Reliable sources tell me that info will be announced shortly confirming next year’s MCLS’ Black History Month Big Gig Blues lineup Feb. 23 at the RRCA. Can’t reveal specifics yet other than to say that it will be a blues equivalent of a “Guitar-Mageddon.” Stay tuned and stock up on ear plugs…this promises to be a loud one! Mark your calendars, more details coming soon.

Monroe native Dave Carducci has returned to play a show at Cafe Classics this Friday at 8 pm.  This will be Dave’s only performance in the area as his other scheduled performance has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict.

If you ask Dave about Bee Movie he will sign your copy of his CD for free. You have to buy the CD, but he’ll sign it… for FREE!

We’re going to Steve’s Tavern afterword to watch/ participate in some karaoke.

Monroe’s finest young musicians will again hit the stage in downtown Monroe for “Hot Summer Talents ’07”, an outdoor concert in the beautiful Loranger Square Pavilion. The concert will be held Saturday, August 18^th, from 6:00-9:00 PM. The concert is free and open to the public; seating on the lawn and free drinks and snacks will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The concert will also be taped for broadcast on Monroe Public Access Cable Television.

“Hot Summer Talents ‘07” features an eclectic lineup of musicians whose only common factors are their youth and their incredible talent. Each one brings a distinct musical style and method of operation to the table, so there’s sure to be “something for everyone” in this one-of-a-kind event.

The evening’s talent lineup is headed up by alternative/classic rockers Unknown Legends, featuring sixteen-year-old Brandon James on guitar and vocals, sixteen-year-old JJ Flegal on bass, and fourteen-year-old Adam Schreiber on drums. Since their first show together in January, Unknown Legends have consistently drawn huge crowds for their Café Classics shows featuring both their original compositions as well as covers of artists as diverse as Pink Floyd, Prince, and Bob Dylan. Visit www.myspace.com/thebrandonjames for more information.

Returning to open “Hot Summer Talents” is seventeen-year-old Charity Moore, a singer-songwriter-guitarist. Moore’s passionate vocal delivery, talented guitar work, and beautiful songwriting have made her a favorite in performances at Café Classics and the Ellis Library’s “Arts After Dark” talent showcases. Visit www.myspace.com/danceuntilwejustcant for more information.

Also in the “Hot Summer Talents” lineup is one-man acoustic act We Were Like Rockets. We Were Like Rockets is nineteen-year-old Alexander Adams (formerly professionally known as Dexter Holiday), who regularly draws local crowds at Café Classics. We Were Like Rockets is defined by Adams’s virtuosic mastery of a variety of acoustic musical styles, from Russian-style waltz to island folk and hints of blues. We Were Like Rockets’s EP “Songs to Pass the Time” can be purchased at the We Were Like Rockets Myspace. Visit www.myspace.com/wewerelikerockets for more information.

Also on the acoustic side of the evening’s lineup is Bedford’s own JWC. JWC is 25-year-old guitarist, singer, songwriter, and harmonica player Jesse Wingate Carlson, whose unique sound blends traditional bluegrass and country with modern alternative stylings. He has established himself as a popular favorite at a number of area venues with his irresistibly energetic performance style. JWC’s new record with collaborators Kevin Clark and Sam Pilbeam will be available later this summer. Visit www.myspace.com/jesrock for more information.

The “Hot Summer Talents” tradition began last August, when Charity Moore, Beyond the Sky, Mitchel Migliore, and Cetan Clawson drew a crowd of approximately 250 to the Pavilion stage. The 2006 show proved a great success, which “Hot Summer Talents ‘07” hopes to take to the next level. The show will again be organized, hosted, and produced for MPACT by eighteen-year-old Monroe student and musician Patrick Dunn.

The public is encouraged to email patrick@r2rmonroe.com for more specific inquiries regarding “Hot Summer Talents ‘07”.

On August 11th and 12th Monroe will host The Sixth Annual River Raisin Jazz Festival at St. Mary’s Park. The event is the brainchild of Monroe County Convention and Tourism Bureau Director John Patterson. It has grown in popularity over the last few years and is now a must see event for much of the area. Little old Monroe is now the hub of jazz music in Southeast Michigan for one weekend in August. How cool is that?

For the last two years John has also organized The River Raisin Jazz Series featuring six local restaurants, leading up to The River Raisin Jazz Series. This led to the River Raisin Blues Series in the fall. It’s just great to see people coming downtown to enjoy themselves on a Thursday night.

The next Jazz Series night is July 12th. The River Raisin Jazz Festival will take place on August 11th and 12th.

Here’s some of what Bedford has to offer the world of music. Sounds a little like Bright Eyes. Take a listen.

“My name is Jesse C. I play music. ( Insert generic 3rd person puff piece here. )”