Fox Theater Spokane
Hot This Week!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Jason Mraz is yours, Spokane.

Twenty-first century crooner Jason Mraz is rolling into Spokane for his much-anticipated concert at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, in Riverfront Park's Lilac Bowl Amphitheatre. Mraz, whose No. 1 hit "I'm Yours" is still getting plenty of radio play, is coming to Spokane as part of his Gratitude Cafe Tour. Scheduled openers are G. Love and Special Sauce, the funky band that recently opened for Dave Matthews at the Gorge, and Bushwalla. Tickets are $40 each and are available through Ticket Master at www.ticketswest.com.

Take your booty to "The Pirates of Penzance."

Less than a week after International Talk Like A Pirate Day, the Spokane Civic Theatre is opening its 2009-2010 season with a full production of "The Pirates of Penzance." The memorable musical premiers with a gala performance at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25. The show will run through Oct. 25, with performances starting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday matinees. Tickets for the gala performance, which includes a pre-show party catered by Europa, are $30 each, or $15 with a member coupon. For other shows, tickets are $27, $25 for seniors and $18 for students. Tickets are available at the Spokane Civic Theatre box office or through Tickets West at www.ticketswest.com or 800-325-SEAT. For more information, go to www.spokanecivictheatre.com.

Best make it to Valleyfest.

The 20th annual Valleyfest is Friday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Sept. 27, with a myriad of activities worthy of a trek out to Spokane Valley. The event kicks off with the Hearts of Gold Parade that starts at Spokane Valley City Hall at 7 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, three stages at Mirabeau Point Park will feature live performances all day long. Acts scheduled to appear include local favorites RAWK and BOBfest winner Green Light Go, Yellow Dog, Big Red Barn, Sammy Eubanks, 6 Foot Swing, and others. In addition, there are hot-air balloon launches, fishing at the falls, a classic-car show, an astronomy display, and much more. Taste of the Valley, a food-and-wine event at CenterPlace Regional Event Center, starts at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and features the sweet sounds of 6 Foot Swing. Tickets for the Taste event are $30 each. For more information on this big festival, go to www.valleyfest.org.

Symphony passes with Electrifying Colors.

The Spokane Symphony starts its 2009-2010 season with "Spokane Symphony Classics: Electrifying Colors" at the Martin Woldson Theatre at the Fox. The premier performance will feature conductor Eckart Preu and pianist Paschal Roge leading the symphony in Ravel's "Bolero." The first show is at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. A matinee performance follows at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. Tickets are $44, $40, $32 and $22 and are available at the Martin Woldson Theatre box office or through Tickets West at www.ticketswest.com.

Bryan Adams brings his six-string - and little else - to the Fox.

Longtime rocker Bryan Adams is going acoustic for his show at the Martin Woldson Theatre at the Fox at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29. The solo concert will feature Adams alone on stage playing his biggest hits, including hits like "Run To You," "Summer of '69" and "Heaven." Tickets are $87, $62 and $42 and are available at the Martin Woldson Theatre box office or through Tickets West at www.ticketswest.com.

Psychic friends foresee a great show.

Legendary soul artist - and past spokeswoman for the Psychic Friends Network - Dionne Warwick will play many of her 56 Billboard hits when she takes the stage at the Northwest Quest Resort & Casino at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. Warwick is second only to Aretha Franklin in terms of most Billboard hits by a female vocalists. Tickets are $50 and $60 and are available through the Northern Quest event line at 509-481-6700 or through Tickets West at www.ticketswest.com or 800-325-SEAT.

Tap into this Monday night option.

Tap Dogs, a six-man tap team with Australian beginnings, will toe-toe-heel-heel their way onto the INB Performing Arts Center stage at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28. Choreographer Dein Perry leads a show that is called "an 80-minute reinvention of tap for the new millennium." Tickets are $44, $35 and $29 and are available at the Opera House ticket office and through Tickets West at www.ticketswest.com or 800-325-SEAT.

Get your Freelon on.

The Spokane Jazz Orchestra opens its season with smoky-voiced six-time Grammy Award-nominee Nnenna Freelon with an 8 p.m. show Saturday, Sept. 26. Freelon has performed everywhere from the White House to the GRAMMY Awards and returns to Spokane for this season opener. Longtime jazz trumpeter Craig Volosing says Nnenna's the best he's ever heard...and he's heard a lot of singers. Tickets are $29.50, or $26 for seniors, military or youth, and are available at the door or through Tickets West at www.ticketswest.com or 800-325-SEAT.

Idolize these two tonight.

Former "American Idol" finalists Brooke White and Michael Johns will play the Knitting Factory's Main Space at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Sept. 23. Tickets are $22 and are available at the door and at through Tickets West at www.ticketswest.com and 800-325-SEAT. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to the Lili Claire Foundation, which helps children with neurogenetic conditions.

Here's a clear channel to your favorite acts.

Before he plays to the packed Knitting Factory crowd tonight, American Idol finalist Michael Johns will hit Clear Channel Radio's Concert Lounge, in its studios at 808 E. Sprague. National and local artists alike stop by the stations for on-air interviews and now small performances in their new venue for a select crowd of listeners, clients and friends. Howie Day played there earlier this week before opening for Colbie Caillat's sold-out show, and more great acts are to come. Clear Channel Radio stations include 98.9 KKZX, 98.1 KISC, 96.1 KIXZ, 103.1 KCDA, 590 AM KQNT and 1290 AM KPTQ.

Big names featured along the Little Spokane.

The second annual Little Spokane River Artist Studio Tour features five studios with the works of 21 artists from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Wind your way around the Little Spokane River to these personal studios that feature the works of Harold Balazs, Timothy Ely and Kaaren Stoner, among others. The tour is free, and the family is welcome. For more information, go to www.littlespokanestudios.com.

Smooth move, Jazz Society.

The Smooth Jazz Society of the Inland Northwest has invited the Kathleen Cavender Group to play at its new venue, Windows in Red Lion at the Park, at 303 W. North River Drive. The group will strike it up at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, and play into the a.m. hours. Cover charge is $10.

The High Five from thesomshow.com by Isamu Jordan

Mark Ward - Following the drama of a temporary ban by the City of Spokane, Rocket Market hosts the grand finale of its popular summer outdoor concert series with local leader in Spokane's budding Americana scene, Mark Ward, who incidentally was the artist onstage when the police pulled the plug on live music at Rocket. The Som Show presents Ward's makeup show at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd. No cover charge.

Seafloor Spreading - Featuring the double drumming dynamics of Joe Preston and James Pants Royal Zodiacan Justin Walter, plus members of Belt of Vapor, Seafloor Spreading lays experimental big - beat grooves for a Platform Presents Som Show Patio Party with support from Anadonia and The Bronzed Chorus at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, at Caterina Winery, 905 N. Washington St. Cost: $5, all ages welcome.

Grand Archives - A few weeks ago Band of Horses blew minds at a sold-out show at The Knitting Factory Concert House. The former founding half of that equation, guitarist/singer Mat Brooke comes to town with the project that he spearheaded on his own, Grand Archives, which appears in a very special engagement with Pullman's Yarn Owl, Spokane's Dane Ueland and The Most Serene Republic, at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, at The Big Dipper, 171 S. Washington. Cost: $10 in advance, $12 at the door, available through www.ticketswest.com, 4000 Holes, and The Long Ear in Coeur d'Alene.

Better Than Ezra - Touring in support of its May release, "Paper Empire," alt-rock mainstay Better Than Ezra makes it way to town this week, though now with a new drummer as Michael Jerome replaced longtime skins player Travis McNabb, formerly of the Vigilantes of Love. Catch Better Than Ezra with Brandon Stanley and Josiah Leming at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at The Knitting Factory Concert House, 919 W. Sprague Ave. Cost: $18 in advance, $20 day of show, through www.ticketswest.com.

JiggyWatts - Longtime fixtures in the local music scene, JiggyWatts emcees Locke and James Two are playing a farewell show of sorts this weekend as the crew gets ready to join the roster in Chicago's Prep School beat collective. Give the boys a high five when JiggyWatts headlines a show with Please Draw In Me, Summer in Siberia and Pegasus Dream at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, at The Blvd., 230 W. Riverside. Cost: $7, 18 and older welcome.

For music events, mp3s, artist profiles, multimedia and more, visit thesomshow.com.

OPA! It's Spokane's big, fat Greek festival.

The 74th annual Greek Dinner Festival is Thursday, Sept. 24, through Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, at 1703 N. Washington. Enjoy the finest in Greek cuisine, Greek dancing and Greek culture at this fun-filled annual event. Lunch is served starting at 11 a.m. Thursday and Friday, and the dinner goes from 4:30-8 p.m. each day. Pastries are available starting at 11 a.m. each day. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door; kids 12 and under are $6 each. For more information, go to www.holytrinityspokane.org/events.

Starbucks gives new meaning to instant gratification.

Next week, Starbucks debuts a line of instant coffee that the company contends tastes just like the real thing. After years of development and intensive taste testing in Seattle and Chicago, the coffee giant will roll out Starbucks VIA Ready Brew nationwide. Available in Italian Roast and Colombian, the instant coffee will be offered in blind taste tests next week at local stores. Stop in and see if you can tell the difference.

What's UP with a dollar movie.

The BYU Management Society is showing the Disney hit "UP" at the Garland Theatre, at 924 W. Garland on Spokane's North Side, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Cost is $1 per person or $5 for a family. You don't have to be LDS or a member of the management society to attend.

The music keeps playing at Arbor Crest Winery.

It's the last outdoor summer concert of the season at Arbor Crest winery, this Sunday, September 27, starting at 4:30pm. Enjoy the music of Hot Club of Spokane while sipping Arbor Crest wines. Admission is $5. On Sundays through the month of October, concerts will be indoors. Visit the Arbor Crest website for more information www.arborcrest.com, or call 509-927-9463.

Puddle of Mudd is coming to the Knitting Factory November 3!

Tickets go on sale starting this Friday, September 25 through Tickets West www.ticketswest.com.

SPORTS CORNER
Chiefs will try to send Tri-City home with a loss.

The Spokane Chiefs open their 25th anniversary season against storied rival Tri-City Americans when the puck drops at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Tickets to see the 2008 Memorial Cup champion Chiefs range in price from $9 to $17, and season-ticket packages are still available. For more information, call 509-535-PUCK.

NAME THAT FLICK.

"This young man has had a very trying rookie season, with the litigation, the notoriety, his subsequent deportation to Canada and that country's refusal to accept him."

Name the movie that line appeared in to receive a $5 Starbucks coffee gift card (for instant coffee or not), courtesy of the Spokane Home Builders Association and the 2009 Fall Festival of Homes (www.spokanefestivalofhomes.com)! Send your best guess and your phone number to info@entertainmentspokane.com. The winner will be selected at random from correct entries and will be announced in next week's e-newsletter. The deadline for entries is noon on Friday, Sept. 25.

Last Week's Winner: Wendy Corkrum is in Eternal Sunshine!

Last week's movie quote was "That is the oldest trick in the stalker book." Wendy correctly guessed that it was from the quirky 2004 flick "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."

Send your entertainment news to info@entertainmentspokane.com

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