In the world of traveling musicians there are some we call "road warriors." These are the ones that are on the road more often than they are home. (If they have a home other than the tour van.) They are perpetual travelers. Musicians like these are out there doing it the old way. They play dive bars, rodeos, hometown festivals, anywhere that pays. They are the kind to spend … [Read more...]
George Charles Nelson III Sings Millennial Love Songs
I've known George Charles Nelson III for about four years now. He's an old school East-Coast kind of guy, a trained fighter actually, but he's also a soft hearted poetic type. He's been vegan pretty much for forever. From his little house in Salt Lake City he grows tomatoes, and has two chihuahuas—one is over 20 years old and the other is close to it. By day he works in a m … [Read more...]
Utah Opera Celebrating 40 Years with a Towering Production of Moby-Dick
Forty years ago Glade Peterson had a dream. An internationally known singer who spent 12 years as the principal tenor for the Zurich Opera, wanted to bring opera to Utah. Inspired by what Maurice Abravanel did with the Utah Symphony and William Christensen did with Ballet West, Glade knew that Salt Lake City could support a major opera company. His daughter, Michelle … [Read more...]
J.P. Whipple and His Band, Tycoon Machete
In my travels as a folk singer, I meet all kinds of musicians and artists. I am starting this series to focus on some of Utah's creative types, to tell their stories and dive into why they create the art they do. Each month I will feature a different Utah musical act. I begin the series with J.P. Whipple and his band, Tycoon Machete. It's the middle of a fall Friday … [Read more...]
Ben Byrd Finds a Home at Salt Lake Comic Con and FanX
It’s hard to believe that March marked the 4th annual FanX convention and 8th overall Salt Lake Comic Con event in Salt Lake City. It seems like yesterday that the first Salt Lake Comic Con was announced and Utah’s Geek population made it one of the biggest events in the state’s history. Held in September of 2013 70,000 attendees stormed the Salt Palace, many in imaginative Cosp … [Read more...]
Utah Company Raises Funds to Combat the Killing of Rhinos for Their Horns
Some people spend their life looking for a greater purpose and a way to impact the world in a different way. The artists and illustrators at Kühl put their efforts into protecting rhinos from poachers, who sell the horns for medicinal purposes, primarily as an aphrodisiac. But it is nothing more than a placebo. Kristy Tipton and Manny Carrasco are the founders of the program … [Read more...]
Salt Lake City Painter Combines Art and History to Make a Living
Anthony Ithurralde is a Salt Lake City-based artist best known for his historical illustrations that depict styles influenced by the 1920’s through the 1960’s. His art captures a certain essence of each decade and reflects a mix of Max Fleischer cartoons with vintage hand painted advertisements. Ithurralde's love for painting is intertwined with a love for history. “I’ve alwa … [Read more...]
Jonnie Parker Hartman Brings Christmas Magic to Grand America Hotel
Having unique skills will often land you in unique places. Sometimes, in places you never expected. Pursuing a Fine Arts degree at the University of Utah, Jonnie Parker Hartman honed her skills in traditional ink-on-paper works and likely never imagined she would find her creative niche wielding a saw and glue gun along with her paints. “I have more tools than my husband d … [Read more...]
Salt Lake Comic Con Cosplay 2016
Ro Malaga is the cosplay coordinator for Salt Lake Comic Con. He brings together creative people to compete in what has become one of the most popular events at the Salt Lake cons. Ro’s background is in entertainment. He is a hip hop dancer and choreographer who has worked on commercial project such as the High School Musical franchise. He first got involved with SLCC as a v … [Read more...]
YouTube Sensations – The Piano Guys
A multi-talented foursome came together by happenstance, gained a huge fan base via YouTube, and have traveled the world and recorded multiple records as The Piano Guys. Meet the Guys John Schmidt had a very successful solo career as a pianist before becoming one of The Piano Guys. He was approached by the owner of a piano store where he was practicing on a store piano for a … [Read more...]