This week the CHS band will be heading out to Duncanville for the annual Duncanville Marching Invitational. This contest is held every year and 20 area bands are chosen to compete based on their past record of success.

The CHS band has had a great marching season so far, winning 7 awards at the Mesquite Marching Festival and earning a First Division at the UIL contest. The DMI contest is the second most important contest of the season, the most important being the Bands of America contest that will be taking place next weekend. The band will be competing against long-time rivals Marcus HS and LD Bell HS at both contests. The band is set to perform in preliminaries at 3:45 in the afternoon. Finals times have yet to be determined.

To learn more about the band program, click here.

The annual Coppell Oak Fest will return on October 15 at Andy Brown Community Park East. The festival is full of food, family games, local community stands and activities such as bounce houses and inflatable slides.

Free family activities include miniature train rides, face painting, live performances by The Maiden Texas and Down Town Fever and remote control car racing. There will also be show performances by The Side Street Circus and Professor Brainus.

Local clubs and organizations also hope to recruit members as they set up informational booths just across from the waiting family activities.

Roaring crowds, sweat, blasting amps, more sweat. These are the most immediate sensations of any music festival. Fighting for a place in line, people stretched out as far as the eye can see, high-ticket prices and let’s not even mention hotel rate; why would anyone go through this? Because that’s where the bands are; to give you a brief look at this year’s festivals, we are going to look at the two of the best festivals across the country: Coechella in Indio, Calif., and South by Southwest in Austin.

Coechella: April 15 – 17

Tickets: SOLD OUT ($647 – $10,000 on Stubhub.com)

Bad news: passes for this festival are already sold out. Good news: the bands are good enough to kill for. Problem solved! But seriously, let’s take a quick look at how this festival could play out. You arrive and check into your overbooked hotel on April 14 and spend the day navigating the roving crowds that now inhabit Indio, Calif. Then, you wake up the next day and take your pick between Interpol and the Kings of Leon, two rock bands who’ve cultured their own distinctly northern and southern sounds respectively. April 16: take on the crowds and fight for a spot to see Arcade Fire – not only easily the biggest indie act of the year but also the 2011 Grammy winner for Album of the Year – and roar along with the crowd as they play their hit classic, “Wake Up”. Wrap up the festival by choosing between two of the biggest hip-hop acts of the year: Kanye West and Wiz Khalifa (here’s a tip: avoid the crowd and check out Khalifa’s show). And that’s only five out of 181 acts scheduled to perform.

Cee Lo Green will be performing at Coechella on April 15th

Click here to see Coechella’s official website.

South by Southwest: March 15 – 20

Tickets: $750 – $1250

The first thing you have to know about South by Southwest is that it is not just a music festival; It’s a film/music/interactive mega festival. However at the moment we’re only concerned about the music, which lasts for five days starting on Ides of March. That being said, the interesting part about the music festival is that it isn’t just music: there are also a variety of panels hosted by various music industry big wigs. Interested in the connection between the decline of the music industry and the decline of music? Check out the “I’m Not Old, Your Music Does Suck” panel on March 17. Curious on how brands are connecting with pop culture connoisseurs? Go listen to the “How Brands Are Using Emerging Music to Reach Consumers” panel that same day. OK, so you’re not really interested in either of those things, but hey are worth mentioning; there are almost as many panels as there are bands so there’s probably at least one worth listening to.

What makes SXSW unique amongst music festivals is throughout its myriad number of bands; you can still find its distinct Texas roots. Go see folk music king, Robert Earl Keen, on the 18th; his naturally nasally voice will amaze you as you stand there tapping your feet thinking, “So this is what a honky tonk is!” Now for a more modern spin on the festival’s Texas roots, you can put Los Lonely Boys to the test. With their latest album, Rockpango, due for release this spring Los Lonely Boys will definitely be putting up their best to help promote the new album. You may even get a live performance of their hit single “Heaven”. But maybe you’re not exactly in love with Texas’s style of music? No problem. Go check out Phoenix-based Miniature Tigers; easily the opposite side of the music spectrum when compared to Robert Earl Keen – expect a loud, animated show with a much cozier setting than the two previous shows.

A little word on ticket prices however: If you do plan on attending the big shows, you’ll need to shell out the $750 for the music festival pass (ignore the gold and platinum passes). However if $750 is all you brought, don’t sweat it: the area surrounding SXSW is covered with venues boasting swarms of bands. You’ll still be able to check out the action, albeit much less known action.

You can browse around SXSW’s official site here.

This year the City of Coppell is hosting another Oak Fest at Andy Brown East on Saturday, October 17.(next to the Aquatic and Recreation Center). Autumn festivities are set to begin at 5 ‘o clock and include hot air balloon rides, a laser light show at nightfall, live music by Emerald City and food. This community event will have plenty to entertain kids and parents, from crafts, a rock wall, bounce houses, , clowns, face painting and balloon artists to foods like funnel cakes, corn on the cob, BBQ sandwhiches, turkey legs and more.

On Sunday, May 16, Irving residents may have heard the sound of beating drums, the smell of fresh pad thai and the cheers of Dallas residents watching dragon boat teams race across Lake Carolyn in Las Colinas.

Behind the scenes of the fourth annual DFW Dragon Boat Festival, however, were performers and volunteers who often had been there since early in the morning, making sure the event went smoothly.

The event kicked off early in the morning with several musical and cultural performances, such as Emily Lo of Plano Shepton High School, who not only played on the 21-string Chinese harp but also performed a classical Chinese “calligraphy dance”.

Emily Lo of Shepton High School performs a traditional Chinese calligraphy dance.

“The way I use my fan and move imitates calligraphy,” Lo explained. “I first got interested in Chinese dance because I always admired the grace of the choreography. When I saw it performed for the first time, I was stunned.”

Lo and her parents stressed the importance of staying connected to her Chinese heritage.

“If you lose your culture, you lose your identity,” Lo said.

Dragon boat races took off throughout the day, with 36 teams competing (the Irving Fire was the frontrunner and has been the winner for every single festival). However, running the event from behind the scenes were the various volunteers from across the Metroplex. University of Texas at Dallas students and Adil Shaikh, a 2008 CHS graduate, and Shirley Wu had been working the event since 6:30 a.m..

“It’s been a headache setting up booths, banners putting up tents, carrying around coolers and water and ice, especially because it was really muddy In the morning, but it’s been really fun meeting people,” Wu said. “I got to meet the mayor [Phil Dyer] of Plano.”

One performance that was very popular with the audience was the Lion Dance, performed by students at Lee’s White Leopard Kung Fu School. The lion dance is a traditional Chinese dance in which two people work as a pair underneath a lion costume to mimic the rhythmic movements of a lion, which is a guardian animal in China.

Alex Campolo and Adam Reed were two of the dancers; both are part of the two branches of martial arts schools in the Dallas area, Lee’s White Leopard Kung Fu in North Dallas and Wu Yi Shaolin Martial Arts center in Coppell at Belt Line and Macarthur.

“Lion dance is an integral part of doing kung fu,” Campolo said. “It builds a lot of the stance work needed for martial arts: arm strength, the leg stance work, the jumping ability, coordinating with a partner, knowing where you are in the air. It all translates into really good martial arts skills, so martial artists tend to be lion dancers too.”

In fact, Campolo, who lives in Colorado, had to rush to learn the choreography for the lion dance performance due because one of the dancers was suddenly injured the day before. However, since he has been practicing martial arts for 21 years (“a senior student,” as Reed describes him), he was able to get up to speed quickly.

“The hardest thing is that you can’t see what’s going on, you can’t see a thing,” Campolo said. “When you see lions that are in sync with other lions, it means they practiced a lot with each other because they know each other’s rhythms.”

In addition, lion dancers have to deal with many different handles and grips inside the lion costume, between the pole that holds the weight of the lion, hand pieces to move the mouth, and a string apparatus to move the ears and eyes.

Lion dancer Adam Campolo demonstrates how the many handles inside the lion suit work.

“Coordinating all that while you’re doing the movements, remembering to reach up and blink the eyes once in a while and making it look like a living thing is kind of the art form of it,” Campolo said.

Despite the difficulties of this traditional dance, Campolo and Reed still enjoy performing it, as is tradition before a martial arts demonstration in order to bless the demonstration.

Reed, Campolo’s partner in the lion dance, has been practicing martial arts for seven years.

“It definitely adds a different aspect to the martial arts,” Reed said. “The lion dance makes it into a team sport; as we’re training together, it brings people together through the rhythm of the entire team, not just the person under the cape with you. If one person is off then it looks like the whole team is off, so you really have to be together.”

Eric Emerts, who has been practicing martial arts on and off for about 10 years, played the drum while the lion dancers performed.

“We have a set routine,” Emerts said.

“But we rarely follow it,” Campolo interjects as everyone laughs in agreement.“What you practice and what happens on stage are very different. You’re blind and it’s hot, and you slip, and…”

Emerts’ powerful beats provide the background music for the lion dancers and infuse the performance with drama and energy.

“The drums, the music is just supposed to be there to make sure it sounds lively and there’s tons of energy in it,” Emerts said. “Basically I just watch them, and as soon as they start moving I’ll watch their cue and that’s when I change their beats.”

Different beats are specific to each movement, so Emerts is constantly on his toes during the lion dance.

Drummer Eric Emerts provides the beats for the lion dancers.

“Watching them is really the hardest part, to get the right beat and the right time,” he said. “I’ll start a beat, and they won’t be doing what I want them to do so I’ll have to change the beat and go with that, without it sounding like I did the wrong thing or something.”

In the end, all six lion dancers plus the two drummers worked together to put on a riveting lion dance performance to kick off the dragon boat event.

“Lion dance, even though it’s always fun, it’s always a tremendous amount of work,” Campolo said. “You never get good enough at lion dance so it’s easy – you’re always tired and exhausted at the end of it. It’s really a labor of love.”

[View with PicLens]

The festival this year will feature headliners such as The Eagles, Phish, The Flaming Lips, Muse and the Strokes. Other smaller artists include The Xx, Manchester Orchestra and The Temper Trap.

The event takes place in Austin on the 46 acres of land at Zilker Park. One day pass tickets are for sale for $85 each or a VIP pass for $850.

For more information on the festival, check out the ACL site.

Looking for some fun? Mark your calendar for Bounce! at Wagon Wheel Park on Saturday, May 15th. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., you, your siblings, friends and neighbors can enjoy a day filled with bouncy… ness. Inflatable slides, balloon animals, bungee trampolines, bounce houses of all sorts -anything that you connotate with the term “bounce” will be there.

This is the City of Coppell’s first ever Bounce! event. Admission is free and everyone is invited. Bring your own packed lunch and blanket for a sunny picnic at the Park while enjoying live entertainment (& face painting, too). Nobody, not even us high schoolers, are too old to bounce (c’mon, who can pass up on free bungee trampolines). It’s the perfect opportunity to unwind and celebrate the end of TAKS and, depending on your schedule, the start or finish of AP Exams.

Saturday had band Muse taking the stage as the big act and Friday of the festival featured artists like LCD Soundsystem and Jay-Z who was joined on stage by super mega star wife, Beyonce, for a cover of the chorus of the song, “Forever Young” which is also the title of a song off Jay-Z’s most recent album, The Blueprint 3.

The International Dallas Film Festival is in town!

By Wren Culp

Staff Writer

Last night I went to downtown Dallas, and went clubbing. That’s right, I went to the top floor of a hotel, which was an old attic that they transformed into a “party pad” in 48 hours, and partied it up with a bunch of older people. And don’t worry I only drank 7-Up.

If you are a little confused by the statement above, don’t worry. I will explain everything. I am attending the International Dallas Film Festival which is being held April 8^th-18. As a member of the press, I was invited to a “pre-party”.

And let me tell you something, my expectations were totally different than what I got. I expected to learn some information on where to go and what to do at the festival. But instead, I got to party all night long (Till 11).

I arrived and stepped out of the elevator to an entire “nightlife”, just like you see in the movies. People in a crowded space mingling are what anybody pictures. I felt weird though because frankly because I had only pictured myself in this kind of environment when I was older and able to drink.

Then the words “nightlife” came true even more with the sudden cut of power to the entire room we were in. (The high winds were to blame)

At that time, every iPhone, Blackberry, and other personal items of communication (does anyone use a pager anymore?) sparkled to life, and the party continued onward into the night.

That night I met some really cool people such as directors, actors and even the program coordinator Matt Bolish. But I met a couple of people that really got me excited to be there.

James Wallace and Lauren Lester both work at a website called “gordonandthewhale.com” that reviews movies, soundtracks, and even has free giveaways. The site is fantastic and I encourage you to look at it.

We started talking basically because someone I had spoken too earlier referred me to them as “the people to know”. I bucked up some courage and went over to them and introduced myself.

You have to understand something. When you are at your first press party with a bunch of filmmakers, the challenge to talk to them is overwhelming. I am sixteen years old, top in my speech/communication class, and I was nervous. Weird right?

Something else you need to know is that Hollywood in general, whether your going to be a filmmaker, musician or something else, is one giant union. It’s all about whom you know. I learned that very quickly (thank goodness).

But once I met them everything changed. I really had a great conversation with them about films, and the way films and writing work. He specifically told me that I was at the perfect age to get into films. He said he wished he had started earlier.

We talked for what seemed to be a short amount of time but was actually somewhere close to the thirty-minute mark. But I didn’t care; I could talk to those two people for hours.

We finally concluded our fantastic discussion with a proper handshake, and then James said to e-mail him and he would “hook me up” (as we crazy teenagers say) with some cool stuff.

I had finally done it. I had finally met the first people in (hopefully) a long line of people that would help me in my filmmaking career. I am gaining ground as a filmmaker, and it feels fantastic.

It has been 4 very long years since they put out an album, and have been working on a follow up since early February with the album scheduled for a September release. The last time Strokes played together as a band was in 2006 and have been scheduled to headline other festivals this year.

Back to Lolla though, other big name artists will be headlining as well such as Lady Gaga, Arcade Fire, Green Day and Phoenix with smaller artists like Grizzly Bear, Cut Copy, MGMT and many more.

The festival is held at Grant Park in Chicago and starts on August 6th and ends on the 8th. Tickets are on sale now with prices ranging from $215 for normal, 3 day passes to a three-night VIP travel package for to costing a whopping $2499.

For more information on the festival, check out Lolla’s site.