* 4th Ward has been offered a track on Shut Eye Records' Best Independent Artists multi-media music disc which is to be released in early 2003. Shut Eye Records is an independent label based in Atlanta, GA. The disc will be an industry periodical designed to create awareness of the newest artists, and it helps predict the artists who are going to do well in the independent market. The disc will be distributed to major labels, press, distribution companies and retail stores.
The band will be back in the studio this month to recut the featured track "Wonderland" from their latest disc of the same name. The sessions will be co-produced by Jamie Hoover and band members Mike Shannon and Chick Tsikouras.
* Robin Rogers, along with Michael Cline and Bob Dunlap, will be playing every Tuesday night, starting in June, at the Double Door Inn. It'll be a fairly early evening, starting around 9pm and ending around midnight each week.
* Prymary Colorz made an appearance in town a couple of weeks ago at Vance High School. The band, comprised of Jonathan Thomas, Raj Nichols, Josh Royals and Marcus Dilley, is originally from Charlotte but had moved to Florida a couple of years ago in hopes of finding a record deal. Apparently, they did just that, and now they're signed to Big3 Records, based in St. Petersburg, FL. The band is currently working on their debut release. For more info, visit www.big3entertainment.com.
* Crisis just celebrated the release of their new album, titled Nothingtown. The material was produced by Jamie Hoover and it's the second release for the band, which also features Ed Leitch, Randy Franklin, Tommy Franklin and Bobby Hodges. For more details, check out www.crisis.visoweb.com.
* Katherine Everhart of Bittersweet Promotions has announced that she'll be releasing the second album from The Port Huron Statement on July 2. The album, featuring 11 tracks, will be titled Tory.
* The Charlotte-based recording studio Left of the Dial Audio recently added a record label, Left of the Dial, Inc. With the addition of the label, the recording facility has received some major upgrades including a Soundcraft Ghost analog mixing console and an updated Digital Audio Workstation from Digital Audio Labs. The studio also touts 32 tracks of digital recording capability and 24/96 digital 2-track mix-down and CD mastering. The husband and wife team of Rob and Chris Stevens owns the studio, located on Wilby Drive. Rob is in the local group, Mr. Drysdale. The studio is now available for bookings and is also accepting artist submissions for inclusion on the label. For more info, call 704-641-1397 or visit www.leftofthedial.com.
* Ultracyde has spent the past two months in Los Angeles working with well-known producer Beau Hill and STC Management. They've been recording new material and playing shows at venues such as the Viper Room and The Whisky in Hollywood. They plan to spend another two months in LA finishing the recordings and showcasing. For updates (including photos from Hollywood), check out www.ultracyde.com.
* The band once known as Super Rock Divine has changed their name to Boo Boo Kitty. The band consists of Bill Jamison, Stefan Huebner, Amy Campbell and Jarrett Bury.
* The recently regrouped 14 Feet Wide have recorded 10 tracks with Rob Tavaglione at Catalyst Recording and are now in the process of doing guitar and vocal tracks at their own studio. The project, which is still untitled, will be out in the fall. *