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Next up On the Backlot...Tha Dirt Feelin

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!

 

 

Next up On the Backlot: Belle Francisco

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

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.

Contents

Musicians on The Backlot - Nat Lefkoff

We're getting excited about On the Backlot - Celebrating Local Music & Media, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 from 6-10 p.m. and today I'll begin profiling some of the musicians and bands who'll be playing.
 
First up is Nat Lefkoff, 17-year-old indie-folk singer-songwriter from Davis with a knack for beautiful melodies and triumphant vocals. According a recent writeup, "Nat's live performance is a great example of his ingenuity as a musician as well as his charisma in his stage presence. Nat uses his music as tool of expression and is known for lyrics of heartbreak and sorrow, as well as self revelation and love, creating a balance of light and dark which is captured in beautiful pigment with each set he plays."
 
Nat is a senior at Davis High School and recently spent some time in the recording studio with Simon & The Fire Breathers. He's been playing all around town, from the Village Home Performer's Circle to The Odd Fellows, and we're mighty pleased to bring him the Backlot audience.
 
You can listen to clip's of Nat's music here:


and at

 
Next up, we'll be profiling Tha Dirt Feeling, Belle Francisco and Hardwater.
 
On the Backlot will feature a celebration of KDRT 95.7 FM’s 7th birthday, and the unveiling of DMA’s newly rebuilt community television studio. A fund raiser for DMA’s programs and services, tickets are $10-$20 sliding scale and will be available at the door. info@davismedia.org for more information.

News From Davis Media Access - June 2011

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

CAP Act Introduced in Congress

The Community Access Preservation Act (CAP Act) of 2011, H.R. 1746, was introduced in Congress on May 5, 2011, by Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Congressman Steven La Tourette (R-OH).

Passage of the CAP Act will ensure continued operational funding for community media centers in states all across the nation.

The CAP Act:

  • Removes the distinction between "capital" and "operating" in PEG* support fees.
  • Ensures local governments can secure funding for PEG channels in exchange for cable operators' use of public rights-of-way and makes sure local government can have PEG channels.
  • Requires cable operators transmit the PEG channels without charge to the local government.
  • Requires the FCC to undertake a study of PEG.

* PEG = Public, Educational, and Government

Read the full text of the Community Access Preservation Act.

2011 Community Access Preservation Act

2011 Community Access Preservation Act

CAP Act Introduced in Congress

The Community Access Preservation Act (CAP Act) of 2011, H.R. 1746, was introduced in Congress on May 5, 2011, by Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Congressman Steven La Tourette (R-OH).

Passage of the CAP Act will ensure continued operational funding for community media centers in states all across the nation.

The CAP Act:

What's Your Story? DMA Needs Your Support

whatsyourstorySay “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?

Measure A Statements

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.

LOWV Council Applicants forum ready to view

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.

LOWV Forum on City Council Vacancy

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.

LOWV Forum on City Council Vacancy

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.

Generation Digital

This column was originally published in The Davis Enterprise on Jan. 28, 2011.

What’s it like to be part of a generation that cannot recall what life was like before computers? I’m talking about kids who cannot fathom daily life without texting, Facebook, YouTube and online shopping, and who, I might add, feel rather sorry for those of us who can (and if you are reading this newspaper, chances are good that includes you).

"In The Studio" focuses on The Spare Changer

Lawson Snipes, editor and publisher of The Spare Changer, and a formerly homeless man who now advocates for the homeless, is featured on "In The Studio," a local program airing on Davis Media Access's public access Channel 15 (DCTV) and available online at http://dctv.davismedia.org.  
 

Interviewed by Martha Teeter, Lawson speaks about outreach to Davis's homeless, describing his hopes for serving the homeless of Davis through the Davis faith community's  "volunteerism."  Video excerpts featuring volunteers with the Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter highlight the success of this four-year old program and the need for more volunteers (www.interfaith-shelter.org, (530) 902-2844).