By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

May 9, 2017 (El Cajon) -- It’s going to be hard to stay still in those Sycuan Casino concert seats with the hit band Loverboy pumping out the bass, the vocals, and the memories at their concerts this weekend!  “Turn Me Loose” or turn you loose, with flickering lights and almost karaoke night for all those who know every word of their songs.

By Miriam Raftery

Video, above: Open fiddling competition 2016 champion Shira Ellison in her winning performance

May 2, 2017 (Julian) -- Each year,  the town of Julian comes alive with the sounds  of music—fiddle music, along with banjos, guitars, mandolins and mountain dulcimers at the annual Julian Fiddle and Pickin’ Contest. 

This year’s event will be held on Saturday, May 20^th at the Julian Town Hall, plus on Friday night a Texas-style fiddle workshop will be led by two-time national grand fiddle champion Matthew Hartz.  (For details and a schedule visit www.SanDiegoFiddler.org)

Recently we’re seeing a revival of interest in the art of fiddling and more broadly, a Renaissance in traditional music both regionally and nationally.

By Miriam Raftery

April 29, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - The Baja Blues Boys, known for their original acoustic and electric blues plus roots, Americana and party music, will be performing in several local venues over the next month including locations in La Mesa, Santa Ysabel and Poway.

Below are their appearances in our inland region:

East County News Service

April 18, 2017 (Santee) - The Santee Craft, Vendor and Food Fair will be held Saturday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Summit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 8778 Cottonwood Avenue in Santee.  Guests can shop for Mother’s Day handcrafted gifts, including hand-made art dolls,  origami owl jewelry, bracelets, Donald Trump pussycat toys,  Avon and MaryKay cosmetics, PartyLite, warming bags, ceramics, hand-made oak crafts and more.  Hand-made tamales and fruit waters will also be available.

By Liz Alper, ECM film reviewer

Photo via Facebook

April 10, 2017 (San Diego) - The Armenian genocide was a horrific event in September of 1915 in which Turkish forces (then still under the control of the Ottoman Empire) slaughtered thousands of Armenian men, women and children.  Director Terry George attempted to put this tragedy on screen in The Promise, starring Oscar Isaac, Christian Bale and Charlotte Le Bon.

By Judy Moore

April 8, 2017 (El Cajon) --  Friends of East County Arts, Inc., supporting the arts in East County since 1984, will present “Blooming Fashions” show at the El Cajon Elks Club #1812 on  Saturday, May 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Panel of experts and neighborhood organizing to follow showing of “Indoctrinated, the Grooming of Child Prostitutes” by Lemon Grove filmmaker Jim Ellis

By Helen Ofield, Lemon Grove Historical Society

April 8, 2017 (Lemon Grove) -- Right here, right now, in our town...tough though it is to think of Lemon Grove as a haven for human sex traffickers, it is. This heinous crime is alive in our town. Predators are after our girls and boys. This, in a town where every neighborhood is anchored by a public school and volunteerism has been a tradition since 1890.

East County News Service

March 31, 2017 (San Diego) – “We’re heading for a sold-out house!” says Chuck Brown with the San Diego Concert Band.  “Be among the ‘Last 100’ to get your tickets for the 28^th annual Spring Celebration Concert – “Around the World in 90 Minutes” – presented by the San Diego Concert Band.  Don’t miss this musical travel log  as we visit Australia, England, Italy, Ireland, S. Korea, Spain, and other places.”

East County News Service

March 25, 2017 (Poway) – Celine Romero is the youngest of the international guitar dynasty, the Romeros, hailed by the New York Times as the family that virtually invented the classical guitar quartet format. Andy McKee, by contrast, is a self-taught player whose videos including “Drifting” and “Africa” have drawn hundreds of millions of views on YouTube.

By Kathy Carpenter

Journalist www.sandiegosplash.com

March 24, 2017 (Spring Valley) - Who doesn't love a good fairy tale? My heart filled with joy at the sight of the full audience at the Monarch Theatre. Once Upon a Mattress was everything a magical tale should be: fun, funny, and fabulous.

By Kathy Carpenter

East County News Service

East County News Service

March 8, 2017 (Poway) - San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory (SDYS) presents two inspiring concerts from their talented musicians on Sunday, March 12 at 1pm & 6pm at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts.

East County News Service

February 28, 2017 (San Diego) - Join the Women's Museum of California as they screen films that will educate and inspire future generations about the experiences and contributions of women through the art of film.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

Diva discovered in La Mesa

February 27, 2017 (La Mesa) -- Lenelle Wylie of La Mesa is a diva--in the best sense of the word. This diva can sing, dance, and act. In Wylie’s case, the meaning of diva would also include high school biology teacher, winning coach, wife, and mother to pre-teens.