Artifacts 6/15/07

Local band Drivin' Rain gets new member

Local rock band Drivin' Rain announced Tuesday it has hired a new guitarist to take the place of the recently deceased Tommy DeWolf. Memphis guitarist and singer Alvin Oliveria will be one of two guitarists replacing DeWolf, with the second guitarist to be named soon. Oliveria fronts his own band called Oliveria and is a current member of Black Oak Arkansas.

Budweiser Clydesdales coming to SEMO fair

The Budweiser Clydesdale horses will appear at the SEMO District Fair beginning Sept. 10 and remaining at the fair grounds through the duration of the fair. The fair worked with local Budweiser distributor River Eagle Distributing Co. to arrange the appearance. The Clydesdales are 2,000 pound horses that used to carry Budweiser products in pulled wagons.

Former weatherman makes splash on XM

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Former WPSD meteorologist Lew Jetton and his blues band 61 South are getting a lot of exposure from XM Satellite Radio. The group recently scored its second hit on XM's Bluesville! station. The group's re-released debut album, "State Line Blues," is currently in rotation on the station and was named one of the top five independent releases in the United States by Real Blues Magazine.

Danzig returns for Tunes at Twilight

Singer/songwriter Kevin Danzig will close out the first session of this year's Tunes at Twilight free concert series at 7 p.m. June 22. Danzig is familiar to Cape Girardeau music fans for his rewrite of "The Great Mississippi" featuring local singers that commemorated Libertyfest in 2004. Danzig will be accompanied by local musicians in his Tunes appearance at the Common Pleas Courthouse gazebo. For more information on the series, call 334-7692.

Nickel Creek coming to Carson Center

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Bluegrass-fusion trio Nickel Creek will perform at the Carson Center in Paducah at 7:30 p.m. July 13. The performance is part of the band's "Farewell (for now) Tour," as the band is taking an indefinite hiatus at the end of the year. Tickets are available by calling (270) 450-4444 or by visiting www.carsoncenter.org.

So. Ill. winery earns international awards

MAKANDA, Ill. -- Blue Sky Vineyard in Makanda was recently honored with several medals at two international wine competitions. The winery took silver for its Seyval and Traminette 2005 and bronze for its Chambourcin Reserve, Infinity and Chambourcin Blush at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. Blue Sky also took gold for its Seyval, silver for its Vignoles and bronze for its Framboise at the International Eastern Wine Competition. For more information on the winery call (618) 995-9463.

-- From staff reports