Hello to all you application-filling, music-writing, lineup-changing, summer-planning, hope-we-get-into-festivals enthusiasts! --- While you're reading this on a Saturday, I'm sitting in a jury room listing to tons of music from around the state, voting on who my favorites are in hopes that some of them will play one of the many festivals gearing up this summer. The cold and fumigated air has prevented a lot of local graffiti and street artists from really getting out more than ten minutes at a time, so in place of artwork I'm going to point you to the Best Of Utah Awards, which opened up voting this week! And if you'd like to give me a nod for Best Local Blog, I'd very much appreciate it.

Onto events, later tonight will be a Cause For Paws Valentine's Benefit at Alpine Art, in partnership with The Park Cafe. This is an all-ages event with food, silent auction and raffle for the humans, while your personal pets get pampered before getting your photo taken with them. No tickets are required but they'd live a donation.

Skipping ahead to Wednesday, the Radio From Hell Film Festival returns for its fifth year, taking over the Tower Theatre for an evening of locally made cinema. Much in the vein of 48 Hour, all filmmakers were given a line of dialog and a prop that had to appear in all their films to qualify for the grand prize at the end of the night. You can catch it all for just $10 this Wednesday.

On Friday, Valentine's Day, you've probably got something planned. If not, there are a ton of events and concerts happening around the area, but I'm not going to be the schmuck who gives you a last minute idea. I got my own ideas I need to implement. That's for you to come up with, lover. If you're into art, the Urban Arts Gallery at The Gateway will be presenting the next installment of the Connect series from the Utah Arts Alliance. For artists who wish to participate, you can get more info on their website, as the evening will present works from Maggie Willis of UMOCA.

Next Saturday is an event I'll just promote but I can't speak much to, SLUG Magazine's The SLUG Games returns to Brighton as the series “Goes Postal” with a say of ski and snowboard competitions. Check out their website for details and registration.

On Monday, February 17, loveDANCEmore will present their next Mudson show, live at the Masonic Temple in their ballroom. The evening will present works from Molly Heller, Brooklyn Draper, Temria Airmet and Efren Corado Garcia. Admissions is absolutely free! That's right, free dance!

Of course, we couldn't just do this without mentioning the CWMA's kicking off on February 22. The Hotel will play host to give DJs on Thursday, while on Saturday we'll be at The Complex for an all-ages show featuring five bands. You can read more on the liuneups here, or wait for the CWMA issue to come out in a couple weeks to read up on all the musical acts performing.

And finally, skipping all the way to Saturday, February 22, Diabolical Records will be holding Farrell Fest all evening long in their shop. This is a benefit show to help Randall Farrell, the mind behind Blank Space and other projects that have helped support the local arts and music communities. Aside a raffle, auction, local record swap, food, photobooth and even haircuts, the day will feature music from some of SLC's brightest rising musicians. Lydians, Jawwzz, Chalk, Foster Body, Baby Ghosts and Broken Spells (in their final show) just to name a few. Head over and check out the event, and donate to a pretty cool cause.

As for the blog... over the next couple weeks we're going to get very artsy with book clubs, theatre performances, dance performances and orchestral collectives. Essentially you'll be getting some really cool items to check out. At least, that's the plan; as always, we'll see what happens!

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