Friday (and Saturday) night music

While the roads are clear, and before cabin fever sets in any deeper, consider driving over to Godfrey Daniels, 7 E. 4th Street, Bethlehem to hear singer-songwriter of acoustic, folk rock and American Music Amelia White, up from Nashville for this one night performance beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2014. Reservations are recommended, but not required.

And if the weather is still fine, if chilly, tomorrow, go back on Saturday, February 1st to hear the great folksinger Bill Staines. Reservations might not be a bad idea.

And check out some concerts even closer that will be held in the coming weeks at Landhaven on Huff’s Church Road. Musicians appearing in this lovely small venue include Woody Mann (blues, jazz, and more), and Harleysville celtic sensation Burning Bridget Cleary.

Romance, family, and history on stage

January 31 – February 2nd is the opening weekend for the romantic comedy, The Last Romance, at the DCP Theatre, 795 Ridge Road, Telford.

A crush can make anyone feel young again. One day a widower named Ralph decides to take a different path on his daily walk that leads him to an unexpected second chance at love. Ralph attempts to woo Carol. Her resistance, plus Ralph’s lonely sister’s jealousy, makes for a trip of a lifetime. This is a true heart warmer.

There will be a wine and cheese and director’s reception this weekend only. The play will run weekends through February 15, 2014. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling 215-234-0966, or at the box office on the night of the performance.

Montgomery Theater in Souderton opens their season on February 5th with 4000 Miles.

After suffering a major loss while on a cross-country bike trip, 21 year-old Leo seeks solace from his feisty 91 year-old grandmother Vera in her West Village apartment. Over the course of a single month, these unlikely roommates infuriate, bewilder, and ultimately reach each other. Amy Herzog’s acclaimed new play looks at how two outsiders find their way in today’s world.

After its premiere at Lincoln Center Theater in 2011, 4000 Miles was nominated for a Pulitzer prize.

Tickets for the show, which runs through February 23, 2014, can be bought online or at the box office. Montgomery Theater, 124 Main Street, Souderton. 215-723-9984.

The students in Act 1 at DeSales University, 2755 Station Ave, Central Valley, will be staging The Diary of Anne Frank from February 19 – March 2, 2014. Tickets have already sold out for some performances, so the time to order your tickets is now.

Art openings this winter

Many nearby museums are opening exhibits this weekend and next, featuring a wide range of art media; paintings, sculpture, fabric arts, and photographs.

The Hallman Legacy: Fine Art and Fabric Art opens Saturday, February 1st and continues to March 28, 2014, at Mennonite Heritage Center, 565 Yoder Road, Harleysville. The museum is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Special Sunday reception, February 2nd, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is by donation.

Working in pastels, watercolors and oils, his (Ted Hallman, Sr.) work ranges from representational landscapes and portraits to conceptual abstract work.  His paintings are in many museum collections and his painting periods are well represented in this exhibit.

The second generation of this artistic family, Ted Hallman, Jr., has been an important figure in modern design since the late 1950s, using textiles as an art medium. His work is represented in the collections of major art museums.

The Berman Museum at Ursinus College, 601 E Main Street, Collegeville, opened two new exhibits this week;  Only Connect: A Conversation About Image and Word, Photographs and Texts by Brian H. Peterson opened Jan. 21 in the Upper Gallery and runs through March 9, 2014. Barbara J. Zucker: 40 Years of Painting: A Visual Journal opened Jan. 27 in the Main Gallery and runs through March 23, 2014

The Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and noon to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Museum is closed Mondays and College holidays. The Museum is accessible to visitors with disabilities. Admission is always free.

Paul Harryn: Essence of Nature showcases abstract painting and drawings made over several decades and held primarily in private collections, but brought together at Allentown ArtMuseum this month until May 18, 2014. The Allentown Art Museum, 31 North 5th Street, Allentown, is open Wed – Sat, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.                                                           

The public has curated the next exhibit to open at Michener Museum in Doylestown next weekend, opening on February 8 – July 20, 2014.

The People’s Choice: Celebrating Michener’s Top 25 is a community-curated exhibition that acknowledges the 25th anniversary of the museum and its rich collection of permanent collection holdings. Votes were recorded based on a selection of 125 key objects; the 25 works which received the most votes comprise this interactive exhibition. The selection includes contemporary, modernist, impressionist works and sculptures.

Blues Band “The Porkroll Project” – Boyertown Friday Feb. 7th

Blues Band The Porkroll Project is coming to The State Theater in Boyertown on Friday, February 7, 2014. Advance tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online, at the box office each night from 6-7:30 p.m., or by calling 610-367-4737; $10 advance and  $15 day of the show.Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. concert.

 

The Porkroll Project, from the greater Philadelphia, PA, area is a hard rocking 6-piece blues band who play a high energy blend of fresh covers and originals. The music is blues, but it’s done up Porkroll style. Little bit of grease, good dose of funk, whole lotta drive and grind. Throw that together with some dangerous lead guitar and harmonica, powerful organ, and rippin’ piano, and you have a recipe for a night where anything can happen!

Special Guest Appearance by Blues Hall of Fame Member Georgie Bonds

Alice in Wonderland – on stage this weekend only

The Middle School students at Perkiomen School have been rehearsing for months in order to stage the family friendly play Alice in Wonderland. This weekend only, (Friday, Jan 24 – 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan 25 – 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Jan 26 – 2 p.m.)  at Kehs Hall, 200 Seminary Avenue Pennsburg. All performances are free and open to the public.

Jazz, Blues, Folk and more in January – starting tonight!

Today is the second Thursday of the month, and the first month in the new year. Which means that tonight is the first chance in 2014 to see and hear the Alan Segal Jazz Quintet in Harleysville at Church of the Holy Spirit, Barndt Road and Sumneytown Pike. The free concert is from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. (though people have been known to come late and leave early, depending on their schedule) – a voluntary offering is accepted in a discreet basket (no pressure).

Java Good Day Cafe in East Greenville is showcasing live music the next two weekends.

This Friday (Jan 10) from 7 – 9 we have Don Cogan performing classic country hits with his fabulous voice – he is a treat to listen to! Next Saturday (Jan 18) from 7 – 9 we have the Weathered Machines – a young duo with amazing harmonies performing covers and local music.

There will be a free Saturday afternoon folk concert performed by Vellamo at the Allentown Public Library (12th and Hamilton Streets) from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. This folk music duo from Finland will be singing traditional and original songs in Finnish, English, and Swedish. on January 11, 2014.

Enjoy some blues by award winning singer songwriter Ruthie Foster at Quakertown’s McCoole’s Arts and Entertainment Place at 10 Main Street on Saturday, January 11, 2014.  Tickets are $32. 484-358-3868. Doors open at 6:45 for the 7:30 concert.

She is two-time Grammy nominated (2010, 2012), and in each of the last three years she received the Koko Taylor Award, given to the best living female blues artist. Parlor Concerts at McCoole’s is bringing Ruthie for an intimate and personal one-woman show that is sure to be a celebration you won’t want to miss.

The Philadelphia Brass takes the stage at Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, on Sunday, January 19, 2014 at 3 p.m. Tickets are just $10 to hear traditional and modern music for brass.

New Year, New Art, and New Open Mic

 

New art has gone up on the walls at Java Good Day Cafe, Main Street, East Greenville. This Friday night is the first Open Mic of the 2014 from 7 p.m. -11 p.m. Bring an instrument, your best singing voice, or just a desire to hear music provided by neighborhood musicians.

Grace Notes Piano Party

All are welcome to attend the Grace Notes Piano Studio’s annual Piano Party 7 p.m. this Friday, January 3, 2014 at Kehs Hall on Perkiomen School campus, 200 Seminary Avenue, Pennsburg.

Enjoy wonderful tunes from students, followed by refreshments.

There is no admission charge.

Creative New Year’s Resolutions

Public Radio’s Studio 360 suggests skipping the usual New Year’s resolutions and instead encourages folks to come up with a creative resolution. What a great way to start the New Year!

What’s the creative project you’ve been meaning to bite off for years? Finishing your novel? Learning how to play an instrument and sing at the same time? Or maybe it’s more of a creative challenge: writing a poem a day or painting 365 portraits.

In 2013, we followed a musician, writer, graphic novelist, and woodworker. See how they progressed throughout the year.

Let’s make 2014 the year to complete your creative New Year’s resolution!

You can read some creative resolutions posted on Studio 360’s blog, and hear their recent broadcast concerning resolutions made in 2013.

Feel free to share your ideas for the arts and any creative New Year’s resolutions you have in our comment section below.