"I love it when a plan comes together" -- to quote Col. "Hannibel" Smith from "The A Team."
We're stoked for tonight because after we're done signing books at Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St., Charleston, there's some killer incoming music.
Fellow Huntingtonian singer/songwriter Jeff Ellis, who made his debut appearance in 2007 on "Mountain Stage," will be singing songs from his soon-to-be-released CD from 7 to 9 p.m. today at Taylor Books.
You can hear a couple of his new tunes, "Covering the Distance," and "I'm Not leaving This Time," at www.myspace.com/jeffellismusic.
The tunes are from the new CD Ellis cut in Athens, Ohio, with Eddie Ashworth of Hideout Recordings.
The CD also features Bud Carroll and the Southern Souls, along with Guinness Clarke Wine's Phil James for an alt-country workout of Ellis' originals.
For more information about tonight's appearances, please call Taylor Books at 304-342-1461 or go online at www. taylorbooks.com.
A River of food thanks to Skynyrd
Huntington-based classic rock station, 101.5 The River has teamed up with Lynyrd Skynyrd for a little Saturday fundraiser.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., The River will collect non-perishable food items and cash donations for The Huntington City Mission at its 5th Avenue Studios, in front of The Huntington Banks Building, right across the street from Jim's Restaurant.
To express their thanks, Lynyrd Skynyrd has given The River two prize packs for their Huntington concert May 16, at The Big Sandy Superstore Arena with Hank Williams Jr.
When you stop by Saturday, register to win a pair of front row seats and passes to see and meet the band.
Another winner will take home tickets, passes and an autographed guitar from the band.
Live on the Net
Move over Oprah and Eckhart Tolle, Monday nights, you've got company live on the net.
Middle Tennessee-based Christian rockers Seventh Day Slumber, a band that will be rocking out the Boyd County Middle School at 7 p.m. tonight with Casting Pearls, will be hosting a live broadcast on the Internet starting next Monday on the band's Web site.
Joseph Rojas, the lead singer for the band that's racked up more than 1.6 million in MySpace plays, said it's a great new way to stay in touch with the fans.
"The Internet is playing a big part in everything," Rojas said. "We've seen the Internet hurt people really bad and even break up marriages, but it can also be a huge ministry tool. It's how you use it. We'll take questions and answer them live through video."
Dylan on the road again
In support of his new album, "Seeing Things," Jakob Dylan has announced his first solo tour.
He's also announced his tour bus has more than "One Headlight." OK, bad Wallflowers joke there.
Anyway, Dylan will be at some of this summer's biggest music festivals including Bonnaroo, Bumbershoot, Rothbury, Newport Folk Festival and Austin City.
And (the reason we care) is also swinging in to tape "Mountain Stage" in Charleston and Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour in Lexington, Ky., two wonderful radio and TV shows heard and seen weekly 'round the world, but taped here in our backyard.
Dylan will be at a special FestivALL Charleston taping of "Mountain Stage" on June 29, and will be in Lexington on Monday, July 1, taping Woodsongs with host Michael Johnathon.
Festival breakdown
Just a little heads up, we've got a massive list of all the information you need to hit some of the region's best spring and early summer music festivals all baled up and ready to run in Sunday's Life section of The Herald-Dispatch.
If there are some we missed, hit me up here at lavender@herald-dispatch.com or at www.myspace.com/davetrippin.
Don't know about you, but I'm getting a festival itch for two days of Larry Keel and Natural Bridge up in the beautiful Eden Valley Farm for the seventh annual Appalachian Uprising in Scottown, Ohio.
The full fest schedule is out with nearly 30 bands, including festival host Melvin Goins and Windy Mountain and a powerhouse lineup of national acts including The Grascals, The Avett Brothers, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Michael Garvin, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Bawn in the Mash, Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, Nashville Bluegrass Band, The SteelDrivers, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Steep Canyon Rangers, Avery County, Larry Keel's All Star Bluegrass Jam, and festival closer, Sam Bush Band.
For more info, go online at www.myspace.com/appalachianuprising or www.applachianuprising.net.
If you can't wait for a festival fix, you might want to check out the Sugar Hill Records recording artists, The Gibson Brothers, whose CD, "Iron And Diamonds," debuted (for good reason) at No. 5 on the bluegrass charts.
The Gibson Brothers, whose first CD hit No. 1 on the Bluegrass Unlimited charts, are dropping into The V Club on Wednesday, May 14, on their way to the Purple Fiddle in Davis, W.Va.
If they're half as good live as they are on that CD, which has been stuck in heavy rotation with me, then it'll be well worth the trip to the V.
Dave Lavender writes about music and other entertainment for The Herald-Dispatch. Contact him at 304-526-6686 or by e-mail at lavender@herald-dispatch.com.
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