by Jayme Foltz | Apr 18, 2022 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
As the weather changes from a biting chill to a warm breeze, what better way to welcome the Spring season to Music City than with some fresh and flowery tunes. Musical Acts River & Rail, Garden, and Grace Russell made an appearance at the Black River Stage at the Well on April 14 for Spring Fling. “We thought it would be cool for all three of us, who each have a different sound, but are a little similar, to have a performance where each could bring something cool to the table,” Alex Fincher said. Fincher is one-half of the Americana Folk duo River & Rail alongside his wife Grace. The guitar-wielding duo met in 2019 and eventually pursued a relationship as a couple and a musical act. “Out of that just came with a whole bunch of really great stories and a new passion for storytelling through music,” Grace said. “Which I think if I had to narrow down what River & Rail is really about, it’s about telling compelling stories through good music.” River & Rail swayed their audience with a couple of fresh songs. “Gentle on My Mind” is a personal favorite for Alex, and “Monsters in My Head” is a song led by Grace’s sugary vocals that tell a stirring story. “It’s the first song the first time I’ve played that song for a group of people other than just Alex and so it’s just nice to have that vulnerable moment, like with an audience sharing this story you wrote and see how they respond to that,” Grace said. The duo released their Ep, “Vows” back...
by Jayme Foltz | Apr 11, 2022 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Soft pop and the whistle of coffee machines fill the air as students bustle through the Starbucks entrance. Baristas are hard at work making beverages for caffeine-hungry students, while others flock together to catch up with their friends between classes. In the far corner seated in two leather chairs are students, Jakholbi Murry and Shelby Talbert, casually chatting. I sought out their expertise on a subject they should be well informed about. Shakespeare. Is he still relevant in modern culture? “Yeah!” The duo exclaimed after stealing a glance at one another. The duo has been preparing for months for the performance of Romeo and Juliet, in which they play the role of the tragic couple. “I think his stories keep getting pulled over and over because they resonate,” Talbert said. “They continue to talk about topics that are important to us and there are always new ways to reinvent them.” Shakespeare was known and still could be considered the greatest dramatist of all time. The poet wrote over 150 poems and more than 30 plays that span a range of genres including comedy, romance, and tragedy. He continues to inspire creatives with his legacy. Such as Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” inspired by Romeo and Juliet and The Lumineers’ “Ophelia” inspired by Hamlet. Disney’s The Lion King is also paralleled by Hamlet and the classic rom-com 10 Things I Hate About You is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. “A lot of places see Shakespeare as the pinnacle of theatre, like, that’s what good theatre looks like,” Murry said. “I think it’s why so many places, all across...
by Jayme Foltz | Mar 26, 2022 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Student Spotlight
She may not have the accent, but that doesn’t mean she ain’t country. Sydney Brown, a commercial music major from Parker, Colorado, took to the Black River Stage at The Well to perform 12 original songs. “I have a lot of country influence in my writing,” Brown said, explaining the inspiration. “That’s what I grew up with, and that’s what I love. “I don’t have the Southern accent, of course. So it doesn’t always sound the most country at first. But that’s definitely a major influence.” Brown’s musical tales of young love, heartbreak, and growing up quickly commanded the attention of the crowd. This was especially true during her performances of “I Got You” a story about love, “Vienna” which shared her hope to see the world, and “Walking Through a Memory,” which is one of Brown’s favorites. “It’s about going back to your hometown, like, after you’ve graduated and left and moved on, and just go into the same places that used to be, like, your stomping grounds and it just doesn’t feel quite the same,” Brown said. “Like, it’s still that special place, but you don’t quite fit in there anymore. It is one of my favorites I’ve ever written.” Jay Meng, a student who attended the event, said she was pleasantly surprised by Brown’s performance. “It was very sweet and calming to hear her voice,” Meng said. “All of her songs were so soothing, but I especially loved the one about her hometown.” For Brown, who has been singing all her life, it was clear what she would pursue when she made her way to Lipscomb....
by Jayme Foltz | Mar 25, 2022 | Galleries, News Slider
Singarama has returned to campus live and in-person for its 59th annual production following the cancellation of the event in 2020 and recording of the event in 2021. To inaugurate the momentous return of a beloved Lipscomb tradition, SGA invited students to enjoy the show with free tickets that were valid for opening night only. This year’s Singarama theme is Storytime with a show made up of three groups and containing more than 200...
by Jayme Foltz | Mar 25, 2022 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Singarama has returned to campus live and in-person for its 59th annual production following the cancellation of the event in 2020 and recording of the event in 2021. To inaugurate the momentous return of a beloved Lipscomb tradition, SGA invited students to enjoy the show with free tickets that were valid for opening night only. This year’s Singarama theme is Storytime with a show made up of three groups and containing more than 200 students. Erin Bell, senior and co-director of Fairytale, is looking forward to the chance to perform in front of an audience. “With the audience, people are a lot more motivated to just have fun and put everything they have into it because people are watching and it’s the first normal one [show] in two years.” Co-directors and friends, Ellie Miller and Shelby Bratcher decided to take on the directing role together for Mystery. “We didn’t really think that we were going to have a whole lot of participation because of Covid, but we hoped that maybe we could bring it back to what it had been before,” Bratcher said. “I think we succeeded.” History, a story of two women looking to go from rags to riches by pulling off the ultimate museum heist is directed by Mallory Nunley. Fairytale, the story of a boy who gets transported to a fairytale land alongside his sister is directed by Nate Pearce. Finally, in Mystery directed by Shelby Bratcher, a detective is looking for whodunnit at a dinner party filled with colorful characters. The show also featured performances by this year’s hosts, Lydia Jernigan, Shawna Mann, Kendall Patton,...
