It's shaping up to be a busy weekend and rest of the month for local entertainment. St. Susan Center's Soup and a Song series continues Friday night, and the February edition of the Woodsongs Coffeehouse Radio Hour is just around the corner. Nationally known performers Mandisa and Brian McKnight will perform in downtown Jamestown next week, and many area acts have booked multiple gigs throughout the end of the month.
It's been a busy week for me on the Features/Entertainment desk as well. I've been trying to work ahead on the "Backstage Pass" series, which highlights local musicians.
I've been receiving plenty of suggestions for artists to highlight recently, and I'm hoping for more. I'm in the process of doing more interviews, and I hope to make the feature a weekly staple on the Entertainment Page. I've received a lot of wonderful feedback on the series, and I see no reason not to keep it going.
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Highlights And Happenings With Scott Shelters
Admittedly, last week's feature on Brian Hanna would've been a little better if I hadn't inadvertently added a decade to his age. Thankfully for me, Brian is a cool guy and didn't hold it against me.
As always, I'm open for suggestions on whom to write about. I'd like to get as many newcomers to the local music scene and longtime performers as possible to do an interview with me. "Backstage Pass" is quickly becoming my favorite part of the Entertainment Page.
Here's a more in-depth look at what's going on this weekend:
SOUP AND A SONG SLATED FOR FRIDAY NIGHT
Jamestown's St. Susan Center will continue the monthly "Soup and a Song" series of programs combining concerts by popular local musical groups with an "open-mic'' on Friday. For $10, attendees will witness live musical entertainment and eat a meal consisting of hearty soup, several varieties of breads, crackers, desserts, coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
Proceeds from the Soup and a Song series will benefit St. Susan Center, Jamestown's soup kitchen, which served more than 95,000 meals in 2011.
Logistical support for the Soup and a Song program is being provided by Trinity Guitars, the Jamestown-based purveyor of fine stringed instruments and audio gear. Trinity Guitars owner, Jim Holler, will be coordinating the talent for the events, as well as providing the sound system.
The Soup and a Song events will be held at St. Susan Center's facility at the Gateway Center, located at 31 Water St. The public will be admitted beginning at 6, with the open-mic segment of the programs beginning at 6:30. Featured entertainers will begin playing at 7:40, and the events will conclude at 9.
Friday's featured act will be local bluegrass band Wind River. Pat Corey, Vern Ahlgren, Steve Strom, Ken Corey and Don Strom make up the band.
'KALEIDOSCOPE' TO BE HELD FRIDAY
After its first presentation earlier this month in Fredonia, the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County is offering "Kaleidoscope'' in Jamestown on Friday.
The 7 p.m. presentation at the Reg Lenna Civic Center will be emceed by Jamestown's own comedy improv troupe, The Unexpected Guests, and will feature folk music, ballet, theater, chamber singers and players, and more.
All eight UAA member organizations - the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet, Community Music Project, 1891 Fredonia Opera House, Infinity Visual & Performing Arts, Jamestown Concert Association, Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown, Reg Lenna Civic Center, and the Western New York Chamber Orchestra - will contribute to ''Kaleidoscope.''
Free tickets to presentations by the member organizations will be given away throughout the evening.
Admission is $5. Tickets can be reserved by calling 484-7070 and will also be available at the door. For more information, visit unitedartsappeal.org.
FEBRUARY WOODSONGS LINEUP ANNOUNCED
The February edition of the Woodsongs Coffeehouse Radio Hour will feature classical guitarist David Allen Coester and singer-songwriter Steve Piper. The show, which will air locally on WRFA-LP 107.9 FM at a later date, will be recorded live at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Labyrinth Press Company. Attendees are asked to be seated by 6:45.
According to Woodsongs host Ken Hardley, the February show, Woodsongs' 13th episode overall, will explore grassroots music.
"On Woodsongs, we often talk about 'grassroots' ... how it is an expression of genuine human nature and how it is the music of the people," Hardley said. "These two artists approach that term from quite different directions."
A Virginia native, Coester is a classically trained guitarist. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in classical guitar performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where he lived for 18 years. He has performed at the Seoul Arts Center in South Korea, the Basilica of San Clemente in Rome and at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C. He played monthly at the Intermezzo Coffeehouse in Fredonia and has performed at the Lily Dale Assembly, the Fredonia and Westfield farmers markets, and the Mayville Guitar Show, where he offered a number of popular workshops.
Hardley described Coester as a passionate advocate for normalizing classical music through everyday interaction in the community.
"It is unusual for classical guitarists to play outside the concert hall," Coester said. "I really enjoy bringing classical and finger style guitar to non-traditional venues in the community and to audiences who are unfamiliar with my style of playing. Many people come up to me and say they've never heard the guitar played this way."
Piper lists Hank Williams, Guy Clarke, Townes Van Zandt, Captain Beefheart, John Coltrane and Mozart as his influences. He released his first solo CD, "Kid," in 2005 and followed up with "Home" in 2007. A guitarist and ukulele player, Piper has appeared on several CDs by other artists, including his current band, Rochester's Watkins and the Rapiers. He is the host of "Flipside Open Mic Night" in Rochester.
There will not be a cover charge and the show will be open to all ages. It will air at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 1; 1 p.m. Friday, March 2; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 4, on WRFA-LP 107.9 FM in Jamestown, as well as on wrfalp.com.
MORE ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS
As always, venues are listed chronologically by first event.
CELORON LEGION - Tonight, all area bluegrass musicians are welcome to sit in and play at the weekly Blue Grass Jam from 7-10 p.m. Friday, Smokin' 45 will play from 8 to midnight, and there will be a best country artist look-alike contest. Saturday, Willow Creek will play country music from 8 to midnight. Herman Kent American Legion Post 777 is located at 26 Jackson Ave. in Celoron.
HILLCREST CHURCH - From 6-10 p.m. Friday, To The Sky, Hi-Fidelity and Lion Avalanche will perform. Admission will be free, and all are welcome to attend. Hillcrest Baptist Church is located at 40 Hallock St., Jamestown.
THE LAKEVIEW - Derek Davis will play Friday night from 6-9, and the Porcelain Busdrivers will follow. The Lakeview is at 13 Water St. in Mayville. For more, call 753-2813.
THE DOCKS -There will be live piano music from 6-9 Friday night. The Docks is located at 7 Water St. in Mayville. For more, call 753-2525.
SENECA ALLEGANY CASINO - The Filter Kings will play rock from 6-10 Friday, and Giant Steps will do the same from 10:30-2:30. Ghost Riders will play honky tonk from 1:30-5:30 Saturday, Tommy Z Band will play a variety of music from 6-10 and Giant Steps will play rock from 10:30-2:30. For more information about the Casino Bar, visit www.senecaalleganycasino.com.
BELLINI LOUNGE - Derek Davis and the Tasty Groove will play Friday night from 9-1. The Bellini Lounge is located at the Chautauqua Suites, 215 W. Lake Road (Route 394) in Mayville. For more, call 269-7829.
WADDINGTON'S TAVERN - Ken Hardley and The Henways will play Friday night at 9. Waddington's Tavern is located at 344 W. Main St. (Route 394) in Falconer. For more, call 665-6341.
PEEK'N PEAK - Acoustic Gypsys will perform Friday at 9. Peek'n Peak is located at 1405 Olde Road in Findley Lake. For more, call 355-4141.
THE Q - On Friday night, Pressure Sensitive will play five decades of rock on the sports bar side of The Q, while DJ Jimmy Whispas will play hip-hop, dance, Top 40, pop and R&B music on the night club side. The music will run from 9:30-2. The Q is located at 104 W. Second St. in Jamestown. For more, call 483-6256.
MOJO'S - AudioInflux and Green Genes will perform Friday night. The show will run from 10-2. Mojo's is located at 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown. For more, call 720-4621.
STEENER'S PUB - Brian Hanna will play Saturday night from 9-11. Steener's Pub is at 322 Route 430 in Greenhurst. For more, call 720-5087.
ROUGH KUTTS - The Allergic Reaction Band will play from 10-2 Saturday night. Rough Kutts is in downtown South Dayton at 5 Park Ave.
SHAWBUCKS - Two for Flinching will play Saturday night. Shawbucks is at 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown. For more, call 487-2201.
FOUNTAIN BOWL - The Untouchables will play Saturday night. Fountain Bowl is at 3316 Fluvanna Ave. Ext. in Jamestown. For more, call 664-7404.
The Weekend Entertainment Events Preview highlights concerts, festivals and other happenings in the region in each Thursday's paper. Suggestions for submission can be sent to Scott Shelters by emailing sshelters@post-journal.com or by calling 487-1111, ext. 253.