The second annual RevFest may take place on March 15 in Fort Walton Beach, but its roots lie with a Crestview band leader.

Michael Flatau, New Earth Army's bass player, said he and fellow band members were driving back from a Tallahassee gig and started discussing the need for more opportunities to connect local bands with local audiences.

"We said, 'You know what, we need to do our own festival. We need to so something in Okaloosa County,'" Flatau said.

With backing from KC's SandBar and Grill in Fort Walton Beach, the first day-long Revolution of Art and Music Festival, shortened to RevFest, was held last year during a drenching downpour.

"It was awesome," Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce executive assistant Jennifer Pierson and RevFest volunteer said. "It poured rain but we packed KC's all day long. We had a lot of fun."

Pierson described the music attendees will hear at RevFest as "jam band stuff — kind of bluesy, some reggae, some funk sound."

Two chamber members, UpBeat Music in Crestview and Fisher House of the Emerald Coast, will be integral; the former will lend sound equipment expertise and the latter will benefit from some of the ticket proceeds.

The festival, hosted by New Earth Army, achieved its goal of being an event that is especially attractive to local audiences, Flatau said.

"Our idea is that, even though it is in the middle of spring break, it is primarily for locals to come out and enjoy something," he said.

"That's what it is about: Doing something for the local community so they can see what we have to offer here in the area."

By keeping admission low — advance tickets are just $5, door price is $10 — area families can enjoy an entire day of regional music and visual art. Some all-day festivals charge $25 or $50 a day, Flatau said.

"If the people of the community feel they can go to an event that is not really expensive, it will draw more of your everyday person" instead of just band groupies, Flatau said.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Second Annual Okaloosa RevFest, a regional art and music festival including bands New Earth Army, CopE, Hotel Oscar, the Owsley Brothers, and The Applebutter Express.

WHEN: Noon to 2 a.m. March 15

WHERE: KC's SandBar and Grill, 190 SE Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach

TICKETS: $5 advance at www.OkaloosaRevFest.com; $10 at door; 12 and under free

Email News Bulletin Staff Arts and Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: RevFest art and music festival has Crestview roots

CRESTVIEW — Mary Anderson has lost nearly 15 pounds since September.

Annie Ruth House has lost 7 pounds of her 45-pound goal since last month.

The Crestview residents — and Jane McConnell, of Holt, who initially shed 25 pounds — are members of Taking Off Pounds Sensibly's Crestview chapter.

Full story in the March 1-4 Crestview News Bulletin.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: COVER STORY: Support group brings friendship, companionship and weight loss

CRESTVIEW — Fred Astaire Dance Studio recently brought home some top honors and awards in regional dance competition at Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin.

Studio professional dance instructors Chris Schultz, David Colón, Gus Smith and Hannah Kania, and students Kim Moore and Madi Lopez participated in a variety of dances at the Freddy Ball.

Moore and Madi, 13, competed in smooth and rhythm dance categories. Moore, who has been dancing since last summer, captured the Best New Student Competitor trophy and several first-place prizes.

Madi brought home several first-place awards and was presented the trophy for top dancer in the junior category.

“The best part was getting onto the dance floor for the first time,” she said.

Smith, Kania and Colón swept the Feb. 7-8 event's professional Novice and Mixed Novice dance categories. Competition heated up as the segments progressed.

“When it got down to the last two couples, it was really intense,” Smith said. “It was a cloud nine experience.”

Kania, a Crestview High School and Northwest Florida State College alumna, won the Rookie of the Year award, having danced professionally for less than a year and a half.

World dance champions Georgia Ambarian and Eric Luna, who guest-starred on TV's "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance," judged Crestview's team and their competitors.

Other judges were United States Amateur Latin Champion Marylynn Benitez and nationally renowned Fred Astaire Champions Greg Fidurski and Gabriela Jileva.

Email News Bulletin Staff Arts and Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Dancing for the gold: Crestview competitors bring home top regional dance prizes

CRESTVIEW — Watch out, Picasso, Jackson Pollock and Monet. There's rising talent at Northwood Arts and Science Academy ready to give the great artists a run for their money.

See 47 photos from the Northwood ArtWalk>>

The elementary school held its first ever ArtWalk Monday night, a cornucopia of visual beauty that wound up and down the school's lengthy walkways. Organizers are already planning to make the show an annual event.

"Beauty," of course, is in the eye of the beholder.

"They're OK, but it's weird," second-grader Kamryn Leadmon as she viewed self portraits executed by Nikki Thomas' second-graders in the style of surrealist Pablo Picasso.

Third-grader Logan Johnson couldn't wait to show his parents, Charissa and Eric Johnson, his melted crayon work, a visual art project that also included a science lesson in heat dynamics.

Students were supposed to melt the crayons with a blow dryer, but "a regular blow dryer didn't cut it," Charissa Johnson said. "We had to use a heat gun," Eric Johnson added.

"The kids were so proud of their art work," ArtWalk organizer, media and art integration specialist Kristal Petruzzi said.

Parents Mark and Kelly Clouse praised the school's expanded role as an arts and science academy as they admired their second-grade son Brycen's photography.

"They do a good job here," Mark Clouse said. "The kids really enjoy it."

Students also got to examine the works of Crestview practicing artists, including Dr. Peggy Hollinghead and Rita Benz, who also demonstrated water color and pastel techniques.

Following the ArtWalk, an ensemble of third-graders entertained parents with a violin recital during a PTO meeting.

"Every month we do some kind of little performance," Petruzzi explained.

School principal Dr. Donna Goode was pleased with the large turnout and the school-wide participation of a majority of the classrooms, and is already looking toward next year's ArtWalk.

"Hopefully we're going to grow each year," she said, pausing to hand out bags of popcorn to new arriving families. "We'd like to get some local bands as well."

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Walking the ArtWalk: Northwood Arts and Science Academy students strut their stuff (PHOTOS)

FORT WALTON BEACH — This weekend, the Emerald Coast Concert Association presents "Rocky Mountain High," an encore performance of Ted Vigil's tribute concert to John Denver.  

Longtime Denver collaborator and accompanist Steve Weisberg has likened Vigil's resemblance, in appearance and performance, to the late folk and country singer.

The concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Fort Walton Beach High School auditorium. After the concert, Tom and Peggy Rice invite attendees to meet the artist at the Magnolia Grill, 157 SE Brooks St., Fort Walton Beach.

Want to go?

WHAT: The Emerald Coast Concert Association presents Ted Vigil's "Rocky Mountain High," a John Denver tribute concert

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. March 1

DETAILS: Fort Walton Beach High School auditorium, 400 SW Hollywood Boulevard.

COST: Tickets are $25 advance, $30 at the door and $10 for students. Call 362-9356 for locations.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Rocky Mountain High': John Denver tribute concert is Saturday