Songwriters At Play Showcase presents a Townes Van Zandt Tribute on March 19 from 6:30-9:30 pm at Shell Café, 1351 Price St. Pismo Beach. This is an all ages show. A tip jar will be passed for performers. The late great Texas troubadour Townes Van Zandt would have been 71 this month. He never had a big-selling album or single on his own, yet his songs were covered by Bob Dylan, Norah Jones, Cowboy Junkies, and The Avett Brothers. He wrote “Pancho & Lefty,” first recorded by Emmylou Harris, and later a top hit for Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. Performers include Amber Cross, Dennis Russell, Randall Lamb, Gary Foshee, Jeanne Newhall, Cliff Stepp, Mark Getten, P.J. Robertson, Holly Ann Phillips (pictured right) and BanjerDan.
Vocalist, Inga Swearingen, will perform with a band of noted local musicians to benefit the Central Coast Children’s Choir, at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 22 at the Performing Arts Center at Cal Poly. Tickets are $18, $24, and $30 and are available at the PAC Box Office noon-6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Order by Phone at 756-4849 or online at: www.pacslo.org. Swearingen will be backed by Linda Vanasupa on piano; Ken Hustad, bass; Darrell Voss, percussion; Britta Swearingen, vocals; and dancer Lisa Deyo on a number of pop hits like Stevie Wonder’s, “Isn’t She Lovely,” Steve Miller’s “Fly Like An Eagle,” “On a Clear Day” and “Pure Imagination.” The Children’s Choir will also sing back up on many of the tunes. The Choir is also getting ready for its big Spring Concert, set for May 16-17. More information is available on the website, www.CentralCoastChildrensChoir.org.
Calvary Lutheran Church, 480 Monterey Ave., Morro Bay (corner of Anchor Street) will host a Spring Concert at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 4 featuring acclaimed concert pianists, Edith Orloff and Robert Krupnick. Orloff will play several pieces by Beethoven and Krupnick will play Rameau, Ravel and Mozart. Free, donations at the door. Call 772-8457 for more information
Core Dance Company presents, “Rhythms 2015,” at 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, March 20 and 21t at Cal Poly’s Spanos Theater. Tickets range from $15 to $30 (including parking). Call 756-4TIX to reserve tickets. The show features dancers from Core Dance Company in SLO and guests from other dance and performing arts studios — Class Act, Artistry in Motion, Civic Ballet, Pacific Dance, and the Grads — on the Central Coast. Choreographers include: Stacey Millard, Kelly Allen, Ryan Lawrence, Suzy Miller, Caitlyn Sanders, and Zheila Pouraghabagher. Proceeds will benefit Core’s dance scholarship program. See: www.coredancecompany.org for more on Core Dance Company.
The Foundation for San Luis Obispo Public Libraries is staging a benefit production of Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Donald Margulies’ play, “Time Stands Still,” set for 7 p.m. Thursday, April 9 at the SLO Little Theatre. Tickets are $20 a person and on sale now at: www.slolibraryfoundation.org. Five dollars of each ticket sold will go to benefit Operation Surf Camp for special needs kids in Morro Bay. The event starts at 6 p.m. with a reception with the show starting at 7.
Ira Glass, the award-winning creator and host of the popular public radio show, “This American Life,” will speak at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 3 at the Performing Arts Center at Cal Poly. Tickets range from $32-$58 and available in advance at the PAC Box Office, noon to 6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Call 756-4849 or order online at: www.calpolyarts.org. Glass will talk about his program and how it’s put together; what makes for a compelling story; where they find the amazing stories for their show; and how he and his staff are trying to push broadcast journalism to do things it doesn’t usually do. Glass mixes stories from the show live onstage, combining his narration with pre-taped quotes and music, recreating the sound of the show for a live audience. Sponsored by (iii) Design, KCBX 90.1 FM.
Bluegrass-roots trio, Little Black Train, will play the next Red Barn Community Concert Series show in Los Osos, set for 6 p.m. Saturday, April 4. Cost is $15 at the door and there’s a potluck supper starting at 5 (doors open at 4:30) with the Potluck Band. Bring a dish to share, place settings and BYOB. Little Black Train is Kenny Blackwell (mandolin and guitar), John Weed (fiddle), and Stuart Mason (guitar, banjo, and mandola). The Band plays Depression-era gospel and blues, Appalachian and Celtic dance tunes, and digs up the roots of bluegrass from from Ireland and Scotland in the 19th Century to America, which embraced the sound as its own. The Red Barn is located at 2180 Palisades Ave., Los Osos. This show is possible through the support and assistance of the Red Barn community (a.k.a. the Children of the Barn) and with support from KCBX Public Radio and Live Oak Music Festival. See: www.littleblacktrain.com for more on the band.
The ska/reggae band The Easy In will play Frog and Peach in SLO on March 20 at 10 p.m.
The San Luis Chamber Orchestra will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 22 at the United Methodist Church, 275. N. Halcyon Rd., Arroyo Grande. Guest artist is violinist Sal Garza with a special appearance by Dr. Wachtang “Botso” Korisheli. On the program are Mendelssohn, Massanet, Schubert, and more. Plus there will be a special showing of “Botso” the documentary about his life, at the Palm Theater in SLO at 7 p.m. Cost is $20 for concert and movie or $10 donation at the door for the concert only. For information, call 528-7795 or see: www.sanluischamberorchestra.org.
Cal Poly Arts is bringing Internet and YouTube sensations, 2CELLOS, to the Performing Arts Center at Cal Poly at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 21. Tickets range from $28.80-$48 and are available in advance at the PAC Box Office, Mondays-Saturdays, noon-6 p.m. Call 756-4849 or order online at: www.calpolyarts.org. 2CELLOS, Croatians Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser, has toured with Elton John and collaborated with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, among other pop artists The duo have achieved international success taking the instrument to a new level with innovation and passion to break down boundaries and re-imagine music for the cello. Sponsored by Arthur & Joyce Duarte
Traditional Irish band, Atlan, will play the Spanos Theater at Cal Poly at 8 p.m. Friday, March 27. Tickets range from $30.40-$38 and are available in advance at the PAC Box Office, Mondays-Saturdays, noon-6 p.m. Call 756-4849 or order online at: www.calpolyarts.org. Dubbed “The hottest group in the Celtic realm!” Atlan has played from Donegal to Tokyo to Seattle with heartwarming, dynamic live performances – from the most touching old Irish songs to hard-hitting reels and jigs. With more than 30 years of music under their kilts, Altan explores and celebrates the musical connection between traditional music of Ireland and the roots and bluegrass music of the USA. Sponsored by Family & Industrial Medical Center.
Listener-supported community radio 97.3 The Rock has been on the air for a year. Run entirely by 56 volunteers, the non-profit outfit depends on listener donations to stay on the air. On March 29, 97.3 The Rock will be celebrating with almond smoked ribs and chicken from Tognazzini’s and live music from Craig Nuttycomb, Rachael M. Kauffman, Lenny Blue and Crippled Pink. Everybody is invited to pick up lunch or dinner, freshly smoked by Mark Tognazzini, and support community radio. A half chicken is $10 and a rack of ribs is $20. This tax deductible meal is being served starting just after 1 pm. Entertainment starts at noon. Pre-orders are encouraged. You can order now and pick up your fresh ribs and chicken the day of the barbecue. Call 242-6112 to pre-order or email to: .