You guys are no good at this new-fangled interactivity stuff, are ya? So, although this site is still a place for you to let folks know what's up in the music scene of Hattiesburg, I think I'll use this space to talk about whatever comes into my pretty little disturbed head about the 'Burg. I'll try to stay away from cat stories.

Rumor has it that Girls are gonna be Goin' Wild down there at the old Sports Rock tonight. And no, I'm not headed down there. When I want to see girls kissin' and stuff, I'll get myself some real porn, thank you. A better bet is probably the film, Brick, that is playing at the film-dealie at the Saenger tonight. Interesting concept--film noir set in a high school. Ah, it takes me back.

Until next time. . . .

Come join us for the 1st Annual Arts Heritage Festival of South Mississippi on Saturday, March 25 in Downtown Hattiesburg! This festival will celebrate South Mississippi's arts heritage. Enjoy great entertainment, food, arts and crafts and much, much more including events for the kids! The festival will have four separate villages - Children's Village, Art Village, Heritage Village and the Craftsman's Village.

The Arts Heritage Festival will also have three stages of music throughout the day! And of course, no festival is complete without arts and crafts booths and there will be plenty to choose from! Please join us - we look forward to seeing you this Saturday! The festival anchor point will be at Main and Walnut Streets.

For those of you so inclined, there will be an iron and bronze casting demo behind The Thirsty Hippo at two pm during the festival. These events are always a lot of fun. Call 601.545.2400 for more info.

This from Walnut Circle Grill:

Walnut Circle Grill is proud to partner with WUSM radio (88.5 FM) to support the first hour of the Hub City Blues program, which airs from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The station format includes a wide variety of music, including classical, jazz, blues and adult alternative, as well as alternative news and programming. They also promote live performances by local bands on Saturdays periodically at T-Bone Records on Hardy Street. If you'd like to help support WUSM, please contact them.

Is now open in the old American Pie Cafe location (106th S. 37th Ave., right behind Pizza Hut on Hardy St.) and is looking for live acts. Please contact Casper at 601-467-4026 or e-mail at jhnyclmn@yahoo.com or call Fat Harry's at 601-261-2666 if you fit the following criteria and would like to play on the best (only?) stage in Hattiesburg.

Fat Harry's is looking for predominately cover bands. They will book original acts, but you must have a demo. They do mostly rock & blues, unfortunately (they say) they cannot book metal or punk.

Hey, anybody else got any music news out there? Anyone? Send it on to me. Or I'll start making stuff up.

Is this understandably exhuberant press release from Chad Hodges Knight (oh, what was I thinking. Now Chad Hodges has to get his album together):

TUE. 2/28 - It's here!!!! - FROM A NEW WINDOW is out now!!!! With many special guests including: Brad Wells (Solo Artist), Drew Parker (Understanding the Fall), Harvey Lott (Small Room 9), Andrew Bohannon, and Mark Black. As well as vocal appearences by: rap artists - Slash, Pine, and Mutteo (Cold Hearted in Gunsmoke), and female vocalist - Katy McCraw.

Recorded at Riverside Studio. Produced by Mark Black. Only in selected stores - Sound Shop of Laurel, MS, T-Bone Records in Hattiesburg, MS, and coming soon to cdbaby.com!!!! ***I will have some cds with me Tue. at Kroger in Laurel, come by the meat dept. anytime between 8-4pm. - only $10!....

And don't forget about the release party at The Alamo this Saturday, March 4th - 9:00 P.M. - be there!From A New Window and Forget About the Bad Thingscan be found at these selected locations: Sound Shop- inside Sawmill Square Mall in Laurel, T-Bone Records- on Hardy Street in Hattiesburg, CD Baby- at www.cdbaby.com-->And don't forget about the release party at The Alamo this Saturday, March 4th - 9:00 P.M. - be there!

From A New Window and Forget About the Bad Things
can be found at these selected locations:
Sound Shop - inside Sawmill Square Mall in Laurel, MS
T-Bone Records - on Hardy Street in Hattiesburg, MS
CD Baby - at www.cdbaby.com GET IT TODAY!!!!
one love,
- Chad
www.geocities.com/chadknightsolo
www.myspace.com/chadknightsolo

Looking for a music event in your area (or craft and art fairs, for that matter) ? Festival Net looks to be a good resource.

This just in my mailbox from local favorites and general all-around good guys Buffalo Nickel:

We just got the official news from the Wilco office Thursday that we've been added as support for Wilco at the Temple Theatre in Meridian on March 15th. GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! They are likely to sell out soon if they haven't already. (You have to call the Temple Theatre to order tickets 601-693-5353.)

After corresponding with our old friend Pat Sansone, who joined Wilco last year, about looking forward to his "homecoming" show in Meridian, we were suprised when he told us that the support position for the show had recently come open and that we could have the slot if we wanted it. Well, of course we had to think about it for a while and check and double check our schedules but eventually we said "F*** YEAH!!!" We can't thank Pat enough for such a cool opportunity.

So come out and see Pat, a Mississippi boy from the Hattiesburg music scene whose done REAL GOOD, and come support us on this very special occasion. We hope to see all of our Buffalo Nickel friends there. It's going to be an awesome night.

is a free space for Gulf Coast artists in the tri-state area affected by Hurricane Katrina to post information about their work, to let customers know where they are now and to sell their work online. If you would like to feature your work here, e-mail me, Shawn Zehnder Lea, at shawn.lea@gmail.com for more information.

Though much attention is focused on rebuilding efforts after the hurricane, many don't realize the full extent to which local artists depended on a thriving local economy to survive. Art vendors often sold work to tourists who flocked to the areas for wonderful food, beach getaways, quaint shopping areas and gambling.

Many artists do not have the time (or the money) to wait for the area to rebuild. They need our support now. This site is not asking for donations - we are simply asking you to support Gulf Coast artists by buying their work...and working to make that easier for you to do.

South Mississippi Music Sampler is pleased to announce the launch of its new
homepage to compliment the pod and blog page: southmissmusicsampler.com. The
site will feature a band profile section, a band services page, and a
company store to sell CDs and other merchandise of local and Mississippi
artists. Please allow me the opportunity to try and move a few discs for
you. And as always, I am looking for bands to showcase to our podcast
listeners around the world. Around 1600 unique visitors came to the homepage
during November. Let's grow together. Contact: ross@southmissmusicsampler.com