SATURDAY
Nashville ax man picks on guitar expo

Lots of pickin' will be happening at this weekend's Guitar Tech Expo, including some by a protege of Chet Atkins.

The expo will feature a workshop by Nashville guitarist Pat Bergeson, who performed on recordings with Atkins. The expo also will feature an evening jazz concert by Bergeson and his singer wife, Annie Sellick.

The expo, presented by Daytona State College, will be noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at News-Journal Center, 221 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach. The expo will feature displays by custom guitar builders, vintage and rare instrument collectors and area retailers. Attendees will be able to buy, sell and swap "axes" (that's musician slang for "guitars") and accessories. The expo also will include other stringed instruments such as violins and basses.

Bergeson will conduct a master class at 2 p.m. and perform with Sellick at 7:30 p.m.

Admission is $20 and includes all events; free to Daytona State College students with ID. Bring a guitar and receive $2 off admission. Information: 386-506-3042.

Bergeson earned a degree in jazz studies at William Patterson University in New Jersey. After playing in New York City for 10 years, Bergeson was invited to Nashville by Atkins to play on his album "Sneakin' Around" with Jerry Reed. Bergeson also performed on and wrote songs for Atkins' 1994 album, "Read My Licks."

Bergeson also has recorded with Lyle Lovett, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Bill Frisell, Suzy Bogguss, Bill Evans, Peter Frampton, Michael McDonald and others. He has toured with Shelby Lynne, Wynonna Judd, Bogguss and Lovett.


THURSDAY
Bluegrass band concert to benefit outreach center

Some bluegrass bands have roots that extend back several generations, and deep into life in Appalachia. Not the band Cherryholmes.

Jere and Sandy Cherryholmes were raising their family of six children in Bell, Calif., just outside of Los Angeles, when their eldest daughter, Shelly, died at age 20 from chronic heart problems.

The family heard about a nearby bluegrass festival and decided to go to lift their spirits. That show persuaded Jere to form a bluegrass band with his family in order to further soothe their grief and to bond with each other -- even though half their children had never picked up an instrument.

Ten years later, the band Cherryholmes has received four Grammy nominations, and one of their albums has topped Billboard's bluegrass chart.

Cherryholmes will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center, 399 N. U.S. 1, Ormond Beach. Tickets are $25, available at the center box office and the door. Information from the venue: 386-676-3375<cm cq RdeY>.

The concert is being presented by Tomoka Christian Church and will benefit the Daytona Outreach Center, a local Christian ministry which provides care to people battling addictions, homelessness, hunger and depression.


THURSDAY

Cirque Dreams show gets illuminated

Like other cirque shows, "Cirque Dreams Illumination" combines modern and aerial dance, acrobatics, gymnastics, trapeze artistry, bungee and other circus skills.

"Cirque Dreams Illumination" will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, at Peabody Auditorium, 600 Auditorium Blvd., Daytona Beach. Tickets are $45, $50 and $55 plus service charge, and are available at the auditorium box office and Ticketmaster. Information from the venue: 386-671-3462.

"Illumination" is the 14th production by Cirque Dreams since the company's founding by Neil Goldberg in 1993. The troupe presented "Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy" in Daytona Beach in 2007.

According to the Cirque Dreams press release, "Illumination" is set in a "magical metropolis" whose inhabitants "reinvent familiar objects, balance on wires, leap tall buildings and redefine the risks of flight in a story filled with astounding occurrences." The stage show's original score includes jazz, ballroom, pop and more.

-- Rick de Yampert, Entertainment Writer

FRIDAY
Mystic doo-wop in Daytona

In 1959, the Brooklyn doo-wop group the Mystics had a top 20 hit with their song "Hushabye."

The current incarnation of the group, George Galfo's Mystics, will be part of the Harvey Robbins Royalty of Doo-Wopp show. The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9 at Peabody Auditorium, 600 Auditorium Blvd., Daytona Beach. Tickets are $29-$45 plus service charge, and are available at the Peabody box office and Ticketmaster. For more information, call 386-671-3462.

The lineup also includes Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners, the Diablos featuring Jay Johnson, a reunion of Boston's original Interludes, and the Knights of Doo-Wopp.

SATURDAY
Painter gets celluloid treatment

Painter Harold Garde, who divides his time between homes in New Smyrna Beach and Maine, says he begins a painting as an abstract, then works on it "until I find an image that becomes an identifiable subject."

Garde himself is now a subject. "Harold Garde: Working Artist," a documentary film by Dale Schierholt, will have its world premiere at 7 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Museum of Florida Art, 600 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand. The film is being shown in conjunction with the exhibit "Harold Garde. painting. 50 years," which runs at the museum through Feb. 15.

The film screening will be followed by a reception with the filmmaker and the artist. Tickets are $25 for museum members, $30 for non-members and include a take-home copy of the movie. Reservations are required by calling 386-734-4371.

A free matinee will be shown at 2 p.m. Jan. 11 at the museum.

SATURDAY
Cirque show in Flagler

Like other cirque shows, "Cirque Odyssey" combines modern and aerial dance, acrobatics, gymnastics, trapeze artistry, bungee and other circus skills.

"Cirque Odyssey" will perform at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at Flagler Auditorium, 5500 E. S.R. 100, Palm Coast. Tickets are $38, available at the auditorium box office. Information: 386-437-7547.

SATURDAY
Dueling rock bands

Eleven rock bands, two stages, one night -- that's the deal with the Second Annual Dueling Stages.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Full Moon Saloon, 700 Main St., Daytona Beach. Admission is $10. Information: 386-252-9877. Bands on the bill are: Where We Stand, the Uprise, It Starts Today, the Vices, the New Threat, We Won't Stop, TeaBaggin, Back Alley Brawler, Remain Calm, Disco Biscuit and Amsden.

WEDNESDAY
Dark side of the new year

Want to spend New Year's Eve on the dark side of the moon? Classic Albums Live is a group of studio musicians and vocalists who perform -- you got it -- classic rock albums. And they do it cut by cut, note for note.

Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" will be performed at 9 p.m. Wednesday, New Year's Eve at Hard Rock Live, Universal Studios CityWalk, 6050 Universal Blvd., Orlando.

Tickets are $35, $45 and $50 advance; $40, $50 and $55 day of show, available at the venue and Ticketmaster. Information: 407-351-5483.

ONGOING
Hey doll, you look great!

She's about to turn 50, but this lady hasn't aged a bit in years. She's a real doll -- no, really.
The Barbie doll is being showcased in an exhibit at the Museum of Arts and Sciences.

"Barbie Doll: Celebrating 50 Years of an American Icon" features over 400 dolls from the private collection of Jo Ann Winspur.

The Barbie dolls sport clothes from her creation in 1959 through today, including couture by famed Hollywood designer Bob Mackie. The exhibit also includes vintage play sets and such Barbie friends as Steffie, Cara, Julia, Midge, Skipper and, of course, that Ken guy.

The exhibit runs through April 5 at the museum, 352 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach. Museum hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. The museum will close at 3 p.m. Dec. 31 but is open New Year's Day.

Admission is $12.95 adults, $10.95 seniors and students, $6.95 children ages 6 to 17, free to children 5 and younger. Information: 386-255-0285 or moas.org.

-- Staff Report

THIS SEASON
St. Augie gets cold shoulder
You've seen the Christmas decor under the palm trees -- Frosty and his snow-people family, icicle-like lights and "Let it snow" signs planted on front yards by hopeful Floridians.
The St. Augustine Amphitheatre feels your warm-weather Yule pain. So the venue has turned itself into Winter Wonderland with a skating rink, a 100-foot ice slide, sleigh rides, Santa, an elf village, lighted nature rails and more.

Hours are 6 to 10 p.m. nightly, except Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, though the event's final day is on Jan. 4. Yes, it's open Christmas night, Dec. 25.

Also, the ice rink and slide will be open 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily from Saturday through Jan. 4 (except on Christmas day). The amphitheatre is at 1340 A1A South, St. Augustine (just south of the lighthouse).

Admission is free but ice skating is $10, and skate rentals are $2; ice slide is $3 per slide or $5 for three rides; sleigh rides are $10 adults and $5 children.
Information: 904-471-1965 or staugamphitheatre.com.

THIS WEEKEND
Blue Christmas for improv troupe
Santa, you'll need extra pen and paper to keep up with Random Acts of Insanity. The local comedy improv troupe will be both naughty and nice this weekend.

The troupe will stage their first ever "Happy Ha-Ha-Holidays Show" at 8 p.m. Friday Dec. 19 at the Daytona Playhouse, 100 Jessamine Blvd., Daytona Beach. It's a holiday-themed show that's appropriate for all ages.

Also, RAI will stage its "Blue Christmas Show" at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Playhouse. Troupe director Hillary Walker says that performance "will include mature content that won't be suitable for those trying to stay on Santa's nice list."

Tickets are $10 adults, $8 students ages 18 and younger. Proceeds benefit the Daytona Playhouse. Information: Random Acts of Insanity hot line at 386-314-6158.

SUNDAY
An Opry Christmas
The 10th Annual Downtown Opry Christmas Show will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Coliseum, 176 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach.

This year's performers include the Firecracker 4, guitarist Joe King, Andre Harkness, the pop/rock band Steam, Dale Wesley, Kaitlyn Kent, Viviana Clarey, Michaela Rose Messina, Megan Stackpoole, the Carlos Mercieri Quartet and others. Tickets are $12 adults, $10 seniors and students. Information: 386-852-7890.

 

-- Rick de Yampert
Entertainment Writer

 

 

TODAY
Irish Rovers rove to Flagler

If Santa needs a stress reliever before he makes that big trip on Dec. 24, the Big Guy in Red should check out the Irish Rovers.

These Irish immigrants have been roving around the United States for more than 40 years, playing the folk music of their homeland on button accordion, keyboard accordion, cittern (a guitar forerunner), banjo, tin whistle, guitars, drums, bass and spoons.

And the Rovers also play a spirited Christmas show with such songs as "I Wish Every Day Was Christmas," "The Bells of Belfast" and the pub-rocking "Three Jolly Rogues."

The Irish Rovers will perform a holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. today at Flagler Auditorium, 5500 E. S.R. 100, Palm Coast. Tickets are $28, available at the auditorium or by calling 386-437-7547.