News Roundup, July 25, 2024

Mid-summer is a pretty quiet time in the performing arts. But there’s still some live music in town. And there’s a film festival. Let’s start with the music!

Record-setting, 10-times CMA Musician of the Year, Mac McAnally, is a renowned songwriter, singer and instrumentalist who has written dozens of hits for other artists, several of which peaked at #1. His own recording career began with the hit song “It’s a Crazy World” which led to the eventual release of 14 albums. He has written hit songs for Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Alabama and others. (July 25 at 8 p.m.; doors at 7 p.m.; Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway, 78215; www.stablehall.com; tickets are $50+ at
www.tixr.com)

Popular Mexican singer, Peso Pluma, who performs in several music styles, from regional Mexican, corridos and Latin Urban, to electronic dance music, will entertain his many fans at the Frost Bank Center when his Exodo Tour stops there this Saturday. (July 27 at 8:30 p.m.; 1 Frost Bank Center Way; tickets are $60-$249+ at www.ticketmaster.com/events; for info call 210-444-5140.)

Donny Osmond “direct from Vegas” will be in San Antonio for a single show at the Tobin Center. In his long career, Osmond has earned 33 gold records, and sold over 100 million albums while becoming a worldwide music legends. He celebrated six decades in show business with the release of his latest album, “Start Again.” The Tobin audience will experience a 90 minute spectacle as he performs his many hits, shares stories and introduces brand new music. (Aug. 1, at 8 p.m., Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets are $59-$354, at tickets@tobincenter.org or 210-223-8624)

The Summer Slaughter Tour U.S. 2024 will stop at the Aztec Theater here. The annual heavy-metal music tour started in 2007 and has been held ever since. It originated in N. America but also visited Mexico in 2010, and Canada in 2008 and 2009. This year’s tour kicked off July 12 in Brooklyn. N.Y. and plans to conclude Aug. 10 in Reading, PA. Headliners are Veil of Maya and Brand of Sacrifice. (Local stop: July 28 at 3:30 p.m.; Aztec Theater; 104 S. St. Mary’s St., 78205; 210-812-4355; tickets are $27-$65 at
www.stubhub.com/aztec-theatre-tickets)

The San Antonio Reggae Festival is scheduled for July 27 at Rosedale Park, with more than ten live bands performing, including Droop Lion, Crucial Prophet, The Contrabandits, Ras YAMA, and others. (July 27, starting at 2 p.m.; Rosedale Park Pavilion, 140 Dartmouth, 78237; tickets $30 at the gate or in advance.; free parking)

Western Swing Jamboree promises music, comedy, family fun and Cowboy Poetry. It will feature award-winning accordionist, yodeler and singer Lori Beth Brooke, who will be accompanied by the Derrieres brothers, Roger and Leo Eilts, a cowboy band. (July 27 at 7:30 p.m.; Brauntex Theatre; tickets are $35 – $55 at tickets@www..Brauntex.org)

The Agarita Chamber Players are inviting chamber music lovers to join them Thursday, August 1 for a concert presenting George Crumb’s 20^th century masterpiece for three masked players. The work is called Vox Balaenae (“Voice of the Whale”) and was inspired by a tape recording of the sounds emitted by the humpback whale. The three “masked” performers -flute, cello and piano – are Catherine Gregory, Brook Speltz and Daniel Anastasio, respectively. The composer also suggested that whenever possible, the piece should be performed under blue lights. (Aug.1 at 6:30 p.m.; The Agarita Loft, 724 S. Alamo St. second floor, 78205). The current gallery exhibit, in the space, “Unobstructed Horizons” will close Aug. 2.

Summer Night City presents live music at the Texas Public Radio HQ downtown every Thursday in June and July, which means that this week’s event will be the last this summer. Happy Hour is from 5 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. and music is provided by DJ Rambo Salinas. The music continues live with Mr. Pidge (7:30 to 8:30 p.m.), and The Whale (8:30 – 9:30 p.m.) Food trucks will be nearby. 321 W. Commerce)

The children’s music duo, Bely y Beto is back after it had to be postponed in June.
(July 27, 3-5 p.m.; Boeing Center at Tech Port; 3331 General Hudnell Dr., Original tickets are still valid. New tickets are $19.50 -$129.)

Fiesta Noche del Rio will continue through Aug. 3. Presented by the Alamo Kiwanis Club, the song-and-dance-event is professionally presented as a showcase for Flamenco and Mariachi singers and dancers and musicians. Many audience members join the fun! (Friday-Saturday at 8:30 p.m., through Aug. 3;
$8-$20; Arneson River Theater, 418 La Villita, 78205; 210-269-8581; http://fiestanochesa.com/)

Luminaria, the organization tasked with producing a large light and visual arts festival in the fall, also organizes smaller events the rest of the year. We received an invitation for the kickoff of The Fresh Ink Youth Poetry Slam, presented by Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson and Anthony Gordon. (July 27, 3-6 p.m.; 126 Gonzales St., 78206) It is hoped that a number of talented young poets, 12-18, will emerge and eventually represent the city at regional & national competitions.

An art exhibition at the same address will feature artists who created commissioned work for Luminaria, including Cruz Ortiz, Isabel Ann Castro, Christian Moller and others. (Aug. 1-30). August is Xicanx Month, that commemorates the Chicano Arts Movement that has roots right here in San Antonio.

Book lovers are needed to help in the Book Cellar Bookstore at the Central Library. All are volunteers and no special skills are needed. To volunteer call 210-227-9519; hours are very flexible, and volunteers receive ½ merchandise discount throughout the year. BookCellar1@gmail.com..

And now for something different: A Nature Walk led by poet, teacher and naturalist Mobi Warren, to inspire poets to express nature in words. Poets need to bring paper and pens and water to drink. It’s a free event supported by the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy at the Park’s Ecology Center (July 27, 8-10 a.m.; 8400 NW Military Hwy; free; 210-492-7472)bition at the same address will feature artists who created commissioned work for Luminaria, including Cruz Ortiz, Isabel Ann Castro, Christian Moller and others. (Aug. 1-30). August is Xicanx Month, that commemorates the Chicano Arts Movement that has roots right here in San Antonio.

And speaking of books and literary matters, here’s something that may interest budding novelists.
Gemini Ink will offer “Get Ready to Write Your Novel this November with Laura Castoro.”
For more info, contact Gemini Ink at 210-734-9673; info@geminiink.org) According to what we could figure, the organization is offering a six-week novel writing prep course to get you ready for November.
The course will help you generate new ideas and lay the groundwork “for tackling that novel at your own pace.”

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