By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left: “Passing Through Borrego,” by Arizona oil painter Robert Goldman

March 2, 2018 (Borrego Springs) – “I am proud to be the 2018 Curator for the Borrego Art Institute 12th Annual Plein Air Invitational paint-out and exhibit,” says Shannon O’Dunn.  “Fifteen artists in oils, pastel, and watercolors will be in painting the field all week, March 5-9.” 

By Liz Alper

Photo via Vimeo

March 2, 2018 (San Diego) - I’ve never paid attention to Bruce Willis.  Not since it became a meme to list Die Hard as a Christmas movie (over The Thin Man?  Really?  Die Hard has Christmas in one scene, whereas The Thin Man has Christmas throughout the movie.  Besides, who doesn’t love William Powell’s effortless trolling and drinking?), I’ve semi-boycotted Bruce Willis.  It’s been a while since I willingly watched one of his films. Heck, it’s been a while since I willingly cared about him.  And so it was with slight unease that I walked into the theater for his latest film, Death Wish.  Boy, was I wrong to be nervous.

East County News Service

February 27, 2018 (La Mesa) – Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa will present ‘Night, Mother March 2-25. 'Night, Mother, Marsha Norman's explosive 1983 play, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Play.

East County News Service

February 17, 2018 (San Diego) -- The Alaska String Band will perform at the Joan B. Kroc Theatre on Friday, March 16^th at 7 p.m. to benefit the ministries of Alpine’s Christ the King Episcopal Church.  Be entertained by the delightful talent of this family band, as they take you on a musical journey filled with the rich sounds of bluegrass and a variety of timeless American classics while wide-screen images portray the beauty of Alaska to create a visually captivating setting.

Local music camp represents Southern CA as only camp to receive IBMA honor; April 11-15 camp includes many musical styles, instruments from fiddle to cello

February 15, 2018 (Julian) -- The Julian Family Fiddle Camp (JFFC) received a grant from the International Bluegrass Music Association Foundation (IBMA) the first week of February for its dedication and contribution to sustaining acoustic music in the local community. 

East County News Service

February 7, 2018 (San Diego) - Gregory Page, international touring and V2 recording artist returns to Mission Trails Regional Park auditorium on Sunday, March 4  at 3 p.m. This London-born Irish-Armenian citizen of the world has imagination and a conscience as well as vocal talent.  He will share his stunning guitar work, anthemic songs of peace, ballads of “Optimistic Melancholy” and in his words, “true stories he makes up” with the Mission Trails listening audience in a performance for the whole family.

East County News Service

January 25, 2018 (San Diego) - Amy Lynn Kanner will perform a Celtic harp concert at the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitors Center auditorium on Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. The performance will feature Pachelbel's "Canon" and Debussy's "Clair de Lune," and Praetorious' "Terpsichore." The program also features popular music like "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "A Thousand Years," "Stairway to Heaven," and more.

East County News Service

January 24, 2018 (San Diego) -- Pepe Aguilar will perform live in concert at the Viejas Arena at San Diego State’s Aztec Bowl on January 28^th at 6:30 p.m.

The American born singer and songwriter raised in Mexico started singing on stage at three years old and he’s never left.  The son of Mexican music and film stars Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre, he attained stardom in his own right with an album of romantic ballads in 1998. Since then, he’s embraced traditional Mexican rancheria and mariachi music as well as pop  music – a style that has won him multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards and sold over 12 million albums.

“Admirable cohesion...beautiful touch.” – DownBeat Magazine

“Wittily melds jazz, blues, classical, and Brazilian music.” – Boston Globe

East County News Service

January 16, 2018 (San Diego) -- Pianist/composer Danny Green and his trio – featuring bassist Justin Grinnell and drummer Julien Cantelm – perform at the Mission Trails Golf Course (7380 Golfcrest Place, San Diego) on Thursday, January 25^th. Pre-performance dining begins at 4:30 p.m. and the performance will be from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Source: Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural project

Photo: Artist Rik Erickson works to complete expansive 12 feet x 70 feet Mt. Woodson mural to be placed at the Ramona Fitness Center on Jan. 27

January 14, 2018 (Ramona) -- A dedication ceremony for the “Hiking on Mount Woodson” mural will be held on Saturday, January 27 beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Ramona Fitness Center at 558 Main Street, Ramona. The public is invited to attend. In addition to refreshments, attendees will receive a picture of the mural, autographed by the artist.

East County News Service

Photo:  Lisa Sanders

January 3, 2018 (San Diego's East County) - The San Diego County Library’s Acoustic Showcase series offers a variety of top local singer/songwriters, folk music performers and storytellers in free concerts for the community.

Upcoming performances include two in East County.

By Miriam Raftery

December 28, 2017 (Descanso) – Acclaimed pianist, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter John Nilsen from the Pacific Northwest will perform a solo piano concert on Saturday, January 13^th at 2 p.m. at Chapel of the Hills Community Church, 25153 Viejas Blvd. in Descanso. The concert is free of charge. The church will provide light refreshments, a chance to chat with the artist in a reception after the performance, and his musical CDs will be available for purchase.

According to his bio, Nilsen is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most successful performance and recording artists, with records that have sold well over a million copiesl His love of the outdoors is reflected in many of his works. Chosen a Deering Banjo artist in 2016, he has performed in all 50 states and many foreign countries, also speaking and conducting residencies on songwriting and music performance at schools across the U.S.  He has performed with luminaries such as Jose Feliciano, Jesse Colin Young and Marc Cohn and Kenny G.

Landmark vote sets path to reopen theatre in 2019 for headline acts, though community groups’ use of theatre may be limited

By Paul Kruze

Photo by Miriam Raftery, left: Arich Berghammer, Live Nation, addresses Council prior to historic vote

December 20, 2017 (El Cajon) -- After many community discussions, public meetings and  frustrations over the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) remaining closed for nearly the past decade, the El Cajon City Council last Tuesday unanimously approved a preliminary draft agreement for City Manager Doug Williford to ink worldwide concert producer Live Nation as the new manager of the theatre. (Councilman Ben Kalasho was absent, citing an emergency.)

Prior to the landmark vote which longtime councilmember Gary Kendrick has characterized as “the most important vote and the biggest thing to happen to El Cajon. Everybody wins.” He added that Live Nation “has the Midas touch. Every performing arts center they touch turns to gold.”

By Liz Alper

Photo via Youtube

December 15, 2017 (San Diego) - A lot has been said about Winston Churchill.  Some people (the British) see him as a hero who won Britain the Second World War.  Americans probably see him as that too, but with an added dose of crazy.  And still, some people in darker circles don’t see him as a hero at all.  Focus Features’ Darkest Hour reveals the truth about the man. Or does it?