Ultimately, the singer/songwriter game is about life experience and incorporating that into one’s art. Eilen Jewell has life experience to spare; a rural Idaho childhood where she learned to play piano, college in Santa Fe, N.M., where she busked and learned to perform, and then to Boston where she prospered in one of the country’s most competitive Folk scenes.  

The One More Girl on a Stage fest returns Friday and Saturday to Newport’s York Street Café for the Rivertown Music Club’s last ever event. Local musician Kelly Thomas has used the Rivertown Music Club to promote local music and raise money for a variety of charities for the past seven years.  

It has been a very sad summer in terms of losing some of our finest local musicians. Bassist Christopher Walker and guitarist Skip Chavis passed away last month and now two more charismatic artists have died, both succumbing to cancer: Legendary Funk guitarist and Cincinnati native Phelps "Catfish" Collins and Michele Feaster of the Blues/R&B band II Juicy.  

The first time I put on 'Got to Tell the World,' the new album by local Pop/Rock foursome Screaming Mimes, and cued up the first track, "You're the Kind of Girl," I listened for about a minute then had to run outside to pay my parking meter. Walking back to the office, I found myself already singing the chorus hook in my head.  

This year's OMG event again features a broad range of musical styles and some fun additions like the Black-n-Bluegrass Rollergirls lending a hand and chanteuse Vicki D'Salle hostessing. Performers include organizer Kelly Thomas (playing with Ryan Malott), Lauren Houston, Tupelo Honey, Wonky Tonk, The Polly Esthers, Raison D’etre, Shiny and The Spoon, J. Dorsey Blues Revival, De Los Muertos, Jenny Ward, Stick Figure Drawings, Carole Walker and Smitten Hicks. Proceeds from the annual fest go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research.