Rock Hall of Fame nominees announced

The nominations for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum were announced today. The nine nominees will be sent to over 500 voters, and five will be inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame at the annual induction ceremony on March 12, 2007 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. The five inductees for 2007 will be announced in January 2007, at a press conference in New York.

To be eligible for nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an act must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. This year's nominees had to release their first single no later than 1981.

The nine nominees for 2007 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are: Chic, The Dave Clark Five, Grandmaser Flash and the Furious Five, R.E.M., The Ronettes, Patti Smith, The Stooges, Joe Tex, and Van Halen.

Katy Mixon replaced in "High Fidelty"

Katy Mixon, a Pensacola native and a Pensacola Children's Chorus alum, was replaced by Rachel Stern in "High Fidelity," a Broadway-bound musical based on Nick Hornby's novel and the cult film starring John Cusack.

Mixon initially won the sassy role of "Liz," performed by Cusack's sister, Joan, in the movie that follows a record store owner who knows a lot about vinyl but not much about love. Stern assumed the part of Liz soon after the musical opened in Boston on Oct. 15.

"High Fidelity" opens on the Great White Way, December 7, after a month-long stint in Boston at the Colonial Theatre.

Downtown tricks and treats

The Downtown Businesses are offering old-fashioned trick-or-treating at over 20 Downtown establishments. This favorite of childhood traditions is open to all area youngsters ages nine and under on Monday, October 30, 2006, between the hours of 4-6 p.m.

Reminiscent of days gone by, children who are in costume can visit those businesses in Historic Downtown Pensacola that have a pumpkin on display in front of their establishments. The event is free to all children and so is the parking.

For more information, please contact the DIB at 850.434.5371.

WHAT:Downtown Retailers Halloween Trick-or-Treating
WHEN: October 30, 2006 from 4-6 p.m.
WHERE: Downtown Pensacola
COST: Participation and Parking are FREE!
INFO: Open to all area children who are 9 and under
Children must be in costume
Participating businesses will display an 11x17 window flyer, have exterior lights
on and will have a pumpkin by the business door
CONTACT: 850.434.5371

"Lillie & Leander: A Legacy of Violence"

At the upcoming Pensacola International Film Festival, there will be a private screening of the trailer for the documentary, "Lillie & Leander: A Legacy of Violence, " a feature-length documentary film that examines the case of a black man suspected of raping and murdering a white woman at the turn of the 20th century in Pensacola, Florida.

The film has been submitted to the upcoming Sundance Film Festival in January, 2007.

While investigating the rape and murder of great-great aunt Lillie Davis, Alice Brewton Hurwitz stumbles upon an explosive family secret. While newspaper accounts of the time reported the vigilante lynching of Lillie's suspected assailant Leander Shaw in fascinating detail, Hurwitz discovers that the men in her family exacted their own 25-year-long system of revenge. There's one interview where an elderly relative recounts how the men in the family killed every black man who walked the road they lived on.

Based on the trailer you can see HERE, this documentary is explosive.

Pensacola's ghost hunter

Downtown is alive with the sights and sounds of spirits. Marlene Blanchard, a paranormal investigator with GHG Ghost Hunters in Pensacola, says the spiritual realm is rattling its chains off the hook in this weekend's Loaded Gun segment on "IN Your Head Radio."

"There seems to be more activity when the weather is cooler," she says. "It's hard to decide if there's more reports because it's October and Halloween is coming or if the change of the seasons is actually stimulating activity."

ClicK HERE to listen to the interview.

IN-sponsored film fest parties

The Independent News is opening its doors as an alternative hangout for filmmakers and fans planning to attend the 2006 Pensacola International Film Festival being held November 3-5 in downtown Pensacola.

Moviegoers can purchase all-access passes for $20 which allow unlimited viewing of any film throughout the weekend in a variety of historic screening venues ranging from the Pensacola Cultural Center, J. Earle Bowden Building, The Beacon and the Pensacola Museum of Art.

For those wishing to watch films outside, catch free movie premieres at 7 p.m. nightly on the jumbo movie screen outside the T.T. Wentworth building. Ticket-free viewing can be seen in the comfort of your own lawn chair from the advantageous view from Ferdinand Plaza park.

Our alt-weekly newspaper, located conveniently to all of the downtown PIFF action at 124 S. Palafox Place, will throw two parties to coincide with the Friday, Nov. 3 screening of “Jesus Camp” and the Saturday, Nov. 4 premiere of “The Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell.” Both days, starting at 5:30 p.m., we’ll host a bevy of insiders including acclaimed filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (“The Boys of Baraka”) in town to present their documentary, “Jesus Camp.”

For a complete list of films and venues, visit www.pensacolafilmfestival.com. Check out www.inweekly.net for updates about IN’s behind-the-scenes parties.

Glory of This speaks up

Grant Mosley, bassist for Glory of This and former coverboy of the Independent News, confirmed the report that frontman Chino has left the band.

"There are a lot of rumors going around about the band," Mosley remarks via MySpace. "Chino has in fact left the band. The question is what is Glory of This going to do?"

Chino, who stepped up to replace James Harrah as vocalist of the melodic hardcore band Glory of This in August, called last week week to announce that he left the group that won this year’s IN Music Awards “Artist of The Year” laurels.

“It just wasn’t working out,” says the 19-year-old guitarist-vocalist. “I’m quitting to pursue a solo project.”

The frontman’s departure is one of many personnel changes for the band that’s won the top INMA prize two years in a row.

Mosley says that Glory of This will soldier on without Chino.

"We're not breaking up," Mosley confirms. "We're getting a new frontman and Dave, Cory and I are keeping on. We're going to keep it just one guitar, one bass, one drummer and one frontman. We've been jamming out this way and we love it."

As for the new material coming from the INMA-winning band, Mosley says they're going more into the '90s hardcore direction.

"Our new stuff that we're writing is all about the harder side of Glory of This," he continues, adding that the band will go back on tour starting Monday, Nov. 6. "Look for a heavier, yet catcher, version."

Click here for details.

"Threshold of Hell" interview

"Death of a President" will screen in Pensacola

While a majority of the major theatre chains have shunned "the most controversial film of the year," the Silver Screen Theatre in Pensacola plans to screen the "Death of a President" next week.

The film opens on Friday, Oct. 27 at the Silver Screen, 7280 Plantation Rd. and will play for at least one week, according to theatre owner Ron Estrada.

The dramatic, documentary-style film shows a fictional assassination of President George W. Bush. It uses actors and digital manipulation of real footage to show a fictional account of Mr. Bush being gunned down after delivering a speech in Chicago.

It focuses on all those linked to the pretend crime — including nearby anti-war protesters, suspects, Secret Service guards and investigators.

After its release, the White House declined to comment on announcements that it was to be shown in Britain and Canada, saying it would not dignify the film with a response.

"Death of a President" is directed by Gabriel Range, whose 2003 TV movie "The Day Britain Stopped" showed what might happen if the country's transportation network ground to a halt.

Click here for more information

Gulf Breeze native Ashley Brown on ABC's "20/20"

Ashley Brown, a Gulf Breeze native who recently landed the role of Mary Poppins on Broadway, will be featured on ABC's "20/20" 9 p.m. (CT) Friday, Oct. 27.

ABCNews.com gives a sneak peek of the segment where Brown talks about her Gulf Breeze roots, her affinity for the iconic character and the unlikelihood of the 24-year-old with a Southern accent playing British.

Click here for the clip.

"Nightmare" in 3D hits The Rave

Fans of Tim Burton's holiday favorite, "The Nightmare Before Christmas" will have a chance to see the film in a whole new way when it makes its debut in Disney Digital 3-D(TM) on Friday, Oct. 20 at Pensacola's Rave Motion Pictures.

The popular stop-motion animated feature, directed by Henry Selick and presented by Walt Disney Pictures, has been converted from its original 2-D format into a stunning dimensional and enchanting 3-D version using the latest advancements in 3-D technology and animation. It is the first movie in industry history to be released exclusively in Digital 3-D, and it represents the first time in the history of motion pictures that a 3-D feature has been created from an existing animated classic.

Commenting on the announcement, Tim Burton says, "For me, turning 'Nightmare Before Christmas' into digital 3-D has taken a very pure little gem and made it that much better. I am extremely happy about the fact that the movie has kept its purity and the 3-D actually adds much more to it."

Burton continues, "It's almost like being on the set -- you can see the texture of the puppets, and see the characters in the foreground and others in the background. When we were making the movie, we felt in our hearts like our characters were real. When you see it in 3-D, everything comes to life and you can literally see through the eye sockets of Jack Skellington. I am thrilled that all the die hard fans, as well as a new generation of moviegoers, will get the opportunity to experience the movie in a whole new way."

Haunted NAS lighthouse tour

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will be holding the final public tour of the Pensacola Lighthouse for this season on Sunday, Oct. 29 from Noon to 3:30 p.m.

The tour will be given by Halloween costumed interpreters and visitors are invited to wear their costumes. The original spiral staircase consists of 177 black cast iron steps and the public is invited to climb the stairs for the best view of the Florida panhandle.

For their safety, children younger than six are not permitted to make the climb. In addition, several displays on the ground floor chronicle lighthouse and NAS history. This will be the last tour for this season and the Lighthouse visitor count is expected to go over 9,000 with over 600 man-hours dedicated to this season. Public tours are scheduled to resume in May 2007.

Glory of This' Chino calls it quits

Chino, who stepped up to replace James Harrah as vocalist of the melodic hardcore band Glory of This, called today to announce that he's leaving the act that won this year's IN Music Awards "Artist of The Year" laurels.

"It just wasn't working out," says the 19-year-old guitarist-vocalist. "I'm quitting to pursue a solo project."

The frontman's departure is one of many personnel changes for the band that's won the top INMA prize two years in a row.

On April 20, 2005, vocalist James Harrah announced that guitarist John Manza and drummer Matt Rogers left Glory of This—deciding that the instability of touring was no longer appealing after a near-fatal automobile crash on April 1, 2005.

In a heroic attempt to maintain the band's momentum, former FUSS vocalist Chino and drummer Dave joined the group weeks before they were scheduled to perform at Vans Warped Tour in June '05.

In August '06, Harrah left Glory of This citing “something that came up in my family that has led me to make this life-altering decision.”

Immediately following Harrah's announcement, Chino became the lead vocalist for the group. Three months at the helm, Chino called it quits.

"It has nothing to do with touring," he says. "Relationships became problematic since James left the band."

Chino says he wishes his Glory of This brethern nothing but the best as they embark on the second leg of their national tour this week.

Loaded Gun will keep you posted.

Pensacola Bay International Film Festival

Tickets are now available for the 2006 Pensacola International Film Festival (PIFF) being held November 3-5, 2006 in Downtown Pensacola. For just $20, movie-goers can purchase access wristband passes which allow unlimited viewing of any film throughout the weekend in a variety of Downtown historic screening venues: Pensacola Cultural Center, J. Earle Bowden Building, The Beacon and the Pensacola Museum of Art.

There will be FREE entertainment throughout the three-day event from 4-11 on Friday and 11-11 on Saturday and Sunday. Also, for the first time in the history of the PIFF, for those wishing to enjoy movie watching outside, catch the FREE movie premieres at 7:00 pm nightly on the jumbo movie screen outside the T.T. Wentworth building. Ticket-free viewing can be seen in the comfort of your own lawn chair from the advantageous view on “The Green” in Ferdinand Plaza. Guests are encouraged to take advantage of movie food and beverages that will be for sale on “The Green,” but coolers are prohibited.

The PIFF was created in 2003 by local area film commissioner, Tom Roush, and a loyal following of dedicated film fans. This year’s films include Scouts, Jesus Camp, Peck on the Cheek, Familiar, Daybreak, Get Paper, The Impassion, The Church Said Amen, Purlieu Victorious, Monster Thursday, Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell and The Boys of Baraka. Jesus Camp stars Pensacola’s very own Michael Papantonio and has recently received national media attention for its originality and unique subject matter. It is a film that is not to be missed.

Presenting Sponsors for this year’s event are Cox Communications and the African-American Heritage Society. Oscar Level Sponsors are Adventures Unlimited, Springhill Suites by Marriott, Levin Law Firm, Alive Technology, Jewelers Trade Shop, Gulf First Bank, Film in Florida, Pensacola News Journal, All Pro Sound and Sony. Emmy Level Sponsors are Adaugeo Group, Meredith and Sons Lumber and Drug Free Workplace. Golden Globe Level Sponsors are Baptist Health Care, Harvesters Federal Credit Union, P.O.D.S., Film Florida, Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, IZON and WFGX.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.pensacolafilmfestival.com and then click “Tickets” in the bottom right-hand corner of the webpage. A schedule of events and information about the movies being presented are can be found on the website as well. For more information about the PIFF or this year’s event, please contact Tom Roush at 850.206.5090 or thomasroush@gmail.com.

WHAT: 4th Annual Pensacola International Film Festival

WHEN: November 3-5, 2006 (Friday, 4-11 pm; Saturday & Sunday, 11 am-11 pm)

WHERE: Various historic buildings in Downtown Pensacola & the Gulf Breeze Cinemas

COST: $20.00 for an all-weekend, unlimited viewing pass
Food & beverages for sale on “The Green” in Ferdinand Plaza

ADDITIONAL:
Free public viewing of jumbo screen premieres on “The Green” in Ferdinand Plaza
Films: Jesus Camp, Scouts, Peck on the Cheek, Familiar, Daybreak, Get Paper, The
Impassion, The Church Said Amen, Purlieu Victorious, Monster Thursday, Beach Party
at the Threshold of Hell and The Boys of Baraka

"Frankenstein's Bloody Nightmare" reviewed in NY Sun

John R. Hand's "Frankenstein's Bloody Nightmare" earned a decent review in the New York Sun:

"Something draws underground auteurs to the Frankenstein story, and this is just another retelling with little to offer in the acting department.In fact, it's hard not to nod off in this flick, but visually it's a perfect 10. Shot on Super 8, the tiny gauge format once beloved by home moviemakers, director/producer/star John R. Hand warps this feeble format into something beautiful. With dissolves, light flares, and contrast manipulation layered over color tricks, double exposures, and digital effects the result is a handmade object that looks ravishing. The soundtrack is a discordant array of boops and beeps from band the Greys, and the overall effect is like watching some kind of lost exploitation film from the 1970s cobbled together by a deranged grindhouse projectionist out of damaged film."

And a not-so-favorable review in the New York Times:

"The lack of apostrophe in the title is just one of the many confounding things about 'Frankensteins Bloody Nightmare,' a 1970's-style horror oddity that could pass for a perverse experiment masterminded by a mad scientist."

Click here for the review.

Most unshag-worthy celebrities?

FX’s "Nip/Tuck" is far from G rated; however, in a recent episode a sex scene between guest star Rosie O’Donnell (whose character Dawn Budge was from Pensacola) and lead character Dr. Christian Troy played by Julian McMahon was plastered all over the celebrity blogs. The scene caused an underground buzz among the show’s fans and celebrity aficionados with less than flattering comments.

In a nation where sex sells – sometimes sex is the last thing you want to witness when it comes to certain celebrities. This being the case, BetCRIS.com conducted a poll of over 8,000 users on which female celebrities should never have a Hollywood love scene.

BetCRIS.com released the following poll results regarding which female celebrities should never have a love scene:

Star Jones 24%

Sandra Bernhardt 16%

Joan Rivers 16%

Oprah 12%

Cathy Bates 10%

Barbara Walters 8%

Whoopie Goldberg 6%

Martha Stewart 3%

Kathy Griffin 2%

Tori Spelling 2%

Other 1%

“A handful of magazines conduct surveys on which celebrity is the sexiest – BetCRIS thought to do the opposite and I’m surprised by the outcome,” stated Mickey Richardson, CEO of BetCRIS.com. “I was certain Joan Rivers would win the top spot! Poor Star just can’t catch a break.”

PMA's Multicultural Family Day

Free Multicultural Family Day
Saturday, Oct. 7 Noon-4 p.m.

Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St.

Pensacola Museum of Art is gearing up for their annual Free Multicultural Family Day. This exciting event, now in its fourth year, will take place at PMA on Saturday, October 7 from Noon-4 PM. This is a free event, open to all, and there will be a little something for everyone.

Multicultural Day is a fun filled arts fair complete with musical performances, dancers, costumes, artistic demonstrations, and more, all of which are designed to stimulate senses while celebrating cultural diversity that exists in our Northwest Florida community. The event is centered around our Traveling Art Exploration Trunks. The trunks are filled with art, artifacts, and curiosities from around world. Each trunk highlights a different country and/or culture represented in our community, including Norway, Greece, Japan, Latin America, Africa and Native Americans.

Along with trunks, “Creation Stations” will be set up throughout museum where kids and parents alike are invited to create crafts inspired by culture and traditions represented in each trunk. Join us for an afternoon of fun and sharing as we travel around world right at the PMA.

Pack your bags. It’s right around the corner.

Click here to read this week's cover story about the event's organizer, Patrick Jennings.

Brian Posehn hosts Headbanger's Ball

Comedian-actor Brian Posehn will guest host this weekend’s edition of MTV2’s Headbanger’s Ball.

Posehn will play host to the renowned heavy metal music-video show this Saturday, October 7 in place of Headbanger’s Ball host Jamey Jasta (who is currently on tour with his band HATEBREED).

Additionally, Brian will be making the television premier of his music video for "Metal By Numbers", one of the musical tracks taken from his album ‘Live In: Nerd Rage’. The video illustrates Brian’s view on today’s metal scene and features appearances from Scott Ian (ANTHRAX / DAMNOCRACY) and Joey Vera (ARMORED SAINT/FATES WARNING).

Click here for the lowdown.

IN Your Head Radio 10/06/06

News: Interview - David Freehan, President of International Downtown Association

Loaded Gun: John Peacock, Revel

Rick’s Rant: True Courage

On WUWF FM 88.1- Digital Ch. 2 - 11 a.m. or

on TV Cox Ch 4 - 7 a.m. while the daily calendar is shown or

online here.

AMPLIFLY opens at the Belmont Arts Center

"AMPLIFLY" will open, according to Derrick Knight:

For those of you who didn't know, Santa Rosa County will not permit to open a music venue in the county. At the last moment I didn't think I could open my venue I've been working on for so long at all, until I remembered the Belmont Art Center in downtown Pensacola.

All Amplifly shows will be moved to the Belmont Art Center at the corner of 401 N. Reus St. & Belmont St., in downtown Pensacola. Amplifly WILL Open In Downtown Pensacola 10/13/06 @ Belmont Art Center @ 401 N. Reus St and this will be its official location.

I believe Amplifly will have greater success in Pensacola and have more support by the city, local bands, and music fans alike. The Belmont is really excited about me leasing the building on Friday and Saturday nights also, to help bring more culture in to the downtown area. The deal with the Belmont will be better in every aspect I can think of, its huge-with high ceilings, old brick walls, a great size stage, lighting.

It also has a courtyard and is a very versatile venue. I, Derrick Knight am really elated to still have the oppurtunity to continue promoting the shows at Belmont Arts Center. I look at the incident with Santa Rosa County not letting me open Amplifly in the county as a sign from God that I had more potential than I could display in Pace. Now I will be part of a bigger organization and be able to grow and make better connections.

SHOWS WILL CONTINUE AS SCHEDULED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTIFIED:

Oct 6 2006
5 p.m. Out of Nothing, London Underground & more

Oct 7 2006
8 p.m. Anxiety Catharis Cornerstone TORN BETWEEN Shiloh, Scarlet Tattoo

Oct 13 2006
8 p.m. Ever Rest

Oct 14 2006
8 p.m. One Day Remains

Oct 20 2006
8 p.m. London Underground Anxiety Ever Rest

Oct 21 2006
8 p.m. IT STARTS TODAY Cornerstone The Kane Madness TORN BETWEEN plus more.

Oct 23 2006
8 p.m. My Children My Bride Catherine A Sinner A Saint

Oct 27 2006
8 p.m. WE ARE ACTION (Defining Moment) & More.

Oct 28 2006
8 p.m.- One Day Remains Orphan Wells Caliber Session + more!

Nov 17 2006
8 p.m. Subject Zero-8

Rosie O's "Nip/Tuck" character from Pensacola

In this week's episode of "Nip/Tuck," Rosie O'Donnell is cast as Dawn Budge, a pushy nouveau riche lottery winner from Pensacola, who arrives at McNamara/Troy with her daughter and second husband in tow demanding plastic surgery for all three of them.

To encourage the doctors to do the work, O'Donnell's Budge character offers triple pay, which Christian accepts. "Money changes everything," Budge says.

Later, Dawn is giving Christian a tour of her home and stumbles on her husband and daughter testing out their, um, new enhancements--on each other.

Click here for details.

New AMPLIFLY club won't fly

Here's a note from former Hikkie Diddle promoter, Derrick Knight:

Well after numerous dollars, time, energy, promotion, etc. The county building department is not approving the building for Amplifly at 5533 Hwy. 90.

I thought everything was going through fine and was lead to believe by the zoning department that the location was great, which was true, but the building department isn't going to let Amplifly-Fly because of the building codes, they want me to install another bathroom on the exsisting structure with 4 more toilets, and also have general contractors switch the swing of the doors.

This is very heartbreaking to me and makes me want to just hang my head down and cry (and I have), especially after the year I have had with all the set backs I've already incountered.

However, the music business is my dream and I will look for another building that will be suitable for Amplifly. As much as I have disgust for Santa Rosa County officials, especially the building officials, I will continue to pursuing opening another venue in Pace/Milton.

I deeply apologize to all bands.

I will be having all bands still interested in doing shows play the Belmont Art Center in the few coming weeks to try to raise back some of the money I lost and give the bands a place to play still.

I will post blogs on as soon as I have all the details, it will probably be an all day or 2 day event show. "I am not going to let this keep me down, I will keep moving, even if I continue to have to make sacrifices in my personal life."

T. Bubba performs in Las Vegas

Pensacola native T. “Bubba” Bechtol will be taking his Southern-fried brand of comedy to the strip in Las Vegas for his new show, “Redneck Comedy Live” – Hip Southern Comedy by Four of the Best.


This will be Bechtol's first time performing in Las Vegas with his own show. He has previously opened for other big name acts there, but this is his first show in the “big room." Bechtol, and others, will bring fresh new entertainment to the Sahara Theatre, with this all-ages show.

The Sahara is known for having all of the big names in comedy through the years at their hotel. Bechtol will be playing the same room that Bill Cosby, Jay Leno, Rodney Dangerfield and the legends of comedy have appeared.


“Redneck Comedy Live!” is open to all ages, but children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Tickets are $44.50 including tax when purchased in person at the Sahara Box Office. For advance reservations, ring the Sahara Box Office at 702.737.2515, or purchase on-line at www.showtickets.com.

WHO: T. “Bubba” Bechtol
WHAT: Redneck Comedy Live
WHEN: Monday, Oct. 9-Saturday, Dec. 16
WHERE: Sahara Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

Rave's Bayou 15 opening Nov. 22

Jeremy Devine, Rave Motion Picture’s vice president of marketing, stopped by Loaded Gun headquarters last week to discuss the construction of the chain’s Bayou 15 theater near Cordova Mall in Pensacola. According to the Dallas-based spokesperson, the new hotspot will be full of “bells and whistles” and is slotted for a grand opening of Wednesday, Nov. 22.

“Out of all of the theaters in the country, this has to be one of the first that will be all digital,” he says, sitting next to the new Bayou Plaza location’s manager, Gayle Kelly. “The idea of all-digital has been talked about for awhile and you would have the occasional art house or multiplex with one or two screens retrofit. But, to open a brand new, state-of-the-art theater like Bayou with all 15 screens digital? You can count them on two hands.”

Devine says with 32 screens in the Pensacola market, Rave can possibly offer more limited-release films and will screen graphic-intensive reissues like Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Star Wars” in a 3D environment.

“We’re making a commitment to the town,” Devine continues. “We’re really happy to be able pull-in more limited platform films now because we have the shelf space. However, it may be awhile with the real exclusive stuff and limited-release films that have only a hundred copies in distribution.”

Visit www.ravemotionpictures.com for updates.

Come Out Pensacola! rundown

Come Out Pensacola is a multi-day celebration of Diversity for the Gulf Coast\ area of Northwest Florida running from October 11-15. The goal of Come Out Pensacola! is to bring the Pensacola-area lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community together with the other members of our community for a series of events designed to educate, inform, and entertain. And there'’s something for everyone.

Friday night October 13 features the stylings of hunky rock-a-billy singer, Eric Himan in concert. Himan has shared the stage with such well known artists as Cyndi Lauper, India Arie, Ru Paul, Melissa Ferrick, and many more. His latest CD –"Everywhere All At Once" – has been cited by Genre Magazine as one of the top 8 albums of the year. Eric is back by popular demand after a highly successful concert here last year.

Saturday'’s Festival in the Park at Bartram Park features a variety of entertainment options for all ages. Darwin Singleton, feature reporter for WPMI NBC 15 is back again as Master of Ceremonies and he will be introducing a variety of acts including Mica & Salome - belly dancers, Beau Broomall--a magician, Jacquline Jalisa, female impersonator & reigning Princess of the Gulf Coast, actors from Pensacola Little Theatre doing scenes from the hilarious comedy, “Sordid Lives”, our friends from the Zoo presenting an informative display of some of their most popular animals, and Amanda Stiffler doing face & body painting to music on stage. Vocalists include up and coming Troy Rusnick who has recently opened for such acts as Spin Doctors, Dave Mason, and Buster Poindexter. Troy will be on stage at 1:30 p.m. and again at 5:15 p.m.

Cathy Page, known for her soulful, raspy, rock 'n' roll style is back from her recent tour with Beat Daddy, entertaining the US Troops around the world, and will perform at 3:30 p.m.

This year'’s offerings for children includes a Fire Truck Demonstration by the Pensacola Fire Department from Noon until 2 p.m., a Petting Zoo by the Gulf Breeze Zoo from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Stilt walking and balloon animals by the amazing Zak Asiago from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m., and face painting by Amanda from Noon until 6 p.m.

The final event of the week is a Sunday Brunch from Noon to 3 p.m. featuring the musical stylings of Lucy Garcia. Many will remember Lucy from her days performing with her brothers in one of Pensacola'’s favorite bands, The Garcias. Since that time Lucy has expanded her musical career, appearing in Carnegie Hall, venues throughout Europe and Cuba and across the USA. She has recorded with a variety of artists including Grammy award winning producer Larry Butler.

Click here for details.

Lineup for Pensacola Interstate Fair

The Pensacola Interstate announced its music lineup this week, boasting headliners such as Endings Edge, Quiet Riot, Skid Row and SHeDAISY scheduled to perform daily from Thursday, Oct. 19 through Saturday, Oct. 28.

This year’s star lineup kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19 with Endings Edge followed at 8 p.m. with Revel. Recent winners of the WABB 97 FM’s “Local Music Smackdown,” Revel played at the Florida Music Festival in Orlando, joined by Endings Edge as the only other band from the Pensacola area to earn a spot at the mammoth industry party. Also, Endings Edge recently won two IN Music Awards for “Best Hardcore” and “Song of the Year.”

Metal fans and adrenaline junkies—get ready for some hard rocking music with Quiet Riot at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20 followed by Skid Row at 8 p.m.

Quiet Riot will hit the Pensacola Interstate Fair entertainment stage only a few days after the international release of their new CD “Rehab.” For the recordings, original band members Kevin DuBrow and Frankie Banali were joined by Tony Franklin on bass, session guitarist Neil Citron and the voice of rock, Glenn Hughes (ex-Deep Purple and Black Sabbath), who performed a vocal duet with DuBrow on the classic 1969 Spooky Tooth song “Evil Woman.”

“Songwriting-wise, we dug into our ‘70s roots,” says DuBrow about their new release. “And some of the guitar texture are more modern sounding. Not modern sounding like you may think, but more bluesy.”

SHeDAISY, also known as “Sisters K,” have been singing together for probably almost as long as they can remember. Kristyn, Karli and Kassidy Osborn will enchant visitors of the Pensacola Interstate Fair at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27. The band has scored seven top 10 singles, and they have sold over three million albums during their career.

Shows at the Pensacola Interstate Fair are always free with the price of admission. For more information, call 944-4500 or visit www.pensacolafair.com.

PJC poet earns national praise

Allan Peterson, for many years chair of PJC's Visual Arts department, continues to gain recognitions for his other career as a writer.

Most recently, his poems have won top prizes in two national competitions: Georgia State University's literary revue, and the Muriel Craft Bailey prize from The Comstock Review in New York State. Both awards provide publication and substantial cash prizes.

Earlier this year Peterson's second full-length poetry collection. "All the Lavish in Common," won the prestigious Juniper Prize, and was published by the University of Massachusetts Press.

Locally shot film premieres in NYC

Milton-based filmmaker, John R. Hand, is gearing for an exclusive theatrical engagement of his full-length horror flick, “Frankenstein’s Bloody Nightmare” at NYC’s Pioneer Theater in the East Village from Wednesday, Oct. 11 to Tuesday, Oct. 17.

“It’s very exciting yet very scary to me in some way because it's such a big place and big media market,” Hand remarks. “But I’m going to be in New York the entire run so I’m really excited about the whole thing.”

In a contemporary twist on the “Frankenstein” tale, Hand plays Victor Karlstein, a brilliant young scientist who finds himself falling into an abyss of personal turmoil and professional stress after a female patient dies while under his care. Determined to keep his love interest and patient alive, Karlstein uses a mechanically enhanced reanimated corpse to murder young women in order to furnish raw parts for her new body.

“It came in a weird way,” he says, talking about the inspiration behind the film he shot in downtown Pensacola and near his home in Milton. “I was helping a friend transfer his Super 8 home movies to video. There was something about the format that really intrigued me and it brought back memories of when I was a kid and when I would collect old bits of projectors and cameras.”

Similar to the “mad scientist” protagonist in his film, Hand pieced together an old-school Super 8 camera from the hardware parts he stored in his garage.

“It seemed like an interesting format to tell a really strange story,” he says. “I describe it as a fantastic film, having one foot in the past and one foot in the future. It’s dreamlike and kind of in that unknown zone—in that unknown vector—and I thought Super 8 would be an interesting way to visually tell the story.”

Hand says audiences so far, including the premiere at Pensacola’s Silver Screen in August--have been polarized about his experimental exploration of the aggressive male psyche gone terribly awry.

“People either really love it or really hate it,” he says. “I don't think a film like this has been shot in Pensacola before. It has a cohesive rhythm to it but it doesn't necessarily follow a traditional mold.”

As far as the future of “Frankenstein’s Bloody Nightmare,” Hand is somewhat ambivalent.

“I have no clue what's up for me,” the filmmaker says. “I’ve sold the DVD rights and I’ll probably attend the Pensacola Film Festival but after that, who knows.”

Check out here for the lowdown.

PLT's "Stage Fright" on hiatus

The Pensaacola Little Theatre has decided to put "Stage Fright" on hiatus this year, but it will return in October 2007, then rotate the event on the schedule every other year (2009, 2011…).

This year the PLT considered and started planning a "Mad Monster Bash" and "Masquerade Ball" for October 28^th, but have decided that without adequate lead time to pull off a bonafide hit event, that this idea will be shelved and return in October 2008.

So in a nutshell-- no Halloween events from PLT this year.