Courter: Natural Habitz song in new 'Harold & Kumar' film

It's almost unnatural what is happening these days for Natural Habitz, a local hip-hop group. Movies, a tour and a new distribution deal for their latest CD are all in the immediate future.

Beginning tonight, the four members of the group will begin a four-week mini tour at local movie theaters promoting their song "Let's Go," which is part of the soundtrack for "A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas."

The meet-and-greets, featuring some giveaways, are set for tonight and Nov. 12 at East Ridge 18 and Nov. 18 and 24 at Majestic 12 downtown. They will take place from 6:30 to 11 p.m.

Konstruct said details are still being worked out for the upcoming film projects, so he is hesitant to talk about them, but said he was told "Let's Go" is definitely in the "Harold & Kumar" film.

"It's in there," he said. "We don't know which scene, but it's a big break. Getting that first one kind of opened the floodgates, I suppose," said Konstruct, the group's frontman and driving force.

"Let's Go" was recorded in Konstruct's studio and is included on the CD "Our World." The group -- Konstruct, Meda, DoughBoi and Dice Roll 'Em -- just signed a distribution deal with NRE/Citico Musik/Long Range out of Michigan.

According to Konstruct, the group also will have four songs featured in four upcoming films, and they have a big tour coming up beginning in December that is part of America's Lip Sync Star National Search. The members of Natural Habitz will be part of the panel of judges.

Several auditions are scheduled around the South for that, with three set for Dec. 2, 9 and 16 in Birmingham, Ala., Columbia, S.C., and Augusta, Ga., respectively. Visit www.umajaone.com for more information.

• Our own Riverbend Festival was again recognized by the International Festivals & Events Association with several honors at the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards ceremony held at the IFEA's 56th Annual Convention & Expo in Fort Worth in October.

Friends of the Festival, which produces Riverbend, won six awards for that event and also took the Gold for Best Sponsor Solicitation Package for its work producing the Chattanooga Classic golf tournament.

Riverbend won silver awards for Best Sponsor (Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union) and Best T-shirt Design. It won bronze awards for Best Event Photograph, Best Outdoor Billboard, Best Volunteer Program and Best Vendor/Supplier.

IFEA members produce such events as the Kentucky Derby and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses parade.

• WUTC-FM 88.1 reached its fall membership drive and raised $140,549, which will be used to fund the radio station's programming, according to a news release.

A relatively new part of the fundraising effort is the NPR station's "Deejay for an Hour" program. Listeners who make a $288.10 donation to WUTC are given the chance to play their favorite music on the air for an hour.