Whats-Happening: Page 561

Mission from Mars

Music
Photo by Kai Z. Feng

Bruno Mars knows exactly what he is doing, and he does it better than just about anyone in the business. Not only has he released two chart-topping albums — 2010’s Doo-Wops & Hooligans and 2012’s Unorthodox Jukebox — sold over 100 million copies of his singles and albums and won multiple Grammys, but he’d made a name for himself prior to all of this as a songwriter and producer. B.o.B.’s “Nothin’ On You,” for example? Co-written by Mars. Cee-Lo Green’s “F*** You”? Ditto. Continue reading →

True Trans Soul Rebels

Music
Photo by Ryan Russell

In 2014, what does punk rock mean? “Playing as fast as you can? Playing three chords?” poses Atom Willard, drummer for Against Me! “Spiking your hair? Punk rock is doing what isn’t generally smiled upon by the masses,” Willard says. “Doing something you believe in and isn’t easy to do — basically going against the grain.” Willard says the gender transition of Against Me! vocalist Laura Jane Grace (born Thomas James Gabel) is one of the most punk rock things he’s ever witnessed.  Continue reading →

Eugene Weekly’s sixth annual Next Big Thing

Music
Soul Vibrator

#winning: Eugene Weekly’s sixth annual Next Big Thing music competition came to a close Friday, Aug. 1, at Cozmic with winners in three categories: funk crew Soul Vibrator took home the prize for Best Band, acoustic fingerstyle guitar virtuouso Will Brown nabbed the top spot in the Single/Duo category and Bailee Jordyn sang her self into first place in the Youth slot. Congratulations! Soul Vibrator went on to tear up the Cornerstone Stage Aug. 2 at the Whiteaker Block Party, drawing the praise of 2013 NBT winners Sol Seed. Continue reading →

Arts Hound

Visual Arts

Eugene Ballet Company hosts the Sept. 7 “Ballet, Beer & Barre-BQ Bash,” a benefit with barbecue, refreshments, outdoor games (including a pointe shoe toss), dance performances and new company members Brian Ruiz, Jun Tanabe and Kaori Fukui introducing the 2014-2015 season, which kicks off with Cinderella, joined by OrchestraNEXT, Oct 25-26 at the Hult. Contact Karen Warner, 485-3992, or karen@eugeneballet.org for tickets.   Continue reading →

What’s going on in downtown Eugene? Dodgeball, of course

Culture

If you see a bunch of people dressed up in '70s clothes and hitting each other with bouncy rubber balls, don't worry. They're doing it on purpose.  Today, Aug. 6, from 6-8pm, head on over to Kesey Square for a few hours of people in bell bottoms and disco outfits diving, dipping and dodging. It's dodgeball disco-style. It's too late to sign up for the tournament, but it's free to watch, and everyone's invited to play foursquare or hang out in the beer garden. Continue reading →

Get Thee To The Whit

Music in eugene’s most famous neighborhood

Culture

Ask a certain segment of Eugene’s population and they’ll say the Whiteaker Block Party, now in its eighth year, eclipsed the Eugene Celebration in relevance a long time ago. And with the celebration on hiatus until 2015 (and folks pulling the Festival of Eugene together), the Block Party now gets its chance to shine as the premier civic blowout of 2014. Every year, music is a central part of the event, and this year the Block Party boasts a powerhouse of local talent.  Continue reading →

Parking in the Whit

WCC steps up to solve problems

Culture

During the Whiteaker Block Party, parking is usually a pain, with drivers scouring residential streets for a spot, sometimes giving up and parking illegally. This year, the Whiteaker Community Council is trying to alleviate the problem by opening up at least two gravel lots in the neighborhood for $5 per car. The WCC will use its share of the funds for a big long-term goal: a public parking lot in the Whit. Continue reading →

Bigger is Better

The Whiteaker Block Party celebrates Its eighth year

Culture

What started as a small crowd partying in an empty parking lot in the Whiteaker among amps and beer kegs has grown, in eight short years, into a neighborhood-encompassing celebration of community and unique Eugene culture. Featuring a couple dozen local bands, food and craft vendors, an art and kid zone, carnival games, a dunk tank, beer gardens and even a bike valet, on Saturday, Aug. 2, from noon to 10 pm — it’s the Whiteaker Block Party (WBP). Continue reading →