Amber has been an ensemble member at Dad’s Garage Theatre in Atlanta since 2004 and she still performs improv there to this day.
-She goes back into the recording studio regularly when it is time to record a new season of Archer. Each recording session usually varies, but they can take as little as 30 minutes depending on what the script requires.
Amber Nash is known for her role as fan-favorite “Pam Poovey” on the hit adult animated series Archer. Over the course of ten seasons, she has used her voiceover talents to build a successful career and large fanbase.
Since many voiceover roles are recorded by on-screen actors, we wanted to speak with Amber to learn how she was able to arrive at the wonderful career she has now.
She first went to college and got her degree in Psychology from Georgia State University and then worked at a wilderness camp for troubled teens before she chose to pursue acting full-time.
FSHN- How did you decide to become an actor after completing a psychology degree?
AN- In truth, my psychology degree proved to be a solid base for my improv performances [at Dad’s Garage Theatre in Atlanta]. To understand people and the place from which they react is pure psychology. I was able to draw from my observations and make fun or simply point it out to people so they would relate to it and then laugh at themselves for it. It’s a pretty good way of engaging people into what is going on in life and having fun with it.
FSHN- How did working at the wilderness camp change your direction in life?
AN- I realized how much I enjoyed making people happy and that I had this gift of reaching even difficult teenagers with my sense of humor. I saw an opportunity calling and went on to pursue it…but not without years of working small jobs, auditioning, and doing improv just hoping that the right opportunity would come along.
FSHN- What do you think was the tipping point in your career decision making?
I don’t know if there was a tipping point in my career decision making per se, but I’ve definitely decided I want to go out for more on camera roles. I don’t see it as giving up my identity as a voiceover artist, rather I’m just opening the door for more creative opportunities. I’m excited to see where it leads.
FSHN- Is this the typical route of an entertainer to go from voice over to on screen?
AN- Actually, it is usually the other way around. Typically, you have name recognition and popularity on TV or in movies before people get to see you in voiceover roles.
FSHN- That makes you a trail blazer of opportunities for other to follow.
AN- I like to think that, given the competitive nature of winning over an audience and developing a steady following…in my case entirely with my voice and an animated character.
AN- I think it was something they did not expect and feared if they would be asked to take on. I was feeling good about it and simply followed my heart not worrying about loss of steady income from voiceover character I know held, but rather looking forward to next step in my life.
FSHN- What would be your words of advice to young people entering the entertainment world?
AN- Be who you are and follow your gut as it will take you where you need to go.
The 10th season of Archer is airing now on FXX. Amber also co-created and hosts a Facebook Live show called Archer After Hours with her co-star Lucky Yates. It is available to watch on the Archer Facebook page.
Amber Nashmost current projects below.
-Season 11 of Archer will premiere September 16th on FXX and will follow the adventures of Sterling Archer after he awakens from a 3 year coma.
-Will star in the upcoming indie comedy film How to Ruin the Holidays alongside Colin Mochrie. The film will be directed by Amber’s husband, Kevin Gillese.
– Is a board member for Project Chimps, a chimpanzee sanctuary in Georgia, alongside Billie Joe Armstrong.
David A. DiLorenzo: The Famed Beauty Entrepreneur Empowering Others
When it comes to achieving success in the nail business, David A. DiLorenzo isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. In addition to creating revolutionary products, DiLorenzo, the president of Valentino Beauty Pure, is paving the way for others, especially young women in the Latino and African American communities, in order to help them navigate the nail business for themselves and even open their own salons for the very first time.
Valentino Beauty Pure, which has amassed over 470,000 followers on Instagram due to their famed reputation for giving clients fabulous nails, is also a family affair. David, an entrepreneur with over two decades of business experience, grew up working in his father’s Valentino Beauty Pure salons, which could be found from New Jersey to South Beach. He would eventually use the lessons learned from his own successes and failures in the beauty industry to educate others. His educational courses have since empowered thousands reach their own career goals.
While working at his father’s salon, David saw a need for a product to help with nail odor and dust from the application of acrylic nails. In order to help minimize side effects including migraines and mood swings, David and his father invented and patented a “source capture system” which helps removes harmful odors and nail dust. Despite incessant backlash, David remained determined to unveil his product, even after his family was forced to move to Florida and start over after the effects of Hurricane Sandy.
It wasn’t long before David dived into the online social media stratosphere in order to bring his family’s beloved beauty brand back to life. By tapping into platforms including Facebook and Instagram, this energetic entrepreneur was able to reach both potential consumers as well as talented nail technicians. He even created Beauty Pure’s Acrylic System and Gel System, which was developed by the most renowned chemists in the world and is now one of the most popular products in the beauty business with many famous fans, including Kim Kardashian, Cardi B, Rihanna, Paula Abdul and many others.
Upon creating a team and sense of comradery amongst colleagues and nail professionals, he was inspired to embark on creating an educational legacy, and now empowers others to learn from his own business lessons and marketing techniques. David, who has always been passionate about motivating others to pursue their own dreams, now has a team of 17 educators and hundreds of brand ambassadors. He is committed to giving young entrepreneurs, especially from Latino and African American communities, the opportunity to open their very first business, by showing them how to make the most of social media and interact with clients through his classes and seminars. David has not only turned the nail and beauty business more mainstream but has given many the chance to take charge and find a real career. With David’s guidance, his students are realizing their own goals and financial freedom for the first time, allowing them to focus on their self-worth and independence. Not even the Covid-19 crisis can get David down – in fact, as many women who are currently shifting from their regular jobs look to get into the nail business, David is helping them to open their own manicure meccas. David remains dedicated to helping plant the seeds for others to continuously grow both personally and professionally.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 16 – Paul Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi, Paula West and Michael Nguyen-Hormel attend SF Ballet Opening Night Gala 2020 on January 16th 2020 at War Memorial in San Francisco, CA (Photo – Drew Altizer Photography)SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 16 – Tiit Helimets, Nancy Pelosi and Sasha De Sola attend SF Ballet Opening Night Gala 2020 on January 16th 2020 at War Memorial in San Francisco, CA (Photo – Drew Altizer)
San Francisco Home Town to Speaker of the house was looking festive with Nancy Pelosi sharing her enthusiasm with close friends and feeling celebrated. The opening night at the SF Ballet was whimsical and enchanted with costumes and decorum stimulating the imagination of Garden of Eden or Spellbound Mid Summer night in the middle of Winter.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 16 – Katarzyna Mlyniuk and Anna Tuzhlova attend SF Ballet Opening Night Gala 2020 on January 16th 2020 at War Memorial in San Francisco, CA (Photo – Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography)
Many San Franciscan beauties and brain women took time to join the celebration of ballet dancers expressions of emotions and tell the story without a word.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 16 – Claudia Ross and Lisa Zabelle attend SF Ballet Opening Night Gala 2020 on January 16th 2020 at War Memorial in San Francisco, CA (Photo – Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography)SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 16 – Madison Keesler and Benjamin Freemantle attend SF Ballet Opening Night Gala 2020 on January 16th 2020 at War Memorial in San Francisco, CA (Photo – Drew Altizer)SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 16 – Andrew Chung and Coral Chung attend SF Ballet Opening Night Gala 2020 on January 16th 2020 at War Memorial in San Francisco, CA (Photo – Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography)
SPELLBOUND celebrates Helgi Tomasson’s record-breaking 35th year as Artistic Director & Principal Choreographer of San Francisco Ballet
The program features three world premieres by Val Caniparoli, Yuri Possokhov, and Myles Thatcher and SF Ballet premiere of Dawson’s Swan Lake pas de deux
The performance marks Vitor Luiz’s final appearance as a principal dancer with SF Ballet
SPELLBOUND raises funds to benefit a wide range of SF Ballet artistic initiatives, from new works to scholarships for SF Ballet School students
San Francisco Ballet and Artistic Director & Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson will launch the2020 Repertory Season with SPELLBOUND: SF Ballet’s Opening Night Gala, on Thursday, January 16, 2020. One of the Bay Area’s most anticipated annual events, the Gala, this year chaired by Patricia Dale Roberts, begins with a cocktail reception and black-tie fundraising dinner at San Francisco City Hall at 5 pm. The evening’s performance begins at 8 pm and will feature twelve pieces, including three world premieres by current and former members of SF Ballet’s Company: Val Caniparoli, Choreographer in Residence Yuri Possokhov, and Myles Thatcher. “For the first time in 30 years, I decided to ask three choreographers to create new pas de deux or pas de trois for opening night,” says Tomasson, who celebrates his record-breaking 35th season with the Company in 2020. “What connects these choreographers is that they are all close members of the San Francisco Ballet family, and they each represent a different generation of dancemaking.” Caniparoli, the choreographer of the internationally-sensational Lambarena, joined the Company in 1972 before being appointed Principal Character Dancer in 1985. Yuri Possokhov, SF Ballet’s current Choreographer in Residence, danced with SF Ballet for 12 years before transitioning to choreographing full time, and now creates works for companies around the globe from the Joffrey to Bolshoi Ballet. In 2015, Myles Thatcher, a current member of the corps de ballet, became one of the first corps members in at least three decades to choreograph a new work for SF Ballet’s subscription season. He’s since created a handful of works for the Company, including Ghost in the Machine and Otherness for 2018 Unbound: A Festival of New Works. Notable Attendees: Patricia Dale Roberts (Gala Chair) Helgi Tomasson (SF Ballet Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer) and wife, MarleneKelly Tweeddale (SF Ballet Executive Director)Speaker Nancy Pelosi and husband, PaulTony Hale (Actor, Veep)Yurie and Carl PascarellaDiane WilseyCharlotte and George ShultzSF Ballet Dancer Yuan Yuan Tan
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 16 – Debra Bernard, Kelly Tweeddale, Sunnie Evers and Tom Horn attend SF Ballet Opening Night Gala 2020 on January 16th 2020 at War Memorial in San Francisco, CA (Photo – Drew Altizer Photography)
October 21, 2019, a Night to remember with two standing ovations and two encores by LangLang. The audience was on fire sparked by Intensity of feeling during Lang lang performance of Tchaikovsky Symphony N. 4.
Not to mention that Bathoveen Symphony N. 2 that build up emotions in the audience to the point of explosive reaction to notes perfectly resonated by Davis Hall acoustics.
If you ever think you need experience, it is best achieved by the music and among people that feel it with you.
Davis Hall has reached such a great level of bringing music to feed the soul and celebrities with talent that reaches the highest quality of perfection.
Last week, FSHN Magazine was invited to DJ IRIE 15th Annual Irie Weekend. As a staple in Miami, and across the world through his party starting tunes, infectious personality, and powerhouse connections, IRIE Weekend is hugely anticipated by movers, shakers, influencers, industry power players, and philanthropists alike.
Irie’s IRIE Foundation created Irie Weekend to bring awareness to their initiatives to empower South Florida’s at-risk youth and lead them to productive lives through mentorship programs, cultural experiences, and scholarship opportunities.
Selflie Time: DJ Irie and Actor/Comedian/Singer Jamie Foxx
The action-packed four-day charity weekend ran from Oct. 10-13 raised more than $300,000 for DJ IRIE’s IRIE Foundation charity, which works to support and empower South Florida’s youth.
The 2019 IRIE Weekend kicked off on Thursday, Oct. 10th, with the Give from the Heart #InspIRIE Gala. More than 250 movers and shakers of the greater Miami area came out to support Irie Foundation and enjoy Tito’s Handmade Vodka and a four-course meal. The night hit a fever pitch when T-Pain and Wyclef Jean jumped on stage for surprise performances.
Pictured: Recording Artist, Wyclef Jean and DR IriePictured: DJ Irie with Singer, T-Pain
Friday’s activities (October 11) started in the morning with the marquee event, IWXV Celebrity Golf Tournament, presented by Adidas. Stars including Alonso Mourning, Omar Miller, Jevon Kearse, Shane Battier and more took to the links for a shotgun tournament in good fun to benefit Irie Foundation. Players sipped Jim Beam whiskey and tasted local cuisine, as each hole had its own experience with food, DJs, games and more.
Pictured: DJ Irie with Miami Staple, Alonzo MourningPictured: DJ Irie Joining in on the Fun
Following the event, guests headed to LIV Nightclub to see Jaden
Smith run through a melody of his hits in front of the thousands in
attendance.
Pictured: Rapper, Jaden Smith with DJ Irie
The main event that I had to be at was on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 12) when E11EVEN and Pepsi Zero Sugar presented the IRIE Weekend Beach Bash. At this event, Future and Saweetie performed their catalog of hits that had everyone singing, rapping and dancing until sunset. Attendees ended the night at E11EVEN nightclub for an IWXV mega-bash where Future performed a barrage of his greatest hits for the partygoers.
Pictured: Rapper, SaweetiePictured: DJ Irie and rapper, FuturePictured: Host, DJ Irie and rapper Saweetie
Finally, on Sunday, Oct. 13th, IWXV wrapped up with a kid’s golf clinic
at Top Golf Miami Gardens. Dozens of South Florida’s at-risk youth received an
afternoon of golf lessons, keynote speakers, and community that culminated with
a surprise appearance by Jamie Foxx, who spent the morning with the kids
of Irie Foundation taking selfies, cracking jokes and offering words of
inspiration.
Pictured: Jamie Foxx with kids
Of course, the event wouldn’t have been what it was without the tons of sponsors including Pepsi Zero Sugar, Adidas, E11EVEN Miami,Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Jim Beam, Corona, Morgan Stanley, Crook & Marker, Bacardi, Triller, Wynn Nightlife, Macy’s, Ally, Prive Revaux Eyewear, Kobi Karp, Mohegan Sun, Tidal New York, Unity Jets, 8×8, Warren Henry Auto Group, Sea Best, STK, Naiyara, Live It, Pucci’s Pizza, S.K.A.M. Artist, STR-Miami, Topgolf Miami Gardens, 3-Fold, Mobil Bodysculpting, DeepSleep Studio, iHeart Radio, amd Y100 Miami.
Voting has opened today for E! People’s Choice Awards covering a WHOPPING 43 categories across film, television, music and pop culture.
With music, Lil Nas X, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Lizzo, and the Jonas Brothers have multiple nominations.
Contenders for Album of the Year: include Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next,” Khalid’s “Free Spirit,” Billie Eilish’s “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?,” Lizzo’s “Cuz I Love You,” Jonas Brothers’ “Happiness Begins,” Ed Sheeran’s “No. 6 Collaborations Project,” Juice Wrld’s “Death Race for Love,” and Taylor Swift’s “Lover.”
2019 E! People’s Choice Awards airs Monday 11th November at 1pm with E! Live from the Red Carpet kicking off at 11am.
Voting can be done here, with the #PCAs hashtag on Twitter, or using Xfinity X1, and each person can vote up to 25 times per method.
Photo credits: Valeska Muromoto, Christian Meuwley
Featuring
Seal, Patti LuPone, Star Wars: A New Hope Live with Orchestra, and Exclusive
Appearance by Havana Chamber Orchestra with Royal Wedding Cellist Sheku
Kanneh-Mason; Season Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo
11 Lunar Landing
Napa, CA (February 12, 2019) – Festival
Napa Valley, recognized for transforming California Wine Country into a
cultural destination, announces its 2019 summer season, July 12 – 21. The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing will be celebrated with more than 60
concerts and events in a season of innovation, exploration and discovery.
Now in its 14th year,
Festival Napa Valley offers a rich program ranging from symphonic concerts,
opera, film, and dance to chamber music and jazz.
In addition to presenting the finest performing arts, Festival Napa Valley is committed to supporting underserved members of the community by providing over 6,000 free tickets to students, veterans and seniors. The Festival is expanding its educational program with Arts for All camps for 1600 Boys & Girls Club youth ages 6-18, and a tuition-free music academy for 90 pre-professional musicians from around the world.
“We are honoured to dedicate this season to celebrating one of humanity’s transcendent achievements and our passion for continued exploration and discovery,” said Richard Walker, President & CEO of Festival Napa Valley. “From Holst’s The Planets to Diavolo’s Voyage to the Moon, we will take our guests on an unforgettable journey.”
Festival Napa Valley 2019 Highlights:
Italian tenor Francesco Demuro and Georgian soprano Nino Machaidze kick off the 14th season on the fairway at Meadowood Napa Valley with Opera Under the Stars.
Four-time
Grammy Award-winner Seal headlines Wine Country’s biggest arts charity
event, the Arts for All Gala at HALL Napa Valley.
British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, 2016 BBC Young Musician of
the Year, makes his Bay Area debut
with the Havana Chamber Orchestra at Far Niente.
Broadway
legend Patti LuPone performs in a private evening at Calistoga Ranch.
Festival Orchestra
Napa performs
John William’s Academy Award-winning score to Star Wars: A New Hope while the iconic 1977 film is projected
on a giant screen.
Rising
stars – cellist Sophia Bacelar, violinist Charlie Siem, and
percussionist Mitya Nilov – shine in Grand Cru Concertos with the
Festival’s Blackburn Music Academy Orchestra at Castello di Amorosa.
Opera at the Castello features Bastianello, John Musto’s hilarious one-act opera about marriage and wine.
The renowned Los Angeles-based dance company Diavolo | Architecture in Motion performs two inspiring works: Voyage,
about a trip to the moon, and Trajectoire,
a voyage of destiny and destination in the Festival’s Dede Wilsey Dance Series.
Festival Live! Chamber Series returns with 12 free concerts at locations throughout Napa
Valley.
The popular Bouchaine
Young Artist Series showcases the next generation of classical music
artists.
Festival Orchestra Napa performs Song to the Moon, a concert on the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing featuring works by Holst, Dvorak, Getty
and Strauss. Rising star soprano Andriana Chuchman joins Maestro Joel Revzen for this
performance.
The
legendary jazz fusion band The Yellowjackets perform a free Community Concert
at Napa Valley College.
Rock and roll party band Wonder Bread 5 headlines Taste of Napa,
Festival Napa Valley’s signature celebration of food, wine and music.
Karen
LeFrak’s multimedia orchestral work, based on her eponymous children’s book Sleepover at the Museum, marks its
California premiere at the Concert for Kids.
The
Festival’s Blackburn Music Academy Orchestra performs a lively
admission-free Sunday at the Symphony concert.
Postmodern
Jukebox star Robyn Adele Anderson brings her sassy interpretations of
modern hits in the Season Finale at Alpha Omega.
Single concert tickets starting at $39 are now on sale. For an elevated Festival Napa Valley experience, Patron Passes including access to exclusive lunches, dinners and lounges are also available. To view the full schedule and to purchase passes, visit FestivalNapaValley.org.
About Festival Napa Valley: Blending the beauty and bounty of Napa Valley with the very finest performing arts, Festival Napa Valley offers programs that enrich the economic and cultural vitality of the region and make the arts accessible to all. The Festival presents world-class performances staged in iconic Napa Valley venues and inspiring educational programs offered at Napa County public schools year-round. It is presented by Napa Valley Festival Association, a nonprofit organization governed by a board of prominent vintners and local leaders. More than 200 artists, wineries, resorts, theaters, restaurants, chefs and vintners participate each year. Festival Napa Valley 2019 takes place July 12 – 21. To learn more, visit festivalnapavalley.org.
Miami is one of the most vibrant cities in the World and Miami Beach has been a destination spot for years to Spring breakers, International travellers and of course locals that enjoy the sunny vibes and beautiful beaches. So it makes sense that a big music festival would be produced on the white sands that stretch along Miami Beach’s beautiful and exciting shoreline. For Okeechobee Music + Arts Festival founder Paul Peck, this has been a vision unfolding for years and will finally come to life in November. The Miami Beach Pop Festival will be produced in the heart of Miami Beach from November 8 through the 10th and will set up multiple waterfront stages from 5th street to 10th street adjacent to Lummus Park and Ocean Drive.
Confirmed headliners include Chance The Rapper, Jack Johnson,
Kygo and Daddy Yankee. The eclectic bill will also feature performances from
Juanes, The Raconteurs, Leon Bridges, Niles Rodgers and Chic, Sean Paul, The
Roots, T-Pain, Maggie Rogers and many more. Organizers have been smart in
including popular genres like EDM and Latino artists like Bomba Estereo,
Gryffin and of course headliner Kygo to the bill considering Miami is known for
its large Latin population
and of course its big dance scene. Local favourites like Afrobeta, Spam Allstars and Steven A. Clark will round off the bill. The festival promises “Once In A Lifetime Sh*t” which will also include a Bob Marley celebration led by his son Stephen Marley as well as a Sol Jam that will feature Niles Rodgers and special guests.
Peck was recently in a press release as stating, “This unmatched, vibrant culture and
iconic beach provide a rare combination of natural beauty and city excitement.
The core purpose that drives the vision for this festival has been to celebrate
the unity of human connection. We are honored to include artists such as Chance
the Rapper and Jack Johnson, who are two of the most socially-conscious and
inspiring figures in the contemporary cultural landscape”.
Miami Beach Pop Festival will be presented by Peck’s
Frameless Creative in association with Miami event organizers ACT Productions
and The Parker Company.
There are dreamers then there are the dreamers that are actually doers and bring their dreams to life. Meet Barnett English a creative passionate spirit who has been a lover of music festival’s for multiple decades. His mobile organic espresso café, “JavaGogo”, which caters up tasty coffee mixed drinks and smoothies at events, has taken him to more then 600+ music and camp out festivals. While attending and serving up brews at a Didgeridoo festival in Joshua Tree National Park in 2002 he fell in love with the area and its scenery. The mystical and magical morning and sunset views and landscape captivated him so much that he envisioned it being the perfect place for a new campout music festival.
6
months later Barnett relocated to the eclectic artsy Joshua Tree and began
plans to launch the 1st Inaugural Joshua Tree Music Festival. The
festival took place in April of 2003 to such overwhelming demand that in 2006
he decided to add a second edition in the fall and once again it was met with
success. Both festivals have since continued to run consistently over the
course of four days in May and October and have grown in size and popularity
while still maintaining the quality and vibe that Barnett initially desired.
His choices of talent and artists that have played throughout the years have
been eclectic and diverse spanning genres and drawing influences from all
corners of the Globe. Its been the perfect gathering for families and those
kindred spirits just wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday
life.
Beyond the music Barnett and his creative team have also featured a variety of workshops that include yoga and Qigong classes as well as meditational healing circles, massage areas and even vitamin boosting booths offering up shots of B-12. There are tons of arts and crafts on hand and even a Kidsville area for the youngsters to jam out, learn and become part of a community. Being the Renaissance man that he is and of course starting out with his own JavaGogo café, Barnett also understood that good food and drink are essential for a four-day campout to ensure fans get properly nourished. Thus each year Joshua Tree Music Festival continues to expand on great food vendors that offer up an array of healthy and tasty options.
Clearly wanting to continue on the heals of his creative success, in 2016 Barnett decided to partner with Guitarfish Festival an intimate camping and music experience that takes place in a magic setting over a mile high, in the woods, on the South Fork of the Yuba river at the Cisco Grove campground each year in July. GF has been going strong with its fusion of great music, art, swimming and family style camp-out and 2019 will make its 9th consecutive year. Its no doubt that Barnett English was set out to do more then just serve up tasty coffee mixes and by his track record now of success with both Joshua Tree Music Festival and Guitarfish Music Festival, his passion and future for curating festivals seems like his clear path.
In a day and age where music festivals are everywhere and the market is oversaturated by more and more promoters looking to build massive National and International rock, Hip Hop and alternative festivals similar to Coachella, Outsidelands, Lollapalooza and others, Barnett has carved out his own niche and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Avant-garde festival producer and curator Barnett English and chat about life and what inspires him most about his festivals…
Sason
Bishope Parry: How is life treating you?
Barnett English: Truly grand. One slightly alarming thing though, the rapid
rate at which the days fly by is, well – shocking!!!
SBP: Tell us a little
about yourself and where you grew up?
BE: I grew up in vanilla suburbia USA, in
Louisville, KY. I’ve always remembered my past by what music was playing
at the time. At age 5 driving with my mom in a brown Dodge Dart listening
to “Band of Gold” by Freda Payne on the am radio. At age 8 sitting in our den w/ my dad while he
played Floyd Cramer, Peter Duchin, Sinatra & Dean Martin albums over and
over. By age 10 I was collecting albums,
splitting the $5 cost w/ my older brother, Sam. By age 15, I was in deep,
and music saved me as I navigated my teen years. I always knew I wanted to live somewhere else,
so the day after I finished school at Indiana University, I moved to
California. Now 33 years later, it’s safe to say it suits me out west!
SBP: What is JavaGogo and
how did that open the door to music festivals for you?
BE: I was about to turn 30 years old and I
felt it was time for a change. So in one
month I quit my job, rode my bicycle to Cabo San Lucas, moved in with a new
girlfriend and started building a coffee cart. The espresso craze was
just cranking up. A friend suggested I contact a music festival (the High
Sierra Music Festival in Bear Valley, CA – now in Quincy, CA) to sell coffee
there. So I did and I was hooked. Four days and nights of dancing
to great music, making friends and money, I knew then that I’d have to keep
doing this. So I did and i am! To date I’ve been to over 700 music
festivals vending w/ JavaGogo (every Coachella, 25 high sierra music festivals
and more etc).
SBP: Did you always know that you wanted to be a festival
producer?
BE: No idea. But by going to all those
music festivals, I was convinced of the powerful positive benefits of gathering
in groups, in the great outdoors and enjoying music. On a whim, I went to
a small Didgeridoo festival in Joshua Tree, CA. I arrived in the dark, so
I had no idea of my surroundings until the sun came up. WOW!!! Magical
night skies gave way to sweeping views of the national park. That weekend
I mentioned to the campground owners that they should have a REAL music
festival here. Finally they said, “Well if it’s such a great idea,
why don’t you do it? So I moved to Joshua Tree and produced the inaugural
Joshua Tree Music Festival w/in 6 months!
SBP: How did the idea for Joshua Tree come about and how hard was
it doing the first one in the desert?
BE: Ignorance is bliss. I figured we could
plan for a long time to make it happen, but then you never really learn unless
you do it. Hence the short run up to the first one. Trial by fire!
I’ve learned more from each festival, and am still learning, and improving upon
each fest (upcoming fest is #30).
SBP: So much goes into your festivals. Do you have a core team and how many people
work with you to bring them to life?
BE: YES! For years I would have lots
of help around the time of the festival, then work year ’round solo. But
now, we’ve got a team of full time super heroes making it all happen. I
feel like we are just getting started!
SBP:Where do you draw your
inspiration?
BE: I personally have had so many life
changing positive experiences with friends at festivals. Real quality time! Now, at our festivals, I have an endless
stream of conversations with folks who come up to say “This festival
changed my life – thank you!” Usually in tears of joy. THAT is
rewarding!
SBP:What is your favorite type of
music and who curates the music at the festivals?
BE: I live for finding my new favorite band or song or album. I obsessively listen to new music, scour
festival lineups around the world, peruse scores of music blogs, and have
dozens of friends who recommend artists they see. So to answer your question, I curate the
music. I strive to have a line up that is diverse, and the music over the
course of the weekend will take you on a journey. The artists set times are
sequenced – like a live mixed tape.
SBP:What artist or band that has played moved you
the most?
BE: I met Gene Evaro Jr.
here in Joshua Tree back in 2008 or 2009. He might have been 18 or 19
then? I was meeting someone at a cafe, and their were two guys on stage
playing – Gene on guitar and Ben on drums. I grew up listening to
the Allman Brothers, a band with 8 musicians strong and Gene and Ben were
grooving like the Allman Brothers. Since then Gene has played nearly
every festival (twice a year).
SBP: Are both the Sumner
and Fall Joshua Tree Music Festivals similar?
BE: Yes, similar music
vibe – a family friendly global music experience. We were just too
excited to wait a whole year! So after
our third spring festival, we started the FALL festival in 2006.
SBP:Tell us what people can expect for the 2019
Joshua Tree Music Festivals?
BE: Many people ask “what are the big changes
for this year.” We strive to make thousands of small incremental changes
in each and every area. We go thru all 42 departments, and make
improvements in all. Be them large or
small. And together all the little improvements add up to one BIG change!
SBP: Do you have other festival projects in the works?
BE: YES! In addition to producing the two Joshua
Tree Music Festivals and Guitarfish Music Festival, we roll JavaGogo to over 20
festivals a year selling coffee. We also have a fleet of Cozy Camper Trailers
(33 of them) that we rent to other festivals and events in the region. We
are also hosting two major yoga festivals at our Joshua Tree venue – Shakti
& Bhakti Festivals – so our production team will help them make those fests
happen. We also have been hired to
produce aspects (sound, light, staging, art, etc) for Sierra Stake Out and
Babes Ride Out (two motorcycle events).
SBP:Besides JavaGogo and your
festivals do you have time for anything else?
BE: My
favorite job is being a papa to Lola, age 13. Spending time with Lola and
my beloved Lynne is what I do in my spare time!
SBP: Tell us about Guitarfish Music Festival and how it’s
different from Joshua Tree Music Festival?
BE: Guitarfish is in a MAGICAL setting – a mile high in
the Sierras, on the Yuba River, near Lake Tahoe. That is the main
difference. Otherwise our audiences and
musical styles are similar!
SBP: What can people expend from the
2019 Guitarfish Music Festival?
BE: A phenomenal line up! The Cisco Grove campground, under new
ownership, is making some super positive upgrades to their infrastructure as
well.
SBP: All your festivals
have a family friendly appeal, was that part of your vision?
BE: Not so much at the
very beginning in 2003 but ever since the birth of my daughter in 2005, YES!
It’s what makes our fests unique and special. We truly cater to families
and the positive vibrations are truly higher because of it.
SBP: Do you have other
dreams and goals that you would like to pursue?
BE: I see future careers
in writing and in creating up-cycled junk art, and developing our own festival
site!
SBP:What is one secret about you that no one knows?
BE: I love the Bee Gees.
SBP: What’s next for
Barnett English?
BE: Besides a shower lol, I wake up each day, driven by
the desire to create an even greater festival experience for people and to
witness more of those positive life changing moments!
For more info on
Joshua Tree Music Festival visit: www.joshuatreemusicfestival.com
For more info on
GuitarFish Festival visit: guitarfishfestival.com
Famous fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld died on February 19, 2019 at the age of 85. He leaves the world of fashion orphan, just like his pet became star: Choupette.
Choupette should not miss kibble for the rest of his life. Karl Lagerfeld had designated his famous longhaired cat as official heiress.
She will not be the only one to inherit a part of the fashion designer’s fortunes, as he said in an interview with the magazine Numéro published on April 10, 2018. The journalist also reminded him in the interview that it was forbidden in France to designate an animal as heir, to which Karl Lagrefeld had replied “it’s good because I’m not French.”
“She has her own little fortune, it’s an heiress,” said the fashion designer on the show “Le Divan”, hosted by Marc-Olivier Fogiel. If something happens to me, the person who looks after her will not be in misery. The ads she did, the money I do not take, it’s put on purpose for her. Choupette is a rich girl. “
Karl Lagerfeld had adopted Choupette in 2011, after the model Baptiste Giabiconi had entrusted to him. She had gradually become his muse, the designer devoting several collections.
The cat had become a real celebrity, with its own Instagram account with more than 100,000 subscribers, and gains estimated at nearly 3 million euros in 2014 alone.
“She’s the center of my world, she’s a kind of Greta Garbo, she has something unforgettable about how she moves, she’s inspired by her elegance and attitude,” Karl Lagerfeld said of today orphaned animal.
Today choupette lost his master and fashion lost a great creator.
