Demos Papadimas and band are back in the studio

Demos Papadimas and his band look like they are having fun in the video for “How Long,” which was released this week.

The latest in a series from his current album, “Waiting,” the new video shows the quintet in a recording session at Ampreon Recorder. Pete Drivere, who owns and operates the Youngstown studio, is also in the video, which was made by Chris Rutushin and Khaled Tabbara.

Fans of the Americana band with the Mediterranean touch might be asking “how long” until the next album is released. The answer is “around the end of the year.”

Papadimas is about half way through recording the album at Ampreon.

“It’s slightly less rootsy, not only because of the addition of electric guitar, but also because we’re using electric bass instead of upright,” said Papadimas.

The upcoming album will still have a folk flavor and will include plenty of harmonica and acoustic guitar, including that resonator instrument that Papadimas is known for.

The Warren native said it also will showcase his songwriting style.

“It’s primarily Americana, bearing the influences of artists such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young and The Band, but with occasional detours into Greek and Eastern European influenced folk,” he said.

It’s safe to say that Papadimas has invented a genre that he calls Greco-Americana, and he will again sprinkle songs of this style onto the next release. For an example, check out “Bitter Cup” or “Another Story,” which sound like something you might hear while sitting around a gypsy caravan campfire.

The act’s current lineup includes Papadimas on guitar, harmonica and vocals; longtime drummer Ralph Rich; Dave Lynn (Jones for Revival, Mystic WIP Hustler), guitar; Corey Gray (the Sparrows), bass; and Caitlin Hedge (Greenville Symphony, Youngstown Symphony Orchestra), violin.

You can catch Demos Papadimas and his band live at Cedars West End on Saturday, with opening act Zach Keim of Pittsburgh.

VALLEY NATIVES TO DIRECT FEATURE FILM IN REGION

A pair of film students at Kent State University are planning to shoot a movie in their hometown of Youngstown and elsewhere.

Jimmy Naples, a 2014 Ursuline High grad, and Nate Shively, a 2015 Austintown Fitch grad, are in the pre-production phase for their feature-length film “Fly By Night.” It’s a neo-noir crime drama about a detective who struggles to deal with losing custody of his son in a nasty divorce.

Naples and Shively are trying to raise $10,000 to fund the film, which was written by Erica Collins of Stow. To donate, go to flybynightmovie.com.

The film is being produced by Kent State University Independent Films, a nonprofit student-run production company. More than 50 KSU students will be in the cast and crew.

Filming will begin May 24 and finish in mid-July, and will take place in Youngstown, Kent, Akron and other locations in Northeast Ohio.

Kent State is one of a handful of U.S. colleges that makes feature-length films. It has a deal with DVD rental chain Family Video to stock “Fly By Night.”

WANT TO OPEN CONCERT FOR COUNTRY STAR JOE NICHOLS?

Country music star Joe Nichols is coming to Akron’s Goodyear Theater on May 11. As for who the opening act will be, that has yet to be determined.

The theater is looking for a regional act and is accepting video submissions. Interested bands or solo musicians should email a link to a live performance, plus three audio clips and a press photo, to info@goodyeartheater.com. Deadline is May 4 at 10 p.m.

If the theater finds a suitable act, that band or singer will receive 20 complimentary tickets to the concert.

JOHN HOLT WILL DIRECT FALL MUSICAL AT PLAYHOUSE

John Holt will return to The Youngstown Playhouse to direct the musical comedy “Young Frankenstein,” with performances Oct. 20-22 and 27-29.

Holt was the managing director of the Playhouse from 2005 to 2008, when the theater went into a financial crisis that nearly forced it to close. He now lives in West Virginia.

During his tenure at the Playhouse, Holt brought about a resurgence in quality theater and directed some dazzling productions, including “Sweeney Todd,” “Titanic: The Musical” and “The Secret Garden.”

Guy D’Astolfo covers entertainment. Follow him on Twitter at @VindyVibe.