Tickets are now available for the Michael Ray concert at The JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa. Photo: The JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa
On Saturday, April 22, The JL Bar Ranch, Resort, & Spa is excited to welcome Michael Ray as part of the JL Bar Concert Series lineup for 2023. The concert will take place at the FBO Private Airport Hanger and tickets are available now. Michael Ray is a singer, songwriter currently signed to Warner Music Nashville and has released two albums: Michael Ray and Boats and Hoes. (The JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, 2023)
Guests can turn this Saturday night event into a well-deserved weekend getaway by reserving a room in the luxury guest accommodations and booking other activities known to enhance The JL Bar experience. Additional event details are available online.
Event details: Venue doors and bar open at 6:30p.m. (times subject to change) Opening and featured performance: details coming soon
Concert reservations: General Admission tickets: $55 VIP private table: $999 (includes 8 event tickets and 2 drink tickets per person – 16 tickets per table)
Partnered hotel availability: (mention The JL Bar Event when making reservations) Quality Inn, Sonora location: $100/night (single); $120/night (double) Holiday Inn Express, Junction location: $100/night
The Runaway Grooms will release This Road on February 10, 2023. Photo: Google
For many years, Colorado has been the birthplace for a myriad of unique musical gems and The Runaway Grooms are no exception. The Runaway Grooms’ classic sound is a refreshing take on contemporary jam band music as it celebrates the authenticity and wholesomeness of traditional American roots music through tonality, lyricism, and instrumentation. After finishing their 6th national tour, The Runaway Grooms are now creating a buzz in many different musical communities around the country, sharing bills with nationally renowned and Grammy nominated artists like Umphrey’s McGee, Robben Ford, Leftover Salmon, Twiddle, Trombone Shorty, North Mississippi Allstars, and many more. Their newest album, This Road, is a blending of their previous two albums, marking the band’s return to an American roots rock style of songwriting, while simultaneously sending listeners on extended instrumental journeys through rich and colorful sonic landscapes. (The Runaway Grooms, 2023)
On February 10, the Grooms—guitarist and vocalist Adam Tobin, keyboardist Cody Scott, bassist and vocalist Zach Gillam, drummer Justin Bisset, and guitarist and vocalist Zac Cialek—are releasing their third studio album, This Road, into the world and onto stages nationwide. Recorded on the road at Paloma Sound Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, with former Ardent Studio engineer Jeremy Horn, the Grooms’ third LP marks the band’s return to more of an American roots rock songwriting style, all while keeping one foot in the tight-knit jam band circle from which they emerged. Equally inspired by jazz-fusion exploration from the likes of Steely Dan, Atlanta Rhythm Section, and Yes, and the guitar-driven prowess of Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Grateful Dead, This Road dives in and out of grooves and moods, turning on a dime, but always focusing on what the band sees as the most important aspect; the song. In addition to telling stories and gleaning wisdom from life, love, and struggle, This Road captures an array of emotions and moods drawn from the dramatic narrative of living on the road in a touring band.
JamBase premiered the first track from This Road, the piano-driven rocker “Jenny.” Written by Tobin as a letter from his late grandmother to his mother, “Jenny” is a story about love, life, family, and the passing of time. Recorded live in the studio to capture the organic energy found in The Runaway Grooms’ live show, “Jenny” winds higher and higher, punctuated by Cialek’s piercing lap steel guitar and Scott’s change from rhythmic piano to swirling B3 organ. The up and down dynamics of the song’s instrumentation flows beautifully with its lyrical content, exactly as the band intended, and is capped off by an all-engulfing slide guitar solo before the song effortlessly fades into the album’s next track. Westword included the track in their new music column this week, calling it “six minutes of classic-rock bliss that’s equal parts The Band and the Allman Brothers.”
Fans of the aforementioned bands and more modern contemporaries like Goose or Billy Strings should check out “Jenny”today and stay up to dateon all things ahead of their February 10 release.
This Road track list: Jenny Mister Ford Here I Come Again This Road Heartwork
Those Who Call is a new horror movie available now for streaming. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Uncork’d Entertainment has acquired Anubys Lopez’ backwoods horror film Those Who Call and premiered on digital January10, 2023. It is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Google Movies, and You Tube. (Those Who Call, 2023)
Those Who Call– The film, starring Angie Sandoval, Yetlanezi Rodriguez, Reese Fast, Kevin Kinkade, and Addison Cousins, tells of two sisters who go on a road trip to Colorado. On their way there, their car breaks down in an abandoned old town. Soon they realize things are not what they seem, and they are not alone in the forest. They find themselves being hunted by a sadistic pagan cult and must do everything in their power to survive.
“If you enjoyed The Lodge, Winchester, and The Heretics, Those Who Call should be on your must-see list. Headlined by two very strong actresses, Those Who Call has so much going for it. We look forward to audiences discovering it in January, when we release.” – Keith Leopard, President Uncork’d Entertainment
Uncork’d Entertainment was founded in July, 2012 by Keith Leopard, a Home Entertainment industry veteran with more than 23 years of experience in purchasing, acquisitions, merchandising, marketing, and analysis of major studio and independent supplier to the home entertainment market. The Company focuses on distribution in six areas: Digital Media, Physical Home Entertainment, Aggregation, Theatrical and Television, Foreign Sales, and has secured relationships across all platforms to ensure your film reaches the widest audience possible. Keith and his team are committed to maximizing revenue, controlling costs, and assuring their Content Partners the highest quality of service, a commitment to market and merchandise their film and a rewarding experience by partnering with Uncork’d Entertainment.
The National Park’s new album 8th Wonder will be out March 3, 2023. Photo: Amazon
Utah-based indie-pop group The National Parkswants their music to spark memories of listeners’ own outdoor adventures. Brady Parks (vocals, guitar), Sydney Macfarlane (vocals, keys), Cam Brannelly (drums), and Megan Parks (violin)—breathe in inspiration from the world around them and exhale cinematic indie folk-pop powered by soaring harmonies, organic orchestration, and luminous electronics. “I’m spiritually connected when I’m in nature and when I’m listening to music,” says the band’s violinist Megan Parks. “We hope you hear the connection between nature and music, too.” On March 3, The National Parks will expand their vision yet again on their fifth full-length album, 8th Wonder. (The National Parks, 2023)
Bonus Points: The National Parks snuck all of the Natural Wonders of the World into the lyrics of “8th Wonder.” Can you pick out all seven of them? Fans can hear “8th Wonder”now and pre-order or pre-save8th Wonder ahead of its March 3 release.
In addition to the album announcement, The National Parks have also announced the Spring leg of their 2023 8th Wonder Tour. Stops include The Troubador in Los Angeles and Antone’s in Austin. A full list of tour dates can be found below or online.
At the top of 2022, The National Parks hopped on Zoom for a “New Year’s Resolutions meeting,” which galvanized their next step and the vision for the album became completely clear. The band discussed their ambitions for the year ahead and ultimately decided they wanted to focus more on their core identity for the next LP. That connection with the natural world became the thematic center of the writing process. “We’ve stepped into what The National Parks is,” Sydney elaborates. “We basically said, ‘This is who we are and who we have always been.’ We decided to show who we are without trying to prove anything. I think it’s our best work.”
“Angels,” the album’s first single and opening track, sets the tone for what is to come. The layered, evocative song centers on breaking free of expectation and searching for adventure on the open road—a sentiment that threads through the rest of the album.
In the end, The National Parks welcome everyone into a much bigger and more wonderful musical world. “When you hear this, we hope you feel like you stepped outside,” Brady Parks leaves off. “We hope you discover the spirit of the unknown and the adventure of life with all its ups and downs. This album is about embracing it all and living life to the fullest.”
8th Wonder Tour Spring 2023 Dates: Friday, March 17 – Salt Lake City, UT – Union Events Center Friday, April 21 – Rexburg, ID – Romance Theater Saturday, April 22 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall Tuesday, April 25 – Portland, OR – Mission Theater Wednesday, April 26 – Seattle, WA The Crocodile’s Madame Lou’s Friday, April 28 – Berkeley, CA Cornerstone Saturday, April 29 – Santa Cruz, CA The Atrium Thursday, May 4 – San Diego, CA Voodoo Friday, May 5 – Los Angles, CA Troubadour Tuesday, May 9 – Houston, TX The Bronze Peacock at House of Blues – Houston Wednesday, May 10 – Austin, TX – Antone’s Thursday, May 11 – Dallas, TX – Kessler Friday, May 12 – Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street OKC Saturday, May 13 – Denver, CO – Bluebird
Twisted is available in digital and On Demand. Photo: Google
New horror movie release: Twisted – Available on digital and On Demand.
Twisted– A young woman seeks independence from her protective mother, only to be questioning her own sanity when newfound friends die, and her mother suggests Hannah is the cause of their death. (Twisted, 2023)
Written and directed by Vibeke Muasya Starring Vibeke Muasya, Vibeke Muasya, Nikolaj Scherfig
This year’s Slamdance Film Festival will take place from January 20 through January 26, 2023. Photo: Google
The Slamdance Film Festival is an annual film festival focused on emerging artists. It was founded in 1995 by Dan Mirvish, Jon Fitzgerald, Shane Kuhn, and Peter Baxter, along with Paul Rachman after they were unable to submit films to the Sundance Film Festival. The annual week-long festival will take place in Park City, Utah from January 20 through January 26 and is the main event organized by the year-round Slamdance organization, which also hosts a screenplay competition, workshops, screenings throughout the year and events with an emphasis on independent films with budgets under $1million. (Wikipedia, Slamdance Film Festival, 2023)
The distinctly different and impactful films making their world premieres this January in Park City, UT offer an insider’s humanistic view into the lives around us. Where a news headline could merely skim the surface, these films engage, inspire, prompt conversations, and offer hope and empathy. Each of these four films has a running time of under 90 minutes.
“Silent Love” Slamdance Competition Documentary Film “Silent Love” is an incredibly intimate observational documentary that subtly and tenderly portrays the lives of two women raising a pubescent teenager in the conservative setting of a small Polish village.
Each of the characters is completely different, both visually and in terms of character. Each faces different problems. Each has different obstacles to overcome. Together they form a new family, but most of all, it is a universal story about the hardships of raising a teenager in the face of a parent’s death and about taking on new roles.
After their mother’s death, 35-year-old Aga has to take care of her teenage brother, Milosz. There is one thing she is not telling him about: her ongoing relationship with Maja. An unconventional family is being born in a small, conservative Polish village.
Filmmaking Team: Director, Writer and Cinematographer Marek Kozakiewicz, Editors Anna Garncarczyk, Monument and Agata Cierniak, Music by Bartosz Bludau, Producer Agnieszka Skalska, and Agnieszka Dziedzic, Co-produced by Alex Tondowski, and Ira Tondowski. Running Time: 72 Minutes
Slamdance Screening Times: Location: Slamdance Film Festival Headquarters Treasure Mountain Inn 255 Main St. Park City, UT Premiere: Saturday, January 21 at 3p.m. Second Screening: Wednesday, January 25 at 11:15a.m.
“Starring Jerry As Hinself” Slamdance Competition Documentary Feature Film “Starring Jerry As Hinself” is a docu-fiction hybrid that blurs the lines of reality while staying true to the subject and his story. It employs a variety of creative filmmaking techniques to capture the world from Jerry’s perspective. The film is a genre bending meta experience, with our subject Jerry starring in his own recreation of his unique journey. The filmmakers wanted to create something unique that stood out from the traditional documentary, while also reflecting Jerry’s state of mind, so they nested a film within a film.
A family documents how their immigrant father Jerry, a recently divorced and retired Florida man, was recruited by the Chinese police to be an undercover agent, only to discover a darker truth.
Filmmaking Team: Director and Editor Lawrence Chen, Co-Writers Jerry C. Hsu (the star of the film) and Lawrence Chen, producers: Jonathan Hsu, and Lawrence Chen, composer Eric Hölljes with Cinematography by Tinx Chen, and Lawrence Chen. Running Time: 75 Minutes
“Starring Jerry As Hinself” Slamdance Screening Times: Location: Slamdance Film Festival Headquarters Treasure Mountain Inn 255 Main St. Park City, UT Premiere: Saturday, January 21 at 7:30p.m. Second Screening: Monday, January 23 at 2:45p.m.
“The Underbug” Slamdance Breakout Selection Feature Film While the nations came to a standstill owing to the pandemic, another more familiar kind of virus – that of communal violence raged more aggressively than earlier. India witnessed a uniquely cross-sectional humanitarian crisis: the burgeoning of xenophobia fueled by Covid, commingled with the toxic wave of sectarian violence. What India experienced, as did the rest of the world – we live immersed as a world in the great fracture of our times. “The Underbug” is a psychological horror that explores the psyche of people who live on the fringe of society. These are subaltern populations, easily weaponized for the narrow benefit of the political system. Thus began the story of two such men, in a deserted house, playing out what hopefully feels like the abstract psychopathology of our troubled times. The filmmakers hope that ‘The Underbug’ sparks conversation, offering an insight on hate politics and contributes in some small way towards empathy, courage and love.
As India is ravaged by sectarian violence on the eve of its Independence Day, two rioters take refuge in an abandoned house. An eerie presence in the house, however, haunts the men to the edge of sanity.
Filmmaking Team and Stars: Starring Ali Fazal and Hussain Dalal, Directed by Shujaat Saudagar, Written by Shujaat Saudagar, Abbas Dalal, and Hussain Dalal, Produced by Vikesh Bhutani, Shujaat Saudagar, and Aman Mann, Executive Producers Shaunak Sen, Richa Chadha, Ali Faz al, Hussain Dalal and Abbas Dalal. Running Time: 68 Minutes *In Hindi with subtitles*
Slamdance Screening Times: Location: Slamdance Film Festival Headquarters Treasure Mountain Inn 255 Main St. Park City, UT Premiere: Saturday, January 21 at 10p.m.
“With Peter Bradley” Slamdance Competition Documentary Feature Film “With Peter Bradley” embodies the cinematic storytelling that made “The Kid Stays In The Picture” an iconic documentary. “With Peter Bradley” is a celebration of artmaking, resilience, and the creative contributions of Black artists to American life. It focuses a long-overdue lens on Peter Bradley and shines a light on his rightful place in the ongoing movement toward racial equity in the arts and our society. Despite the systemic racism of society in general and the art world in particular, Peter Bradley built an incredible resumé before the age of 35: the first Black art dealer on Madison Avenue (at the prestigious Perls Galleries); likely the first Black abstract artist represented by a major New York gallery (André Emmerich); and curator of what is considered the first integrated modern art show in America (The DeLuxe Show). Peter Bradley explores innovative methods of applying paint to canvas, inspired by nature and the colorful flowers he tends daily in his garden and greenhouse.
79 years old and overlooked since the 1970s, abstract artist Peter Bradley reflects on life and shares his artistic process on the cusp of his rediscovery.
Filmmaking Team: Director, Cinematographer, Editor and Producer Alex Rappoport, Composer Javon Jackson, Executive Producers Adger Cowans, and Robina Riccitiello, Consulting Producers Diane Kolyer, and Beth Levison, and Music Supervisor Ed Gerard. Running Time: 86 Minutes
Slamdance Screening Times: Location: Slamdance Film Festival Headquarters Treasure Mountain Inn 255 Main St. Park City, UT Premiere: Sunday, January 22 at 12:45p.m. Second Screening: Tuesday, January 24 at 5:30p.m.
Doug Paisley new album Say What You Like will be released March 17, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Since the release of his self-titled debut fifteen years ago, Doug Paisley has earned compliments for his self-reflective songs delivered with simplicity and beauty. Though Paisley has always collaborated with Canadian musicians including celebrities like Garth Hudson, Leslie Feist, and Mary Margaret O’Hara, his records have drawn nostalgia from moments when the listener hears Paisley as he most often hears himself: unadorned and alone with his guitar. Canadian songwriter Doug Paisley’s new album SayWhat You Like is a snapshot of an artist functioning at his best and highest level—honest, exposed, searching, and yet comforting in his ability to communicate the universal in the struggles of the individual. Due out on March 17, 2023, it is his first release since 2018’s Starter Home which landed on The New Yorker’s Ten Best Albums of the Year and a step in a brand new direction as the first release with Paisley’s new record label Outside Music, a welcoming, Canada-based home for a Canadian artist who has long been signed to U.S.-based labels. (Doug Paisley, 2023)
With the help of producer Afie Jervanen—perhaps best known as recording artist BAHAMAS—the album manages to be groovy too. One gets the sense from these songs that Paisley simply must write. “As a songwriter these days,” he reflected, “there’s very little to gain and very little to lose so I am working only from the heart, there’s no other motive” and on Say What You Like, it shows.
Paisley shared the music video for Say What You Like’s titular opening track with fans. “Say What You Like” finds Paisley wrestling with past friends’ or lovers’ opinions of him, all backed up by a lightly funky rhythm with a slightly country tinge not seen since the early days of J.J. Cale’s lo-fi productions. “When something important disappears from your life, your imagination is sometimes called upon to fill the gaps,” Paisley says. “You could fill another universe with all the things people imagine other people are saying or thinking about them.” Featuring Jurvanen and Christine Bougie on guitars, Don Kerr on drums, Felicity Williams on harmonies, and Darcy Yates on Bass, “Say What You Like” is a welcome introduction to what the future holds for Paisley, his songs, and his sound.
Say What You Like track list: Say What You Like Sometimes It’s So Easy Wide Open Plain Rewrite History Almost If I Wanted To I Wanted It Too Much Make It A Double You Turn My Life Around Holy Roller Old Hometown
The television adaptation of Will Trent will premiere on ABC on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. Photo: Google
Karin Slaughteris a crime writer and author of 21 novels which have sold more than 40 million copies and have been published in 120 countries. Her first novel “Blindsighted” made the Crime Writers’ Association’s Dagger Award shortlist for ‘Best Thriller Debut’ of 2001. She is best known for stand alone novels but also for the Grant County and Will Trent (Atlanta) series of books. The Will Trent series takes place in Atlanta, Georgia and features Georgia Bureau of Investigation special agent Will Trent, his partner Faith Mitchell, and Angie Polaski. The series has been adapted into a television series starring Ramón Rodriguez as Will Trent, Erika Christensen as Angie Polaski, and Iantha Richardson as Faith Mitchell. Will Trent will premiere on ABC on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 10/9c. (Google, 2023)
As a child, Trent was abandoned and was forced to endure a harsh coming-of-age in Atlanta’s overwhelmed foster care system. Now that he is in a position to make a difference, Trent is determined to use his unique point of view to make sure no one is abandoned like he was. His personal motivation and background contribute to Will Trent having the highest clearance rate in the GBI.
Ghosts of Monday will be released January 23, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Because any day is a good day for a horror movie: Acclaimed actor Julia Sands stars in The Ghosts of Monday, an unnerving new horror experience from filmmaker Francesco Cinquemani (Eye For An Eye). It will be available on digital, blu-ray, and DVD starting January 23, 2023. (The Ghosts of Monday, 2022)
Mark Huberman (Vikings Valhalla) stars as a television director who becomes embroiled in a supernatural conspiracy after traveling to Cyprus to make a tv pilot about a haunted hotel. Julian Sands (Warlock), Marianna Rosset (Survive or Sacrifice), Elva Trill (Jurassic World: Dominion) and Anthony Skordi (Onassis) also appear in the frightening profusion of suspense and scares.
The Gibson Brothers announce upcoming album Darkest Hour, due out January 27, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
The Gibson Brothersare the real deal. They can pick. They can sing. And they can write a damn good country song. Country Music Hall of Famer Tom T. Hall was always an early supporter, encouraging their writing, and predicting success. They have won about every bluegrass award you can name and released albums on almost every premier Americana label you can think of including Sugar Hill and Rounder. Their songs have been recorded by bluegrass legends no less than Del McCoury. It is a resume almost anybody in country music would be proud to have. Despite all of this, The Gibson Brothers are not yet household names. Their latest album, Darkest Hour, produced by dobro master Jerry Douglas, might just change that. It is due out January 27, 2023. (The Gibson Brothers, 2022)
Kicking off with a flurry of traditional bluegrass excellence, The Gibson Brothers’ new single Dust is more than a just statement of musicianship. It is the whole package; world-class picking, clear and refined vocals, and rock-solid songwriting. An ode to leaning into down-and-out—“Left in the dust” by ex-lover— Dust puts a clever, positive spin on being left behind. “Me and dust, we do fine.” Dust is the first track The Gibson Brothers have shared from their upcoming album Darkest Hour. Produced by dobro king Jerry Douglas, Darkest Hour represents the purest form of Leigh, Eric, and the band’s stage show, with a room full of exceptional musicians.
Darkest Hour spans from trad-grass to country-soul and back again, utilizing classically bluegrass instruments as well as electric guitars and drums to craft a sound fit for the songs it surrounds. While The Gibson Brothers have achieved a level of success doing things their way, and that is not going to change, those who know—their peers that voted them to two Entertainers of the Year Awards, and their famed crop of producers—know just how talented these guys are and just how much they deserve for DarkestHour to take The Gibson Brothers to a whole new level.
Fans can purchase or stream Dust today at and pre-order or pre-saveDarkest Hour ahead of its January release.
Darkest Hour track list: 1. What A Difference A Day Makes 2. Heart’s Desire 3. So Long Mama 4. I Feel The Same Way As You 5. Shut Up and Dance 6. I Go Driving 7. My Darkest Hour 8. Who’s Gonna Want A Heart Like Mine 9. One Minute Of You (Song For Annie Gray) 10. Your Eyes Say His Name 11. Dust 12. This Good Day
SA Examiner 