Whispers

Cruel Intentions and Flags of Our Fathers star Ryan Phillippe has been spotted all over Baton Rouge recently—including the Hilton downtown, Starbucks at Perkins Rowe and even Bogie’s near Tigerland, where our source says Phillippe has been popular with the ladies. The actor is filming the upcoming paranormal drug drama ironically and tentatively titled Shreveport. Phillippe stars opposite Anna Paquin and Luke Wilson as a recovering drug addict who, feeling a nudge from his dead mother’s ghost, decides to road trip home to Louisiana to reunite with the family he abandoned long ago.

A new bar with live music and outdoor patio space is underway on South Boulevard near River Road at the site of the L Bar. Our source, one of the bar’s principals and a veteran of the film and music industry, says the new venue will feature signature fishbowl-sized drinks and focus on craft beers and cocktails in an atmosphere reminiscent of Tipitina’s in New Orleans and Blue Moon Saloon in Lafayette. At press time, the venue was still without a name, but with renovations nearly complete, the bar is slated to open in October with live concerts to follow.

Louisiana pop band GIVERS has secretly recorded a fresh version of a song by legendary Afrobeat icon Fela Kuti. 225 has learned the track, still under wraps, features one of the Neville brothers and a renowned collaborator behind the mixing desk. The recording is slated for the charity tribute compilation (RED) Hot + Fela which will benefit multiple AIDS relief organizations, but fans may have to wait till next spring ?for the album’s release. Follow @joinRED for updates.