Phil Lesh played bass for the Grateful Dead, and Bob Dylan - well, he's Bob Dylan, and ok, they're both getting up there, but this is sure to be a great show nevertheless.
Phil joined by a few of his friends will play Grateful Dead Tunes, in every genre from folk to rock 'n' roll to blues, and jazz.
Dylan will play selections from his impressive catalogue that touches on practically every aspect of the human condition.
This show is bound to be a massive sing-a-long, as almost everyone knows a Bob Dylan tune or seven. Tickets are $37.50 through Ticketmaster or the Reno Hilton ticket office, (775) 789-2285. Doors open at 5 p.m., showtime is 7:30. p.m.
- David Grisman in Truckee on the Fourth
Fourth of July weekend offers excellent entertainment in the way of mandolin virtuoso David Grisman and the David Grisman Quintet.
This is the fourth year that Grisman has entertained on the Fourth of July weekend at the Truckee Amphitheater.
As of this year, this annual event will be a two-day festival. On the first day, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe and West Coast Rhythm Section will perform, and the second day has David Grisman Quintet, also Jorma Kaukonen with Michael Falzarano.
This promises to be one of the Tahoe area's premier outdoor concerts this summer. It is set next to the Truckee River in the beautiful, natural grassy amphitheater of Truckee Regional Park on Highway 267, just 1/2 mile south of downtown Truckee.
Advance tickets are available in Carson City at Java Joes, Reno at Soundway CDs and Recycled Records and all Bass outlets. Call 1-800-225-BASS. Advance tickets can also be ordered online at www.ticketweb.com, or by phone with a credit card, by calling 530-583-2801.
-Cabaret in Reno at Bruka Theatre
Bruka Theatre announced its 50th production of "Cabaret." This international musical tells the story of people caught in the rise of Hitler's Nazi Germany.
Based on the stories of Christopher Isherwood, the play's depiction of life in the surreal world of the Berlin cabaret scene which never seemed as relevant as does today. Bruka's version includes scenes added in a 1987 revision.
"Cabaret" continues through June 29 and 30, July 1, 6, 7 and 8.
All shows are at 8 p.m. Advance tickets are $16, general admission $14 for students and seniors. All seats are $20 at the door.
Bruka Theatre is at 99 N. Virginia St. Reno on the corner of First and Virginia streets, Reno.
- Louie Fontaine returns to CVI
As the former lead singer for Paul Revere and the Raiders, Louie Fontaine has managed to do what so many other 1960s pop artists have trouble achieving, which is to pack in crowds night after night at casino cabaret shows.
Fontaine returns to Minden and will play the Carson Valley Inn Cabaret Lounge Tuesday through July 2. He's a favorite in the Carson Valley, known to blend his own brand of comedy, costumes, and choreography that allows him to belt out some of the greatest songs of the 1950s and 1960s rock and roll era.
- Teaser takes the stage at the Nugget
Returning once again to the Carson Nugget Show Lounge, Teaser will take the stage Tuesday through July 2 with their own classic blend of rock, rhythm and blues, oldies and even some jazz.
This group of well-seasoned entertainers have performed all over the United States and Canada. They reside in northern Nevada and have become somewhat of a favorite among the locals. If you haven't already, do check them out.
- Folk singers lineup the Brewery
The Brewery Arts Center welcomes two critically acclaimed singer-songwriters, Richard Shindell and Mary Gauthier to Carson City for a one-night performance on July 13.
Joan Baez describes Shindell as "one of the best songwriters of this or any other year" and insisted he join her European tour in 1997.
Shindell is one of the nation's top songwriters with respectable reputation among fellow musicians. Baez recorded three Shindell songs on her last CD. He has been touring this year with Dar Williams and Lucy Kaplansky in the folk supergroup Cry Cry Cry. The much awaited release, Somewhere Near Paterson, is already racing up the charts.
A master guitarist and a powerful, evocative singer, Shindell is not one to dabble in little love songs. Shindell is folk music's dean of drama and master of impassioned story telling. His new album is a series of musical vignettes about lives at personal crossroads ; a Wall Street insider whispering secrets to his pharmacist; a family of Bosnian refugees pondering God's will; an Argentinean mother of a "disappeared" searching crowded streets for a glimpse of her granddaughter.
The New York Times says, "Mr. Shindell is a lapidary craftsman who finds new ways to portray familiar situations, from breakups to the loneliness of the long-distance trucker. Mr. Shindell performs his own songs with grace and suspense. At times his voice recalls James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot or Michael Stipe; he stretches words as if he's thinking hard about what they represent. The tone is reflective, but the dilemmas and disappointments couldn't be more vivid."
Gauthier has been making quite a buss since she started taking her music public in 1998 with the realse of her albumn Dixie Kitchen. The Boston Music Awards nominated her as Outstanding New Contemporary Folk Act in 1998 and her latest release, Drag Queens in Limousines, was nominated for Acoustic Record of the Year for 1999. Critics compare her to Lucinda Williams, John Prine and Steve Earle.
Showtimes starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $12 general public, $10 students, seniors and BAC members and can be purchased at the Brewery Arts Center or can be reserved on a credit card by calling 883-1976.
- Mile High Jazz Band at the Brewery
The Brewery Arts Center welcomes back the swinging sounds of the Mile High Jazz Band on Saturday July 15 at 8 p.m.
The Mile High Jazz Band, a 16-piece "big band," was founded three years ago. The band specializes in music in the Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Woody Herman tradition. It features arrangements by Sammy Nestico, Lennie Niehaus and Mark Taylor plus an occasional original tune by members of the band. They also play music meant for dancing.
The group was featured on the Carson City Symphony's 1997 "Holiday Treat" concert, the 1998 and 1999 "Winter Wine and All That Jazz" benefits for Carson Advocates for Cancer Victims and in other performances in Carson City and Incline Village.
Tickets are $12 general public, $10 students, seniors and BAC and FTLOJ members. Tickets can be purchased at the Brewery Arts Center, 449 W. King St. or can be reserved on a credit card by calling 883-1976.
- THE FANTASTICS to grace the Brewery stage
The Sierra Tahoe Theatre Company and the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City presents "THE FANTASTICS."
With over 10,000 off-Broadway performances, "THE FANTASTICS" is the longest running musical in the world. The show celebrated its 40th anniversary of continuous running Off-Broadway on May 3.
This time-proven audience pleaser will be presented on Thursday, Friday and Saturday July 27, 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday July 30 at 2 p.m. at the Brewery Arts Center.
Directed by Robert Grant, "THE FANTASTICS" tells a simple love story of a young boy and girl who fall in love when their fathers "build a wall and pretend to feud." But once the parents put an end to the "feud" and allow the children to be together, Luisa and Matt decide to go their own ways to "seek out their fortunes." In the end, after learning many tough yet valuable lessons around the world, they come together to start a newer, more mature love.
With a bountiful series of catchy, memorable songs such as "Try To Remember, "THE FANTASTICS" has a purity and simplicity that transcends cultural barriers. The result is a timeless musical Fable of love that manages to be nostalgic and universal at the same time.
The Sierra Tahoe Theatre Company was founded in 1999 by members of the Carson City and South Lake Tahoe theater communities. In the summer of 1999, the company produced "She Loves Me" and "The Pirates of Penzance" in cooperation with Valhalla Players. The company is also planning to perform the ambitious audience-interactive musical, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" in the summer of 2001.
The talented cast consists of Cole Forstedt as Matt, Stine Odegard as Luisa, Scott Anderson as El Gallo, John Hall as Huck, Susan Haas as Bellomy, Pat Hardy as the Old Actor, Camillo O'Kuinghttons as Mortimer and Desiree Hubel as Mute.
Tickets are $12.50 general admission, $11 students, seniors and BAC members. Call the Brewery Arts Center at 883-1976 to reserve your seats now.
-Check out the Monte Vigna Lounge
Jazz singer and pianist Erika Paul performs Wednesdays through Sundays from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Monte Vigna Lounge on the second floor of the Atlantis Casiono Resort Hotel. Enjoy wine, spirit and ambiance from all over the world, not to mention some great music. Call 825-4700.
-Music festival announces summer line-up
From Bach to Blues and Beyond is the theme for this year's Lake Tahoe Summer Music Festival 2000.
The music festival has scheduled a variety of music for the performances under the stars, including classical orchestra music, jazz, big band, swing and pop tunes.
Jazz greats Chuck Mangione, Pete Escovedo and Marlena Shaw are on the bill, as well as world class violinist Phillip Ruder.
The Lake Tahoe Musical Festival is also the summer home of The Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, led by musical director and conductor Barry Jekowski.
This summer's events will be held between July 12 and Sept. 2 on Wednesdays and Saturdays with most performances beginning at 7 p.m. Spectacular venues around Lake Tahoe and Truckee include Topol Pavilion in Homewood, Sand Harbor, Sierra Nevada College, Squaw Valley, Sugar Pine Point State Park, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Valhalla and Granlibakken Resort.
The music festival schedule is:
- Wednesday, July 12: gala; My Fair Lady, Topol Pavilion.*
- Sunday, July 16: Donor event with piano recital.
- Wednesday, July 19: An Evening of Shakespeare at Topol Pavilion.*
- Saturday, July 22: Pops Concert on the Green, Tahoe Donner.*
- Wednesday, July 26: Jazz headliner Chuck Mangione, Topol Pavilion.
- Saturday, July 29: Argenta Quartet featuring Phillip Ruder, Sierra Nevada College.
- Wednesday, Aug. 2: Family Night, Topol Pavilion.*
- Saturday, Aug. 5: Cabaret with Marjorie Tede, Granlibakken Resort.
- Wednesday, Aug. 9: Pete Escovedo and Marlena Shaw: An Evening of Legendary Jazz, Topol Pavilion.
- Saturday, Aug. 12: Beatrice et Benedict based on Much Ado About Nothing, Granlibakken Resort.
- Wednesday, Aug. 16: Sierra Swing Band, PlumpJack Squaw,Valley Inn.
- Saturday, Aug. 19: Classic Brass Quintet, Valhalla.
- Wednesday, Aug. 23: Swing Fever, Northstar at Tahoe.
- Saturday, Aug. 26: Chamber Music, Sierra Nevada College.
- Wednesday, Aug. 30: Bluegrass with the Slide Mountain Boys, Sugar Pine Point State Park.
- Saturday, Sept. 2: Reno Philharmonic's American Salute, Sand
* Performances by the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra
The Lake Tahoe Music Festival began as a small two-week summer series of concerts on Lake Tahoe's North Shore, providing classical music in beautiful surroundings.
The festival has grown into a Tahoe tradition with two months of summer concerts featuring quality music rarely found outside major cities. The festival also hosts a number of special events during the winter months.
For more information and tickets call the Lake Tahoe Music Festival office at 583-3101, visit the Web at www.tahoemusic.org or e-mail info@tahoemusic.org.
(Jeff Munson, content editor for tahoe.com, writes Local Show Biz with Jeff for Diversions magazine. You can reach him at 775-881-1216 or by e-mail: editor@tahoe.com)
