ARIZONA IRISH MUSIC SOCIETY

AIMS NEWS AND NOTES

AIMS News and Notes 3-5-2008 Arizona Irish Music Society
www.azirishmusic.com
Information Line: 602-770-8077
Signup - signup@azirishmusic.com
George L. O’Brien - george@azirishmusic.com
News - news@azirishmusic.com

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Anyone interested in receiving the Directory/Calendar only version of this newsletter should e-mail us at signup@azirishmusic.com. You will be able to read the entire newsletter on the web at www.azirishmusic.com/00000000.htm.
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The Expanded Irish Cultural Center Gift Shop run by Pat & Patty McCrossan, the former proprietors of Ireland's Own, is now open from 10:30 am until 6 pm Tuesday through Friday and from 10:30 am until 3 pm on Saturday. It will also be open for any ICC special events. Call (602) 254-6094.

The Irish Cultural Center is at 1106 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-258-0109 www.azirish.org

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Out and About

--- Still Chasing A List Of Mar 17th Performances
--- Ren Faire Continues A Celtic Touch

2. ICC News
--- Fri Mar 7 - First Friday
--- Sun Mar 9 - Booker Prize Winner John Banville Gives Talk
--- Fri Mar 14 - St Patrick’s Weekend Starts With A Ceili
--- Sat Mar 15 - St. Patrick's Day Parade And Faire
--- Mon Mar 17 St. Patrick's Day At The Center
--- Sun. Mar 23 - Easter Rising Remembrance
3. Sat Mar 8th For 25th Annual Emerald Ball In Phoenix On Sat
4. Verde Valley Games On Sat Mar 29
5. Wed. Mar 5 - David Munnelly Band At Fox Theater
6. Fri Mar 7 - Cara In Tucson
7. Sat. Mar 8 - Dublin's Traditional Irish Cabaret
8. This Week In Irish Music

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1. OUT AND ABOUT

--- STILL CHASING A LIST OF MAR 17TH PERFORMANCES

I have been working on developing a list of who is playing where on St. Patrick’s Day. Check out our website as I will list the Mar 17th stuff on a separate page.

--- REN FAIRE CONTINUES A CELTIC TOUCH

There is not quite as many Celtic performers at the Arizona Renaissance Faire as in past years, but some familiar faces remain: Tartanic, Pirate Shantyman and the Bonnie Lass, the Puckerbrush Players, Brighid Black (Caitlyn DeAmbra), Sarah Marie Mullen, Ann Patel, Patrice Ruane, and Traveler. Tartanic does a bagpipe and drum show. Pirate Shantyman and the Bonny Lass do mostly humor including a the parts of a ship to the tune of Rattlin Bog. This is the seventh year for the Puckerbrush Players who play mostly Celtic music on the hammered dulcimer.

Brighid Black (Caitlyn DeAmbra) is back and is doing street perfomring. Harpist Sarah Marie Mullen plays under a tree near the jousting area. Ann Patel is doing street work playing the flute. Ann and Caitlyn put on a ceili each day at 3:00 pm on the falconer’s field. Patrice Ruane plays her spinet harpsichord under a tree near the entrance gates (Patrice is the daughter of Mark Lanus of the Brazen Heads and sister of fiddle player Erin Lanus).

This is the first year at the Ren Faire for Scott Jeffers and Traveler. They are doing mostly gypsy music (including a belly dancer), but includes some Celtic music such as when Ann comes over and does step dancing with them.

As usual, CROFT has their setup where they give craft demonstrations.

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2. ICC NEWS

Irish Cultural Center
1106 N. Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ
www.azirish.org 602-258-0109

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--- FIRST FRIDAY
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For the first two weeks of March, Pat Mahoney displays colorful and attractive pottery art. Every PM Mosaic Pot incorporates the fundamentals of EcoArt. Eco Art also known as Environmental Art, is an artistic movement intended to improve our relationship with the natural world. As the concern over environmental issues such as global warming, pollution, fuel economy, and hazardous waste increases, artists are responding by developing active and practical art committed to promoting a greater awareness of these issues. These ideals are represented in all PM Mosaic pieces. PM Mosaic Pots was founded by Phoenician artist Pat Mahoney, a resident of Phoenix for over twenty-two years. PM Mosaic Pots come in a broad range of versatile home and garden products merging mosaic design with the growing movement for conservationism. Inspired by the beauty of Arizona and the Pop Art movement, all PM Mosaic products add color and interest to any setting. To insure that the product is structurally sound and remains environmentally friendly, each piece over $300 can be repaired free of charge for the lifetime of the product. Your own leftover tile or broken ceramics can be incorporated into a piece to compliment your own pool or interior. Contact Pat Mahoney at (602) 380-4524 or pmmosaics@gmail.com for more information.

Our annual art showing in March is the Sister Cities International Young Artists Competition sponsored by the Phoenix Sister Cities Commission. Youth can help to extend the mission of Phoenix Sister Cities and celebrate the uniqueness of cities, towns, and communities throughout the world, earn recognition and win cash awards for their creativity and ability to interpret the theme effectively. The 2008 theme is “A Reflection of Your Community”.

They will be displayed during the month of March and awards will be given out at an awards ceremony. After being exhibited in Phoenix, the winning artwork will be entered into the Sister Cities International Young Artist Competition where they are eligible to win more prizes. For more information visit www.phoenixsistercities.org or call Phoenix Sister Cities at 602-534-7359. Chef Steven Howard is offering a traditional Irish Favorite that everyone loves and can coincide with our Lenten "abstinence from meat" tradition. The Chef will be doing a Fish n' Chips Dinner. Classic Cod dipped in a Bass Ale batter will be fried to order and served with the Chef's Seasoned Fried Potatoes and Stilton Cheese Lime Cream Cole Slaw. Malt Vinegar and Home made Tartar Sauce will be available to bring back the memories of comfort food from the old country. We’ll get started fryin' stuff up around 6:00pm and its only $10.00 per plate. As always, you can contact Chef Steven at Your Personal Chef for any family meal, private in-home parties or event catering needs at (480) 421-CHEF or visit their website at www.ypchef.com .

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--- BOOKER PRIZE WINNER JOHN BANVILLE GIVES TALK ON SUN MAR 9
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Booker Prize winner John Banville, visits the Center Sunday, March 9 at 1:00 PM. Mr. Banville plans a 15-20 minute reading of The Silver Swan, his follow-up to his debut crime novel, Christine Falls written under the pen name Benjamin Black. Donations will be accepted at the door.

Benjamin Black’s debut mystery novel, Christine Falls, was acclaimed by critics for its beautiful writing, “gritty grace,” and smart suspense and has been nominated for the Edgar Award for best novel. The New York Times hailed Christine Falls as a “swirling, elegant noir.” As readers quickly discovered, Benjamin Black is the pen name of John Banville, the Booker-winning author of The Sea and one of the greatest literary talents of his generation. Banville’s literary alter ego returns with the highly anticipated sequel to Christine Falls, THE SILVER SWAN.

THE SILVER SWAN transports us once again to the basement offices of Dublin pathologist Quirke, to those morbid corridors where the endearing and overly inquisitive Quirke feels more at home than among the living. Two years have passed since the events of Christine Falls, and although Quirke––formerly a hard drinker––is considerably more dried out nowadays, his penchant for going where he does not belong has not abated. When Quirke receives a call from a barely remembered classmate about a young woman’s apparent suicide, he is drawn back into Dublin’s dark underworld, rife with shady characters and deep deceptions.

The Man Booker Prize for Fiction (AKA the Booker Prize) is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original English language novel by a citizen of either the Commonwealth of Nations or the Republic of Ireland.

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--- MAR 14 - ST PATRICK’S WEEKEND STARTS WITH A CEILI
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The Center Monthly Ceili's on the second and third Fridays of the month. Enjoy Irish social dancing in a relaxed atmosphere with live music and dance lessons. There will be live music.

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--- MAR 15 - ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE AND FAIRE
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Come celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Phoenix's St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Irish Faire. This year's theme is "Silver on the Green"! Featuring two stages of Irish Music, Irish Stepdancing, Bagpipers, Food & Beverages, Irish Crafts & Merchandise, Genealogy, Irish Clubs and a great Children’s Area. Saturday, March 15, 2008, parade begins at 10 AM, Faire begins at 11 AM. Parade staging on 3rd street between Thomas and Virginia. The parade ends at Hance Park and on East Moreland Street. The Faire is being held on the west side of Central Avenue at Culver. Come visit the Irish Cultural Center while at the Faire. Admission $10.00 for Adults (12 & over), $1.00 for Kids 6 – 12 Kids under 6 FREE. FREE PARKING at: 2600, 2700, 2800 N Central Ave. Free round trip shuttle bus from the parking lots. Shuttle Bus Hours of Operation 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. For Further Information – Please call (602) 280-9221 Or visit the website at: www.phxirish.org.

2008 STAGE SCHEDULE

EAST STAGE

10:30 AM Pat McCrossan
10:45 AM The Brid Dower Band
11:35 AM McTeggart School of Irish Dance
11:55 AM The McMorrows
12:45 PM Tir Conaill Academy of Irish Dance
1:05 PM 2008 Arizona Irish Colleens & Dignitaries
1:25 PM Celtic Dance Academy
1:45 PM Pat McCrossan
2:35 PM Bracken School of Irish Dance
2:55 PM Academy of Irish & Celtic Musicians
3:45 PM Pat McCrossan
4:00 PM Oceans Apart

WEST STAGE

10:45 AM Black Velvet Band
11:50 AM Blackwood
12:55 PM The Knockabouts
2:00 PM The Biffos
3:05 PM Harmony & Grits
4:10 PM The Brazen Heads

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--- MAR 17 ST. PATRICK'S DAY AT THE CENTER
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Once again it's time for the "Holiday at the Center" celebrating Ireland's own Patron Saint Patrick on Monday March 17th. The Center will open at 10:00 am and will have Irish Music and Cash Bar all day. Our own "Saint of the Stew" Chef Steven Howard will be once again providing his famous Irish Whiskey Lamb Stew this St. Patrick's Day Holiday. Tender Lamb meat is braised with Potatoes, Carrots, Onions and Parsnips in the Chef's Signature Irish Whiskey and Guinness Ale Gravy that has become the favorite dish every year for our Irish community. Served with a Traditional Soda Bread Roll and Butter, You can get "A Bowl and a Roll" for only $8.00 all day Monday from 11:00am throughout the evening (or until we run out!)Be sure to get there early and come hungry. The Chef's stew is a Holiday tradition and goes quickly so come early and stay all day for the food and the fun! As always, you can contact Chef Steven at Your Personal Chef for any family meal, private in-home parties or event catering needs at (480) 421-CHEF or visit their website at www.ypchef.com At 7:00 pm there will be a St. Patrick’s Night Ceili. Come one and all and bring your dancing shoes. Dances will be taught and called.

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--- SUN. MAR 23 - EASTER RISING REMEMBRANCE
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On Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008, the Irish Cultural Center will be presenting our annual Easter Rising Remembrance at 10:00 am. This multi media presentation will be narrated by Jim Daugherty with musical accompanyment by Jane Hilton and Shay Vino. Unlike previous years, this year there will NOT be a Catholic Mass spoken in Irish. Plan to join the community for this historical and now traditional presentation. Irish tea and soda bread will be available at the break. This year, bring the children for a unique program and a planned Easter egg hunt. Volunteers are still needed, please contact

Jim Daugherty at djr9@msn.com or call the Center at (602) 258-0109.

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3. SAT MAR 8TH FOR 25TH ANNUAL EMERALD BALL IN PHOENIX ON SAT

Get out your dancing shoes. It's time for the 25th Annual Emerald Ball sponsored by The Irish Foundation of Arizona. The dinner-dance will be held at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 330 W. Coral Gables, Phoenix, on March 8, 2008. The fun starts with social hour at 6:00 PM. Piper Owen Keating and drummer John Abberton will lead us in to dinner at 7:00 PM. The delicious meal will be catered by Sharko's. Students from Michael Pat Gallagher's Tir Conaill Irish Dance School will entertain us after dinner. The highlight of the evening will be dancing to the tunes of the Bleeding Scoundrels Band consisting of versatile Pat McCrossan and multi-talented Jane Hilton and Johnny Kerr.

The cost for this fun evening is $45 per person. Tickets may be purchased at The Gift Shop at the Irish Cultural Center, Jimmy O'Connor's Pub, 2601 W. Dunlap, Phoenix (602-997-7714), Singer Sewing Center, 1030 E. Baseline, Tempe (480-838-1688), or Jason O'Neill (602-380-1399). Tickets must be purchased by February 28. They will not be sold at the door.

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4. VERDE VALLEY GAMES ON SAT MAR 29

The Verde Valley Highland Games will be held on Mar. 29, 08 at the Camp Verde Community Center, 395 S. Main St. from 10 AM to 5 PM. Adults - $10 / students - $7 / 12 and under - $5 Info at (928)771-1218 or mcnabbprescott@aol.com.

Competition will be held in Scottish athletics (heavy events) and Highland Dancing. There will be 2 stages of entertainment with Ocean's Apart, Crosswind, & Traditional Blend on the main stage and Ian Walinck, Calahan Howard, Vyctoria Pratt Keating, and Connie Fisher on the Tea Room stage.

There will also be a beer garden and a scotch tasting booth, along with sheepdog herding demonstrations, re-enactors, clan booths, Celtic merchandise vendors, Scottish food and drink, and a great kids area with a magician, concerts, moon bounce, and face painting. Opening ceremony at noon.

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5. WED. MAR 5 - DAVID MUNNELLY BAND AT FOX THEATER

David Munnelly Band and Round the House at the Fox Theater, plus Irish Dancers! Tickets: $18 - $15 (depending on seating), $36 for balcony love seats All the seats are great and the theater is fabulous. Tickets: FOX ticket booth (you can drive up and park at their pull out) Phone the FOX at 520-547-3040 x 2, or visit their Web site www.foxtucsontheatre.org, but if you order this way, I am afraid there is a service charge. To avoid this charge, visit the box office.

More About the David Munnelly Band and the Maguire Dancers:

DAVID MUNNELLY BAND

Unique West Mayo style of playing - a style as wild, free and awe inspiring as the rugged West Coast of Ireland -David Munnelly & his band are making waves on both sides of the Atlantic. They showcase a synthesis of lively Irish Traditional music with a bit of the jazz-influenced Roaring 20's Irish American style thrown in (they even travel with a tap dancer).

2005 saw the band's highly successful U.S. Debut Tour, and in 2006, David & the group were featured around the world on the BBC World Television programme "Destination Music: Ireland" They were also featured in a two part concert on the National Public Radio program "Celtic Connections," and in a PBS Television special.

The band showcases button accordion wizard & leader of the overall mayhem, David Munnelly. David has toured & performed with The Chieftains, DeDanaan, and other legendary Irish artists. He also composed and recorded the original soundtrack for the TG4 special "Solas sa nDorchadasm" for which he received the 2004 Composer of the Year Award. In 2001, David released his first CD, Swing, in effort to craft a sound that was both unique, yet reminiscent of the free-spirited exuberance which typified the American Irish Dance Hall scene of the Roaring 20's. In 2003, he and his band joined the prestigious Irish Unplugged tour of Europe with Francis Black. One year later, David's second CD, "By Heck," was released to critical & popular acclaim in Ireland, Europe & Japan, and was recently released as well in North America.

The David Munnelly band also includes fiddle and mandolin player, Paul Kelly who first came to prominence as the fiddler with The Sackville String Band, a five piece bluegrass outfit who brought American Traditional music to a wider audience in Ireland and who had the legendary Doc Watson, Bela Fleck and Mark O Connor among many others. He returned to his roots in the early nineties as a member of The Sharon Shannon Band, playing fiddle and mandolin and touring the U.S., Europe and the U.K. Also with the band, Kieren Munnelly (flute and bodhran), recently graduated from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance and he has toured in America and Europe with some of Ireland's finest musicians. Daire Bracken, fiddler, toured with the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri na hEireann and was one of the original members of famed Irish band, Danu. Guitarist, Tony Byrne, steeped in the tradition, has been performing professionally in both rock and traditional bands since he was fourteen. The band's vocalist, Shauna Mullin, is an up and coming singer from Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal. She has been singing from an early age and attributes much of her repertoire to her family, namely her grand uncle, Paddy Tunney. Shauna has performed extensively on the Irish circuit, through Limerick and Dublin and has recently finished her debut album with Waterford based guitarist Alan Colfer, 'One April Morning'. Check out their Website at http://www.davidmunnelly.com

MAGUIRE ACADEMY OF IRISH DANCE

Tucson's Maguire Academy of Irish Dance was established by Darren Maguire in 2006. Darren holds numerous high honors in competitive Irish dance including first place at regional and national competitions, including the Great Britains, All England, All Ireland and the Regional Oireachtas; and a second place in the World Championships. He retired from dancing the lead in Riverdance to open his dance school in Tucson and has been developing the school and it's dancers ever since. Building on his experience growing up in a dance family (his parents run the highly-regarded Maguire O'Shea Academy in England), the Maguire Academy already has a number of dancers competing at the regional, national and world levels as well as a large group of up-and-coming younger dancers.

And last but not least, ROUND THE HOUSE! Sharon, Dave, Mark and Claire will be performing their award winning Traditional Irish music with a twist. They will transport you to the Old Sod with riveting tunes, dynamic vocals, humor and lighting fast finger picking. If you haven't heard them before, you have missed some of the finest Irish music outside of Ireland.

Don't live in regret! Come down to the FOX!

Websites: www.roundthehouse.com
www.myspace.com/roundthehouse

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6. FRI MAR 7 - CARA IN TUCSON

Friday 3/7/08 - 8 pm
Berger Performing Arts Center
1200 W Speedway at ASPD
Tucson, AZ

Concert info: Don Gest at 520-981-1475
For tickets and potential discounts call Don Guest at In Concert at 520-981-1475

Cara is a band formed in 2003, rooted in Irish and Scottish traditional music, but with ambitions to create a new and unique sound. Each of the four musicians has made a name for themselves at home and abroad. Sandra Gunkel (vocals, piano, flute) and Gudrun Walther (vocals, fiddle, viola) are in perfect command of their instruments but above all it is their voices that enthral the audience. They bring new life to traditional ballads and their interpretations of their own songs are guaranteed to raise goosepimples! It would be difficult to find a better exponent of the Irish flute than Claus Steinort (flutes, whistles, concertina) - anywhere!

His brilliant technique, faultless style, unique tone and expressiveness have earned him a growing reputation in Ireland. Together with Gudrun who was recently described by the German music magazine "Folker" as the "best fiddler on the scene", they are a dream-team when it comes to close playing and spontaneity. Jürgen Treyz (guitars) has his own concept of "backing". His sound is characterised by well thought out and exciting harmonic and rhythmic accompaniment and beautiful solos. Together with Sandra on piano, his playing inspires and lifts the CARA sound. With Rolf Wagels the band adds Germanys best (and biggest) Bodhrán Player as a special guest if he's available. He has played in Germany, Ireland and the US with an ever growing impressive list of well-known musicians and bands.

www.caramusic.com

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7. SAT. MAR 8 - DUBLIN'S TRADITIONAL IRISH CABARET

Sat. Mar 8, 2008
8:00 PM
$26 - $36

Mesa Arts Center
155 N. Center St.
Mesa AZ 85201
480-644-2242 Web

Dublin’s Traditional Irish Cabaret is a celebration of Irish music, laughter, song and dance. Ireland’s greatest comedian, Noel V. Ginnity instantly draws audiences into fits of laughter with his eventful brand of humor, which has delighted audiences for nearly 30 years. Combined with traditional Irish ballads and dance, this will be a rollicking afternoon of good fun from the Emerald Isle.

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8. THIS WEEK IN IRISH MUSIC

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PHOENIX

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Michael McClanathan will be at the Westin Kirland every evening at sunset.

WED

Paul Knight will host a seisiun at into The Bean on Wed.
Scott Jeffers will be at the Dubliner on Wed
Smoot Mahooty with Brid Dower will be at Rosie’s on Wed
Karl Jones will be at R.T. O’Sullivan’s on Wed

THUR.

Oceans Apart will be at Baptist Village on Thur afternoon.
Oceans Apart will be at Palm Gardens on Thur evening
Shay Veno will be at the Glendale Library early on Thur and later on at Fibber Magee’s
Liam Mackey will be at the Skeptical Chymist on Thur

FRI (ONLY)

Oceans Apart will be at the Country Meadows Club on Fri afternoon

There will be a seisiun for First Friday at the ICC

Groovemania will be at Fiddler’s Dream on Fri.

Haiku Road will be at Paisley Violin on Fri.

FRI/SAT (PUB SCENE)

The Dubliner will host Shawn Johnson on Fri and Sat

The Brazen Heads will be at Fibber Magee’s on Fri and Sat

Shay Veno will be at O’Connor’s on Fri and Sat

O'Donoghue's will host the Biffo’s on Fri and the Scones on Sat.

Traveler will be at Rosie McCaffrey’s on Fri and Sat

Blackwood will be at Seamus McCaffrey’s on Fri. evening.

Skeptical Chymist will host Shirley’s Temple on Fri and Tickle on Sat.

Tim Finnegans will host the Insomniacs on Fri and Sat.

SAT

Christopher Dean will be at Pueblo El Mirage on Sat evening

There will be a contradance at the Kenilworth School on Sat evening.

SAT/SUN

The Renaissance Faire will host Tartanic, Traveler, Pirate Shantyman and the Bonnie Lass, the Puckerbrush Players, Brighid Black (Caitlyn DeAmbra), Sarah Marie Mullen, Ann Patel, and Patrice Ruane.

SUN

Author John Banville will give a reading at the ICC on Sun at noon.

MON

Oceans Apart will be at Mountainbrook Village on Mon morning
Rick Cyge will be at the Cave Creek Coffee Company on Mon evening.

TUE

Christopher Dean will be at the Superstition Sunrise Resort on Tues evening

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TUCSON

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The David Munnelly Band supported by Round the House will be at the Fox Theater on Wed.

Cara will be at the Berger Center on Fri evenig

Groovemania will be at the First Methodist Church on Sun evening.