Thin Line music, film and photo fest

… or Film, Music and Photo Fest?

By Kathy Edwards McFarland
Sources: Joseph Pinson, Thin Line Fest and http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2015/02/thin_line_fest.php

Denton loves its festivals – the more “creatives” in the unique and independent city organize festivals, more festivals Denton “creatives” present.

(Please remember, other exciting and edifying music performances are also on the week’s roster …)

Who is excited about Jason Lee being in Denton in a week!?! WE ARE! Get your tickets to opening night to see “Midlake: Live in Denton, TX” at Campus Theatre starting at 7:30pm. Q&A with Jason Lee, members of MIDLAKE BAND and Eric Noren after the film. After party at Dan’s Silver Leaf with Boxcar Bandits!

Thin Line Fest is already the biggest independent documentary film festival in all of Texas. It’s been at it for eight years, but only last year added a full-on music component to the equation. This week Thin Line takes over Denton for five whole days, and what makes it interesting compared to festival neighbors 35 Denton and Oaktopia is its minimalist sensibility: There will only be 30 bands playing Thin Line this year.

“It’s definitely a case of quality over quantity,” says Thin Line director Joshua Butler. “I would much prefer a more exclusive, cohesive group than a huge bill.” He’s using the same size music budget as he did last year when he booked 100 bands, but this time he’s distributing it amongst a bill that’s one-third the size. It’s an easy-to-manage fest that will showcase artists in small, intimate venues.

Thin Line occupies Dan’s Silverleaf (Various),130 Industrial, and Hailey’s (Hip-Hop Showcase), 122 West Mulberry Street, over five days and has a big-name headliner each night. The careful venue selection makes Thin Line a quintessential Denton festival; it not only draws from North Texas talent, but also provides a crash course in its venue scene.

As Butler sees it, there’s no need for an arms race; he’d rather maintain the small, curated nature of his fest and focus on growing the pedigree of acts in the future.

“I don’t want to just make it bigger, I want to see it develop as people realize what it provides for Denton,” Butler says. “I think we’ve found the right balance between size and substance.”

– Excerpts from Thin Line Fest Might Be Denton’s Best Music Festival, By Matt Wood, Dallas Observer.

*Note: Banter Bistro, 219 W. Oak St., is one of the many downtown photography venues for the event. See the Thin Line map at http://www.thinlinefilmfest.com/index.php/about/festival-map

For the complete Thin Line Music line up, visit: http://www.thinlinefilmfest.com/index.php/program/music

Wednesday, February 18:

• Thin Line Festival (film, music, photo) begins at the Campus Theatre, 214 W. Hickory St., at 7:30 pm and continues through Sunday. You can
  

  Campus Theater in Denton, Texas. 2011.

  find a complete schedule of events at this link: http://www.thinlinefilmfest.com/images/2015/ThinLine_Schedule_2015.pdf

• Jeffry Eckels presents Jazz at The Whitehouse: A Vocal Showcase, featuring the amazing vocal
  

  Rosana Eckert

  talents of Rosana Eckert! Rosana is a world-class singer and composer who delivers a song with heart, soul and acumen. The Whitehouse at the corner of Scripture and Bryan, 8:00 to 10:30 pm – no cover

• University of North Texas Concert Band in Winspear Hall at 7:30 pm – $8/10 ***
  Seven & Six O’Clock Lab Bands in Gateway Center at 9:00 pm – $4
• Boxcar Bandits (Thin Line Opening After-Party) at Dan’s Silverleaf, 103 Industrial, at 10:00 pm – $15

  Thursday, February 19:

• Freightshakers + Eric Strickland & the B Sides at Sweetwater Grill & Tavern, 115 S. Elm St., at 5:00 pm – FREE
• Little Jack Melody + High School Caesar at Dan’s Silverleaf, 103 Industrial, at 9:00 pm – $8/10
• Thin Line Photography at Banter Bistro, 219 W. Oak St., opening at 10:00 am – FREE

Friday, February 20:

• Benjamin Cole (saxophone & electronics), UNT Guest Artist, in the Recital Hall at 5:00 pm – FREE.
  Baroque Orchestra & Collegium Singers in Winspear Hall at 8:00 pm – $8/10 ***
  

  Joe Ely

  Mike Moreno (jazz guitar) UNT Guest Artist, performs in Kenton Hall at 8:00 PM – FREE

• Super Kings at Sweetwater Grill & Tavern, 115 S. Elm St., at 9:00 pm – FREE
• Thin Line Photography at Banter Bistro, 219 W. Oak St., opening at 10:00 am – FREE
• Joe Ely at Dan’s Silverleaf, 103 Industrial, at 9:00 pm – $12/15

Saturday, February 21:

• Thin Line Photography at Banter Bistro, 219 W. Oak St., opening at 10:00 am – FREE
• Black Joe Lewis + Jessie Frye at Dan’s Silverleaf, 103 Industrial, at 9:00 pm – $12/15

Sunday, February 22:

• Thin Line Photography at Banter Bistro, 219 W. Oak St., opening at 10:00 am – FREE
• Jim Riggs (saxophones), David Morganroth (keyboard) and Lynn Seaton (bass) at Hoochies Oyster House, 214 East Hickory, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm – no cover
• Andrej Kurti, (violin), UNT Guest Artist performs in the Recital Hall at 6:30 pm – FREE
  Faculty & Student Recital (flute, bassoon, violin, viola, piano) in Voertman Hall at 8:00 pm – FREE
• Bone Doggie’s Open Mic at the Abbey Underground, 100 Walnut St., at 9:00 pm – FREE
• Seryn, with Kaela Sinclair, at Dan’s Silverleaf, 103 Industrial, at 9:00 pm – $12/15
  

  Seryn

Vocals + Ukulele / Trenton Wheeler; Guitars + Vocals / Nathan Allen; Bass + Vocals / Aaron Stoner; Vocals + Guitars + Banjo / Jenny Moscoso; Violin + Vocals / Scarlett Deering; and Drums / Jordan Rochefort – The band, now based in Nashville, “has – over the past three years – seen a few lineup changes, several management changes, and transitioned from label to independent. Ultimately, the struggle to keep their heads above water strengthened the core focus and direction of Seryn.” Visit http://www.serynsound.com/.

Monday, February 23:

• Jesse Eschbach, S. Andrew Lloyd (organ), John Scott (clarinet), UNT Faculty and Guest Artist, perform Winspear Hall at 8:00 pm – FREE ***
  Scott Carrell (piano), Distinguished Alumnus, in Voertman Hall at 8:00 pm – FREE
• Live Jazz at the Greenhouse Restaurant, 600 N. Locust, from 10:00 pm to midnight – FREE

Tuesday, February 24:

• Marshall Smith’s BRAZZ at Sweetwater Grill & Tavern, 115 S. Elm St., from 7:00 to 9:00 pm – FREE. The acoustic, all-brass quintet plays resonant, full-brass versions of Jazz standards from Dave Brubeck to Charlie Parker, featuring Marshall Smith and Jordan Gheen on trumpet, Catherine Gilstrap playing French horn, Paul Burk on trombone and AG Robeson on bass trombone and tuba.
• Barry Green (double bass), UNT Guest Artist, performs in Voertman Hall at 6:00 pm – FREE
  Composers Forum presents Spectrum in the Merrill Ellis Intermedia Theatre at 8:00 pm – FREE
  Gary Levinson (violin) and Steven Harlos (piano) perform in Voertman Hall at 8:00 pm – FREE
• R.C. & the Gritz + Mike Mitchell & Rache + Dez 15 at Dan’s Silverleaf, 103 Industrial, at 8:00 pm – $10

Please send corrections or additions ASAP.
A copy of this document is also available at: http://www.josephpinson.com

*** Some of the programs in UNT’s Winspear Hall are offered online as a live stream. For possible access check this site ten minutes prior to an event:
http://recording.music.unt.edu/live