Page 42 - the NOISE March 2014

ABOVE: Red Molly is at Prescott Center for the Arts March 1. COURTESY PHOTO
ABOVE: Donna Bobadilla’s whimsical paintings are at the ‘Tis Art Gallery beginning March 15. COURTESY PHOTO
The unseasonably warm weather has kicked Prescott’s local arts scene into high gear. Now is definitely the time to hit
the trails and get your bouldering in, be- cause barring a completely unexpected flood of rain or snow, the National Forests won’t be open for long. In between hikes and picnics, there is plenty for art lovers to do in town.
Warmer temps definitely mean patio weather in Prescott, and the local bars and restaurants are great places to enjoy live mu- sic with a side order of tasty drinks and food. If dancing is your thing, then Brick & Bones is by far the best patio venue. Check out this venue at 214 S. Montezuma.
The rooftop patio at the Raven Café offers something of a compromise, where patrons can groove on the live band playing down- stairs via the Raven’s excellent sound system while enjoying a skyline vista and conversa- tion. This is one of Prescott’s most eclectic musical venues, so be prepared for dance- able tunes on the weekends and a mix of styles during the week. In addition to favorite local bands and musicians, the Raven is well known for bringing in some truly spectacular visiting bands. Keep up with their schedule at ravencafe.com, but honestly, great music can be had most evenings.
For a more mellow and intimate scene, El Gato Azul the absolute best place for cock- tails, tapas and live music. There is a rotating schedule of mainly local musicians who play at El Gato on Fridays and Saturdays, while the jazz standards group the Ramon Dana Combo has a regular Sunday afternoon slot. It’s difficult to imagine a better way to end a lazy Sunday afternoon than sangria and jazz on El Gato’s patio. Visit the blue cat and see for yourself at 316 W. Goodwin.
Also on the music front, the Folk Sessions is having a particularly spectacular month. They have two major concerts scheduled worth checking out. First up is Red Molly,
a trio that fea-
tures three-part
harmonies and
some stellar
musicianship.
The group will be performing with Robby Hecht on Saturday, March 1 at the Prescott Center for the Arts. Tickets are $25 and can be ordered online at folksessions.com or you can call (928) 445-3286. The show starts at 7:30PM, so don’t be late.
The second concert put on by the Folk Sessions is a performance by the multiple Grammy winning Tom Chapin on Sunday, March 2. Not only is this a great chance to hear some excellent folk tunes, but this show is also a benefit for the Prescott Area Shel- ter Services (PASS). PASS is the umbrella or- ganization for two programs that provide as- sistance for the homeless. The Prescott Area Women’s Shelter is geared toward giving shelter to homeless women and their chil- dren, while the relatively new Family Shelter program houses homeless families. Warm fuzzies are just an added bonus, though, as Mr. Chapin is worth the price of admission all on his lonesome. Tickets are $20 in advance from folksessions.com or $25 at the door. The show will be held at Trinity Presbyterian, located at 630 Park Ave. in Prescott.
Folks looking to kick off their St. Patrick’s Day weekend with some live music in a non- bar venue should check out local singer/ songwriter Celia Farran’s concert. Although Ms. Farran lives in Prescott, she tours fre- quently and her local performances are rare. Expect the unexpected from Celia’s show. It’s fair to put her music into the category of folk, but she also tends to ride somewhere between funny and the fantastic.
Head over to Granite Peak Unitarian Uni- versalist church at 882 Sunset Avenue on Fri- day, March 14th right here in Prescott. Tickets are $15. Ms. Farran offers a free song down- load every week, so you get a preview at her website, celiaonline.com.
Improv and comedy seem to be finally gain- ing a foothold in
Prescott. Brick & Bones (formerly known as Coyote Joe’s and a whole host of other names) is booking regular stand-up comedy shows.
There’s a brand new improv theater group in town, Mile High Comedy Theater that is busy developing a core group, with plans for original shows in the works. The Prescott Center for the Arts also has a brand spank- ing new improv group called the Improvito- nians. For a taste of what’s brewing with the PCA group, check out their show at Stage Too on March 22. Tickets are $5 at the door and directions to the hard to find theater can be found at pfaa.net.
The Elks Opera House has jumped on the name change bandwagon. Now called the Elks Theatre & Performing Arts Center, the venue is undergoing some major exte- rior renovations, but still has a fairly full slate of shows. For some reason, the theater is heavily focused on tribute bands at the mo- ment. Hard core fans of classic rock will love this trend while Artinistas will dig it in a more ironic sense. Up this month are tribute bands paying musical homage to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys and, of course, The Beatles. For a full schedule and ticket info, hit up the web- site at prescottelkstheater.com.
For movie buffs, the Academy Awards is a lot like the Super Bowl is for football fans. The folks over at the Prescott Film Festival are turning this year’s Oscars into quite the shindig on March 2. While it is absolutely free to show up and watch the Oscars live on the giant screen at the Yavapai College Perform- ing Arts Center, they are sweetening the pot with a fancy-schmancy pre-show cocktail party.
While it’s absolutely free to attend the
Academy Awards simulcast, PFF’s Glitz and Glamour party is being used as a fundraiser. It’s a chance for film fans to put on their fin- est duds, sip a cocktail or two, munch on some tasty appetizers and rub elbows with like-minded peeps. As a bonus, the Glitz and Glamour folks will get priority seating for the Oscars viewing. Tickets are $50 or $100 for the VIP tix. Glitz and Glamour party starts at 5PM. Get your tickets at ycpac.com. Folks just looking to watch the show can head right over to the YC Performing Arts Center and grab a seat starting at 6:15PM. The snack bar will be open, so no need to try and sneak in your own popcorn.
It’s been a while since a fine art event has topped the Don’t Miss List, but Donna Bo- badilla’s work is not to be missed. The artist will be showing a selection of her mixed me- dia art at the ‘Tis Art Center & Gallery in a show called “Art Speaks from the Heart.” Ms. Bobadilla may be perhaps better know to Prescottonians from her time at Papa’s Ital- ian Restaurant, but her collection of mixed media, poetry and encaustic works will likely change those perceptions.
Ms. Bobadilla’s images are whimsical, but her composition and color work are deft and balanced. Expect vibrant colors, playful patterns and a sense of kinetic movement captured in images that make you want to dive into her world. It’s not often that joy and movement is captured in the plastic arts, but Ms. Bobadilla has succeeded. Her show runs from March 15 through April 14, with an opening reception scheduled for the 4th Friday Art Walk on March 28, from 5PM until 7PM. For gallery hours and more information, go to tisartgallery.com or stop by the gal- lery at 105 S. Cortez.
| Angie Johnson Schmit is very much a surfer of the wave. slackerwriter@gmail.com
42 • MARCH 2014 • the NOISE arts & news • thenoise.us