By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
SCAD grad show; Summer Solstice
Savannah bracing for slow music season
greyboy allstars
Karl Denson and the Greyboy Allstars will be featured in SCAD's New Alumni Concert on May 31 in Forsyth Park. - photo by Photo provided.

California’s groove-heavy Greyboy Allstars will headline SCAD’s “New Alumni Concert” Friday, May 31 in Forsyth Park. The jazz/funk band, formed 10 years ago by DJ Andreas Stevens and tenor sax player Karl Denson, have a new album out (minus Stevens, the original “DJ Greyboy”): Inland Emperor, says allmusic.com, is “a menagerie of sounds that are so evocative and mood-setting, they almost work as a soundtrack to a film.”

Also on the bill for the school’s end-of-semester show are Atlanta’s Gringo Star, a longtime Savannah favorite, and R&B singer, songwriter and producer Mayer Hawthorne.

Otherwise, it's that time of year when things begin to slow to a virtual crawl, live music-wise. There's certainly going to be another concert or two over the summer, but Savannah's student population seriously dwindles in the hot months, so nobody's in a hurry to start talking things up.

This, however, is pretty cool: The Savannah Summer Solstice, a three-day countryside event out on by the family that once operated Live Wire Music Hall, has been announced for the Red Gate Farms campground, a 200-acre greenspace on the west side of town.

The dates are June 21-23.

Details are still being worked out, but so far the lineup is impressive. Passafire, Archnemesis, Dark Water Rising and Zach Deputy are on the bill, along with Dangermuffin, Charles Moreland's wild-eyed electronic funksters Bitch Please, Big Daddy Love, Mama's Love, Turtle Folk and the Broadcast.

Then there are two of the very best Savannah-centric bands, the Royal Noise (jazz, funk and fusion) and Les Racquet (rock and/or roll).

Also announced are Word of Mouth, A Nickel Bag of Funk, Kota Mundi, Domino Effect, TRAB, Those Cats, Emoticon, Electric Grandma, Blurry Aftermath, Gypsy Slim, OMINGNOME and Wood and Steel.

Primitive on-site camping, local art and food, and a children's area are promised.

There's more to come, announces Daniel Robertson of Love Music. In the meantime, check out www.l0vemusic.com (that's the digit "0" in there), and www. savannahsummersolstice.com.

Advance tickets are on sale.

Jazz updates

Savannah's Coastal Jazz Association is bringing back Hammond B3 organ maestro Tony Monaco for a May 19 show at the Westin Harbor Resort. Tony, you may recall, was the headliner at the 2012 Savannah Jazz Festival.

This year's festival (mark those calendars) is set for Sept. 22-28.

For its Father's Day weekend concert, June 16 at Westin Harbor, the CJA's guest will be pianist Kevin Bales.

Bob and friends

How's this for a triple bill? Wilco, My Morning Jacket and Bob Dylan are joining forces for a cross-country jaunt this summer – and Atlanta is one of the stops.

The "Americanarama Festival of Music" has been announced for June 29 at Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood. The Richard Thompson Electric Trio and Ryan Bingham have been added for several shows on the tour, although it's not clear whether either of those artists will perform in Atlanta. "Amnericanarama" begins June 26 in West Palm Beach, Fla.

See www.bobdylan.com.

Sign up for our e-newsletters