Center Stage

Sing for your chance to open for Toby Keith, Alabama and Jason Aldean

Attention, all aspiring singers: The WE Fest 2012 concert stage is calling.

Saturdays through March 24, sign up and sing for a chance to open for country mega stars Toby Keith, Alabama and Jason Aldean.

The WE Fest Karaoke Round Up is one of the largest karaoke contests in the upper Midwest. For its 12th year, singers in at least five states will compete for cash and prizes totaling more than $300,000, with the top three winners having the opportunity to be opening acts on the main stage at the 2012 WE Fest in front of more than 55,000 people.

Rochester's Elks Lodge, 1652 U.S. 52 N., is hosting local qualifying rounds again this year. To compete, sign up from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. the night of the contest, which begins at 8 p.m. The contest is free to enter, and is open to anyone at least 21 years or older.

Winners will be chosen by a panel of local judges. The top winner from each week wins two three-day general admission tickets to WE Fest 2012, a WE Fest T-shirt, and a spot in the local final round on April 14.

All others who compete throughout the qualifying weeks are invited to compete in the consolation round on March 31, for a chance to advance to the local finals.

Those who qualify then move on to state finals in May, followed by the grand finals to compete against others from the entire upper Midwest.

The top three overall competition winners will receive up to $2,500 cash, a WE Fest VIP package for two (including the use of an RV during the festival), professional recording time, and a spot on the WE Fest concert stage opening for this year's WE Fest headliners.

— Marissa Block, Life section editor and Out & About columnist

Rockin' around with Robby Vee

ZUMBROTA — Rockabilly never goes out of style, and Robby Vee is back at Crossings to prove it. Vee and his band will perform at 7:30 p.m. March 10 at Crossings, 320 East Ave., Zumbrota.

Vee, the son of rock 'n' roll singer Bobby Vee, has kept alive the music of his father's generation with his three albums, "Viva La Twang," "Liquid Love" and "Bop." The band consists of Vee on guitar and vocals, King Creole on standup bass, Jeff Bjork on drums and Jimmy Greenwell on saxophone.

Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 the day of the show, available at Crossings and by phone at (507) 732-7616.

New films opening in Rochester this weekend include Jennifer Aniston's "Wanderlust" and the "Tyler Perry's Good Deeds"

Also "Act of Valor" and "Gone." Rochester, what are your movie plans this weekend?

And dont forget I'll be blogging live during the Academy Awards on Sunday. More details here: http://ww2.postbulletin.com/blogs/live

-- Chris Miksanek
-- The Med City Movie Guy

 

Lyra goes Dutch for concert

It'll be Dutch treat when the Lyra Baroque Orchestra presents "Music from the High Baroque" at 7:30 p.m. March 2 at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester.

The orchestra is directed by Jaques Ogg, from the Netherlands, and guest artists for this concert will be two Dutch musicians, Wilbert Hazelzet and Jaap ter Linden.

They will perform a concert of music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Georg Philipp Telemann, J.C. F. Bach and Michel Corrette.

Hazelzet, who plays the baroque flute, is the principal flautist with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, while ter Linden, who plays the baroque cello, teaches at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and the Amsterdam Conservatory.

Ogg, a harpsichordist, commutes between the Netherlands and Minnesota to conduct the Twin Cities-based Lyra Baroque Orchestra. He is a member of the Orchestra of the 18th Century and is the principal teacher of the harpsichord at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague.

Tickets are $23, $20 for senior citizens and members of Minnesota Public Radio, $6 for students, available at the door.

Complimentary tickets are offered to: volunteers at arts or charitable organizations; Mayo Clinic volunteers, patients and family; members of the Rochester Music Guild; associates of the Sisters of St. Francis, and college music students. For complimentary tickets, call (507) 280-1947.

Program focuses on Ibsen

WINONA — In conjunction with the Commonweal Theatre Co.'s annual Ibsen Festival, Winona State University will present a five-day Road Scholar program, "Norwegian Culture/Heritage and Theater of Henrik Ibsen."

The program will be held April 12-17 in Lanesboro, where the Commonweal will stage Ibsen's "Pillars of Society." The program will feature classes taught by actors, technicians and producers, as well as sessions on Scandinavian culture and history.

For information and registration, call (800) 454-5768.

'Morrie' sold out, shows added

The performances of "Tuesdays with Morrie" this weekend at Rochester Civic Theatre are completely sold out.

The show is being presented by RCT as a benefit for Seasons Hospice of Rochester. Additional performances have been scheduled, but not take place until May because of a crowded calendar at the theater, said Gregory Stavrou, RCT executive director.

The additional performances are at 7 p.m. May 11 and May 12. Tickets are $25 for adults, $17.50 for senior citizens, and are available through the RCT box office, 20 Civic Center Drive S.E., (507) 282-8481.

Reed Grimm of Shoeless Revolution makes it to American Idol final 24

Let the voting begin.

Reed Grimm of the La Crosse/Minneapolis band Shoeless Revolution made it into the "American Idol" final 24.

Shoeless Revolution, which plays a mix of funk and jazz, has performed in Rochester several times including at the St. John's Block Party in 2009.

Watch a clip from Grimm's "American Idol" performance here.

Trio presents classical pieces

Trio Dolce, a musical ensemble of three award-winning young women from Concordia College in Moorhead, will perform Saturday in Rochester.

The group is made up of Shu-min Chang, on piano, Ellen Raaen, on flute, and Zhou Long, on cello. They will perform works by Carl Maria von Weber, Maurice Ravel, Bohuslav Martinu, and others.

The concert is sponsored by the Rochester Chamber Music Society. It will be presented at 7:30 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 400 Fifth Ave. S.W. Admission is free.

Alaskan brews tap into town

The Alaskan Brewing Co., based in Juneau, recently released four of its award-winning brews in Rochester: Alaskan Amber, Alaskan Black IPA, Alaskan IPA and Alaskan White Ale.

Since then, a handful of local watering holes have jumped on the Alaskan bandwagon, adding one or more of these potables to their beer list. 

Some of the bars and restaurants that can now carry Alaskan beer include: Wicked Moose Bar and Grill, 1201 Eastgate Drive S.E.; both Whistle Binkies locations; Glynner's Pub, 1643 N. Broadway; Carlos O' Kellys, 4825 U.S. 52 N.; Beer Bellyz, 821 Civic Center Drive; The Restaurant, 723 Second St. S.W.; and Newt's North, 5231 E. Frontage Road, U.S. 52.

Know of any other bar or restaruant that has added an Alaskan brew to its cooler? Let me know and I'll mention it in a future column!

— Marissa Block, Life section editor and Out & About columnist

Join the Med City Movie Guy on the Red Carpet Sunday

OK, it’s not exactly a red carpet. It’s kind of mauve with a big brown planter hiding the stain from a dropped grilled cheese sandwich a few years ago. That’s right, I’ll be blogging live from my living room throughout the Academy Awards. Join me for some catty remarks about what the stars are wearing (e.g., “can you believe the socks “Descendants” gaffer Josh Swisek is wearing?”) and for commentary on the awards themselves. It’s interactive, too, so you’ll have a chance to out-quip Billy Crystal (which I am guessing won’t be too difficult). More details here: http://ww2.postbulletin.com/blogs/live
-- Chris Miksanek
-- The Med City Movie Guy