September Loaded With Concert Dates

Sun., Aug. 9, 1998

By Jim Kershner jimkershner@comcast.net

As we look into Spotlight’s concert crystal ball — actually Plexiglass, to reduce breakage — we see a whole truckload of promising concerts in our future.

Not all of these shows have been confirmed, and tickets are not yet on sale for most of them. Yet they are all reasonably solid prospects for the fall, winter and on to early spring. Here they are, in chronological order:

Eric Burdon’s I Band: The former lead singer of the Animals and War will bring his new band to Pig Out in the Park on Sept. 5 to headline this annual restaurant festival’s entertainment stage in Riverfront Park. Also scheduled for Pig Out: The Tubes on Sept. 6 and Vintage, a Motown tribute, on Sept. 4. These shows are all firm.

The Bellamy Brothers: The singing country brothers will headline a show at the Spokane Interstate Fair on Sept. 15. Other fair headliners: Lila McCann on Sept. 14 and Jan and Dean on Sept. 13. Fair tickets go on sale Tuesday.

George Carlin: The curmudgeonly comic and best-selling author returns to Spokane for a show at the Opera House on Sept. 19. This one is official, and tickets go on sale Monday morning at G&B Select-a-Seat outlets.

Roger Whittaker: The smooth-voiced balladeer returns to the Opera House on Sept. 20. This one is confirmed, and tickets will go on sale Monday through G&B outlets.

Everclear: Spokane’s own Craig Montoya leads his pals Art and Greg back to the Inland Northwest for a show tentatively scheduled for Oct. 3 at the Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum in Pullman.

James Brown: The Godfather of Soul, or should we say the Grandfather of Soul, is tentatively scheduled into the Opera House for Oct. 27. No official word yet, but this one is looking solid.

Merle Haggard and Heather Myles: One’s a grizzled country legend, the other’s a new face. They are tentatively booked into the Spokane Arena for one of those firefighter’s association shows on Oct. 29. No confirmation on this one yet.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy: One of the hottest new pop-swing acts in the country has booked two dates at The Met, Nov. 4-5. This one is not yet finalized, but sources describe this prospect as solid.

Joe Lovano: The best jazz saxophonist on earth is headed for Whitworth College’s jazz festival on Nov. 20-21. Keep an eye out for the official word.

Brooks & Dunn and Reba McEntire: These two mega-selling country stars have made tentative plans to steer their big tour into the Spokane Arena on Dec. 4. They’ll be joined by David Kersh and Terri Clark. Unconfirmed and subject to change.

Leo Kottke: The magic-fingered guitar virtuoso returns to The Met on March 10. This one is confirmed, but tickets are not yet on sale.

Remember, the crystal ball is Plexiglass. The clarity is imperfect.

Taken for Grant-ed

You’ve got to wonder how KXLY-4 plans to use newly acquired investigative reporter Tom Grant.

One of Grant’s first stories last week was an expose into whether Spokane’s parking meters actually provide the full number of minutes for each quarter.

Hard-hitting stuff, but the conclusion was even more hard-hitting: Yes, they do. Some even give a few extra minutes.

Back to you, Marianne.

Fou de Musique

Spokane’s chamber quintet Fou de Musique has won an invitation to play in the San Juan Islands Chamber Music Festival next week.

That’s a major accomplishment, especially when you consider the oldest member of the group is only 19. The entire festival, including the group’s performance, will be recorded for National Public Radio.

This group, formerly known as the Spokane Youth Woodwind Quintet, consists of Sean Barker, Bethany Schoeff, Marisa Neste, Patrick Carlson and Sarah Temple.

The public is invited to attend the group’s final rehearsal, Sunday at 2 p.m. at Westminster Congregational Church, Fourth and Washington.

A new arts district?

We’ve been hearing about some tantalizing possibilities for the block around The Met, between Sprague and First avenues, and Lincoln and Monroe streets.

Metropolitan Mortgage is vacating most of the block and moving to new high-rise digs at the Farm Credit Banks Building. So what will happen to their old offices in that block?

How about a nice little arts district?

The owners of the old Magic Lantern Cinema have been looking at a space in that block for a three-screen cinema. Also, there has been some talk about a recording studio and maybe other arts-related businesses. With The Met already anchoring one corner, this could turn into lively downtown area.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.