Blacksmiths galore AND the Chicken Farm Art Center AND The San Angelo Blues Society's answer to American Idol. It is a hoot and will be hootier with more participants. There are three categories of competition. You may enter one or all by being there and announcing your intentions.  Nice prizes to the winners. Competition starts around 2:00 p.m. CFT (Chicken Farm Time), on the Gazebo stage, amplified acoustic. There are usually three judges who may well take bribes.

Matt Martindale, long time lead singer, guitar player, and writer for the Texas based band Cooder Graw, has headed out on his own. Martindale has penned such Texas anthems as "Llano Estacado", "Better Days", "Lifetime Stand", "Clarksdale", "That Girl Crystal", "Two More Tears in Texas", "Booger on my Finger", and many notable others. Now Martindale has taken his pen out on the road once more, with new beginnings.

Rock-n-roll is about to get blasted by a fabulous New Disaster and the misfits behind the trigger make no apologies for the wreckage. "I want to play rock-n-roll that's young, dangerous and heavy," says guitarist and singer Natchet Taylor. "I want music to be utterly depraved and beautiful like Guns N Roses, Rose Tattoo, the Stooges and the Dead Boys." For more, see www.myspace.com/newdisasteratx.

Their music is a provocative blend of rock, R&B and hip-hop, seemingly having evolved from ‘old school’ roots. An example of this odd, but alluring musical concoction is evident in their modern rendition of the Beatle’s classic, “Eleanor Rigby.” More here: www.sanangelolive.com/node/898.

June 2-6, 2008Beginning Session 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.:$55 for YMCA Member/$65 fo non-YMCA Member. The focus will be on basic skills--balance, turning, ollie, and etc.Intermediate Session 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.:$70 for YMCA Member/$80 for non-YMCA Member. The focus will be on skills development and tricks. Skate competition on Friday to show off new tricks! Lots of cool prizes will be given away.Special Guest: Skate Pro Charlie Thomas from Crimson SkateboardsAll participants will be required to wear protective helmet while skating.

June 2-6, 2008Beginning Session 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.:$55 for YMCA Member/$65 fo non-YMCA Member. The focus will be on basic skills--balance, turning, ollie, and etc.Intermediate Session 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.:$70 for YMCA Member/$80 for non-YMCA Member. The focus will be on skills development and tricks. Skate competition on Friday to show off new tricks! Lots of cool prizes will be given away.Special Guest: Skate Pro Charlie Thomas from Crimson SkateboardsAll participants will be required to wear protective helmet while skating.

June 2-6, 2008Beginning Session 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.:$55 for YMCA Member/$65 fo non-YMCA Member. The focus will be on basic skills--balance, turning, ollie, and etc.Intermediate Session 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.:$70 for YMCA Member/$80 for non-YMCA Member. The focus will be on skills development and tricks. Skate competition on Friday to show off new tricks! Lots of cool prizes will be given away.Special Guest: Skate Pro Charlie Thomas from Crimson SkateboardsAll participants will be required to wear protective helmet while skating.

June 2-6, 2008Beginning Session 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.:$55 for YMCA Member/$65 fo non-YMCA Member. The focus will be on basic skills--balance, turning, ollie, and etc.Intermediate Session 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.:$70 for YMCA Member/$80 for non-YMCA Member. The focus will be on skills development and tricks. Skate competition on Friday to show off new tricks! Lots of cool prizes will be given away.Special Guest: Skate Pro Charlie Thomas from Crimson SkateboardsAll participants will be required to wear protective helmet while skating.

Art Thursdays are a fun-filled afternoon of hands-on art activities. Kids accompanied by an adult can be creative with four differenct art activitires. 2:00 -6:00 p.m. and are only $1.00 per person. FMI call 325-653-3333 or go to www.samfa.org

Take plenty of heartache, two near death experiences, a whole lotta "backroadin" therapy, a couple of bar scars, the perfect farmer's tan, combine it with meaningful lyrics, a soulful voice, solid guitar work and you've got Bill Rice. He is truly one of the brightest new stars in the Texas music scene.

June 2-6, 2008Beginning Session 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.:$55 for YMCA Member/$65 fo non-YMCA Member. The focus will be on basic skills--balance, turning, ollie, and etc.Intermediate Session 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.:$70 for YMCA Member/$80 for non-YMCA Member. The focus will be on skills development and tricks. Skate competition on Friday to show off new tricks! Lots of cool prizes will be given away.Special Guest: Skate Pro Charlie Thomas from Crimson SkateboardsAll participants will be required to wear protective helmet while skating.

Josh Grider's latest record, “A Million Miles to Go” was released in August 2007. Grider’s first hit song, “Crazy Like You,” was on it. It’s about finding a girl to love that is just as crazy as you are. “It’s also about leaving your ego in check,” Josh adds. “Crazy Like You” roared up the Texas Country Music Chart into the top 10. Today it is still in the top 50. And the trio's live performances are excellent--stand up bass and all! For a Podcast interview, see http://www.sanangelolive.com/node/3546

Fueled by Keith Irish’s unique bass style, drummer David Irish’s screams, and lead singer/guitarist Karl Irish’s guitar work, the band blends influences from Gene Vincent to the Stooges. All three members are brothers with the last name Irish, hence The Irish Brothers. The band has had their current line-up since September 1998, though brothers Karl and Keith have been playing together ever since Keith picked up the bass about ten years ago. Since then, they've been spreading their music across the country.

The sound of Terill Avenue is a different sound than you probaly used to hearing these days. With a perfect blend of rock and hip hop, TA is sure to reach all sorts of different crowds. Terill Avenue's crowd has been growing and growing each show. With the help of friendly venue owners they have been making a name for themselves for the last year now. With their first CD almost ready to be realeased, we should see some very good things from this young, talented, rocking band.

Arena football.

Trying to find a niche for Shafter’s music has been a blessing and an asset. They have played at Texas country mainstay Blaine’s Pub and they’ve also played at the rockin’ Steel Penny. Ed Fawcett, partner at the Penny, says he hasn’t seen a band that good in a short while. “They can play rock, and they can play covers. And the covers are good, original interpretations,” Fawcett says. Shafter, who is one class shy of graduation from South Plains College’s commercial music program, has a band of true musicians.

Having perfected the hard rock template by the late '70s with their trademark fusion of bluesy rhythm, crunchy riff and shoutalong chorus, AC/DC have been victim to 30 years of bare face rip-offs. Rarely, however, has a band sounded so gleefully exuberant in recycling old tricks as Broken Teeth do on this latest barnstorming release. Leading from the front, vocalist Jason McMaster, a bona fide monster of rock himself, has that rare duality of veteran expertise and the vitality of a man half his age.

A review of their last show at The Penny: It’s a custom you’ve likely seen and/or taken part in at other bars around town, but Saturday night at the Steel Penny, one patron took to table dancing just before Vallejo appeared on stage to rock the house. The mood of the night followed in these wobbly footsteps. It was an evening of released inhibitions, and our dancer would see another opportunity to perform. As is Vallejo custom, the Steel Penny stage met its capacity when on the last song men, women, and even grandmas took their chance to dance with the band.

Eva O' Connor, romance writer, will talk about self-publishing.

Eva O' Connor, romance writer, will talk about self-publishing.

Art Thursdays are a fun-filled afternoon of hands-on art activities. Kids accompanied by an adult can be creative with four differenct art activitires. 2:00 -6:00 p.m. and are only $1.00 per person. FMI call 325-653-3333 or go to www.samfa.org

The Best Albums of 2007 that Nobody Told You About Give it a look and pass it on to your friends. Cody Hughes Davidson band was formed October of 2005. Cody Hughes Davidson, age 25, is the front man of the band with his smoky-bluesy vocals (TexasMusicTimes.com). He is the youngest of the group, but do not let his age fool you. Cody is a self-taught musician who has been singing and writing his own style of Texas/Red Dirt music since high school.

The festival will include: Hot Air Balloon glows, Concerts Friday & Saturday nights, Water events, 5K & 10K runs, talent shows, childrens area, merchant booths, food booths, & worship service on Sunday morning. FMI see our website at www.sajuniorleague.com or contact the Junior League of San Angelo 325-655-9866 or email info@sajuniorleague.com. More information is on the Festival's ad, page 13, or the June 2008 issue of San Angelo LIVE! in print.

Located at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in the "Great Room" 3 South Randolph - Downtown San Angelo - Doors open at 6:30 $15.00 FMI call Cultural Affairs Council at 325-653-6793.

Four small town guys with one big dream is the best description for Highspeed Hayride's passion for music. Highspeed Hayride was established in February 2002 with their debut performance on the Corpus Christi Bay. Through the support of their families, friends, and fans, Highspeed Hayride has brought a new sub- genre of music to the public eye. Dubbed "Southern Country" it's a show that brings fans of Traditional Country, Texas Country, and Progressive Country together as one.

If you like your music real, rowdy and with a little grit mixed in then you can’t miss seeing the live show and without a doubt you should pick up a copy of Generations, it’s a one of a kind great listen that makes you feel like they are right there with you in your car or living room. More here: www.luckytubb.net.

Ghost Movie Rocker has a CD Release party and will be headlining the Deadhorse on Friday, June 13. They're giving away free tatoos and piercings (from electric Voodoo), free CDs, free sweat, everything!!! Show starts at 10PM w/ Saturday Night Shockers.

Activities start with a pancake breakfast at 6:00 a.m. and ends at 12:00 noon - FMI call 325-481-2646.

8K and 1 mile fun run. 7:30 a.m. The start/finish area is on Concho Ave. between Chadbourne and Oakes. FMI www.roadlizards.org.

FMI call 325-653-7785.

A bicycle race on the Concho River. Contestants meet near Santa Fe Golf Course on River Dr. at 9:45 a.m. For more info. see www.sanangelobicycle.com.

Come join San Angelo's arena football team for a regular season game against Fairbanks, Alaska. Fun for all the family, giveaways, and entertainment. You don't want to miss it!

Texas Renegade (members: Andy Bertelsen, Eli Carver, Tyson Carver, Matt Pigg, Chris Leonard) formed in 2002 and soon began playing gigs around Wimberley; a lot of high school parties and at Riley’s on the Backbone. The band members met thru mutual friends or attended public school together. After a difference of musical direction, Chris Leonard left the band. Kasey Klepfer’s first guest musician spot with Texas Renegade was at WHS Project Graduation in 2003, but was soon added as a regular. Details: http://www.txrenegade.com.

Alligator Dave has been performing his acoustic comedy for the past 10 years. Starting with his 1998 release of "89 Bollocks Street," Dave has put out four albums, including 2000s "Gulf Coast Honky," "Stoned and Confused," and his latest, "I drink." So what influences his raunchy, belligerent writing? "Females, marijuana, and beer," Dave says with a smile. "It's dirty; somebody called me Bob Dylan with Tourettes the other day." More here: www.sanangelolive.com/node/2660.

FMI call 325-653-7785.

Downtown San Angelo Inc., The San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, and San Angelo Cultural Affairs Council host the June Downtown Art Walk on Thursday, June 19, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.The Downtown Art Walk will begin at the San Angelo Fine Arts Museum. A Trolley will be available to transport guest beginning at 6:00 p.m. to tour galleries in the downtown district until 9:00 p.m.Participating:Black SwanBlues Inn at Sealy Flats – Live MusicC. Goodman ArtConcho Gallery – Live MusicFort Concho Visitors Center

Drew Kennedy's inspiration: "There’s a lot of material in just coming to small towns and talking to people. Some friends I have who are great song writers also have some big personal problems, like marital problems or addictions. Consequently, they have a lot of material for songs which come from their own personal experience. But for me, I get my material by talking to others. I’m glad I don’t have to have cocaine addition or something to write a great song. I kind of eavesdrop and observe other people’s drama to get my material.

Kay Johnston, M.D. with Community Medical Associates, makes a presentation on Summer Skin Care at the conference rooms at San Angelo Community Medical Center. Admission is Free. Coffee, water, and snack will be served. Limited Seating. Call 947-6262 to reserve seats.

When 80 Proof hit the Texas Country Music Circuit in 2003, they operated off one standard; Good Music makes Good Fans. This standard holds true today and everyday. The 80 Proof Band is made up of very diverse singer/songwriters who all come from different backgrounds in music. They easily blend the popular styles to come up with one distinct and different sound. More here: www.80proofband.com.

FMI call 325-653-7785.

Come join San Angelo's arena football team for a regular season game against The Katy Roughriders. Fun for all the family, giveaways, and entertainment. You don't want to miss it!

FMI call 325-481-264.

Home. It's a warm and comfortable word. And that is exactly how Darren Kozelsky makes you feel when listening to his music. His voice is as smooth and rich as grandma's chocolate pie and his songs are like reuniting with an old familiar friend. More here: www.darrenkozelsky.com.

Put together four proficient musicians, Billboard-level vocals and some extremely catchy original songs and you have a recipe for a band that could very well be sitting on Jay Leno’s couch someday. “This is the best band we’ve had in the past four years,” declared Steel Penny Pub soundman/critic, Trey Weaver. The music of this group is more infectious than the fungus that is responsible for its name, “Live Oak Decline.” More here: www.sanangelolive.com/node/1526.

Coem hear a mellow guitar/flute duo named PrestWood.

Without much help from seasoned pros, Edwards has taken his music far. That is, without a Walt Wilkins to produce him. His first single release from the album “Cowboy Crew” was one of the first of many Myspace songs, “You Look Good on Myspace.” His second single release, the honky tonk-sounding “Texas Women” is now at #24 (week of Jan 28, 2008). Not bad for a first time, self-published artist. More here: www.sanangelolive.com/node/3271.

Punk-pop combo Army of Freshmen formed in Ventura, CA, in late 1997 -- vocalist Chris Jay, a recent New Jersey transplant with some 500 completed songs to his credit, assembled the band after meeting guitarist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Kai Dodson, keyboardists Owen Bucey and Dan Clark, and drummer Mike Milligan at local open-mike showcases. A relentless touring schedule earned the band a devout local following, and in mid-2001 Army of Freshmen signed with the indie label Blue Hand to issue their self-titled debut LP.

On Saturday June 28th and Sunday June 29th 2008 San Angelo, Texas will put on its second annual drag boat races. Come see one of the fastest shows on the water. This venue is the newest of the Southern Drag Boat Association (SDBA) and has been seen by many of the regular boat racers and spectators as the BEST on the circuit. Boats will line up side by side and run a liquid quarter mile at speeds of up to 250 miles per hour in less than 5 seconds. The liquid quarter mile lies between two of the most awesome spectator areas that you will see on the SDBA circuit.

Come join San Angelo's arena football team for a regular season game against Frisco. Fun for all the family, giveaways, and entertainment. You don't want to miss it!

Goldcure is a hoax. A cure that can never be found. That is of course, unless you believe in miracles. This band is an impossible journey. We've tried putting gold in our water; we spent years agonizing over the right formula. It's a mystery partially solved, partially unsolvable---I'd tell you what I know but you won't believe me, plus I don't know anything anyways. Rock n' Roll is suppossed to be fun, but goldcure always gets stuck in the dirty hard parts of life, so now we are like amputees with mud on our faces getting stronger everyday.

His single, “Which Way To Run” is climbing the Texas Music Charts as we speak and his critically-acclaimed debut album Live At The Gruene, with tunes like “Our Corner” and “Wrapped For Me,” prove that the Austin Songwriter’s Group made the right choice in naming him the Songwriter of the Year in 2002. More here: http://www.sanangelolive.com/zackwalther.

On Saturday June 28th and Sunday June 29th 2008 San Angelo, Texas will put on its second annual drag boat races. Come see one of the fastest shows on the water. This venue is the newest of the Southern Drag Boat Association (SDBA) and has been seen by many of the regular boat racers and spectators as the BEST on the circuit. Boats will line up side by side and run a liquid quarter mile at speeds of up to 250 miles per hour in less than 5 seconds. The liquid quarter mile lies between two of the most awesome spectator areas that you will see on the SDBA circuit.