Thank you to the many businesses and individuals who made Sept. 17's "On the Backlot" celebration at Davis Media Access successful. We had a wonderful time unveiling our newly revamped community TV studio, celebrating KDRT's seventh birthday and highlighting local musicians. We also dedicated our recently built ramp to the memory of longtime volunteer George Moore.

Nat Lefkoff, Tha Dirt Feelin', Belle Francisco, Hardwater and special surprise guest Dave Nachmanoff all graced the stage. We thank them for their generous donation of time and talent. Thank you also to the Fire Performers of Davis for their impromptu performance.

Thanks to our generous business sponsors: Foley Jones & Associates; Strelitzia Flower Company; Chamberlain Farms; Linda Liu at Noodle City; and Soroptimist International of Davis. We'd like to give a nod to Carlos Barajas at Hibbert Lumber for his problem-solving skills and willingness to help. Thanks also to Watermelon Music, Redwood Barn Nursery, Kimo at A Grand Affair, Cleaning Pros, the Department of Motor Vehicles in Davis, and Hsui Young for generously helping us out.

Thanks to Mayor Joe Krovoza for performing the ribbon-cutting for the new studio, and for richly summarizing how communities with community media are more connected than those without.

Thank you to recent UC Davis grad Emily Miller for her donation of graphic design services.

Finally, DMA's many volunteers and supporters, and its wonderful board and staff, showed up in force to help, to experience and to enjoy. Former DMA Board President Andrea Jones co-chaired and should take a bow. Her leadership these past many years has been remarkable. We look forward to next year's event!

And finally, our closing band On the Backlot is Hardwater. Hardwater's practically family, at this point. They played at benefits during our Save KDRT campaign, and closed out the show at DMA's 20th anniversary party in 2008. They've been incredible boosters of KDRT and DMA, and we're grateful they're coming back to play for the Backlot crowd. Hardwater's a fixture around town, playing at many community events. We thank them for their generous spirits.

Hardwater mixes original music with covers from Grateful Dead to Dave Matthews Band, playing a melange of folk rock, blues, jazz, reggae and Cajun, with some North English, Irish and Canadian folk tunes blended in. Bob Lindley plays violin/baritone violin/electric mandolin; John Swann provides vocals and plays acoustic guitar. Eve West Bessier handles vocals/Word/percussion, with Rob Gonzales on bass and Johnny Flores on drums and hand percussion. They'll play during the 9-10:00 hour, wrapping up what is sure to be a stellar evening...On the Backlot.

You can find more info here, and here's a clip to get you started

I will not embarass Mr. Marque Cass by relating the story of how we became friends over his concussion. Instead, I'll say that Marque--youth media advocate, UC Davis student, poet, Davis Media Access volunteer and so on--is better known these days as front man and lyricist for Tha Dirt Feelin, and that Tha DF is heating up things all over town.

Marque is joined by Colin Borges on guitars and flute; Colin also produces the band’s work. Evan Daly plays guitar and composes;  Ali Sakkal plays saxophone and percussion; and Kevin Martinez plays drums, percussion. To a man, they're all students, grad students and educators, and in fact met through school here in Davis about two years ago. The music started as random jam sessions and turned into shows at bars, restaurants, farmers' markets and large festivals.

Tha Dirt Feelin’s music is a positive and upbeat blend of soulful singing, thoughtful raps and musical accompaniment that always has a solid dance beat, but ranges from acoustic to jazz to funk and rock in style. Music clips and more information available at http://thadf.com, and here's one to get you started. They'll be playing in the 8:00 hour ... On the Backlot ... and I want to thank them for joining us.  Enjoy!

With a backing band, Belle Francisco plays what she describes as acoustic/progressive folk rock. She says, “My songs are an exploration of justice, human bonding, truth seeking, love and loss all in support of soul transformation.”

Belle has been playing the area a lot this past year, including shows in Folsom and most recently, the Davis Vibrations Music Festival. You can find Belle  on Facebook or ReverbNation,  and here’s a clip of some music:

News from Davis Media Access - August 2011

DMA is the community media center for Davis and surrounding areas. DMA operates DCTV public access channel 15 and Educational Access Channel 17 (in partnership with the Davis Joint Unified School District), and low-power community radio station KDRT 95.7 FM. info@davismedia.org or (530) 757-2419 for more info. DMA is located at 1623 Fifth Street in Davis.

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News from Davis Media Access - June 2011

DMA is the community media center for Davis and surrounding areas. DMA operates DCTV public access channel 15 and Educational Access Channel 17 (in partnership with the Davis Joint Unified School District), and low-power community radio station KDRT 95.7 FM. info@davismedia.org or (530) 757-2419 for more info. DMA is located at 1623 Fifth Street in Davis.

2011 Community Access Preservation Act

2011 Community Access Preservation Act

Say “media,” and what comes to mind? The word encompasses so much, and all of it at risk. News outlets are struggling, public broadcasting is under attack, a free and open Internet is imperiled, and community media centers much like Davis Media Access (DMA) are closing their doors across the country.

DMA’s doors are, thankfully, open and accessible to all, but—we need you to help us keep them open with your support of DMA’s annual fund raising campaign.

Click here to donate online.

Between now and June 30, our fund-raising goal is $25k in support of DMA's many programs and services. Whether you participate, watch, listen or just value the fact that non-commercial community media exists in Davis, please contribute today. 

Here's some food for thought: what sets DMA apart and makes it such a valuable community resource, one worthy of your support?

Davis Media Access (DMA) invited the Yes on Measure A and the No on Measure A campaigns into the studio on March 23 to record brief campaign statements. The resulting short programs, featured here, will also air on DCTV Channel 15 on the Comcast system, on Menu 99 on AT&T’s U-verse system, and on KDRT 95.7 FM.

Davis Media Access  is now airing the "City Council Applicants Forum" on DCTV Channel 15 on the Comcast system and at Channel 99 on  AT&T's U-verse system. The League of Women Voters of Davis produced the program on Feb. 16 in Davis's Community Chambers. Recording was provided courtesy of City Media Services, which operates City Government Channel 16.

Moderated by LOWV Vice President Jean Canary, the forum features all 10 applicants as they respond to questions provided by the League and audience members. It runs approximately 2.5 hours. DCTV air times include:

            Friday, Feb. 18 at 5 p.m.
            Saturday, Feb. 19 at 12:30 p.m.
            Sunday, Feb. 20 at 12:30 p.m.
            Monday, Feb. 21 at noon, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
            Tuesday, Feb. 22 at noon

The forum is also available on demand at http://dctv.davismedia.org. Due to its length, it is split into two parts.

DMA, which operates DCTV, is committed to coverage of local civic issues, and to making that content on local channels and online.

I'm liveblogging tomorrow as part of NAMAC's Open Dialogue on Media Policy!

http://namac.org/node/25549

The League of Women Voters, at the request of the Davis City Council, will host a Public Forum on Wednesday, February 16, to showcase each of the ten candidates to fill the current vacancy on the City Council. The Forum will begin at 7:00 pm in Community Chambers (23 Russell Blvd.) and will be televised on Government Channel 16 (and streamed on www.cityofdavis.org/media ). Anyone wanting to learn more about the candidates is encouraged to attend.