TAKE THE MIC(TURN): MicTurn app wraps first original song contest

Wilmington’s Jason Ashby and Kennon Young just closed entries for their first original song contest on Sunday via their MicTurn app. With 59 entries (and the nonprofit 100 Men Who Care in Wilmington matching each $5 entry donation with $10), they raised $590 for Meals For Heroes. “Nothing crazy but it feels great to give back in any way,” Ashby says. Submissions were open … Continue reading TAKE THE MIC(TURN): MicTurn app wraps first original song contest

Shannon Rae GentryMay 5, 2020Leave a comment

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Music

LEARNING A NEW TUNE: Jeremy Mathews offers private online lessons in instruments, songwriting and more

For the past few weeks, tribute videos for John Prine have flooded the internet. The folk singer-songwriter, who passed away from COVID-19 complications on April 7, was an influential figure for countless artists around the globe. Like many other musicians nationwide and here locally, multi-instrumentalist and music teacher Jeremy Mathews plans to pay tribute to Prine with covers of song such as “All the … Continue reading LEARNING A NEW TUNE: Jeremy Mathews offers private online lessons in instruments, songwriting and more

Shannon Rae GentryApril 21, 2020Leave a comment

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Music

SING A (QUARAN)TUNE: Pianist Clay Whittington plays live for audiences every Thursday

It’s been a while since I sat down with pianist Clay Whittington at Port City Java on Market Street in 2013. The Kinston-born North Carolinian had moved to Wilmington only a few months prior in order to fulfill his passion for performance in theatre, film and music. Leading up to his move, Whittington had been in shows like “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Clue,” “TEXAS,” “Disney’s … Continue reading SING A (QUARAN)TUNE: Pianist Clay Whittington plays live for audiences every Thursday

Shannon Rae GentryApril 14, 2020Leave a comment

EXTRA & FEATURES, Feature

SIMPLE BEAUTY: River Organics takes chemicals and plastics out of makeup

Originally published in encore magazine, April 7, 2020 We have a multi-layered, toxic relationship with the cosmetic industry. At its foundation, so to speak, is the deluge of products we inundate our skin with, as well as the waste of purchased items that are hardly used. A 2017 survey of 3,000 women (commissioned by SkinStore) found an average use of 16 products in the morning, … Continue reading SIMPLE BEAUTY: River Organics takes chemicals and plastics out of makeup

Shannon Rae GentryApril 7, 2020November 8, 2020Leave a comment

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Music

RAY OF LIGHT: Sean Thomas Gerard talks latest single and accompanying April 4 livestream

For the last couple of weeks, encore (like everyone else in ILM) has gotten used to seeing the words “postponed” and “canceled” due to COVID-19. It’s a tough pill to swallow for the arts and entertainment community, especially for musicians who rely on shows and festivals for exposure and a paycheck. Among them is Sean Thomas Gerard of Onward, Soldiers, who books shows for … Continue reading RAY OF LIGHT: Sean Thomas Gerard talks latest single and accompanying April 4 livestream

Shannon Rae GentryMarch 31, 2020Leave a comment

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Film

THREE FOR THREE: Wilmington actor Carson Holmes talks about his role on ‘Ozark,’ season three premiere

Folks who have been watching Netflix’s “Ozark” are familiar with the Langmores, especially Ruth (Julia Garner)—a smart, sassy and sometimes well-intentioned 20-something trying to do what’s right for her family. There’s also her teenage cousins, Wyatt (Charlie Tahan) and his younger brother Three, played by Wilmingtonian Carson Holmes. The Langmores are known in their community for low, petty theft crimes, but some of the … Continue reading THREE FOR THREE: Wilmington actor Carson Holmes talks about his role on ‘Ozark,’ season three premiere

Shannon Rae GentryMarch 24, 2020Leave a comment

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Music

VIRTUAL SUPPORT: Wilson Center Ghostlight Series livestreams March 23, 7 p.m.

In an effort to keep Wilmington’s vibrant art scene strong in this time of uncertainty for local performers, CFCC’s Wilson Center, WHQR 91.3FM and The Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County are launching the Wilson Center Ghostlight Series. In a release on March 17, Arts Council executive director Rhonda Bellamy noted the Cape Fear’s nonprofit arts sector has an economic impact of … Continue reading VIRTUAL SUPPORT: Wilson Center Ghostlight Series livestreams March 23, 7 p.m.

Shannon Rae GentryMarch 18, 2020Leave a comment

EXTRA & FEATURES, Feature

WTF IN HISTORY: ‘She Rocks the Vote’ exhibit postponed, carries multiple themes relevant to today

Originally published in encore magazine, March 17, 2020 Like nearly everything else in March, next Thursday’s “She Rocks the Vote” exhibit at UNCW’s Randall Library has been postponed. Spearheaded by Randall’s humanities librarian Lisa Coats and Jennifer Le Zotte, assistant professor of U.S. history and material culture, the curated event to help celebrate Women’s History Month will have a new date as soon as possible. … Continue reading WTF IN HISTORY: ‘She Rocks the Vote’ exhibit postponed, carries multiple themes relevant to today

Shannon Rae GentryMarch 17, 2020November 8, 2020Leave a comment

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Music

FESTIVAL FOLKS: Local musicians gear up for spring and summer festivals

With each new Wilmington show announced on Facebook, my husband and I get excited … and simultaneously nervous. “Did you check the calendar?” he’ll ask me, our family’s events manager. “Yes, we’re in town and have [insert name of festival] the following weekend.” We then breathe a collective sigh of relief and go on about our lives. Summer shows and festival trips take planning … Continue reading FESTIVAL FOLKS: Local musicians gear up for spring and summer festivals

Shannon Rae GentryMarch 10, 2020Leave a comment

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Music

MEDIEVAL AF: Indie-rock outfit RITA CASCIA debuts at Gravity Records

One of the things I love about Wilmington is watching musicians and bands sprout out of the creative cracks of our community’s foundation: from local open mics to music education programs, to sidewalks filled with buskers, to garage parties pulsating with punk rockers. Musicians are everywhere and they seem to have an innate drive to write and play songs for Wilmingtonians. RITA CASCIA’s Davis … Continue reading MEDIEVAL AF: Indie-rock outfit RITA CASCIA debuts at Gravity Records

Shannon Rae GentryMarch 3, 2020Leave a comment