Spotlight: Martin, Lang, Moody Blues highlight bookings
We have a solid list of new concert bookings to announce:
• Steve Martin and his banjo act, July 22, 8 p.m., Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox – This will be Martin’s second banjo-centric appearance at The Fox. I attended his sold-out show in late 2009 and it was more fun than a barrel of mummies (yeah, he played “King Tut”).
Once again, he’ll be backed by the Steep Canyon Rangers. Expect plenty of comedy amid the bluegrass. Tickets will be $68 and $52, on sale Thursday through TicketsWest (800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com) or the Fox box office, (509) 624-1200.
• k.d. lang, July 25, also at The Fox – The Canadian singer will be accompanied by her new band, the Siss Boom Bang. Tickets will be $69 and $49, also on sale Thursday through the above outlets.
• Moody Blues, June 5, Northern Quest Casino – The British classic rockers. Tickets $60, $75 and $100, through the casino box office (509-481-6700) or TicketsWest.
• Modest Mouse, May 28, Knitting Factory Concert House – The Issaquah, Wash., indie rock trio, with special guests Talkdemonic. Tickets are $32, through www.ticketfly.com or by calling (877) 435-9849.
‘Mormon’ connection
“The Book of Mormon,” the satirical Broadway musical by the “South Park” team, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, has been knockin’ ’em dead in previews in New York.
And there’s a local connection: Jason Michael Snow is part of the ensemble.
Snow is a Ferris High School grad who performed extensively with the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre. This is his second big Broadway show; he played Yeoman Quale in “South Pacific.”
The word from Spotlight’s New York operatives is that Snow is terrific and audiences have been screaming with laughter. Or outrage. Or both.
An art ‘Riverdance’
A significant work of art will be unveiled Tuesday in the Spokane Convention Center’s Exhibit Hall Lobby.
“Riverdance,” a 24-foot-wide, 21-foot-high painting by Spokane artist Melissa Cole, depicts the Spokane River ecosystem and features images of fish, herons and ducks.
It’s made of textured acrylic paint, hammered copper and mosaics made of recycled glass, tiles and jewels.
Cole, whose work has been exhibited in India and France, said in a statement that this has been her “favorite project to work on in my art career.”
It’s made of 20 panels and she said she enjoyed “continuing the flow of the river design from one panel to another.”
The work was commissioned by the Spokane Public Facilities District with the goal of creating a colorful and distinctive welcome to Convention Center visitors. The unveiling takes place Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Jazz Appreciation Month
April will be Jazz Appreciation Month in Spokane (and elsewhere) and the big kickoff event is just slightly early: “Live @ The Fox” on Thursday (that’s March 31) at 7:30 p.m. at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox.
It will feature musicians from the Holy Names Music Center. You’ll hear everything from seasoned professionals to students.
Spokane jazz singer Julia Keefe will perform part of her Mildred Bailey tribute. Other performers will include choral artists and chamber musicians. A mayoral proclamation declaring Jazz Appreciation Month will be read from the stage.
This is a free concert, but donations will be accepted for Holy Names.
An entire month’s worth of jazz events are planned at clubs and on stages throughout the area. They will culminate in a concert featuring a big jazz name: pianist Benny Green.
Green is a veteran of the Ray Brown Trio and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, as well as his own combos. He’ll play the Ichiban Sushi Lounge, 202 W. Third Ave. – which has emerged as a hot spot for Spokane jazz – on April 29, 8 p.m.
Tickets are $20, available at the Ichiban, by calling (509) 280-5313 or at www.centertainmentnw.com.
The ‘Wizard’ of Bing
The next entry in the Bing Crosby Theater Classic Movie Series is one of the world’s all-time favorites: “The Wizard of Oz,” Wednesday at 7 p.m.
It’s spring break, so you can take the kids down to see this classic movie in a classic setting at the theater, 901 W. Spragfue Ave. It’s free, but a $5 donation is suggested.
50 Hour Slam
Filmmakers who want to participate in the 50 Hour Slam contest should start getting ready.
The kickoff event will be Friday at 7 p.m. at the Magic Lantern Theater, 25 W. Main Ave. That’s when you’ll learn the criteria for the contest and the clock will start ticking.
Fifty hours later – April 3 at 9 p.m. – you’ll have to turn in your finished film.
For complete details and registration info, go to www.50hourslam.com.
‘Live’ in-theater events
Maybe you’ve heard about those live in-theater broadcasts that allow opera fanatics to catch the Metropolitan Opera.
Now, theaters are branching out into events for the non-opera crowd. Here’s what’s coming to the Northtown 12 in Spokane and Riverstone Stadium 14 in Coeur d’Alene:
• “Memphis,” the Tony-winning Broadway musical, on April 28 and May 3 at 7:30 p.m. and May 1 at 12:30 p.m.
• “The Grateful Dead Movie Event,” a chronicle of several 1974 concerts, with some never-before-seen footage. This is not really a live event, of course, but it will be the movie’s first theatrical release in 34 years. It will run April 20, 7:30 p.m.
For ticket info, go to www.FathomEvents.com.