Mobile’s original music scene is getting a showcase of its own this spring through Coastline Chronicles, a project created by local musician and promoter Kris Skoda. The effort pairs a free compilation CD featuring 22 of the city’s current original acts with a three-day music festival on Lower Dauphin Street, scheduled for May 12-14, 2011.
Free CD Available Across Mobile
The compilation, which is free, will begin appearing in the coming weeks at businesses throughout the area, including downtown and midtown Mobile venues and shops, West Mobile locations and Eastern Shore businesses. Among the acts included on the disc are Bay City Brass Band, Too Far From Amsterdam, James Copeland Band, Underhill Family Orchestra, The Old Guard and Seduction Bomb, along with many others from across the local music community.
Three Nights at Alabama Music Box, Daytime Sets at Island Thyme
The festival portion of Coastline Chronicles runs three nights at the Alabama Music Box on Lower Dauphin Street. Thursday, May 12 features DJ sets from Strange Rover alongside performances by Too Far From Amsterdam, Fargo, Edward Appleby and The Cimarron Club. Friday night’s bill includes The Handsome Scoundrels and The Old Guard, Banditos, Seduction Bomb and Underhill Family Orchestra.
Saturday, May 14, gets underway with daytime sets at Island Thyme featuring L. F. Knighton, The Suzies, Alex Joy, Lane Fisher, Mandown and Adam Taylor, among others, before the evening lineup at Alabama Music Box closes out the festival with sets from James Copeland Band, Bay City Brass Band, Cockfight, Venom and 20,000 Leagues.
Tickets for the 2011 festival were available for pre-order ahead of the May dates.
Meet Thursday’s Bands
The Thursday, May 12 bill comes with deep local roots. Too Far From Amsterdam fields Arie VandeWaa and Mark Parrish on guitars and vocals, Ben White on bass and Cameron Alidor on drums and vocals, playing progressive hard rock influenced by Coheed and Cambria and Rush. The trio behind the Secret Cities EP — Michael Clark, Devin Istre and Steve Marler — performs mid-evening, followed by minimalist folk project Edward Appleby around 11:10 p.m. Honky-tonk outfit The Cimarron Club — Adam Taylor, Trey Lane, Zach DePolo and Jimmy Lee — closes out past midnight, with DJ sets from Strange Rover throughout the night.