The little bit country, little bit rock ‘n’ roll Regina Hexaphone have a new CD in the can, titled The Beautiful World. Look for brand new songs, and some shiny new versions of old favorites, from original members Sara Bell (who also plays in Shark Quest ), Chris Clemmons (The Management), Jerry Kee (The Feebles, recordist extraordinaire) and Margaret White (North Elementary , Belle and Sebastian, Cat Power, Sparklehorse, et al.). New keyboard player Nathan Brown appears on one track (he also plays with Laramie UK –these folks are busy!). Their guest list for this record is dandy as well, with Polvo’s Ash Bowie,
Varnaline main man Anders Parker, their own former drummer and Carbines member Zeke Hutchins, the ubiquitous Chris Eubank and Raleigh musician Julie Oliver. Look for it June 1, with a string of CD release shows in the area.
Ready Steady Go Machine
Chapel Hill’s Go Machine blend a variety of instruments in their music, including turntable samples, violin and theremin. Their style, featured on their first release look to the veers slightly to the left of a typical pop.
The band has been keeping a busy schedule and doesn’t look to be slowing down. They’ve started work on their second full-length and member Daniel Hart recently returned from a stint on tour with the large ensemble Polyphonic Spree, which opened several dates for David Bowie. After a set of Triangle-area dates, the band is headed east for Wilmington’s WE FEST, then off for a three week Southeastern tour in June, taking them through Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia and points nearby. You can keep up with their activities through the band’s website: www.gomachinemusic.com.
Mark those calendars
This year’s Durham Music Festival, co-sponsored by the City of Durham and Durham Association for Downtown Arts, will be Friday, Aug. 20 and Saturday, Aug. 21. Now in its third year, the festival includes several venues throughout downtown.
There is still an open call for musicians of all stripes to perform in the festival, but the June 1 deadline is approaching fast.
If you’re interested, send materials to the DADA offices (or if you previously participated, just a letter of intent) at:
DADA, Attn: DMFe, PO Box 488, Durham, N.C. 27702.
You can also visit the website at www.durhamdada.org.
Fresh wax from Spectac
Chapel Hill MC Spectac, who also works as assistant prinicipal at Chapel Hill High (as featured in The Indy‘s Jan. 24 issue), has just released a new 12-inch record “When I Rock,” backed with “Reasons.” He’s got two of Durham’s Little Brother on hand to warm things up, including the hottest beatmaster around right now, 9th Wonder, and Phonte, who helps lay down the lyrical flow on “Reasons.”
The record is out this month on the Principals of Entertainment label. 
