Soul in the sampling
Denver producer Alex Medellin, who performs under the name Late Night Radio, churns out jazzy, head-bobbing mash-ups of retro grooves and hip-hop beats. By weaving the old with the new, he creates a sound that’s funky and inventive – his expressive sampling and soulful tunes don’t bury the human element of the music in excessive robot bleeps. Late Night Radio will perform Friday at the Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive for an Ugly Christmas Sweater-slash-FLC graduation bash. Joining him will be electro/hip-hop duo Krooked Drivers. The party starts at 10 p.m., tickets are $15.
’Tis the season for seasonals
The darkest time of the year calls for something equally dark in your pint glass. Something rich, complex and hearty. Something stout. Ska Brewing Co. has an answer to the season in the form of Hibernal Vinifera Stout, an oak-aged foreign stout brewed with Malbec grapes. The beer will hit shelves on Sunday to coincide with the solstice, but Ska is releasing it with a party from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the brewery’s headquarters, 225 Girard St. Along with the chance to imbibe Hibernal, the party will feature chocolate pairings by Animas Chocolate Co. and live music by Matt Kavan. Hibernal, which is part of Ska’s Seasonal Stout Series, gets its complexity from roasted malts and a hint of sweetness from the grapes. The stout is no lightweight; it clocks in at 8 percent ABV. “We like to think of it as that hearty winter stout beer,” said Ska’s Marketing Manager Kristen Muraro.
No reindeer allowed
Santa, Rudolph and Frosty are going to have to sit this Christmas concert out. “The Majesty of Christmas,” which will be performed Friday at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 910 East Third Ave., is all about beautiful sacred music. The 3rd Ave. Arts performance, which will feature local musicians like Gemma Kavanagh, M. Brent Williams and Katherine Jetter, will put the spotlight on sacred with carols like “In the Bleak Midwinter,” “The Snow Lay on the Ground,” and “Coventry Carol.” Scott Hagler, executive director of 3rd Ave. Arts, said the performance is a way to celebrate the more traditional side of the holiday’s music, which often gets overlooked for pop tunes. “Year after year, it seems, the opportunities to hear good, live Christmas music are dwindling. We’d like to help reverse that trend,” Hagler said. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students and children. Get yours at www.durangorecitals.com.
