Vegas Unplugged set out to bring a variety of musicians to one stage and perform before a live audience in an acoustic setting. Now add the chance to give back to a local charity. That is an awesome music festival worth going to.

And many did.

On August 23, 2014, the Vegas Unplugged Music Festival had a lineup of bands that were just completely incredible. A great diversity of musical genres really kept the evening entertaining and your ears and feet wanting more. And, a bit of education was also involved as artists shared stories and the inspiration for their music and its origins, while gracefully performing their talent and passion for music, through their songs.

Included in this fantastic evening was the acoustic guitar donated by Washburn Guitars and the proceeds of the auction for that guitar, benefited Opportunity Village. Which also made the evening that much more special. You see, Opportunity Village also performed that evening with their own band named “Roaring Thunder”. So cool.

The line up for the evening was Las Vegas indie band Avalon Landing, the Bishr Hijazi Arab Ensemble, Roaring Thunder, blues musician PJ Barth and headliner Martin Nievera. Truly a remarkable musical night.

Oh, and we must include the food and beverages as well. Just to name a few, RJ’s 2014 Best Food Truck “The Hummus Factory” was there and so was Vegas own coffee and tea house, “Holley’s Cuppa”.

There will be many memories form this wonderful musical event. Can’t wait to see and hear Vegas Unplugged 2015!

Vegas Unplugged Music Festival has been a community based acoustic musical event, featuring world class musicians, food, and art. Having previously been a purely “Indie Festival,” funded by founders, (Stuart Carter Smith and Mundo Juillerat), Vegas Unplugged is partnering with the City of Las Vegas, and keeping the festival in Downtown Las Vegas!  We have one rule for the artists: Whatever your genre or thing is- do it! Just do it acoustically!!  The event was held in the beautiful Historic Fifth Street School

Opportunity Village is a not-for-profit organization that serves people in the Southern Nevada community with intellectual disabilities, to enhance their lives and the lives of the families who love them.

It was immediate and swift, the instant you heard the exotic and beautiful sounds of Bishr Hijazi Arab Ensemble, that you were in for a delightful experience at the 2014 Vegas Unplugged Music Festival.

You couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the incredible playing of Bishr Hijazi. He first walks out on the stage as the crowd cheers. Then, you see he has an Oud Guitar and you go Woah! What’s that. The Oud Guitar, as you know, is an ancient fretless instrument that originates from the Middle East. But have you ever really heard it? Live?!

Accompanied by acclaimed violinist Laraine Kaizer-Viazovtsev and the remarkable percussionist Charbel Azzi, Bishr Hijazi Arab Ensemble performed some of the most fascinating classical Arabic music that you will never forget. You truly walked away after their performance, wanting to know more about Bishr Hijazi Arab Ensemble.

Vegas Unplugged Music Festival has been a community based acoustic musical event, featuring world class musicians, food, and art. Having previously been a purely “Indie Festival,” funded by founders, (Stuart Carter Smith and Mundo Juillerat), Vegas Unplugged is partnering with the City of Las Vegas, and keeping the festival in Downtown Las Vegas!  We have one rule for the artists: Whatever your genre or thing is- do it! Just do it acoustically!!  The event was held in the beautiful Historic Fifth Street School

Opportunity Village is a not-for-profit organization that serves people in the Southern Nevada community with intellectual disabilities, to enhance their lives and the lives of the families who love them.

PJ Barth Guitar Player with Beth Hart and PJ Barth Band, can make a guitar sing!!! It’s no wonder that PJ travels the world and shares the blues to adoring fans around the world.

At Vegas Unplugged Music Festival on August 23rd, 2014, many heard PJ Barth’s spirited voice sing the blues while his fingers magically drew out tones from his guitar that made your soul wanna move!

With Tony Smith on bass/vocals and Steven Grantham on drums/vocals, you’ll want to sit back and listen to these guys perform.

Vegas Unplugged Music Festival has been a community based acoustic musical event, featuring world class musicians, food, and art. Having previously been a purely “Indie Festival,” funded by founders, (Stuart Carter Smith and Mundo Juillerat), Vegas Unplugged is partnering with the City of Las Vegas, and keeping the festival in Downtown Las Vegas!  We have one rule for the artists: Whatever your genre or thing is- do it! Just do it acoustically!!  The event was held in the beautiful Historic Fifth Street School

In the spirit of giving back to the community, the Vegas Unplugged founders were excited to work with Opportunity Village Organization and donate proceeds from the events fundraiser, a fantastic acoustic guitar, donated by Washburn Guitars/US Music Corp.

Opportunity Village is a not-for-profit organization that serves people in the Southern Nevada community with intellectual disabilities, to enhance their lives and the lives of the families who love them.

Tickets are now available online for our upcoming Mrs. Nevada-America Pageant, set for Feb. 23rd at Sam’s Town Live! Go to our website www.mrsnevadaamerica.com and purchase through PayPal. Your tickets will be at the door. You may also get them from your favorite contestant! This is going to be the biggest and best one yet!!! Hosted by our favorite Man of Las Vegas, Chet Buchanan.

The Mrs. Nevada America Pageant is the premiere pageant for married women in the state of Nevada. We are the preliminary to the Mrs. America and Mrs. World Pageants. We produce a yearly pageant to crown a Mrs. Nevada-America titleholder to go on and compete on a national and possibly a worldwide level.

Their  mission is to provide an exceptional pageant experience and offer an opportunity of a lifetime for married women to challenge themselves and expand their horizons, while providing a means of giving back to their communities.

See you there…

DjangoVegas! returns to downtown Las Vegas  to celebrate the music of Django Reinhardt and other gypsy jazz musicians past and present. The John Jorgenson Quintet, Stephane Wrembel and Hot Club of Las Vegas will perform at the auditorium of the Historic Fifth Street School. Pre-concert cocktails and entertainment by the Icy Hot Club will begin at 5 p.m. in the outdoor courtyard, with beverages and food available for purchase.

What is Gypsy Djazz?

Gypsy Djazz is an acoustic style of music that combines the elements of American Swing, Flamenco and Parisien Musette. It was born out of the Paris jazz scene in the 30’s and 40’s and made popular by Django Reinhardt, Stephanie Grapelli, and Quintette du Hot Club de France. And the guitar is traditionally a Selmer-Maccaferri guitar.

The John Jorgenson Quintet features virtuoso guitarist John Jorgenson, a founding member of the Desert Rose Band, the Hellecasters, and a six-year member of EltonJohn’s band. Jorgenson portrayed Django Reinhardt in the 2005 feature film “Head in the Clouds.” Also a master clarinet player, vocalist and pianist, Jorgenson is known as a pioneer of the American gypsy jazz movement. His articles and lessons on gypsy jazz have appeared in prominent guitar magazines. Currently living in Nashville, Jorgenson tours worldwide playing gypsy jazz with The John Jorgenson Quintet. Members include Jason Anick (violin), Doug Martin (guitar), Simon Planting (bass) and Rick Reed (drums). For more information on the group, visit http://johnjorgenson.com.

 

 

 

Stephane Wrembel French-born guitarist/composer — who learned his craft among the gypsies at campsites in the French countryside — already has had a remarkable career; but this virtuoso, who is now Brooklyn-based, has just begun to make his mark as one of the most original guitar voices in contemporary music. Although he built his reputation as a stylist in the mode of the iconic 1930s French guitarist Django Reinhardt, Wrembel has developed superior compositional skills that leave an unmistakable Wrembel signature. For more information on Wrembel, visit www.stephanewrembel.com.

 

 

The Hot Club of Las Vegas, Gypsy jazz band, features Cuba native Noybel Gorgoy as lead singer. Hawaiian guitarist Mundo Juillerat, Christopher Davis (bass), Gabriel Santana Falcon (percussion), Marlow Valentin (guitar) and Adrianna Thurber (violin) provide the rest of the talent for this popular local band. For more information, go to www.hotclublv.com.

 

 

 

The Icy Hot Club is a Los Angeles-based group that plays modernized gypsy jazz music in the style of Django Reinhardt.  The core group consists of guitarists Ethan Emerson and Ray Bergstrom and bassist Geronimo LaChance.  For more information on the band, visit www.icyhotclub.com.

We are so proud of our community to come together for Project Teddy!

This Friday, April 12th at 6pm at Town Square Las Vegas, Nevada, we will be crawling for a cause. 100% of proceeds are going to kids that are fighting the battle of their lives! We will be crawling and having a fantastic time at Millers Ale House, English’s, Tommy Bahama’s and then closing the evening at Stoney’s.

Project Teddy also has Boy and Girl of the year awards.

BOY AND GIRL OF THE YEAR AWARD – Being presented with the Boy and Girl of the Year gives the opportunity to a child to be the face of Project Teddy for their year. They will be given a trip to Disneyland, an opportunity to ride in parades with Mrs. Nevada and the Nevada Princesses, and other fun exciting appearances throughout the year.

Project Teddy workshops give hospital bound children the chance to create their very own “Teddy” Bear, including inserting a wish heart, recording a message to their loved ones, and shopping for their bear’s accessories. At Project Teddy our goal is to provide a fun and enjoyable uplifting experience that will (hopefully) help children with cancer forget about some of their pain or sickness for a while.
Visit www.projectteddy.org for more information.

Looking to compete in a pageant? Or, have you ever attended one of these fascinating events?

Now’s your chance and its coming soon.

Miss Nevada United States will be held Memorial Day Weekend 2013 in Las Vegas! The pageant will be held at the Clark County Library Main Theater on May 26th!

Entry Deadline to enter the Nevada United States Pageant is April 25th! Don’t miss your chance to be crowned the next…..
Miss Nevada 20-29
Miss Teen Nevada 16-19
Miss Jr Teen Nevada 13-15
Ms Nevada 25-55

Miss Nevada, Miss Teen Nevada, Miss Jr. Teen Nevada and Ms. Nevada are the Official State Preliminaries for Miss United States!