Congratulations and a tip o’the fedora to KidSyc@Brandywine, the Savannah hip hop act that won Sweetwater Music’s Gearfest Song Contest last June.
They’ve done it again.
Lloyd Harold’s group is in the final round of the Georgia Lottery’s All Access Music Search, beating out more than 2,000 other acts (there are 12 competing in the finals). If the Brandywine boys take this one, they’ll be flown to El–Lay for a recording session at the legendary studios inside the Capitol Records tower (home of the label started, in the ‘40s, by none other than Savannah’s own Johnny Mercer).
The winner, determined in part by on–line voting (through Jan. 5), will be announced on a live television special on Jan. 14.
Harold, 25, is an art teacher at Pooler Elementary. He’s also a songwriter, rapper/MC, record producer and graphic artist, and is the indispensable point man for AWOL’s sound design program.
Check out facebook.com/kidsycbrandywine for the guys’ videos and music.
You can vote – once a day! at www.galottery.com/vote.
Mo’ Mountainfilm
It’s been almost a year since Mountainfilm, a touring festival of short movies that focus on environmental and adventuring issues, made its Savannah debut in front of a large, appreciative crowd at the Jepson Center.
So it’s not all that surprising that it’s coming back for another round. This time, the films will screen at the Charles H. Morris Center. The dates are Jan. 21 and 22, and it has an official new name: Mountainfilm on Tour in Savannah.
Mountainfilm began in the late 1970s in Telluride, Colo., as a sort of environmentally–friendly companion to the big ‘ol showbiz Telluride Film Festival. Once it began cross–country touring, the series enraptured even non–outdoorsy types with its cinematic tales of mountaineering, kayaking and wildlife escapades.
That means you and me, fellow couch potatoes.
Its longtime theme is “Celebrating the Indominable Spirit.”
Although the full screening schedule for Savannah hasn’t yet been announced, titles will include Eastern Rises, Fish Out of Water, Nico’s Challenge and Bag It.
The event’s first day starts with a 6 p.m. reception featuring complimentary food from local vendors (with wine and beer for purchase).
The next day (Saturday, Jan. 22), there are screenings at 3 and 7 p.m.
Former Savannah resident Justin Clifton, director of Mountainfilm’s touring arm, will moderate the film introductions and presentations as well as Q&As.
Tickets for each show are $10 adults, $5 for children or students with student I.D. You can get them at Half Moon Outfitters on Broughton Street, and at halfmoonoutfitters.com.
Two more
A few items in our immediate future: Cusses will ring in the New Year Saturday, Jan. 8 at the Jinx, with Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun and Death Cheetah.
The Savannah Folk Music Society’s First Friday show for January features Grant Peeples and Jacob Johnson - that’s Jan. 7 at First Presbyterian Church. The organization’s first concert for 2011 puts the spotlight on Jonathan Byrd, Jan. 14.
