Crib Notes

As of this Saturday night the Fringe Factory will no longer be held at the Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge.

According to resident FF hosts/DJs Vikki V and Suzy Q, after more than a year at the Highland Inn, the reason for their departure is that due to low bar sales, the Highland Inn has asked them to put all future FF events there on hold.

A new home for the monthly psychedelic, multimedia dance party is yet to determined, and the next Fringe Factory will most likely take place in November. “We’re sad to see it go,” says Suzy. “The Highland Inn is where Fringe Factory blossomed.”

In the meantime Vikki V and Suzy Q will be spinning records at the Sleepy Sun show at the Earl on Sat., Sept. 5, and will also be starting up a monthly DJ night in the MJQ cafe on the second Saturday of every month.

They’re also gearing up for the maiden voyage of Fringe Factory Records, a new label that they’re planning to unveil at the Star Bar as part of their weekly Freakout on Thurs., Oct 8, with a new 7-inch single from local garage rock act, thee Electric Cycles.

But before any of that happens the Selmanairs and a host of DJs are primed for the send off this Saturday night.

$7. 9 p.m. The Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge. 644 North Highland Ave. 404-874-5756.

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CL’s Chanté LaGon and Chad Radford chat about upcoming shows around Atlanta including Adron and Madeline at the Star Bar (Thurs., Jan. 29), and Fringe Factory’s one-year anniversary party at the Highland Inn Ballroom (Sat., Jan. 31).

For a more comprehensive list of local shows check out Sound Menu.

Air Loaf is broadcast weekdays on 1690 WMLB-AM at approximately 8:10 a.m., 12:20 p.m. and 6:20 p.m.

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By Thomas Wheatley

Local bands and DJs are coming together to raise funds and awareness after a Dec. 3 home invasion in the Poncey-Highland neighborhood rattled both the community and Atlanta music scene.

On Thursday night at 9 p.m. at the Highland Inn Ballroom on North Highland Avenue, the Gaye Blades — which includes members of the Black Lips — and Noot d’ Noot, along with a “special surprise guest,” will headline a night of raffle giveaways to benefit local musician and DJ Chris Devoe and community activist Rachael Spiewak of SoPo Bicycle Co-op. Guest DJs will also spin records throughout the night.

Criminal Records, Youngblood Gallery, Sweetgrass Salon, Charis Books & More and other local businesses are contributing items for the raffle.

“Our tagline for the event is ‘It’s a neighborhood watch,’” says Suzy Moran, one of the fundraiser organizers. “We want it to be a benefit [for the victims], but also a way for the community to come together.”

Organizers are requesting a $5 donation at the door to help the victims.

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The 4TH WARD AFRO-KLEZMER ORCHESTRA plays exactly what the name promises, a merger of Western and African rhythms and Klezmer-influenced song styles laid down by some of the best jazz hands in Atlanta.

Under the direction of composer/trumpeter Roger Ruzow, the 10-piece ensemble barrels through original arrangements of traditional and exotic sounds. With so many players, 4WAKO features members of dozens of acts, including Noot d’Noot, Cadillac Jones and Gold Sparkle Band.

The group features Colin Bragg (guitar), Chris Case (keyboard), Ben Davis (tenor sax), Jeff Crompton (alto sax / clarinet), Ben Gettys (bass), Bill Nittler (baritone sax / clarinet), Keith Leslie (drums), Blake Williams (trombone) and Roger Ruzow (trumpet).

If you didn’t get a chance to witness their debut at Eyedrum a few weeks back, the group is convening  once again, this time at The Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge at 664 N. Highland Ave. this Saturday night (Sept. 13 at 9:00 p.m. Admission is $5 and Jude Stevens (A.K.A. Pete DeLorenzo of Gringo Star) opens the show.

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In this week’s CL feature story on King Khan and the Shrines I mention that Khan’s first Atlanta appearance, with the King Khan & BBQ Show, took place at the “defunct” Kirkwood Ballers Club open mic night at the old Lenny’s. The day the story went to print I received an e-mail from Randy Castello saying that the Ballers Club was born again and as of Thurs., Aug. 7 will resume at the ever popular Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge underneath the Highland Inn.

Since 2004 KBC has served as a weekly, open mic staple for Atlanta’s more adventurous musicians, and has been housed at 3 locations, including a private residence in Kirkwood, the old Lenny’s Bar and 11:11 Teahouse. Past Baller’s Club events have featured performances from the likes of King Khan and BBQ show, Girl Talk, Deerhunter, Jana Hunter, the Black Lips and hundreds of other local and national acts; some that you have heard of and many others that you have not.

“When I started Kirkwood Ballers Club in March 2004, my intent was to provide an open forum for experimental musicians and performance artist who found it difficult to get shows here in town. I also wanted to create an idea incubator of sorts to allow others to perform and experiment with each other musically in an effort to create and nurture new creative ensembles.”

-Randy Castello founder of KBC

Kirkwood Ballers Club is free and the doors open at 8 p.m. Artists who are interested in performing sign up at the door and music starts promptly at 9 p.m. and end at midnight. Since it’s new home is a hotel, Costello stresses that performers must be mindful at all times of the hotel’s residents and keep the volume at an acceptable level.

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