Edward McKay Used Books & More Adds Panelists For 2012 Cultural Series At Hopscotch Music Festival

RALEIGH, NC, September 09, 2012 (Press-News.org) Edward McKay Used Books & More (http://www.edmckay.com), North Carolina's leading independent retailer of books, movies, CDs, vinyl records, electronics, video games, audio books, textbooks and related items, has announced two new panelists for the 2012 Edward McKay Used Books & More Cultural Series at Hopscotch Music Festival, an annual three-day event presented by The Independent Weekly in downtown Raleigh from Sept. 6-8. Maura Johnston, the music editor at The Village Voice, and David Klein, author of STASH and CLEAN BREAK, will join this year's panel and array of speakers.

Maura Johnston is music editor for The Village Voice, an award-winning weekly newspaper featuring news, investigative articles, current affairs, arts, music and culture for New York City. Prior to joining The Village Voice, Johnston was a founding editor of Gawker Media's Idolator, a popular music blog, and was a lead contributor at Popdust.com, a website for pop music. She has contributed to a number of noteworthy publications such as Rolling Stone, The Awl, Newsday and Spin. Johnston has discussed music and popular culture on several broadcasting outlets including National Public Radio, WNYC, WBUR and CBC Radio.

David Klein is a well-known author and lover of the arts. Klein writes about ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. His debut novel, STASH, which discusses suburbia living and its host of secrets, was widely praised by readers and critics alike. His sophomore novel, CLEAN BREAK, is a must-read that addresses the question "Can you make a clean break from a troubled past and start a new life?" Klein holds a Master of Arts in creative writing and English from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he had the opportunity to study under Irving Feldman, the renowned poet and English professor.

Hopscotch and Edward McKay have announced the following schedule of topics and panelists for the cultural series, with their bands or publications listed next to their names:

Thursday, Sept. 6 - Atavistic Power: Soul, gospel, folk and blues traditions independent music
(music by M.C. Taylor)
Moderator: Peter Blackstock, The Independent Weekly, No Depression
Panelists:
- Matthew E. White
- M.C. Taylor, Hiss Golden Messenger
- Skip Matheny, Roman Candle
- Jon Mueller
- Samantha Crain
- David Fellerath, The Independent Weekly

Friday, Sept. 7 - Fresh Sheets: The purpose and power of cover songs
(Music by Catherine Edgerton)
Moderator: Brian Howe
Panelists:
- Peter Holsapple, The dB's
- Jesse Jarnow, author of the new Yo La Tengo book, Big Day Coming
- Marlysse Simmons, Bio Ritmo
- Matthew Papich, Co La
- Catherine Edgerton, Midtown Dickens

Saturday, Sept. 8 - World Wide Weirdness: The Internet, and taking music further
(D.J. set by Brandon Stosuy)
Moderator: Grayson Currin, The Independent Weekly, Pitchfork Media
Panelists:
- Arnold Dreyblatt
- Kid Millions, Oneida
- Brandon Stosuy, Pitchfork Media
- Rick Ivey, Whatever Brains

Each panel will take place at the Raleigh City Museum at 220 Fayetteville St., beginning at 3 p.m. with a short musical performance, followed by a discussion among panelists and the moderator and a Q&A session with the audience. The panels are free and open to the public. No ticket is required, but admission is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For more information on the series and Hopscotch Music Festival, visit http://www.hopscotchmusicfest.com.

QUOTES:
"The depth and breadth of expertise we have among our panelists slated to participate this year will provide attendees with an enlightening and educational discussion about current and future musical trends," said Jennifer Keys, general manager of Edward McKay Used Books & More in Raleigh, N.C. "We encourage those in Hopscotch Music Festival to come early to get the best seats for this series that we are proud to present to the community."

DETAILS:
- Previous years' participants in the Edward McKay Used Books & More Cultural Series have included musicians such as Chuck D of Public Enemy, Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips and Patterson Hood of Drive-by Truckers, as well as writers such as Christopher Weingarten, Mark Richardson and Mark Anthony Neal. They have explored topics from the place of hip-hop in politics and social struggles to the power of the well-written song.

ABOUT EDWARD MCKAY USED BOOKS & MORE:
Started in 1974 by an ex-Army officer in Fayetteville, N.C., Edward McKay Used Books & More has grown to four stores across North Carolina in Raleigh, Greensboro, Fayetteville and Winston-Salem. The independent retailer is one of the largest suppliers in the state of used books, CDs, DVDs, videos, video games, vinyl records, textbooks, electronics and related items. Open seven days a week, the stores buy, sell and trade from individuals. For more information, visit http://www.edmckay.com.

ABOUT HOPSCOTCH MUSIC FESTIVAL:
Now in its third year, The Independent Weekly's Hopscotch Music Festival brings 175 bands to 15 venues in downtown Raleigh. Intended to highlight the Triangle's music scene by pairing exciting local talent with notable national and international artists, Hopscotch offers choices in just about every genre imaginable—rock, hip-hop, alt-country, metal, dance, punk, classical, noise, drone, folk and more. It is a festival that thrives on the variety and quality of its lineup, and with roughly 35 percent of the musicians hailing from Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and other nearby locales this year, it is a testament to both this region's musical diversity and its national relevance. Featuring bands at night, day parties, the Edward McKay Used Books & More Cultural Series, charity activities, a poster exhibition, and more, Hopscotch takes place Sept. 6-8. For more information, visit http://www.hopscotchmusicfest.com.

Caitlin Russell
MMI Public Relations
(919) 233-6600
caitlin@mmipublicrelations.com
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