INSPIRE ORLANDO

INSPIRE Orlando — The Artist Showcase Live Review & Photos | The Venue, Orlando, FL | August, 11, 2016

by • August 22, 2016

I’ll be the first one to admit it. When I wrote the preview for INSPIRE, I had no real idea what to expect and wasn’t even sure that an event like it would work. See, I’m not usually a big fan of casseroles — even if I like every ingredient involved. But there was something about INSPIRE organizer Kristin Porteous’s recipe that made this curated combination of dance, performance art, music, and comedy sit extremely well on my palate. And clearly, it was to the liking of many others too. The Venue was packed, rows upon rows facing the large, beautifully lit stage. They weren’t ready for the level of talent that was about to hit.   

DSC03764

The man that anchored this night down — who tossed the proverbial talent salad — was host Rauce Padgett. As the man who opened the night up with hilarious bit after bit, introduced acts that he had never seen, and stalled when the bands were setting up, Rauce smoothed the bumps that can come up when hip hop dance happens right before avant-garde performance art. And Rauce, along with everyone else in the packed crowd, seemed completely blown away by every act that graced the stage.

Kristin Porteous has made her name with dance. So naturally, INSPIRE was going to have a huge, and diverse, dance component. Performing as a lone improviser, Michelina Wingerter threw herself around the stage in huge movements. Regan Reynolds was another one-woman body artist, whose medium involves the proud removal of her clothing. Even singer-songwriter Jesse Owens incorporated finely choreographed dancers into his set.

DSC04125

Other musical performers appeared sans dancers and attempted to make others dance. Indie rock trio Likeways played their first show as a band and turned more than a few heads — s/o to the SIGT fam Chad and Mitch. Then, the looping lioness Tiger Fawn took the stage and won the crowd with her weird brand of art-folk. Loops of tribal drums, bells, whistles, beat-boxing, and her own voice rained down on their heads as she stood in the center of the dark stage, illuminated only by the strands of lights wrapped around her arms.

[ATTENTION INSPIRE PERFORMERS: Please email matt@showsigoto.com for pictures. He has tons more. Also, please give him photo cred @thevinylwarhol and @showsigoto]

Rauce Padgett — Comedian/Host

DSC03916

DSC03772

DSC04138

Michelina Wingerter — Improvisational Dance

DSC03789

DSC03835

DSC03819

DSC03830

Jesse Owens — Singer/Songwriter

DSC03950

DSC03969

DSC03967

DSC03958

Likeways — Chill Indie Rock

DSC04016

DSC04036

DSC04022

DSC04071

Regan Reynolds — Burlesque

DSC04094

DSC04107

DSC04130

Kara and Allie Mcguire — Contemporary dance

DSC04145

DSC04148

DSC04154

Tiger Fawn — Electric Tribal Folk Star

DSC04176

DSC04239

DSC04247

DSC04268

There you have it. Now, I can’t 100% confirm that there will be another INSPIRE Orlando (much less when it is), but if the success of this inaugural event is any mark, there is much more inspiration to be seen.

INSPIRE Orlando — The Artist Showcase Live Review & Photos by Matthew Weller.


▼ SHOWS TO GO TO ▼

LIVE-NATION---BOTTOM-GIF-031324

 


Thanks to our Sponsors, Kingfish Records in Clearwater, FL!

Kingfish Records Ad


Check out our South Florida SIGT Website! 

Shows I Go To South Florida Giveaway, Reviews, Photos, and more


Please support our friends who support us! Tell them Shows I Go To sends love! 🙂

Recommended Posts