September 14, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – East County Magazine readers who attended our Mardi Gras party last year will recall the rollicking, zesty music of the Bayou Brother band playing Cajun and Zydeco blues, including several East County residents.  Now the Bayou Brothers “High Roller Zydeco” is nominated for Best Blues CD in the San Diego Music Awards—the first Zydeco band to win this nomination.

September 6, 2015 (Escondido)-- The California Center for the Arts, Escondido will present The Time Jumpers, an assemblage of some of Nashville's most gifted musicians performing at the Center on Tuesday, September 29. Led by 20-time GRAMMY® winner and Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill, as well as Kenny Sears and Ranger Doug Green, The Time Jumpers quickly developed a monumental following while earning four GRAMMY® nominations. With unprecedented talent and a strong affinity for western swing, the group continues to expand the richness and vigor of country music.

Update: A preview video of Hairspray is now available. Click image below to view.

A second video preview can also be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84cAj6m5nMU&feature=youtu.be.

September 6, 2015 (San Diego)--Visionary Community Theatre and Visionary Youth Theatre of east San Diego present Hairspray at the Performing Arts Center at Point Loma High School (2335 Chatsworth Blvd, San Diego, 92106) on September 10-12 & 17-19 at 7 p.m. Enjoy as the diverse and talented Visionary cast and crew welcome you to the 60’s!

It’s 1962 - the ‘50s are out and change is in the air. Baltimore’s Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion - to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, “The Corny Collins Show” and, overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But can a trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the program’s reigning princess, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a television show without denting her ‘do?

N. Scott Robinson to play instruments from Southeast Asia and beyond at free concert

August 27, 2015 (San Diego)--Local percussionist N. Scott Robinson will perform a variety of musical selections on several different instruments from around the world on Sunday, August 30th at 3 p.m. at the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center. Joining Robinson as a special guest will be K.S. Resmi providing vocals and other Indian music.

Robinson will play songs using various instruments, including the lap-style frame drum, riqq, mediterr-asian tambourine, ghaval, handpan, hammer dulcimer, mbira dza vadzimu, berimbau and hindewhu.

August 22, 2015 (San Diego)--Award-winning harpist Amy Lynn Kanner will perform a selection of classical and contemporary pieces on Sunday, August 23 at 3 p.m. at the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center.

Kanner is a classically-trained musician with decades of experience playing the harp, piano and violin. Her concert at the Park’s Visitor Center allows for an intimate setting and a rich, acoustically-enhanced listening experience for the audience. The concert will be free for guests, though space is limited and concertgoers are encouraged to arrive early to the event.

The Supporting Cast runs August 14 - September 13

By Kathy Carpenter, www.sdtheatrereviews.com Associate and Youth Reviewer

August 19, 2015 (La Mesa) - The Supporting Cast, is not a title of a play that grabs me and says “Hey, you need to see me.” However, the play it turns out is aptly named. The title is the name of a book the lead actor in the play wrote. The book is about people who are all married to famous people - thus the supporting cast. These are the heroes behind the celebrities who would not be who they are without the support of their loved one standing behind them. The wonderful support of the entire cast makes the play a hit.

August 12, 2015 (Santee)--The twang of banjos and fiddles will again fill the air, while delicious food and beverages fill appetites, at the 6th Annual Santee Bluegrass Festival on Sept. 12.

August 7, 2015 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – De Anza Springs Resort in Jacumba Hot Springs will present Nudestock ,  an annual outdoor music festival on August 14-16. No need for bellbottoms or love beads  at this music fest–since clothing is optional at De Anza Springs, located in the high desert region of San Diego’s East County.

By Kathy Carpenter

www.sdtheatrereviews.com Associate and Youth Reviewer

July 23, 2015 (El Cajon) - Grossmont College 2nd annual Summer Conservatory (where high school students work alongside college students in all aspects to put on a theatrical show) brought us Cinderella A New, Pop Musical. The classic story updated and written by Jennette Thomas, directed by Beth Duggan and Molly Stillens, with fresh music and songs from the 80's and 90's and a fresh attitude from Cinderella, who doesn't need a man to survive, a King willing to adapt to his son's happiness, and a Prince who still thinks Cinderella the most perfect of all.

The show was funny, fun, well-acted, and you couldn't help leaving the theatre with a smile on your face.  This is a perfect summer show for the students to weave their magic, proving as Cinderella's Godmother says "Anything is possible if you believe."

East County News Service

July 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - Lamplighters Community Theatre continues its 78th season with “The Supporting Cast,” a comedy to be staged August 14 through September 13, when Ellen, the wife of a successful author, writes a sizzling novel her friends are thrilled — until she invites them to her Malibu beach house and reveals that they are the characters!

July 22, 2015 (Lemon Grove)—Looking for some hot summer nights’ entertainment? Lemon Grove’s Concerts in the Park continue each Thursday night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Berry Street Park.  Here’s the line-up of bands for the rest of the summer season, which ends August 13:

Photo: Film makers Miguel Angel Soria and Peter Alkatib

Film review by Mimi Pollack

July 19, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--As an ESL teacher at Grossmont College, the majority of students in my classes are Iraqi and Iraqi Chaldean. Thus, I had a particular interest in the documentary, “Chaldean Voices”, which I saw Friday evening at “Documentaries on the Prado” at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park. Chaldeans are Christian Iraqis. Most have fled their war-torn home and with the exception of Detroit, Michigan, the largest number of Chaldeans now live in El Cajon, California, and surrounding neighborhoods.

Ultimate Dance Party and ‘80s dress-up contest July 18

July 14, 2015 (San Diego) -- Visionary Youth Theatre presents another installment of “Pop Rock”, a musical revue featuring Pop and Rock celebrating music of the 80s. The performances will be held  at the Visionary Performance Space (7202 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92115). On July 16-18 at 7 p.m. with a matinee on July 19 at 2 p.m. The show is directed by Spencer John Powell with choreography by Mr. Powell and Ramon Montes.

This upbeat, fun, dance-heavy musical revue will have cast members rocking and popping to the sounds of the 1980’s.

July 10, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - The Mountain Empire Men’s Club will present Pine Valley Days on July 24^th and 25^th.  This mountain town’s annual summer event includes a parade rolling out on July 25^th  at 9 a.m., plus other activities both days at the Pine Valley Park (28810 Old Highway 80, Pine Valley).  The fun begins with a deep pit BBQ dinner on Friday night with live music and dancing under the stars to Barbwire, the North American Country Music Association International’s New Country Band of the Year for 2015 and other entertainers. There will also be a craft village, a free music festival, kids’ zone, food from local vendors and more.