock Center for the Arts on Monday, Jan. 28.

Montgomery County Council Vice President Craig Rice plans to host a public meeting with Germantown residents Monday at BlackRock Center for the Arts. Rice represents council district 2, which includes much of the Upcounty region. Councilman Rice is expected to discuss development, transportation, schools and crime. Topics of Note At a community forum in Rockville last week, Rice said the county was going to double the number of school resource officers stationed at Montgomery County’s public schools, going from six to 12, Patch has reported. Rice has also weighed in on Adventist HealthCare’s plans to sell 40 acres in Clarksburg, a deal that’s attracted the interest of major shopping center developers, The Washington Post has reported…

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Music: The Seldom Scene is Coming to BlackRock

Concert is Saturday, Jan. 26 in Germantown

The Seldom Scene has a concert at BlackRock Center for the Arts on Saturday, Jan. 26. The show comes as fans mourn the loss of founding member Mike Auldridge, who died Dec. 29, 2012, at his home in Silver Spring. Lauded as a dobro master, Auldridge was with The Scene until the mid 1990s and was named a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2012. The Seldom Scene formed in Bethesda in 1971, performed for decades to sold-out crowds Thursday nights at The Birchmere and pioneered what was dubbed “newgrass”—fusing elements of jazz, folk and rock into traditional bluegrass harmonies. At BlackRock, The Scene’s lineup will include founding member Ben Eldridge (banjo and scatt singing), Dudley Connell (guitar/lead and …

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Art News: Fiber Artist Exhibits at BlackRock

'Stills From Life’ will be on view Jan. 9-Feb. 1.

A fiber art exhibit coming to BlackRock celebrates the hidden inspiration of everyday stuff. “The challenge is to look at them with a fresh eye, in the context of how they will contribute to an interesting composition,” artist Dominie Nash told organizers at BlackRock. Nash, a full-time studio art quilter, is the featured artist in “Stills From Life,” an exhibit showing in BlackRock’s main gallery Jan. 9 through Feb. 1. As for her approach, Nash says she likes to takes inspiration from the objects we’re surrounded by. She says often it’s the “insignificant objects” that have the most interesting shapes or patterns. “The search for these becomes an important part of the design process, while putting one back in touch with one’s surroundings…

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Art Scene: ‘A Rainbow of Personalities and Thoughts’

Portraits in latest BlackRock exhibit reflect artist’s experiences ‘as a female, sister and a cancer survivor’

A BlackRock new exhibit, “A Rainbow of Personalities and Thoughts," will feature acrylic paintings by Jessica Hopkins.  "Rainbow" will be on view in BlackRock's terrace gallery through Jan. 31. In describing her art, Hopkins said the paintings reflected what she’s lived: “With regard to my artwork, they reflect life situations based on my personal experiences, as a female, sister and a cancer survivor. Color serves as a veil that covers and shields the subjects in my compositions from social issues and their insecurities. Normal gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondauy through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Patrons are urged to check BlackRock’s website, as hours are subject to change.

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