This past Saturday I went up to Oregon Ridge for Hot August Blues, an annual blues and roots festival that always has an impressive lineup. This year included Gov't Mule, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Justin Townes Earle, Cris Jacobs Band, and many others. 

The cost of the festival ends up being a little steep if you procrastinate (which, let's be honest, many of us do): $49 plus a $9 parking pass. But, if you think about what you're getting, it's not so bad—nearly 12 hours of music on multiple stages in a bucolic setting. The perfect 80-degree weather on Saturday didn't hurt either.

Plus, once inside the festival, the prices really weren't too bad. For $5, you got a 20-oz. cup of Magic Hat, either their IPA or #9, which is pretty much the same price you'd pay at any bar. The food and all the vendors selling everything from dreamcatchers to henna tattoos all seemed reasonable, too.

Some of my favorite performances included JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, who I've written about before. They played the second stage near the entrance and got a pretty huge crowd that migrated over from the main amphitheater. I wish that the band could have performed on a bigger stage, as their Motown/rockabilly sound could have easily filled the space.

I also liked the international flare of Colombia's Locos Por Juana who played the main stage and seamlessly fused funk, reggae, hip-hop and Latin rhythms to keep the crowd thoroughly entertained. Justin Townes Earle was another favorite of mine, though I think his emotional country-soul ballads might have worked better on a smaller, more intimate stage. But I think his fame (and perhaps, his father Steve Earle's fame, as well) validated his main-stage billing.

A band I was really excited for, who lived up to the hype, was Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, pictured. They had all of the old-school jazz, funk, and soul you'd expect from a New Orleans group—but also merged it with some hard rock and hip-hop. They reminded me of a Louisiana version of The Roots. Check out their 2011 release For True to get an idea.

All told, the festival is a great excuse to plop down your camping chair and listen to some of the most talented national acts touring right now—all in a beautiful, natural amphitheater just a half-an-hour away from the city.

[Image: courtesy of Jordan August Photography]

Back in February, I wrote about Spike TV show Bar Rescue in town renovating, reopening, and ultimately renaming J.A. Murphy’s in Fells Point. The idea behind the show is pretty simple: Its production team and host Jon Taffer aim to transform struggling bars into profitable businesses. But, unfortunately, that outcome didn't exactly pan out.

I got an advanced copy of the episode, which is going to air this Sunday, and, like every reality show out there, it is all very affected and over the top. It begins by showing some very poor sanitary conditions in the kitchen and explains that owners Keith Murphy and Joel Gallant were just simply two college buddies with absolutely no business savvy.

After some heavy screaming matches, Taffer brings in a few “experts,” including a flair bartender (who did silly tricks with martini shakers and glasses) and an Irish chef, to help improve the menu and atmosphere. There was also some structural damage beneath the bar and a crew had to be brought in to improve the foundation. Additionally, there is an over-dramatized subplot about former J.A. Murphy’s bartender Marka Browning, who left Murphy’s and opened her new bar DogWatch Tavern around the corner. While Browning admits there was, of course, a little bit of tension, the show played that up to its full, theatrical advantage.

Again, like all makeover shows, what Bar Rescue shows is a happy ending: A shiny new space, customers having fun, and owners Murphy and Gallant reveling in the renewed business. However, that isn’t really where the story ends.

After the film crew left, the new incarnation, dubbed Murphy’s Law, was open for a couple of months, pictured here in March. During that time, I got a chance to stop by and appreciated the new menu offerings and the cleaner, more modern space. However, pretty much all of the pizzazz and personality of the bar was gone (including the fun drinking games and impeccable happy hour deals).

Ultimately, it seems that the work that Taffer and his team did on the bar wasn’t enough to get its owners out of debt because they were forced to close. Last I heard, the owners still haven’t been able to find a buyer because of some pretty intense structural problems (more than the show’s production crew could fix). Murphy has since moved out to Los Angeles and Gallant continues to live in Federal Hill and maintain his day job in the IT industry.

We will definitely miss the original J.A. Murphy’s and wish the best of luck to its former owners and employees. Tune into Spike TV on Sunday at 9 p.m. to watch all the (over)dramatics unfold.

[Image: courtesy of Murphy's Law]

This year's Artscape boasts tons of fun stuff to do and see, including performances by the Baltimore Rock Opera Society, screenings of Maryland Film Festival shorts, national headliners Brian McKnight and Rebirth Brass Band, plus all of the wonderful arts and craft vendors that define the free festival. But, let's not forget about some of the lesser-known acts, like Towson native Emma White.

White is a singer-songwriter who describes her style as "pop/soul." Currently residing in Nashville with plans to move up to New York City, she says she's excited about her performance at Artscape, which will be a far cry from her usual coffee-shop venues.

Did you always know you wanted to be a singer?
Oh yeah, ever since I was super little. I sang my very first National Anthem at a Little League game when I was 8 years old. I did musical theater a little bit and would travel up to New York to get voice lessons. Eventually, after a year at College Park, I decided I wanted to go to Berklee College of Music.

When did you realize it could turn from passion into a viable career?
I'm still trying to figure that out [laughs]. I think it's possible. I'm just trying to get smarter about it and learn the business. I use social media as best I can. There are so many options for people doing stuff on their own without a record deal. I've been sending CDs out since I was 16 and they've been returned. That strategy is so difficult. The more you can do on your own, the better. You can go through CD Baby or Tune Core, a site where the fans pay as much as they want. There are so many outlets that are empowering for independent artists.

How do you describe your vocal style?
I've always wanted to do pop/soul, but in college I really got into singer-songwriter stuff like folk, Americana, and jazz. I started in musical theater and I also love country. I just like good music. I try not to sound like the person whose song I'm singing. When I was learning to sing, I had to do it my own way.

Talk about the music you've put out there so far.
I have one album out on iTunes called His Eyes, which I did a while ago, so it's time for some new stuff. I have a new single "Indestructible," which is a cover of a Robyn song. All of the stuff on my first CD is original and I'm constantly writing, which is the biggest challenge for me. But writing my own songs is really fulfilling and I try to do that the most I can.

Are you excited to be playing Artscape?
Yeah, I'm so excited and just shocked. I've been wanting to do stuff in Baltimore so badly. I don't even know how it happened. I just started with this booking agent here in town and he submitted my stuff. It's totally surreal. I feel like very lucky for it. I'm freaking out a little bit because the big person I am excited about is Brian McKnight. I grew up listening to him and he was a huge influence.

How are you preparing for your performance on such a big stage?
Well I am having a really big band with me. In high school, I did the "Senior Night Live" talent show and had this really big band, so it will sort of be like that. I'm going to have two horn players and go all out. Typically I'm at small coffee shops and I play more quiet, intimate music. So this will be awesome to move around and have a whole band backing me. I will definitely play more up-tempo stuff. I might have some family and friends come up on stage. And I'm trying to finish a new song in time to perform it.

What exciting things do you have coming up?
I definitely want to put out more new music. I'm thinking about going to New York and trying to find my way a little bit there. My sister lives there and she already said it was okay to crash with her.

How do you feel about the Baltimore music scene?
I know that there are opportunities to perform, but I feel like the community could even grow a lot more here. There are so many great musicians here, but it's not a Nashville or New York. Making connections has been hard. But that might be me—I'm always running to the next thing and might be missing what's right around me.

Be sure to check out Emma White on Sunday at noon on the Wells Fargo stage.

Yesterday I got a chance to stop by Willow, a new lounge that officially opened in Fells Point on Friday. Brought to you by the same people who opened RYE and Stuggy's, Willow is also located on the 800 block of South Broadway.

The name (which was chosen because of willow trees' resilient and independent qualities) also reflects the organic feeling decor of the place—all earthtone accents and beautiful sage-colored walls. The former Sam's Kid space is well transformed with community tables in the front (seating 10-12 people), a Spanish tiled, teardrop-shaped bar, and a striking lounge upstairs—complete with fireplace and retro furniture (some salvaged from 1920's Guilford mansions).

The concept of Willow, as described to me by co-owner Ryan Perlberg, is an "infusion lounge." The drink menu heavily relies on house-made infusions (crafted by RYE and Willow bar manager Doug Atwell): think rhubarb vodka, jalapeño tequila, and blackberry bourbon. The menu also includes abbreviations, which are $7 shot drinks, a concept brought over from RYE.

The cuisine consists of casual Latin fare like mix-and-match tacos, quesadillas, nachos, and taco salad and includes proteins like Korean BBQ, vegan chorizo, smoked lamb, and pork adobo. Perlberg points out that the menu is almost entirely gluten-free.

Judging from opening weekend (the lounge was packed both Friday and Saturday) and the success of the other two Broadway businesses, Willow is sure to be a hit for customers who want innovative cocktails and affordable food in a beautiful atmosphere.

[Images: courtesy of Willow]