Arts in Brief: August 9

Robyn Hitchcock on the way to TA; Launch of new local record label; Italian Museum launches live restoration; Teen Choice Awards winners revealed.

By DAVID BRINN, BARRY DAVIS, REUTERS
Kutiman 311 (photo credit: Ben Plahov)
Kutiman 311
(photo credit: Ben Plahov)
Robyn Hitchcock on the way to TA
Indie rock legend Robyn Hitchcock will be making his debut in Israel with two solo shows at the Ozen Bar in Tel Aviv on September 9 and 10. Coming to prominence in the late 1970s was member of cult punk/pop band The Soft Boys, Hitchcock blossomed in the 1980s as solo artist and leader of his band The Egyptians, becoming a college rock radio favorite with his quirky style that encompassed psychedelia, acoustic folk and power pop and drawing comparisons to everyone from John Lennon to Syd Barrett and Bob Dylan.
He’s continued down his eccentric path, acting in films by Jonathan Demme, collaborating with REM’s Peter Buck, and regularly releasing delightful albums. His latest, last year’s Propeller Time, found Hitchcock working with The Smith’s Johnny Marr, Nick Lowe and John Paul Jones.
• David Brinn
Launch of new local record label
A new record label – Out Now Recordings – will join the small ranks of enterprising local record companies later this month when a grand launch event takes place at the Levontin 7 Club in Tel Aviv, on August 23 (8 p.m.). There will also be a previous launch gathering at Jerusalem’s Uganda venue tonight (9 p.m.) The label, which tends towards the freer side of the jazz and improvisational music tracks, is the brainchild of Jerusalemite guitarist Ido Bukelman and now New Yorkbased Israeli saxophonist Yoni Kretzmer.
The venture will kick off with the release of six CDs featuring, in addition to Bukelman and Kretzmer, American drummer Ehran Elisha, Elisha’s classical music pianist father Haim, American trumpeter Roy Campbell, Argentinean born Israeli reedman Daniel Davidovsky, drummer Ofer Beimel and 79-year-old South African-born Israeli clarinetist Harold Rubin.
The Jerusalem and Tel Aviv gigs will feature various solo and group acts, and will showcase material from Bukelman’s Solo album, from East of Jaffa with father and son Elisha and Rubin, and from Kretzmer’s Overlook, with the leader, bass clarinet player Nitai Levy and drummer Yoav Zohar, with doyen of the local improvisational music scene reedman Albert Beger putting in a guest appearance.
• Barry Davis
 Italian Museum launches live restoration
Jerusalem’s U. Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art is opening a unique restoration project on August 11 and will run through November 2. The restorers are moving out of their studios and into the museum’s exhibition rooms and will demonstrate the technical and ethical problems involved in restoration. The wood conservators from the restoration team of Studio Oro will be at work from Sunday to Thursday during usual museum hours. Visitors will be able to watch the work in progress from a resource area where they will learn about restoration and conservation and observe the various materials and gilding tools being used.
This Live Restoration project opens with a festive evening event August 11 beginning at 7 p.m. with a wine and cheese tasting, followed by a museum tour and capped with Italian singers. The event is open to the public, with a NIS 60 admission fee. For more info call (02) 624-1610.
• Jerusalem Post staff
Teen Choice Awards winners revealed
LOS ANGELES – Country sensation Taylor Swift and actress/singer Selena Gomez caught major waves at the Teen Choice awards on Sunday, with Swift scooping up six surfboard trophies including one for Ultimate Teen Choice.
Gomez, who performed her hit single “I Love You Like a Love Song” with her band The Scene, won choice TV actress in a drama for her role in Wizards of Waverly Place.
The 19-year-old Gomez saw her boyfriend, Justin Bieber, scoop up surfboards for being the top “hottie” as well as the choice “twit.” Bieber, 17, was named top male artist and earned an acting award for his recent work on television.
Other top honors went to Twilight actor Robert Pattinson, who was named choice vampire for his role in the popular romance movies. He was also named best movie actor in a drama.
Numerous other winners, including Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher, Blake Lively and the cast of TV show Glee, were announced.
• Reuters