Local beats

SACRED SUMMONINGS: Port Charlotte’s Celtic stylista/ hammered dulcimer dazzler Marcille Wallis recently released a new CD. Sure, musicians do that daily. But, “A Mighty Fortress,” also available on MP3 download, is a collection of Scottish and Celtic hymns and sacred music that Wallis reinterprets on hammered dulcimer — NOT an ordinary musical entry. Hear her at marcillewallis.com; to order, call 625-8544. She’ll be playing at the Sarasota Medieval Fair (Sarasota Fairgrounds) Saturday and Sunday.

RECORDING: Palmetto’s RMisery is getting “back to basics,” according to front man/bassist Kirk Alan. Second guitarist James Arnold recently departed the band, leaving it to its original three-man formation. The trio is in the studio laying tracks for an early 2009 release, a likely catalyst for its planned ’09 return to Sara/Mana area performing (since it only appeared here once this year). myspace.com/rmiserymetal.

VOTE (AGAIN!): By the time you read this, online voting for the Tampa Bay Hip Hop Awards will have commenced. Categories include best song, artist, Latin artist/group, gospel hip-hop group, reggae group, mixtape and mixtape DJ, B Boy/B Girl, singer (male and female), club DJ, poet, lyricist, radio DJ, promotion company, custom auto shop, even barbershop of the year! Voting at tampabayhiphop awards.com ends at noon Nov. 29. The awards ceremony takes place 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Doubletree Hotel Westshore, 4500 W Cypress St., Tampa. (813) 879-4800. Tickets are $25.

— Dawn Scire, dawnzig@hotmail.com