Upcoming WMNF Events

James McMurtry and the Heartless Bastards, plus The Dedringers, plus the Ronny Elliott Band

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The Texas native long has been known as an astute, clear-eyed observer and concise, no-holds-barred chronicler of the human condition, but a growing socio-political edge fairly exploded just prior to the 2004 elections when his scathing, palace-rattling “We Can’t Make It Here” was made available online as a free download. The seven-plus-minute diatribe against social injustice and the Administration’s hypocrisy and deceptions repercussed wildly across the Internet and the airwaves, igniting a grassroots firestorm that has brought legions of new fans to the singer/songwriter’s work. As of this writing, fan-made videos of “We Can’t Make It Here” have been viewed more than 150,000 times on YouTube. James was raised mostly in Leesburg, Virginia. He attended the Woodberry Forest School, Orange, Virginia. He began performing in his teens, writing bits and pieces. He started performing his own songs at a downtown beer garden while studying English and Spanish at the University of Arizona in Tucson. After traveling to Alaska and playing a few gigs, James returned to Texas and his father's "little bitty ranch house crammed with 10,000 books". After a time, he left for San Antonio, where he worked as a house painter, actor, bartender, and sometimes singer, performing at writers nights and open mics. In 1987, a friend in San Antonio suggested he enter the New Folk songwriter contest. He was one of six winners that year. John Mellencamp was starring in a film based on a script by James's father, which gave James the opportunity to get a demo tape to Mellencamp. Mellencamp subsequently served as co-producer on McMurtry's 1989 debut album, Too Long in the Wasteland. McMurtry also appeared on the soundtrack of the film Falling from Grace, working with Mellencamp, John Prine, Joe Ely, and Dwight Yoakam in a "supergroup" called Buzzin' Cousins. McMurtry released follow-up albums in Candyland (1992) and Where'd You Hide the Body (1995). Walk Between the Raindrops followed in 1998 and 2002 brought St. Mary of the Woods. In April 2004, McMurtry released a tour album called Live In Aught-Three. In 2005, McMurtry released his first studio album in 3 years. Childish Things again received high critical praise, culminating in him winning the song and album of the year at the 5th Annual Americana Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. The album was perhaps McMurtry at his most political, as his working-class anthem "We Can't Make It Here" included direct criticism of George W. Bush, the Iraq War, and Wal-Mart. McMurtry released his follow up album to Childish Things in April 2008. Just Us Kids continued with the previous album's political themes and included the song Cheney's Toy, McMurtry's most direct criticism of George W. Bush so far. Like We Can't Make It Here from the previous album, Cheney's Toy was made available as a free Internet download. James McMurtry currently resides in Austin, Texas. **Tickets $17 Advanced, $20 at the door - Available at will-call, opening at 7pm ~ Tickets will not be mailed**

All-Day Parking Lot Party

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Saturday, December 6, 9 am – 9 pm. All Day Parking Lot Party and Potluck – In the tradition of the jazz parties, a whole day of celebration with live programming and music. Come join us!

WMNF Film Series: Across the Universe

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The WMNF Film Series presents a special screening Of [ACROSS THE UNIVERSE](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445922/) Doors Open At 6:00pm Show At 7:00pm Full Menu & Bar $5 Advance/$7 At Door ($5 for groups of 10+) Enjoy and sing along with your WMNF friends and family as your favorite Beatles tunes are woven into an out of this world story proving All You Need Is Love!

WMNF Holiday Bazaar

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WMNF’s annual music and book sale has gotten bigger and better. A huge collection of bargains and rare finds awaits you with books, records CDs, audio and visual equipment, and a showcased arts and crafts show. Artists, crafters, exhibitors, one-of-a-kind gifts, food and a full slate of eclectic entertainment in the Cuban Club Bandshell.

Call 813-238-8001 if you have donations.

Patti Smith : Dream of Life

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Tix available at The Beach Theatre Acclaimed photographer Steven Sebring’s directorial debut, PATTI SMITH: DREAM OF LIFE, is a richly layered portrait of the legendary poet, artist, musician and activist. The film won the Cinematography Award when it received its world premiere at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, where it was also nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. PATTI SMITH: DREAM OF LIFE has generated critical acclaim, being hailed as a spellbinder" (Premiere) and a "joy for anyone interested in pop culture of the past 40 years" (The Hollywood Reporter). "Patti Smith: Dream of Life" gets unusually close to its subject," said Reuters. "Experimental camera work and editing makes for a fittingly unconventional portrait of one of the pioneers of punk music." Smith emerged in the 1970’s, galvanizing the music scene with her unique style of poetic rage, music and trademark swagger. Sebring, renowned for merging raw realism with high fashion in his portraiture, first met Smith, in 1996, when he photographed her for Spin magazine. Upon seeing her perform, he was so moved that he asked if he might begin filming her – thus beginning an 11-year odyssey. PATTI SMITH: DREAM OF LIFE (which takes its title from her 1988 album, Dream of Life) is a plunge into the philosophy and artistry of this complicated, charismatic personality. Sebring captures Smith, who narrates the film, through her spoken words, performances, lyrics, paintings and photographs. The film also features performances with composer Philip Glass and playwright/author/actor/musician Sam Shepard. Smith was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 and continues to be a vibrant, prolific artist, working in a wide variety of media.

Rewind: The WMNF Tribute to the Music and Songs of 1968, New Years Eve

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**Tickets $25 Advanced, $30 Door ~ Price includes Champagne at midnight & Breakfast, too!** **Youth tickets are available for ages 13-20, but ONLY OVER THE PHONE during business hours, M - F, 9am - 5pm ~ Call 813-238-8001** 1968 is recognized as one of the best years for music, a year of timeless songs and classic albums. WMNF and Skippers are celebrating the great music of ’68 with twelve eclectic bands each playing three songs from that unforgettable year. Another fabulous Flee production; this will be the most fun and least expensive New Year’s Eve party in Tampa Bay. Party favors, champagne toast, breakfast included.

Kenny Drew Jr.

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$10 advance, $15 door. A great jazz artist in quartet setting.

Kenny Drew Jr. was born in New York City in 1958. He started music lessons at the age of four. After studying classical piano with his Aunt Marjorie, he branched out into the area of jazz music.

Kenny Jr. has performed worldwide with a comprehensive variety of musicians, including Stanley Jordan, Out of the Blue (OTB), Stanley Turrentine, Slide Hampton and the Jazz Masters, the Mingus Big Band, Steve Grossman, Yoshiaki Masuo, Sadao Watanabe, Smokey Robinson, Frank Morgan, Daniel Schnyder, and many others.

Kenny Drew Jr. was the winner of the 1990 Great American jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville FL. He has appeared as a leader at many major festivals, including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Kyoto Jazz Festival, Savannah on Stage Festival, Clearwater Jazz Festival, and the Newark Jazz Festival.

Kenny has also performed as leader at many major jazz clubs around the country, such as Bradley's (NY), Visiones (NY), The Blue Note (NY), Blues Alley (DC), Fat Tuesday's (NY), The VIllage Gate (NY), Trumpets (NJ), The Jazz Showcase (Chicago), Twins Lounge (DC), One Step Down (DC), and the Montreal Bistro (Toronto). He has recorded nine albums as a leader and has also made numerous recordings as a sideman.

Within the last couple of years, Kenny has performed at concerts & in clubs with: The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, the Faddis/Hampton/Heath Sextet, Steve Turre, Jack Walrath, David Sanchez, Jack Wilkins, Michael Mossman, Ronnie Cuber, Steve Slagle, and Marlena Shaw.

Pinetop Perkins with the Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin Band

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A chance to see a genuine music legend! Winner of the 2008 Grammy, at 95 years old Pinetop Perkins is the oldest living Grammy winner ever. Pinetop won 17 Blues Music Association awards, until they finally said “Enough!” They renamed the blues piano award the Pinetop Perkins Award.

He rarely leaves his home in Austin to tour anymore but he is coming to Tampa for WMNF.

Bob Margolin is 2006 and 2008 BMA Winner for Best Guitarist **$15 Adv, $20 Door ~ Tickets purchased in advance shall be at will-call, opening at 7pm**

Del Castillo, plus The Chicago Afrobeat Orchestra

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**This show is in St. Pete** Del Castillo is two brothers playing soaring flamenco guitars, a flamboyant and charismatic lead singer and a thundering rhythm section.

Del Castillo, plus The Chicago Afrobeat Orchestra

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**This show is in TAMPA** Del Castillo is two brothers playing soaring flamenco guitars, a charismatic and flamboyant lead singer, and a thundering rhythm section.

Alejandro Escovedo

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Here's Alejandro with Bruce Springsteen! **Tickets $20 Advanced/ $25 Door**

James Hunter, plus Ryan Shaw

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A superstar double bill of fabulous R&B.

Loudon Wainwright III, plus Kathleen Edwards

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Tickets available for $25 each at the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg, 727-822-3590 or [click here](http://mypalladium.org/boxoffice.php?view=Tickets) The master satirist gives a career retrospective. For almost 40 years Loudon Wainwright III has been recording eclectic, quirky, autobiographical songs. Along the way he has appeared in several televison series, won a couple of Grammy nominations, and come to grips with his own shortcomings as a parent and husband. With Wainwright's songs, you often don't know whether to laugh or cry in the same song. It's Wainwright's highly interactive, largely spontaneous live shows that are really prized by music fans who embrace his eccentricity. This show has an opener you will not want to come late for. Kathleen Edwards is an acclaimed young singer-songwriter from Canada with four excellent albums.

The Avett Brothers

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The Avetts Brothers show that was scheduled for October (and was postponed because of the birth of Scott Avett's son) is rescheduled for this date. If you have tickets for the previous date those tickets will be honored,

The 28th Annual WMNF Tropical Heatwave

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Heatwave is heating up. In our survey we asked which past Heatwave bands our audience would most like to return for the 2009 Heatwave. The results were #1 Chuck Prophet; #2 Trombone Shorty. You spoke and we heard you. **Stay tuned for ticket availability!!**

**The 2009 lineup so far:**
Chuck Prophet and Mission Express Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue Michael Burks
Sara Borges and the Broken Singles
Bonerama
Eilen Jewell Band
Big Sam’s Funky Nation
James Intveld
Modern Skirts
Pack A.D.
The Visitations
The Duppies
Cold Joon
Magadog
The Vodkanauts
Stolen Idols
Poetry Showcase
and more...