Contributed by Mike Campfield
Friday, December 21st - 7 PM
Palmer Train Depot
610 S Valley Way, Palmer
All ages Event - $10 Admission
The Palmer Arts Council is pleased to announce the “Inside/Out Music Series”, a new series of concerts featuring local musicians, paired with nationally recognized artists. The purpose of this effort is to promote new and entertaining music in the Palmer area and expose local musical artists to a wider audience and veteran talent from the lower 48.
Outside Artist:
Kuf Knotz, based in Philadelphia, is one of todays fastest emerging alternative artists. No musical territory goes unexplored when it comes to Kuf, and it is this attitude that has led him to open for top acts - Ms Lauryn Hill, The Wailers, Robert Glasper, The Roots, Common, G-love, Arrested Development, Steel Pulse, Bone Thugs & Harmony, & Bruce Springsteen.
Kuf Knotz pushes the boundaries of hip-hop. “My music’s always had a pretty broad spectrum as far as influences go,” he says. “It feels really natural to blend genres. I’ve always just felt that music is music.” Inspired to take his own indie-progressive style to the next level, Kuf began work on a collection of upbeat, feel-good music. “I felt like it was important and it was needed in hip-hop,” Kuf says.
Christine Elise is a classically trained Harpist/Pianist/Vocalist. She has a strong background in music therapy, having offered her services to children, adults, and seniors with developmental delays, special needs and those needing emotional support. Finding a passion for community music therapy, she’d since facilitated group sessions for professionals and clients in the USA, South Africa, Peru and Jamaica. She’s presented at national and regional music therapy conferences, with a focus on her community music therapy work, as well as written three scholarly articles published by Music Therapy Perspectives.
Christine and Kuf have combined forces to create a new album. The unlikely pair connected and built the project with a similar vision, wanting to create positive, forward-thinking music driven by a strong message. Both individuals are intrinsically motivated to foster community growth through musical expression.
Along with live performances among the nightlife, Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise offer motivational creative arts workshops and performances at various settings such as hospitals, schools and community centers. Their mission is to use the power of music, personal experience and empathetic relation to help individuals grow to meet their fullest potential.
Local Artists:
Devon Shaw, aka “D The Lyricist”, is a rapper, singer, songwriter, producer and promoter from Alaska. Born in Fairbanks, but raised in the Palmer-Wasilla area, D The Lyricist is a well-known artist in the Alaskan music scene. He started his career as one of the founding members of the group UTN (Unite The North) with fellow artists Choze, Mr. C, Bazz, Citisin K, Reggie White, and Slim The 3x Fellon. He would later release a series of solo mixtapes such as "Lessons On Loyalty", "POETry", And "God Has No Outkast". Recently he released his first full studio album entitled "King Of The Valley" in association with DucePlaya Music and Ghost (ulikeitiloveit). The album is available now in physical copy and will soon be on all major media outlets. Frequent collaborator with Fairbanks artist Alaska Redd of Reddot Ent., and Ground Zero Labs owner and radio personality Mr. O, "D" has been on many local tours and has opened for a list of signed artists, such as: E-40, Kendrick Lamar, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Krizz Kaliko, Sean Kingston, Ritz, Stevie Stone, and many more. He announced on social media that he will be going back on tour soon and preparing for the 3rd Annual Rhymefest. As a member of "The Rhymefest Crew" in association with DP Music and Twin Lion Records, Rhymefest is an all-day showcase of Alaskan talent and has had two successful years since its debut in 2016.
Sloan Dellafosse, aka “Yankha”, originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana, is a graduate of Palmer High School and currently resides in Anchorage, where she has become a star in the budding hip-hop scene. Yankha is a poet, hip-hop lyricist, and social equity activist, and strives to advocate for women and women’s issues in her music as well as her daily life. She recently released a new album entitled “Luna Bruha”, including the hit single, “Elemental”.
The concert will be at the Palmer Train Depot on Friday, December 21st. Doors open at 7 p.m. and admission is $10. All ages are welcome. The Palmer Arts Council is a non-profit organization, based in Palmer, Alaska, dedicated to the promotion of local art and artists in the greater-Palmer community.
