Skip to main content

Music returns to The Bayou, one night only

By WTOP Staff

Neal Augenstein, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – Fifteen years after it closed its doors, the musicians who played and the fans who enjoyed them, returned to the site of The Bayou, on K Street, under the Whitehurst Freeway in Georgetown.

The occasion: A preview screening of “The Bayou: DC’s Killer Joint,” a documentary by local filmmakers Dave Lilling, Bill Scanlan, Vinnie Perrone and Adam Bonsib, set to premiere Feb. 25 on Maryland Public Television.

The film was shown at AMC Loews, a few doors down from where The Bayou stood.

“I’ve been to The Bayou many times. I don’t recognize it — it’s totally reconfigured,” jokes Mark Noone, singer of Slickee Boys.

The movie recounts Noone’s recollection of a show March 3, 1981.

“We had some band from Ireland that was going to open for us. We didn’t know anything about them. Nobody knew anything about them,” says Noone.

The opening band was U2, in its first American concert.

“The night before they did a private showcase gig in New York, but their first open-to-the-public show in America was opening for the Slickee Boys,” says Noone.

One of the most popular bands at The Bayou was The Nighthawks, known for their blues and roots music.

Nighthawks bass player Jan Zukowski recalled The Bayou as a musician’s nightclub, “The premier nightclub in the whole area to play.”

Zukowski remembered the club’s sound, lighting systems and high stage, which promoted an intimate connection with the audience.

“They had the balcony that went around. It was incredible, especially when it was packed — oh, my lord, what a feeling,” Zukowski said.

Producer Dave Lilling described one of the most bittersweet moments in the film — the final performance by Eva Cassidy, the Maryland singer who died of cancer at 33.

Weeks before her death, Cassidy was honored at The Bayou by the Recording Industry Association of America.

“She was very ill. Everybody knew she was very ill. She came onto the stage on a walker. She had the wherewithal to perform two songs — ‘Red Top,’ with Chuck Brown, and ‘What a Wonderful World,’ which is of course here signature song.

Six weeks later, Cassidy died.

The documentary has been 14 years in the making.

“It’s a real labor of love,” Lilling says, noting filmmakers are $30,000 in the hole for production costs.

“We just wanted to get it finished,” says Lilling.

“The Bayou: DC’s Killer Joint” premieres Monday, Feb. 25, at 9 p.m. on Maryland Public Television.

Follow @WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2013 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote