DaytonDailyNews.com

By Andy Sedlak

Contributing Writer

All they need is one mic ...

Dayton hip-hop group Gem City Era wants to give local hip-hop acts some time in the spotlight. The trio is hosting Dayton's first Hip-Hop Showcase today, May 16, at the IUE-CWA Local 755 Hall, 1675 Woodman Drive, Dayton. The show will begin at 9 p.m., and various MCs will perform throughout the night, wrapping things up around 1 a.m.

The lineup includes Bishop Bruce,

A-Dizzle and rap trio J.M.P.

Gem City Era (Chris "C.A." Adams, Brad "Hustle N' Flow" White and Julian "Finesse" Peasant) will take the stage at 11:30. Scott Sharp of HOT 102.9 will host the event, which also features an open bar and music by DJs.

Auditions for the showcase were advertised through Myspace, and those who were interested were given private tryouts. The best of those performers were given time slots Friday night.

"Most of the time, we don't hear about local hip-hop talent in the Dayton area. We're giving these people an opportunity to get their names out," Gem City Era's White said.

Gem City Era, which has been together since 2005, will have its disc, "The Urban Down," available for fans to check out.

"When people pick up the record, they'll see how universal it is," White said.

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how to go

WHAT: First Hip-Hop Showcase

WHEN: 9 p.m. today

WHERE: IUE-CWA Local 755 Hall, 1675 Woodman Drive, Dayton

ADMISSION: $10

MORE INFORMATION: myspace.com/gemcityera

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By Carol Simmons

Staff Writer

DAYTON — Fans of contemporary, acoustic folk music have a brief index in their heads — or perhaps hearts — of singer-songwriters whose names on a venue marquee, or a just-released CD rack, cause certain delight.

John Gorka is one of those names.

And Dayton fans can delight in the fact that he's not only coming to town this weekend — for a Saturday night show at Canal Street Tavern — but he's also recently released a two-DVD set, titled "The Gypsy Life."

The package includes an audio disc, featuring 19 songs culled from his 10-album career catalog; and a two-sided video DVD, with interviews, stories behind the songs, a photo gallery and videos from concerts.

"What fans get in abundance," declares The Washington Post, "is Gorka's warm, easy-on-the ears baritone, supple melodic sensibility and deft guitar work."

A native of New Jersey, Gorka began his career while attending Pennsylvania's Moravian College in the early 1980s. Eventually signed to the indie-folk Red House Records label, he released his debut album, "I Know," in 1987. He moved to the Windham Hill family for the next five albums, before returning to Red House in 1998. His last new studio release was "Writing in the Margins" in 2006.

Life for Gorka also includes time with his wife and their two children in Minnesota, where he's lived since 1996.

Call it a "Gypsy Life" with roots.

CONTACT this reporter at (937) 225-7309 or csimmons@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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how to go

WHO: John Gorka

WHEN: 9:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Canal Street Tavern, 308 E. First St., Dayton

TICKETS: $14 in advance, $15 day of show

INFO: Call (937) 461-9343 or go online to www.canalstreettavern.com.

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