Open Mic event set
Youth on Stage Open Mic event will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, July 23, and most every fourth Monday of the month at the Brainerd Elks Lodge 615.
The Lodge sponsors the event through an Elks National Foundation grant and by the Brainerd Eagles Club No. 215. This monthly youth orientated event is geared for those age 25 and younger who have a family friendly talent to share on a year-round basis.
Talent may include singing, playing an instrument, storytelling, essay reading, poetry, tap dancing, comedy, magic, a band or ensemble to perform to live audiences. Eight 15-minute time slots are open on a first come basis. Those wishing to sign up should go to the website www.YouthOnStageMn.org or may do so at the venue, the Eagles Club, on the night of a performance.
Music in the Park set in Crosby
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CROSBY-Great River Strings and Lakes Area Music Festival will perform 5-8 p.m. July 26 at Cuyuna Lakes Chamber's Music in the Park event in Crosby's Memorial Park.
Sponsored by the City of Ironton, Music in the Park promotes its KidsFest event set 4-6 p.m. Aug. 17 at Morningside Park.
The Great River Strings is community orchestra serving the Aitkin, Crosby, Ironton, Brainerd and surrounding areas of Central Minnesota. Musicians are ages 6 to 86.
The LAMF directors Scott Lykins and John Taylor Ward will perform pieces from the great American songbook as well as some opera hits. The 10th anniversary season of the music festival runs Aug. 4-26, and will feature more than 150 musicians from the nation's top orchestras and opera companies. The three weeks of classical music performance in Brainerd will include chamber music, symphonic orchestra, opera and ballet.
Music in the Park continues the second and fourth Thursday night through August. Those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy live music.
For more information about each Music in the Park event, visit www.cuyunalakes.com .
Poetry retreat set
Woodtick Poets, a League of Minnesota Poets, will host poetry retreat Thursday-Sunday, July 19-22, on Horseshoe Lake. This group of poets will be featured at Sage on Laurel from 8:30-10:30 p.m. Friday. Heartland Poets, a local chapter of the League of Minnesota Poets, will be on hand to read poetry with those out-of-town poets participating in the Woodtick Poetry Retreat. This event is free of charge and open to the public.
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Music General dancers compete
Twenty-eight dancers from Music General Junior and Teen/Senior Company lines on June 18-23 attended the Masquerade Dance Nationals in Burnsville, along with more than 20 studios from four different states.
With nearly 1,000 routines entered, Music General's Teen/Senior dancers made their mark on the competition, bringing home two national titles, and top scores for several other entries. Senior Company dancers: Savanna Oberfeld, Nariah Fett and Libby Borash were featured as
Parade of Stars dancers in the opening routine of the national finals. Borash also was a Top 5 finalist for Senior Top Soloist, Miss Masquerade 2018 and Senior Dancer of the Year. Senior duet "Explosive" performed by Oberfeld and Borash was top scoring senior duet and was named national champion in the finals round.
The top scoring routine of the weekend, and National Champion Line was Music General's Teen/Senior Company routine "The Devil Went Down To Georgia." This routine also was recently named as a national finalist for the prestigious Industry Dance Awards in Hollywood, Calif. Results for Masquerade nationals garnered Music General one Gold Award (267-275 points), five High Gold Awards (276-284 points) and 14 Platinum Awards (285-300 points). Results for the Industry Dance Awards will be live streamed on Aug. 15.
Kingery family to perform in bandstand
The Kingery family will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 19, in the Gregory Park bandstand in Brainerd.
The Kingery family, from central Minnesota, began as a family of 10-Mike, Chris, and their eight children singing and ministering together through music. It has grown to include three
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sons-in-law and seven grandchildren. They have sung together for the past 16 years. They sing primarily gospel bluegrass music while also incorporating fiddle, patriotic, Americana and a capella. Their combination of tight harmonies, uplifting songs and family unity are sure to encourage, a news release stated.
Concerts in the Park are free and open to the public. People may bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the music. Concerts are a collaboration between Brainerd Parks and Recreation Department and The Center.
Concerts are made possible by funding from grants. Concerts in the Park thanks Brainerd Community Foundation, the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Five Wings Arts Council and legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Alan Godage & Sundown to perform
STAPLES-Classic country band Alan Godage & Sundown will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 22, at Northern Pacific Park in Staples as part of the Music in the Park Series.
Expect to hear music from country legends such as Charley Pride, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Conway Twitty and Hank Williams Sr. In addition, the four-piece band has been praised for their performances of country rock, as well as 50's, gospel and old-time music.
"Our show is suitable for all ages," Godage stated in a press release.
Godage hails from Pierz. A classic country singer/songwriter, Godage grew up listening to country music.
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"By the time I was 8, I was playing guitar and singing with a band on weekends," Godage stated. "At that young age it was clear to me that I wanted to play country music the rest of my life."
Over the years, Godage has performed throughout the United States and recorded several albums, including, "An Inside Look," recorded in Nashville, which features his original music. Godage has performed on cable television programs and has opened shows for Bobby Bare, Jack Greene, Tanya Tucker, Bill Anderson, Jim Ed Brown and Johnny Rodriguez. The Sundown Band has backed the great Stonewall Jackson, Jean Shepard and Leona Williams. Godage has also appeared on two Grand Ole Opry sanctioned shows along with Little Jimmy Dickens, Hank Thompson, Johnny Paycheck, Del Reeves and Faron Young.
The Sundown Band includes Rick Jenkins on electric guitar, Dan Gadacz on drums, Eric Gustafson on keyboard and Kevin Barnes on bass, vocals and pedal steel.
"A number of things set us apart from a lot of the other bands that are out there," Godage stated. "You won't see my band perform in tennis shoes and tank tops or jeans with holes in the knees. As professional entertainers I feel we have an obligation to clean up and look presentable when we're performing.
"We have made a commitment to providing the finest live classic country music that we can give you. If you're a classic country music fan I really think you will enjoy what we have to offer."
The Music in the Park Concerts will run through Aug. 12.
For more information on the Music in the Park series as well as the regular concert series, check out www.staplesmotleyarts.org .
In case of rain, the concerts will be moved to Faith Lutheran Church.
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The Music in the Park series is funded by the Staples Host Lions Club. The series is organized by the Staples Motley Area Arts Council, with the assistance of the Staples-Motley Public Schools and the City of Staples.
Crosslake Heritage Day set in August
CROSSLAKE-The Crosslake Area Historical Society has set the date for the new Heritage Day to be Aug. 11.
The event will replace the Artisans Fair, an event that completed 25 years at the Historic Log Village. This is a one-day event and runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Gate admission will be $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for children 5-12 years old and free for 3 and under.
The event will Include more than 25 artisans who will demonstrate and sell their wares throughout the Historic Log Village. There will be music from the Thorson Family Fiddlers beginning at 11 a.m., followed by selections by the Turtle Doves from noon to 3 p.m.
Many activities will be available for children including a scavenger hunt, turn of the century
games, crafts and prizes.
The Heritage Day is set in the Historic Log Village among the restored and furnished
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buildings depicting life in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The buildings will be open for
exhibition. This is an event for artisans to display and sell their wares reminiscent of that period. Some of the crafters on hand will be returning potter Dave Hudson, Mary Dischinger with her homemade soap, the blacksmith, Jim Newgord, Gail Smith who hooks rugs and the Crosslake Wood carving club. Live alpacas will be making the trip again to the Village from Jenkins and they'll be joined by goats from B & B Farms.
The committee is seeking more individuals who practice pioneer crafts. Those interested should contact Joan Callender at 218-692-3482.
Register now for free Chautauqua workshops
WADENA-As part of the Old Wadena Rendezvous scheduled Aug. 11-12 at Old Wadena County Park on the Crow Wing River the Old Wadena Society is producing hands-on
classes and workshops both before and during the Rendezvous. The classes are free to participants during this first pilot project year.
These Chautauqua events are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Five Wings Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, and with funding from the Staples/Motley Community Foundation, Staples Lions, and local businesses.
Pre-registration is needed for the following classes by calling 218-371-6403.
• Puppet Worlds Come Alive: Margo McCreary, a storyteller and puppeteer will lead a Chautauqua from July 29-Aug. 1. Class will meet noon to 4 p.m. at Old Wadena Park and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 30-Aug. 1. Participants will take time to make hand puppets, but the main part of the Chautauqua will focus on creating a compelling story and telling it through words and, most importantly, movement, a news release stated. Participants will make their debut as storytelling artists-bringing puppets to life-at the Rendezvous.
• Traditional American Indian flute: Jake Kaehne will teach people how to play the traditional American Indian wooden flute. Flutes will be provided, or students may choose to purchase a wooden flute for $90. Class meets 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 7-10, followed with a flute performance at the Rendezvous.
• Paint a mini barn quilt: Beth Kern, Mary Noska and Lisa Kajer will lead participants in the creation of a 2- by 2-foot mini barn quilt in four colors during the two days of the Rendezvous. Chautauqua leaders will lead participants through design, drafting, taping, and painting a quilt on a primed 2-sided MDO board. All materials are provided.
Classes that do not require registration are as follows:
• Build a birdhouse: Jon Hamberg will lead students in this introduction to carpentry. Each day from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. of the Rendezvous all ages are engaged in creating a useful bird house to take home. From 11am to 4pm both days of the Rendezvous.
• Square Dance: Join the Wadena Whirlaways at 1 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Rendezvous to learn the basics of square dancing. All ages welcome.
• Canoeing and kayaking workshop at 1 p.m. Aug. 11 with Bob Schaefer, including information on traditional birch bark canoes, and hands on canoeing/kayaking with focus on paddling techniques.
