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This August, KET is hosting four community screenings of Independent Lens documentaries featuring the stories of exceptionally strong women.

The events, which will be held at the KET Network Center at 600 Cooper Drive in Lexington, are free and open to the public. The films begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings, and a panel discussion with experts on that night’s topic will be held immediately following each screening.

The film series begins Aug. 5 with Shadya, a documentary about a 17-year-old girl who is a Muslim Arab living in Israel and a world champion in karate.

On Aug. 12, the Emmy Award-winning Made in L.A. follows three Latina immigrants on an odyssey to win basic labor protections.

Then, Sunset Story delves into the friendship between two feisty and free-thinking retirement home residents on Aug. 19.

Finally, the series finishes up on Aug. 26 with Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai, which tells the story of how a small women’s movement to plant trees in Kenya became a major political force powerful enough to bring down a dictatorship.

More information about KET programming and education services can be found at www.ket.org.

I think I first stumbled across Ascent of Everest on a Lastfm.com Godspeed You! Black Emperor channel. I was really impressed that they were based so close by and surprised that I had never heard of them. Been keeping my eyes out for a local or regional show for a while, and lo and behold here it is! This is going to be one of those really cool shows a lot of people sleep on. It’s a tiny little venue so get there early.

The Ascent of Everest: High quality, heavy mostly instrumental post-rock.
Slowest Runner: self-described “instrumental post-baroque band” from Brooklyn. Wasn’t familiar with them until I just listened to some of their songs – recommended if you like Rachel’s, Explosions in the Sky, Silver Mt Zion, etc. From the looks of the picture on their MySpace page, they put on quite the energetic live show.

Saturday, July 24:
Jesco White, the Dancin’ Outlaw, with Sunday Valley and at Cosmic Charlie’s.
Doors at 8/ $15.

I gotta admit, by the time Sunday night at Forecastle hit last weekend,  I was pretty wiped. Nonetheless, being in the photo pit for the beginning of the Flaming Lips set (and having Wayne hit me in the face with a huge balloon he was swinging around) was by far the highlight of my entire weekend.

Somehow, I’ve managed to see the Lips probably 6 times over the past 7 years (I think Bogart’s circa ’03  was my first full show – I ducked out of their midnight Bonnaroo show earlier that summer after a couple songs to catch a late night set by Medeski Martin and Wood. It’s a decision I may have later slightly questioned after realizing how many Dark Side covers the Lips threw in that set, but one that I still stand by, by and large.). As most repeat-Lips showgoers know, their set really hasn’t changed too terribly much in the past decade, with the exception of many of the Yoshimi and Soft Bulletin single-oriented ballads having been replaced by more psychedelic Embryonics and At War with the Mystics jams, a few different videos and other subtle tweaks. Anyway, don’t take that as a complaint, b/c  the Lips have successfully established their live performance as one of the most entertaining and enjoyable shows you can catch today, hands down, andif anything the show has gotten bigger and better. Their festival production rivals any multi-million dollar arena stage show, while somehow maintaining a boutique, audience-centric vibe that doesn’t feel fake or forced – gaudy, yes, but in a delightfully giddy way. Unbelievably, they go through the (extensive) motions of setting up the most copious party stage in the world – fully equipped with a 20+ft. tall arched LCD screen, scores of ginormous balloons, massive fully-loaded confetti guns, animal costumes, etc. – night after night after night (with Wayne Coyne himself meticulously walking around the stage for a good 10 minutes before the set making sure everything’s in it’s place). But you would never know it by watching, because the band genuinely appears to be having a blast. Whether or not the Flaming Lips is a band you listen to with regularity – or even like – I dare you to go to a Lips show and not have a damn good time. Eating bad acid doesn’t count.

I do rather miss the fake blood and Don’t Snort Your Brain video that used to be staples of their set, but the huge plastic bubble and increased confetti are nice additions to the show that I’ve noticed in recent years.

MMMB photos from Saturday afternoon; Cirque Berzerk from Sunday evening.

press release from Production Simple:

My Morning Jacket to Play Long Awaited Hometown Show with Louisville Youth Orchestra

Show Set for October 29^th at New KFC Yum! Center

My Morning Jacket may have traveled all across the globe but there is always an unmistakable, unique aura at their hometown gigs.  Their 2008 performance at the Waterfront Park proved that no matter how massive a Louisville MMJ show is, it manages to feel intimate.  The band also always includes locally-based performers at these events, ensuring that a truly communal sentiment is present.  With this in mind, the group is thrilled to announce that on October 29^th they will be joined by the illustrious Louisville Youth Orchestra (LYO) at the soon-to-be-opened KFC Yum! Center. Louisville’s own Wax Fang will be opening the evening as well.

The band will continue its practice of donating $1 from each ticket.  In this case, the proceeds will go to the Louisville Youth Orchestra Continuing Education Scholarship, which raises money for at risk youth to be able to attend school.   My Morning Jacket is also proud to announce that they will be continuing the tradition of creating a “Local Louisville Village” inside the KFC Yum! Center to provide locally based business and non-profits to have a presence at their show.

“My Morning Jacket has continued to honor their roots and support their hometown in a variety of ways,” Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson said. “That they are going to be among the first to play the new arena, involve the Louisville Youth Orchestra and bring local businesses and non-profit organizations to their show is something we can all take great pride in celebrating along with them.”

The LYO was founded with the mission to provide high quality musical experiences and the opportunity of performing for the benefit of the Louisville community and its young musicians regardless of race, creed or economic circumstances.  It is one of the oldest and largest youth orchestra in the US.  To find out more about the LYO please visit www.lyo.org.

The KFC Yum! Center is a new multi-purpose 22,000 seat arena located in Louisville, Kentucky. When it opens in October, it will become home to the University of Louisville Men’s and Women’s Basketball programs.

My Morning Jacket with the Louisville Youth Orchestra and Wax Fang goes on sale Saturday, August 14^th at 10am at all Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-300.  Tickets are $45.00, Reserved and General Admission.  The show is All Ages.  A limited amount of cash-only General Admission tickets will be available from August 12^th at 10am until August 13^th at 10pm (while they last) at the landmark Louisville music retailer, ear X-tacy Records, in celebration of the store’s 25^th anniversary and new location at 2226 Bardstown Road in the Highlands opening July 30th.

Presented by 91.9 WFPK.

Produced by The Messina Group/AEG Live and Production Simple.