Southern Gothic Festival this weekend, Oct 24-25

We are looking forward to this year’s Southern Gothic Festival kicking off Friday night, Oct 24 with a dance party with DJs Goth Dad, Twin Powers, and SXFT CHAINS. On Saturday Oct 25, live music with Vision Video, Missing, Delores Galore, Tears for the Dying and Entertainment

Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-southern-gothic-halloween-weekend-2-day-pass-tickets-1541920458599

Jolene Reimagined: A Modern Take on a Timeless Classic

Releases Friday, January 17, 2025

In the early 1970s, whenever Jolene came on the AM car radio, my parents would turn up the volume and hush us, saying, “That’s your Uncle Chip playing!” The iconic finger-picked guitar on Dolly Parton’s classic was performed by none other than my uncle, Chip Young (aka Jerry Stembridge). Before his passing in 2015, I was lucky enough to hear him play the song a couple times at family reunions. Despite his incredible career, he downplayed it around us – he was always just Uncle Chip to us.

Our version of Jolene takes a different direction from Ms. Parton’s somewhat upbeat original, highlighting the longing and emotional insecurity embedded in the lyrics. We made slight embellishments with Ms. Parton’s lyrics, giving a more modern, and inclusive feel to them.

This video flips the script on emotional struggles, focusing on growth instead of despair. It doesn’t directly touch on polyamory, but it could totally spark convos about relationships and how different approaches, like polyamory, can change the way we see new starts and healthy endings. Rather than spiraling into isolation, the main character chooses peace and moves forward on their own terms.

Credits

  • Song: Jolene
  • Written by: Dolly Parton
  • Originally performed by: Dolly Parton
  • Cover performed by: Tears for the Dying (appearing in this video: Adria Stembridge and Joshua Broughton)
  • Cover mixed and mastered by: Jason NeSmith and Chase Park Transduction

Video Team

  • Director: Franky Villanueva
  • Producer/Cinematographer: Blake Pipes
  • Makeup Artist: Harmony Kubiak

Actors

  • Andi Stanesic
  • Kat Williams
  • Trevor Aeon
  • Page Dukes
  • Seren Dickson
  • Sebastian Valdivia
  • Lilia Reyna
  • Lewis Bello
  • Eden

Special Acknowledgment

In memory of Jerry Stembridge (Chip Young)

2024 in Review: Thank You for an Unforgettable Year🌹🖤

As 2024 comes to a close, we can’t help but reflect on the incredible journey this year has taken us on. From intimate shows in cozy venues to unforgettable nights in cities we’ve grown to love, every performance was made special by you, the faces close to the stage, the voices singing with us, and the energy we felt together.

We’re grateful for every stage we stepped on, every mile we traveled, and every new connection we made along the way. To the venues that hosted us, the bands we shared the stage with, and especially to you, our supporters, thank you for keeping the fire burning. 🌹🖤

This year, we released our latest record, In the Shadow of the Midnight Sun—our first vinyl! We also debuted a beautifully edited video for “Higanbana,” created by our talented friends Blake Pipes @blakepipes and Franky Villanueva @frankymornings.

I was especially moved by the stories many of you shared with me across our travels this past year. Thank you for being you. 🫶🏻

Special thanks to Cody White @rockandrollwontdie, Page Dukes @pagedukes, Joshua Broughton @diver.josh.b, Jack Long @rockyroadtouring, as well as Adam Hebert, @bagoflazers and Audey, Tom Ashton @subvontom, Jason NeSmith @casperfandango, Flagpole @flagpolemagazine, Sam Lipkin @piecesofcrap, Johnny Ray @johnnyray_athensga, Dusty Gannon @visionvideoband, March Briner @djdeadparrott, Dave Bats @theedavebats (among a long list of dark scene DJs), Andre Bagus Prasetho @deepless.depressed, Tomasz Woodraf @batcaveprod, William Zimmerman @mooncoilmedia, Suzi Sabotage @suzisabotage, Ken Magerman @kenmagerman and @soundsandshadows for all the various support and encouragement you’ve given both us and to the scene at large.

Here’s to the incredible moments we shared together and the ones waiting ahead. See you in 2025. 🖤

#gratitude #darkscene #gothmusic #deathrock #gothrock #postpunk #darkwave #batcave #gothicrock #gothscene #deathrockrevival #gothcommunity #diygoth #transmusic #queermusician #transmusician #transgoth #80sgoth #oldschoolgoth #gothicsubculture #athensga #athensgamusic #deathrockband #tearsforthedying