​PAWTUCKET – The Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame (RIMHOF) held a press conference on Friday, February 23, announcing its 2018 inductees. The press conference took place in the RIMHOF Museum located at Hope Artiste Village, 999 Main St., Pawtucket. Members of the RIMHOF Board of Directors, several past inductees, and fans and family were on hand for the naming of the eight new inductees who will enter into the Hall of Fame this spring. 

The Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame’s 2018 inductees are: David Blue, John Chan, Tom Ghent, Lloyd Kaplan, James Montgomery, Paul Murphy, Mike Renzi, as well as LeRoy Bennett, Bob Morrissey and Andrew Polin in the Technical/Lighting category.

It was also announced that this year’s induction ceremonies and concert events will take place on three days – April 26, April 27, and April 29 – and will take place at three locations as RIMHOF celebrates its seventh year of operation.

“During the last six years, the Music Hall of Fame initiative,” says Rick Bellaire, vice chair of RIMHOF, “has provided our state with a great opportunity to not only acknowledge Rhode Island’s musical greats and celebrate their achievements, but has now established an organization whose primary goal is to promote and preserve Rhode Island’s rich musical heritage in all its forms.”

This year’s RIMHOF Jazz inductions will take place on Thursday, April 26, 7:00 p.m., at Chan’s Fine Oriental Dining, 267 Main St., Woonsocket. Being honored on April 26 will be Mike Renzi and John Chan.  

On Friday, April 27, at 7:00 p.m., the 2017 RIMHOF Folk and Songwriter inductions will honor Tom Ghent and David Blue and will feature a performance by Tom Ghent and a tribute to David Blue by Hall of Fame Inductees Mark Cutler (Class of 2015) and Bill Harley (Class of 2016.) The event takes place at POP! Emporium of Popular Culture, 219 Park Street, Providence.  

Sunday’s April 29 event will include the unveiling of the eight new inductee exhibits followed by the 2018 RIMHOF Blues, Educator, and Sideman Induction Concert honoring James Montgomery, Lloyd Kaplan and Paul Murphy as well as LeRoy Bennett, Bob Morrissey and Andrew Polin in the Technical/Lighting category. 

The Unveiling Ceremony for all 2018 RIMHOF Inductee exhibits takes place at 2:00 p.m. in the Hall of Fame itself, located within the Hope Artiste Village complex, 999 Main St., Pawtucket, RI. The Induction concert tales place at The Met at 3:00 p.m. The James Montgomery Band will be performing followed by a Paul Murphy Tribute jam session featuring many past RIMHOF inductees as well as collaborators of Paul over the years.

The 2 p.m. unveiling of the inductee exhibits is free and open to the public; a ticket will be required for entrance to the 3 p.m. concert in The Met. 

Robert Billington, Chair of RIMHOF noted, “The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and concerts have become the place to be and be seen at as we continue to showcase the fascinating history of Rhode Island’s musical heroes. The events are a virtual ‘who’s who’ of Rhode Island music history.”

The Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame, formed in 2011, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating, honoring, and preserving the legacy of Rhode Island musicians, educators and industry professionals who have made significant contributions to both the national and Rhode Island music scene. At last year’s induction concert event, the public saw 10 displays unveiled honoring the inductees in the museum space located in the hallways of Hope Artiste Village. This year’s induction ceremony on April 29 will see eight more displays unveiled celebrating the 2018 inductees and bringing the total to 63 inductee exhibits produced in just seven years. Eventually, the museum will hold more than 100 displays as well as assorted Rhode Island music history memorabilia and interactive components for visitors to enjoy.

All proceeds from RIMHOF’s annual induction events go toward creating the museum displays, acquiring recordings and memorabilia, and digitizing that collection for permanent online access for future generations. All organizational work has been donated by members of the Board Of Directors and a staff of volunteers.

On future plans for the Hall of Fame, Rick Bellaire added, “Our Archive Committee continues its work on the core mission, writing biographies and compiling discographies for our inductees and others, and we continue our commitment to honoring those who work behind-the-scenes as well. Simultaneously, new efforts to catalog and preserve the ever-growing collection have begun along with the implemetation of a long-term plan to move the museum and website to the next level with more physical exhibits and interactive features. As we move ahead, RIMHOF is energized by the incredible amount of encouragement and support we’ve received from around the world.”

The Wickford Art Association (WAA) is presenting a unique blending of two art forms at its 6th Annual Poetry and Art Show with a theme based on its mission statement of “Educate, Encourage and Inspire”. The Call for Artists and Call for Poets is now open to fine art artists and poets with a submission deadline of April 8, 2018. The Call for Artists and Call for Poets may be downloaded from www.wickfordart.org

This year, WAA is introducing an exciting reversal to the exhibit process. First, a jury committee will select 40 original, unpublished poems based upon the theme. Artists will also be chosen by jury based upon a portfolio of their work. Both artists and poets are juried anonymously. The poems will then be assigned to selected artists who will create original works of art, inspired by these poems. A limited edition, full-color book cataloging the exhibit will be published. One of the premiere poetry libraries in the country, The Poets House in New York City has accepted the 2018 Poetry & Art book for its library collection.

Heightening the excitement for this annual exhibit, poets and artists will not meet until just prior to the opening reception, held on September 14, 2018 at 6:30 PM at the Wickford Art Association. Poetry readings and related events will take place during the reception and the exhibit. The Poetry and Art exhibit will run from September 14 to October 14, 2018 and attendance to the reception and exhibit is free and open to the public.

The Wickford Art Association is a non-profit organization with over 450 members from Rhode Island and New England. The association hosts art shows and classes in its gallery at 36 Beach Street in North Kingstown, and has produced the Wickford Art Festival every July since 1962.  Wickford Art Association is dedicated to educating, encouraging and inspiring artists and art lovers throughout the community.

Wickford Art Association is located at 36 Beach Street in North Kingstown, RI. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 - 3:00 PM and Sunday noon to 3:00 PM. For more information, call (401) 294-6840 or visit www.wickfordart.org

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My name is Christopher Marcotte. I am 52-years old: I live in Seekonk, Massachusetts with my wife Rita and my three beautiful children, Soleil, Zachary and Samuel. I am searching for a kidney to live.

For several years, I have been able to manage my symptoms and live my life as my kidney disease progressed. Recently, my diagnosis was upgraded to end stage renal failure. My only treatment options now are lifelong dialysis treatments, or a kidney transplant.

Dialysis treatments are at least three times a week and last four hours at a time. They help my kidneys do their job and keep me alive. Many have lived well on dialysis, however, the average life expectancy on dialysis is 5-10 years. A transplant would offer me more freedom and the ability to live a longer, healthier, more normal life. A transplant would also give me more time to possibly walk my daughter down the aisle or see the joy in my sons' eyes as they become fathers themselves in the future.

As you can imagine, finding a kidney is not easy. Just ask the 100,000+ people on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney like me. Time is NOT on our side. Some wait for years; many die while waiting. The average wait time is five years or more for a kidney from a deceased donor.

However, there is another option: receiving a kidney from a living donor. Asking a family member, a friend or even a perfect stranger to consider donating a kidney to me is difficult, but it greatly improves my chances of getting a transplant. A living kidney donation typically lasts longer and has better function.

You might not know a lot about living donation - I know I didn't before kidney disease affected my life. Understandably, some people are afraid about the surgery and what living with one kidney will mean for them. Here's some basic information about kidney donation:

You only need one kidney to live a healthy, long life.

The cost of your evaluation and surgery will be covered by my insurance.

You will have a separate team of healthcare professionals to evaluate you as a living donor. Their job is to help you understand the risks and benefits and look out for YOUR best interests.

You can also learn more about living donation on the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) website: www.kidney.org/livingdonation.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If donating a kidney to me is something you would like to consider, I would be happy to tell you more about my story and explore the process of determining if you are a match for me. To start, I am looking for type A or O blood. My sister Nancy is coordinating things for now. She can ask you a few questions to get you started. If you meet the criteria, she will put you in touch with my living donor coordinator at Rhode Island Hospital. Please email kidneyforchristopher1965@gmail.com to help or visit my Facebook page Kidney for Christopher 2018.

However, I know living donation may not be right for everyone — but you can still help! Consider being an organ donor after death and also, help me by sharing my story with everyone you know. At the very least, I want to bring awareness to kidney disease and living donation, and encourage others to consider helping the many people on the waitlist. It means everything to me to try and live the longest, healthiest life I can with my wife and amazing children.

Thank you & God Bless!

Christopher Marcotte

MASHANTUCKET, CT, – The management and staff of Altered Reality Entertainment, LLC, in partnership with Foxwoods Resort Casino, announce today the ninth annual ComiCONN, “A Show for the Fans by the Fans” will be held June 30 and July 1, 2018.
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The event will include all the same aspects that fans have come to expect from a comic con — celebrity appearances from the big and small screen, industry-leading comic book artists, and the best vendors in the market with toys and collectibles, as well as the ever-popular cosplay competitions and events.
 
Guests will be announced weekly as the year progresses leading up to ComiCONN 2018.
 
Tickets to ComiCONN go on sale today and can be purchased from the convention's website, www.comiconn.com. 
 
About Altered Reality Entertainment, LLC:

Altered Reality Entertainment, LLC is an entertainment event company that produces multimedia, multi-genre events throughout the US, including their flagship event Rhode Island Comic Con, ComiCONN “A Show for the Fans by the Fans,” Colorado Springs Comic Con, Terror Con, and the newly added Empire State Comic Con. Altered Reality's latest ventures include comic book publishing and preparing for future expansion.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY | February 2, 2018 – "Cooks In the Kitchen"  from NY grunge-rockers, Candy Ambulance is out today. The track premiered on Kill the Music earlier this week, providing a taste of the band's more mellow side. Written as "a love song to alcohol," you can expect a woozy ride to the dark side, with some unexpected twists and turns along the way.

Opening with the sound of water trickling in the background, a very open, raw, and live atmosphere is built for the track. The band described the song as "written in a lonely, empty space and recorded in the same,” as lead vocalist Caitlin Barker provides a powerful solo vocal intro, with a simple guitar melody in support, before the full band kicks in.

Candy Ambulance had the pleasure of recording in the comfort of their own home, which comes across as an honest and fresh sound throughout all of their tracks on their upcoming EP Spray. “We’ve built a respectable in-home studio over the years we’ve been a band so it was a blast recording Spray at our place," they described. "It was liberating to jump around or scream to pull up some energy. Caitlin did vocal takes lying on the floor and kicking her legs. We think it translated that we were pumped.”

"Cooks In the Kitchen" comes as the third single off the band's upcoming EP Spray, which will be out on February 16. Previous singles include "Weekday" and the title track "Spray". The band is preparing to kick off a east coast / mid-western U.S. tour in support; dates below. The band commented, “Touring is such a badass experience that we look forward to more each time we get out there. Like, ‘who will we meet/where will we sleep/how long can we survive on hard boiled eggs and PBR?’. Not everyone’s ideal way to spend time but we thrive on it.”

UPCOMING TOUR DATES:

Saturday, February 10 – River Street Pub – Troy, NY
Tuesday, February 20 – Mohawk Place – Buffalo, NY
Wednesday, February 21 – Duck House – Cleveland, OH
Thursday, February 22 – Shakespeare’s Lower Level – Kalamazoo, MI
Friday, February 23 – Bric-A-Brac Records (day show) – Chicago, IL
Friday, February 23 – Cole’s – Chicago, IL
Saturday, February 24 – Milf Crate – Aurora, IL
Sunday, February 25 – DZ Records – Hickory Hills, IL (live session filming, day)
Sunday, February 25 – Bremen Cafe – Milwaukee, WI
Tuesday, February 27 – WZRD 88.3 FM – Chicago, IL (live session)
Thursday, March 1 – Bottle and Barrel – Alton, IL
Friday, March 2 – Replay Lounge – Lawrence, KS
Saturday, March 3 – Front of House Lounge – Springfield, MO
Monday, March 5 – Hi Tone Cafe – Memphis, TN
Wednesday, March 7 – Flicker Bar – Athens, GA
Thursday, March 8 – The Cave – Chapel Hill, NC
Friday, March 9 – Arcana – Durham, NC
Saturday, March 10 – Pourhouse – Raleigh, NC
Sunday, March 11 – Galaxy Hut – Washington, DC
Monday, March 19 – One Caroline – Saratoga Springs, NY
Friday, March 30  – River Street Pub  – Troy, NY

"Cooks In the Kitchen" and previous singles are available for stream and purchase now on Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify and all major digital retailers. 

ABOUT CANDY AMBULANCE:

Formed in the summer of 2014, grunge-influenced Candy Ambulance of upstate NY are Caitlin Barker, Jesse Bolduc & Jon Cantiello. Lifelong friends and musical mates, Bolduc & Cantiello rescued Barker from a wealthy engagement prospect and whisked her away to the land of DIY punk. Poppy melodies, dynamic vocal changes and half naked live shows have solidified this rock trio as always entertaining, unabashed fun.
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Boasting a healthy and frequent tour schedule the band has played with notable acts such as Screaming Females, Speedy Ortiz, Daddy Issues, and Dorothy.