Mixtape Atlanta

500 Songs for Kids 2012

It's back! Today Songs for Kids Foundation announced that they will be returning to Smith's Olde Bar for the sixth straight year for their annual fundraiser- 500 Songs for Kids. This year's theme is the 500 Most Beautiful Songs of All Time. The 10-day consecutive music marathon will be May 3- 12, so go ahead and mark your calendars. If you are interested in performing, click here.

X-Mix 2011 Wrap-Up

Mixtape Atlanta's third annual holiday party X-Mix was a Motherfluffin' success thanks to sponsor Whynatte, entertaining musical acts, and a room of party people at Star Bar! Whynatte got the party started in festive fashion by supplying Motherfluffer shots to the entire venue and a celebratory toast led by Whynatte co-founder Jesse Altman.

Lauren St. Jane and the Dead Westerns got the dance floor warmed up with their infectious country and rock original songs. Ben Deignan followed with an acoustic set featuring some of his popular songs as well as creative covers. Songs for Kids Foundation founder Josh Rifkind stopped by for his annual rendetition of "The Hanukkah Song" with a few lyric updates.

Aerobics Cube led the audience in some holiday inspired dance workout moves with their special Christmas song only set, including the creative "playing" of jingle Shake Weights. The newly formed super group of Bruce Butkovich (The Futura Bold), Chris Cox (The Greater Vavoom), Jade Lemons (Injected), and Rob Hammersmith (Skid Row) gave the audience a preview of their new band and songs. James Hall made his third straight performance at X-Mix with an original sing-along holiday song, he recently wrote for the occasion.

Wolves closed the live music section of the night on a high note and they were the perfect kick-off to the night long dance party that lasted well into the early morning.

Check out photos of all the music acts and fun, here. Pick up your Motherfluffer photo booth photos, here.

Special thanks to everyone that made X-Mix 2011 such a great success. Mostly importantly, thank you all for donating to Toys for Tots and Songs for Kids Foundation.

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like X-Mix

This year we are dreaming of a White X-Mix for Mixtape Atlanta's third annual holiday showcase at Star Bar on December 17. Inspired by the classic holiday film, Star Bar will be transformed into a winter wonderland with snow and fluffy goodness. Speaking of fluffy goodness, this year X-Mix will serve as the launch of Whynatte's newest shot- Motherfluffer, a combination of Pinnacle Marshmallow vodka and the local latte beverage. Don't forget to get your photo taken downstairs at the Mixtape Atlanta and Whynatte Motherfluffer photo booth, where there will be a special guest. Whynatte will also be starting the party right with a festive Motherfluffer toast to all of Star Bar at 9:30PM, so don't be late.

Doors for X-Mix open at 9PM and the music will start immediately following Whynatte's toast. This year, we couldn't be more excited about the immensely talented and entertaining artists gracing the X-Mix stage.

Lauren St. Jane and The Dead Westerns have had an amazing 2011 with appearances across the country to local shows at Smith's Olde Bar and Vinyl, and this will mark the trio's first appearance at Star Bar.

From a live DVD release earlier this year to performing at Peachtree Music Festival as well as performances at diverse venues across Atlanta, Ben Deignan continues to draw a crowd and new fans with his soulful mixture of rock, pop, and funk.

Aerobics Cube will be performing an exclusive mix of holiday songs in their unique aerobic, 80s workout, Jane Fonda approved style. The X-Mix stage will also host the premiere of a new super group featuring some of Atlanta's most talented and respected musicians including, Bruce Butkovich (The Futura Bold), Chris Cox (The Greater Vavoom), Jade Lemons (Injected), and Rob Hammersmith (Skid Row). Wolves will closeout the evening with their headlining set of danceable pop, rock, electric songs. Mixtape Atlanta is also very excited to have James Hall stop by for the third year in a row for a special performance.

Don't miss X-Mix 2011 on December 17 at Star Bar in Little Five Points. Doors open at 9PM; music and merriment starts at 9:30PM. The upstairs of Star Bar will also be NON-SMOKING for this event. Cover is $10 donation or $5 with a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. All proceeds benefit Songs for Kids Foundation.

It's Gonna Be a White X-Mix 2011

Mixtape Atlanta is returning to Star Bar for the third year in a row for our annual X-Mix celebration! This year we are dreaming of a White X-Mix as we celebrate the season and two remarkable charities, including a toy drive for Toys for Tots and all proceeds benefiting Songs for Kids Foundation. Come out and party for a good cause as Star Bar is transformed into a snowy wonderland inspired by the classic holiday film. In addition to holiday cheer, celebrate the launch of Whynatte's newest Pinnacle marshmallow vodka shot, Mother Fluffer; don't miss a special marshmallowy Mixtape Atlanta photo booth created in the shot's honor. Full music lineup will be announced soon, so mark those calendars!

X-Mix 2011 at Star Bar on Saturday, December 17. Doors open at 9PM; music starts at 9:30PM. Admission is $10, but only $5 with a new, unwrapped, toy donation for Toys for Tots. Dust off those jingle bells, we can't wait to see you there!

Night 6- Hot Stuff

Night 6 of 500 Songs for Kids 2011 had both levels of Smith's Olde Bar rocking. Southern Ground Artists Levi Lowrey, Sonia Leigh, and Nic Cowan played to an intimate sold-out crowd in the Atlanta Room, while the countdown of 500 Greatest Feel Good Songs of All Time continued upstairs. Both Cowan and Lowrey played songs off the countdown after their Atlanta Room set, including one of the night's highlights- Lowrey's version of Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay." See video below.

Ziggy The RockStar & The Branches started the night off to a great start with the youngsters spot on note-for-note rendition of The Jackson 5's "ABC. Several members of Please Rock played throughout the night from Yacht Rock Schooner, Alyssa Olson, and Alyssa and Peter Olson's charming duet of "Anyone Else But You" from Juno. The Falcon Lords turned M.I.A.'s "money stealing" "Paper Planes" into a "money saving" jingle. Songs for Kids Foundation members (Kendra Gurkin, Josh Rifkind, Sanjay Kothair, and Justin Kerenyi)- performing as Lady and The Tramps- delivered some holiday cheer with their festive take on SNL's Christmas song, originally made famous by Jimmy Fallon, Chris Kattan, and Horatio Sanz. The Orkids also added some sporty flair to The Knife's "Heartbeats." Check out Night 6's photos!

View performances below by Levi Lowrey, Nic Cowan, Lady and The Tramps, Yacht Rock Schooner, Yacht Rock Schooner with Alyssa Olson, Alyssa and Peter Olson, The Falcon Lords, Matthew Chenoweth, Bruce Butkovich, and Friends, The Orkids, Ziggy The RockStar & The Branches, J.G. Spence, and Universal Kingdom.

Night 5- Twist and Shout

From The Graduates a cappella group to soul legend Hermon Hitson, Night Five of 500 Songs for Kids provided an extremely diverse lineup of passionate performers. Brad Cox rocked Smith's Olde Bar as if it were Madison Square Garden for his performance of the rock classic "Sweet Child O' Mine." 500 Songs for Kids stage manager Jed Drummond combined his singer/ songwriter talent and Lady Gaga's magnetism for his rendition of "Poker Face." In a last minute collaboration, Songs for Kids founder Josh Rifkind joined Hermon Hitson for The Isley Brothers' "Twist and Shout". Hitson welcomed the onstage company and Rifkind appeared in awe and honored to play with Hitson. Ben Deignan provided a soulful performance of Prince's "Raspberry Beret" adding some funk to his usual pop/ rock sound. In the category of costumes though Stone Cold Fox was the funkiest winner with feathered hair and bellbottoms galore for their take on Sly & The Family Stone's "Dance to the Music." Check out Night 5's photos!

View performances below by Jed Drummond, Ben Deignan, Hermon Hitson, Brad Cox, Joshua Fletcher, The Graduates, The Exile Musik Mob, Martha's Trouble, Stone Cold Fox, Innate Forte, Michael Lee Miller, Dinock, and Wesley Cook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Night 4- Here It Goes Again

Night Four of 500 Songs for Kids 2011 brought a lively group of artists and an even more energetic audience. Although donations and attendance were down for the Sunday crowd, those in attendance supported each act and the artists were some of the most eclectic of the full ten days. Queen Sheba integrated poetry into her performance of Lenny Kravitz's "Let Love Rule;" Ryan and the Pens added a country twist to Beyonce's "Single Ladies; English Nick & The Yanks got everyone on their feet for Cheap Trick's "I Want You To Want Me; and Baby Baby added some cowbell and fervor to Hanson's "MmmBop." Check out Night 4's photos!

Video performances below by Little Tybee, English Nick & The Yanks, Baby Baby, Nikki Wade, Ryan and the Pens, Little Bird Utopia, Alf & The Frat Guys, Rachel Pearl, Wire Method, The Last Waltz Ensemble, Blank Stares, S.K., and The Reminiscents and The Dirt Poets.

Night 3- Party All The Time

Night 3 of 500 Songs for Kids brought out a great crowd with a packed house ready to spend their Saturday night partying for the cause. The music began with many talented solo acts taking to the stage to perform a wide variety of songs off this year's list of the 500 Greatest Feel Good Songs of All Time. As the night progressed more and more people took the stage as band sizes started to swell. From AC/DC tribute Back N Black, Danny's Metal Band, Atlanta Freedom Marching Band, to the exercise crazed Aerobics Cube, a diverse group of artists followed each other one right after the other with the same infectious energy. Check out some Night 3's photos.

Videos from Sydney Rhame, Allison Bates, Loners Society, and Norwood below.

 

 

 

 

Night 2- More Than Words

500 Songs for Kids continued the excitement of Night One into Night Two on Friday, April 29. Yearly staples Seed and Feed Marching Abominable provided a colorful performance of Jonathan Adams's "The Time Warp" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Other returning bands such as Jungol and Ethan and the Ewox performed rock classics "Rock the Casbah" and "Sledgehammer" respectively. Kevin Spencer, who is also scheduled to perform with Yacht Rock Schooner on Night Six, converted non-Rush fans into diehards with his rendition of the band's "Tom Sawyer." Returning to 500 Songs for Kids after a few years, The Love Willows loosened everyone up with their fun version of Madonna's "Like a Virgin." Other highlights included: Ghost Party's cover of The Stone Roses' "She Bangs The Drums," Prisca's take on Regina Spektor's "Fidelity," and Brad Cox's intimate performance in the Atlanta Room. Check out all of Night 2's photos!

Night 1- Rhythm Nation

Night One of 500 Songs for Kids 2011 started with a packed house and a diverse lineup of artists for the first night of this ten day musical charity marathon. I-Tegrity got the crowd fired up with KC & The Sunshine Band's "That's The Way (I Like It)." Clad in their signature kilts, The Lost Boys, who have performed every year, returned to the stage to perform Men Without Hat's "The Safety Dance." Dodekapus, made up of several members from The Back Pockets, filled the stage with an army of dancers to perform Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation." Other highlights included: Paul Warner covering Smashing Pumpkins' "Today," Oh Dorian's solo performance of Bright Eyes' "First Day of My Life," Marshall Ruffin's soulful rendition of Muddy Waters' "I Just Want To Make Love To You," and Six Shot Revival's "Sweet Emotion" by Aerosmith. Check out all of Night 1's photos!

Only Two More Days

There are only two more days until the 5th Annual 500 Songs for Kids kicks off at Smith's Olde Bar again. If you haven't bought your tickets yet, what are you waiting for? Avoid trips to the ATM each night and buy your tickets in advance; purchase nightly or all 10-night passes here.

Mixtape Atlanta is continuing our countdown of memorable performances from 500 Songs 2010 with another crowd pleaser- Modern Skirts' rendeition of Madonna's "Like a Virgin." Don't miss the Athens quartet perform at 500 Songs this year on Night 10, Saturday, May 7.

Modern Skirts at 500 Songs for Kids 2010 from Mixtape Atlanta on Vimeo.

Say YES to 500 Songs for Kids 2011

Only a few more days until 500 Songs for Kids returns to Smith's Olde Bar to countdown The 500 Greatest Feel Good Songs for All Time. One of the highlights at the annual charity marathon is the talented artists that return year after year to lend their time and talent to the cause. Last year, Kevin Spencer performed several times with different musicians including the super trio of Spencer, Peter Stroud, and Tim Smith on the final night. Watch their performance of Yes' "I've Seen All Good People" below. See Spencer perform again this year on Friday, April 29 (with full band) and Tuesday, May 3 (with Yacht Rock Schooner). Also don't miss Stroud and Smith perform again on the final night Saturday, May 7.

Kevin Spencer, Peter Stroud, and Tim Smith at 500 Songs for Kids 2010 from Mixtape Atlanta on Vimeo.

They Will Rock You

Every year 500 Songs for Kids brings out amazing talent to perform a song off of their predetermined countdown. This year, Songs for Kids will be counting down the 500 Greatest Feel Good Songs of All Time. Last year, the theme was the 500 Most Passionate Songs of All Time and one of the most passionate performances was from James Hall and The Futura Bold. Joined by Corinne Lee, these talented musicians put their all into performing two of rock's most notable anthems, Queen's "We Are the Champions" and "We Will Rock You."

With only eight days left, don't forget to get your tickets for 500 Songs for Kids 2011 at Smith's Olde Bar from April 28-May 7.

James Hall & The Futura Bold w/ Corinne Lee at 500 Songs for Kids 2010 from Mixtape Atlanta on Vimeo.

Only One Week Left

One week from today, the 5th Annual 500 Songs for Kids charity marathon kicks off at Smith's Olde Bar. For the past week, Mixtape Atlanta has been counting down the days to the biggest musical charity event in Georgia history by showing past and newly released musical performances from 500 Songs for Kids 2010.

Today, we bring you another previously unreleased performance from Ponderosa on the final night of 500 Songs for Kids 2010. These local rockers, with a large national following and even bigger hearts, have been huge supporters of Songs for Kids Foundation over the years, even performing at one of the foundation's children's camps. Watch these authentic southern rockers take on a 1970s classic below. Also, don't miss them play their original hits at Smith's Olde Bar this Friday, April 22.

Ponderosa at 500 Songs for Kids 2010 from Mixtape Atlanta on Vimeo.

Reptar Rocks for the Kids

The final night of 500 Songs for Kids always delivers some amazingly, memorable performances and last year was no exception. Among some of the most fun performances on Night 10 of 500 Songs for Kids 2010 was Reptar from Athens. The energetic quirky pop band fired up the crowd with their rendition of New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle." Watch the video below and be sure to see them perform at this year's 500 Songs for Kids on the final night, May 7. Get tickets for all nights, including Night 10, here!

Reptar at 500 Songs for Kids 2010 from Mixtape Atlanta on Vimeo.

Boppin' Along

Only nine more days left until 500 Songs for Kids 2011, and Mixtape Atlanta is continuing our video countdown of memorable performances from last year. Today, we bring you a previously unreleased performance from last year's event. Watch this fun performance of one of The Ramones classic hits brought to life by Jonathan Baker and Trances Arc.

Jonathan Baker w/ Trances Arc at 500 Songs for Kids 2010 from Mixtape Atlanta on Vimeo.

The Countdown Continues...

Mixtape Atlanta's countdown to 500 Songs for Kids 2011 continues with a little inspirational number for some Monday motivation. Watch CosmoKnox perform the theme to Chariots of Fire, complete with a crowd sing-along, at last year's 500 Songs for Kids. Only 10 days left until 500 Songs for Kids 2011 begins! Get tickets.

CosmoKnox at 500 Songs for Kids 2010 from Mixtape Atlanta on Vimeo.

Angie Aparo performing "Imagine"

As we continue to countdown the days until 500 Songs for Kids 2011 begins, we bring you a previously unreleased performance of Angie Aparo performing John Lennon's "Imagine" at 500 Songs for Kids 2010. As an amazing supporter of 500 Songs for Kids, Aparo will be taking the stage again at this year's 500 Songs for Kids on Friday, May 6.

Angie Aparo at 500 Songs for Kids 2010 from Mixtape Atlanta on Vimeo.

Countdown to 500 Songs for Kids 2011

Two weeks from tonight, Songs for Kids Foundation and musicians across the country will descend upon Smith's Olde Bar for the 5th Annual 500 Songs for Kids. The yearly fundraiser is the biggest musical charity event in Georgia history with all proceeds benefiting Songs for Kids Foundation. Songs for Kids Foundation is a non-profit organization that brings music and performers to children's hospitals as well as help children in need create their own music.

Just like years past, Mixtape Atlanta will be covering all 10 nights of this amazing music charity event. As we prepare for the excitement of this year's 500 Songs, we'll be looking back at some of last year's most impressive performances. Tune in everyday at noon leading up to the first day of 500 Songs for Kids (April 28) for a special video performance, including some previously unreleased videos.

Today's video: Manchester Orchestra performing Neil Young's "My My, Hey Hey" at 500 Songs for Kids 2010.

Manchester Orchestra at 500 Songs for Kids 2010 from Mixtape Atlanta on Vimeo.

500 Songs for Kids 2011

It's hard to believe it is almost that time of year again, but 500 Songs for Kids is back! This year the theme is The 500 Greatest Feel Good Songs of All Time and we can't wait to see who will be covering them. Mark your calendars for April 28- May 7, start resting up, and prepare to live at Smith's Olde Bar for those 10 days. Songs for Kids is currently looking for performers for the biggest musical charity event in Georgia history so visit SongsforKidsFoundation.org for more information.