EXPO CENTER HOSTS BEEDS, WHEELS AND REPTILES; RAILROAD EARTH VISITS KESWICK
The following events are planned for the week ahead throughout the region:
• The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks hosts the Spring Innovative Bead Expo from Friday through Sunday, the Mid-Atlantic Indoor Nationals Car, Truck and Bike Show on Saturday and Sunday, and the East Coast Reptile Super Expo on Saturday. The bead expo, featuring designers and jewelry makers, rock and mineral collectors, beaders and hobbyists, runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The Indoor Nationals, with categories ranging from Weekend Drivers to Professional Show Vehicles, runs from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. And the reptile expo, featuring vendors from across the country selling live reptiles, amphibians, arachnids, food items, supplies, books, cages and related accessories at discounted prices, runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. For more information, see phillyexpocenter.com. • The Keswick Theatre, Glenside, presents Railroad Earth in concert on Friday at 8 p.m. in support of their seventh full-length album, “All for the Song,” released last April. For over two decades, Railroad Earth has captivated audiences with unpredictable live shows and eloquent and elevated studio output. The group introduced its signature sound — a blend of bluegrass and Americana — on 2001’s “The Black Bear Sessions.” In the spirit of the Grateful Dead, the band is known for its lyrical songwriting and improvisational approach to live music. “All for the Song” chronicles the twists and turns of the band’s journey through eloquent songcraft, bluegrass soul and rock ’n’ roll spirit. Tickets range from $30 to $45 in advance at keswicktheatre.com, or $35 to $50 day of show.
• West Chester University’s Wells School of Music presents its 33rd annual Jazz Festival through Saturday in Madeleine Wing Adler Theater. Concerts include the Latin Jazz Ensemble featuring Alex Brown today at 8 p.m., Nicholas Payton & the Criterions on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and a High School Jazz Festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. All shows are free. For more information, see wcupa.edu. • Sellersville Theater kicks off a busy week of shows with a concert by the Frank Zappa cover band The Furious Bongos today at 8 p.m. The band’s approach results in a show that pays respect to Zappa’s legacy but is also new and different and dangerous and fun. On Friday at 8 p.m., Philly favorites Boris Garcia, an original jam band with Americana, pop and progressive bluegrass overtones, returns to the Sellersville stage with openers Blue Wave Ramblers. On Saturday at 8 p.m., self-taught blues harmonica player and vocalist Mikey Junior takes the stage. And on Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 p.m., Hotel California presents its salute to the Eagles. For tickets and more information, see st94.com.
• The Miller Center for the Arts at Reading Area Community College presents Soul of America: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin tonight at 7:30. This star-studded ensemble has performed and recorded with such greats as Ray Charles, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and over 40 other Hall of Fame legends. Tickets cost $40 at millercenter.racc.edu.
• The KU Presents! performing arts series at Kutztown University presents “Nat King Cole
& The Ladies of Song”
featuring John Pizzarelli and Catherine Russell on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Schaeffer Auditorium on campus. A world-renowned guitarist and singer, Pizzarelli has established himself as a prime contemporary interpreter of the Great American Songbook and beyond. With sparkling swing and a stunning vocal approach, Russell is among the greatest interpreters of American popular song. Together, they pay homage to Nat King Cole and the legendary singers who appeared on his popular TV show. The concert includes Cole’s most memorable hits such as “Route 66,” “Straighten Up and Fly Right” and “Paper Moon,” along with the timeless works from Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee — the iconic Ladies of Song. Tickets are $46 for adults and $39 for seniors and students at kupresents.org.
• Steel River Playhouse, Pottstown, presents “The Laramie Project” from Friday through Sunday. The play recounts the incident in October 1998 when a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, severely beaten and left tied to a fence in the middle of the prairie outside Laramie, Wyo. His body was not discovered until the next day, and he died several days later. His name was Matthew Shepard, the victim of this assault because he was gay. Moises Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project made six trips to Laramie in the aftermath of the beating and during the trial of the two young men accused of the killing. They conducted 200-plus interviews with the people of the town. Some were directly connected to the case and others were citizens of Laramie. Kaufman and Tectonic Theater constructed a deeply moving theatrical experience from the interviews and their experiences. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. “The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later,” an recounting of the Tectonic team’s return to Laramie in 2008, will be staged March 31-April 2. For more information, see steel-riverplayhouse.org.
• Kennett Flash, Kennett Square, presents the Dukes of Destiny on Friday at 8 p.m. This five-piece blues and old-school soul band has been playing the Philadelphia area for over 37years. Their repertoire includes a mix of adaptations of blues and soul standards as well as many original compositions. They have released four recordings that get regular play on area radio stations, including WXPN’s “The Blues Show.” Rounding out the weekend at the Flash are a Singer-Songwriter Showcase on Saturday at 7 p.m., featuring Sydney Kyle, Meg Russell, Jac Conner and Sharon Bousquet, and a Jazz Jam featuring Dave
Mattock on Sunday at 5 p.m. For tickets and more information, see kennettflash.org.
• SoulJoel’s Comedy Club at Sunnybrook Ballroom, Pottstown, presents Geoffrey Asmus on Friday at 7 p.m. and TuRae and Friends on Saturday at 7p.m. Asmus began performing stand-up in 2013immediately after “wasting $143,548on seven college degrees and becoming a first-grade teacher.” He regularly performs at the World Famous Comedy Cellar in New York City and was featured at Just For Laughs in Montreal as a “New Face.” Tu Rae is a veteran of the stage. Beginning at Philadelphia’s famed Laff House Comedy Club, he is an accomplished comedian and writer who was a “Stand Up NBC” finalist and HBO’s “Comedy Wings” champion. His television appearances including “Comics Unleashed,” “Gotham Live” on Comedy Central, HBO’s “All Def Comedy,” Starz’ “First Amendment Standup” and Fox’s “Laughs TV.” For tickets and more information, see souljoels.com.
• St. John’s Lutheran Church, Phoenixville, presents the Susquehanna University Choir and Chamber Singers in concert on Sunday at 4p.m. The 58-member ensemble conducted by Dr. Amy Voorhees will present a program representing a diversity of composers and cultures. The University Choir was the only collegiate ensemble from Pennsylvania and one of only four ensembles from the state selected to perform at the American Choral Directors Association Eastern Region Conference held in Boston in February 2022. This biennial conference draws choral directors from 11states across the Northeast. There is no admission charge but a free-will offering will be received to help defray the cost of the concert.