THURSDAY,OCTOBER 3,2002
MUSIC
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3
Grocery store offers 'Help' with Beatles classes
By Amy Kelly akelly@kansan.com Jayplay writer
The Community Mercantile, 901 Iowa St., is hosting a series of classes about The Beatles
Contributed art
The Community Mercantile, 901 Iowa St., is holding a series of educational classes that revolve around something other than tofu preparation and holistic therapy. Beginning tonight, disciples of the Fab Four will be treated to "The Beatles: A Magical History Tour."
When taking the weekly trip to the local grocery, you may suddenly find yourself strolling through strawberry fields.
Lloyd Kirk, a KU graduate and manager of Hume Music in Topeka, is the guide for the nostalgic four-part series.
"The Beatles lend themselves pretty easily to four different time periods," Kirk said. "What we thought would be interesting was for it to be more of an anecdotal journey. I'm really hoping that there might be some interesting things those who come didn't know about."
The course spans the Beatles' 12-year career chronologically — from the Liverpool years to the band's eventual dissolution in 1970 — but also brings students closer to each of the four members.
A grocery store may not be the typical setting for a discussion on Ringo Starr or John Lennon, but the Merc's Education Foundation, which organizes the classes offered at the Merc, said the course's nonprofit sponsor, Music Access, was a perfect match for its mission to enhance the quality of life.
Jennifer Wesco, Music Access executive director, began the organization to provide musical instruments and lessons to individuals unable to finance their musical interests.
"Wow, is it hard to look in these little kids' eyes," Wesco said. "Knowing that through no fault of their own they can't rent instruments."
When she worked alongside Kirk at the Lawrence Hume location, Wesco realized. Kirk's vast knowledge of pop culture could be a helpful tool for Music Access. During the summer, she approached the Merc about organizing an eight-week pop culture session, which was composed of classes focused on various pop culture topics, such as the Beatles.
Wesco said that as a member of the Merc, she wondered if it would be interested in sponsoring pop culture classes. She said the Beatles was the biggest and most popular class.
Nancy O'Connor, executive director of the Merc's Education Foundation, said she was pleased with the addition of Music Access' Beatles series.
"Not only is it interesting, the spirit of it is wonderful," said O'Connor. "One-hundred percent of the money goes to Music Access."
Along with helping to fund Music Access, Kirk said he was enjoying the idea of sharing his love of music with the community.
"I love to tell stories and be around crowds of people," said Kirk, who has about 400 Beatles singles and 15,000 pieces of music memorabilia in his personal collection. "Every day people would stand around me and say, 'I didn't know that.'"
Kirk said he hoped his classes would have a unique impact on every student.
"At these classes, you might possibly be sitting next to someone who saw the Kansas City concert or the Ed Sullivan Show appearance of February 1964," Kirk said.
"The stories behind the scene are what I'm really interested in. I want Beatles fans to have an 'ah-ha' moment every single class."
The first session of "The Beatles: A Magical History Tour" is 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Community Mercantile, 901 Iowa St. Three subsequent sessions will be held
Oct. 10, 17 and 24. The cost of each class is $10 and preregistration is suggested. For more information, call 843-8544. All proceeds go to the Music Access program.
- Edited by Chris Wintering and Adam Pracht
Folk artists to play free concert for students tonight
By Janette Yost jyost@kansan.com Jayplaywriter
Two women folk artists with national recognition will play a free show for students at 7:30 tonight at the Hawk's Nest in the Kansas Union.
Colleen Sexton and Trina Hamlin have paid their dues in the world of independent folk, playing at small clubs and music halls of New England for years.
Their hard work is paying off. Now on a national tour together, Sexton and Hamlin will each play a set of their unique music both reviewed as a combination of jazz blues, folk and pop.
Colleen Sexton, younger sister of the
famed "new folk" singer Martin Sexton, has played at many venues and festivals, including the highly esteemed Philadelphia Folk Festival. Her first CD, Stepping Out, earned her two nominations for the 1999 Boston Music Awards, one for Outstanding New Contemporary Folk Act and another for Outstanding Debut Contemporary Folk CD.
In Jan. 2001, she released a live album, Colleen Sexton Live, with Hamlin and percussionist Tim Kelly. She plans to release a studio album this year. Sexton has played with a number of more widely known fellow folkies, including Ellis Paul, Susan Werner, Melissa Ferrick, John Gorka and
Greg Greenway, many of whom have played in Lawrence over the past years.
"Colleen Sexton is one of the top young talents of the circuit with a supple voice and pop/R&B beat reminiscent of brother Martin," reviewer Daniel Gewertz wrote in the Boston Herald.
Hamlin has played shows across the country with big names such as Paula Cole, Duncan Sheik and Ricki Lee Jones. She has played on the Late Show with Conan O'Brien, and her songs have been featured on Dawson's Creek, The Real World and the CBS made-for-TV-movie Friends at Last. She has released three solo albums and was chosen as one of the "Most Wanted New Artists" at New York's Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. She
graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston with a degree in professional music.
Jim Catalano of the Ithaca Journal, Ithaca, N.Y., described Hamlin as having "a powerhouse voice, sizzling harmonica chops and a gift for blending blues, folk, pop and rock."
Lawrence's West Side Folk and the Kansas Union are hosting the event. A KUID is required for free admission; the cost is $5 for non-students. Find more information at www.westsidefolk.org, www.colleensexton.com, www.trinahamlin.com or call 865-FOLK.
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