CREATIVE LOAFING — Chelsea Shag has been hard at work this year, releasing a video for “Poise” and adding the final touches to a new EP, titled Satellites (out Fri., May 11). The EP has been in the works since 2016, and is a paean to letting go of past relationships, and thriving in new love. It’s easy to stay connected to the past as social media plays such a role in everyone’s daily life ... [MORE]

THE ESPORTS OBSERVER — Hi-Rez Studios  will bring its annual Hi-Rez Expo to DreamHack  Atlanta 2018, as part of a new partnership with the gaming/digital festival organizer.

Since 2015, the event has been used by Hi-Rez to not only reveal new games and content, but also to stage multiple esports tournaments. The 2017 Hi-Rez Expo featured the SMITE  and Paladins  World Championships for PC and console, all of which will be part of the DreamHack-hosted Hi-Rez Expo.

CBS46 ATLANTA, "Astrid in the ATL" — Atlanta-based post-production companies taking over Hollywood ... a conversation with Crafty Apes' Chris LeDoux and Moonshine Post-Production's Drew Sawyer.

WATCH: http://www.cbs46.com/clip/14277005/astrid-in-the-atl-atlanta-based-post-production-companies-taking-over-hollywood

ATLANTA (CBS46), "Astrid in the ATL" — Plucked from obscurity and trained by Grammy-winning producers, a metro Atlanta R&B singer is about to burn up the charts. 

WATCH: http://www.cbs46.com/clip/14267037/success-in-the-works-for-metro-atlanta-singer

BIZ 1190AM "THE DANA BARRETT SHOW" — Today, Dana talked with Drew Sawyer, Partner and Executive Producer at Moonshine Post-Production and Chris LeDoux, VFX Supervisor at Crafty Apes, in studio! They're talking about their road to industry success, the booming Georgia film industry, SXSW and the Atlanta Film Festival ...

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION — Onstage, John Driskell Hopkins cuts an imposing figure. With an ash-speckled beard that often extends to his chest, a towering top hat and some type of fretted instrument in his hands, Hopkins is the most recognizable member of the Zac Brown Band outside of its namesake. And when his mighty baritone bursts into the microphone – whether it’s for the band’s stellar cover of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” or one of ZBB’s melodically layered hits — eyebrows raise in impressed reaction.

Offstage, in his Converse sneakers and patchy, still-growing-for-the-summer-tour beard, Hopkins is a mere 6-foot-1, and essentially a walking bear hug ... (more)

90.1 WABE, NPR — More than 700 students from about a dozen Atlanta and DeKalb County high schools watched “Black Panther” for free Tuesday. Organizers with an Atlanta nonprofit, the Phoenix Leadership Foundation, rented out the Movie Tavern Northlake and gave students free popcorn, soda and lunch. Drummers in colorful African dashikis and head ties welcomed students to Wakanda as they stepped off charter buses. Wakanda is the fictional African nation in “Black Panther.”  Inside, there were more drummers, dancers and Black Panther in costume ... (MORE)

MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL — Blending a soulful combination of vocals and story-rich lyrics, the Atlanta-based, 24-year old Alex Guthrie and his band have created a synergy of 70s, southern blues bands through an infusion of soul, folk and rock.

Today, Guthrie and his band will release his new single, “Is it Me”— a prelude to Guthrie’s in-process new album. The new song was recorded and engineered by Zac Brown Band founding member John Driskell Hopkins at Hopkins’ new studio, Brighter Shade Studios.

Guthrie’s band includes bass player Jonathan Norwood, drummer Dave Ragsdale and keyboardist Adam Holliday...

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTUTITION — Jay Bailey saw the Black Panther character on screen two years ago while watching “Captain America: Civil War” on a flight from California to Atlanta.

The moment immediately transformed him from 40-year-old man to 12-year-old fan, he said. He wanted to give that same experience to kids once the Black Panther movie hit theaters.

ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE — On Feb. 15, Atlanta Business Chronicle's Phil W. Hudson sat down with the Atlanta-based singer-songwriter Alex Guthrie for a wide-ranging discussion.

Guthrie first gained national attention in 2017 through the American Family Insurance commercial that features him playing in Atlanta’s Woodruff Park when the Grammy Award-Winning singer and performer Jennifer Hudsonsurprises him and joins him in singing Bill Wither’s beloved “Lovely Day.”

Guthrie and his band have performed events including Milwaukee’s Summerfest, which was also featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Music. as well as the 30A Songwriter’s Festival in Florida. He recently played the Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta...

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION — ChooseATL and the DeKalb Entertainment Commission are teaming up for “ChooseATL Tracklanta,” a competition that will send one aspiring musician to the ChooseATL House at SXSW on March 12 in Austin, Tex. Submissions will be accepted via SoundCloud through Feb. 23. There is no entry fee, but entrants must be at least 21, amateur, unsigned and not associated with a label or distribution company. And, you must hail from the Atlanta area.  Here is the link for your submissions.

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION — John Driskell Hopkins speaks on his Grammy award and current Zac Brown Band Grammy nomination with the AJC's Melissa Ruggieri.