Row upon row of gleaming vintage cars, pinstriped hot rods and shiny fire trucks will fill the First Street Green on Sunday for the 22nd annual Panther Band Car Show. “Steve Wymer is running the show this year,” Panther Band Booster President Jeff Arkin said. Amid all the chrome and fins, grilles and big engines, […]
Stan Houston: Grow the market, reap a wider audience
I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN LAST YEAR that the board of directors of the Vallejo Symphony had chosen to remove David Ramadanoff as principal conductor. It is no secret that ticket sales to symphony performances have dropped over the past few years, but I would make the argument that an exclusive “interest” in the classics […]
Music Scene: For Benicia teens, big gig in Walnut Creek
Benicia’s homegrown band Echoes in Absence will celebrate the release of a five-song EP, “Stories,” with a show Friday night at Red House Studios in Walnut Creek. Though all the band members are under 21 — lead guitarist Chris Park is 18, vocalist and acoustic guitarist Jonathan Park is 17, bassist Hank Nelson is 16 […]
Music Scene: New CD for ‘Benicia Boy’
A year after the completion of “The John Heenan Project,” Ralph Jefferson, aka Jack Nastie, has announced the release of his newest album, “JackMoves,” on Saturday, with an album release party set for Friday night at Chris’ Club in Vallejo, beginning at 9 p.m. Jefferson will take the stage around 10 p.m.
Benicia Ballet, SONC enhance each other on stage
WHAT IF THE SYMPHONY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA were to invite Benicia Ballet Theatre to join them in a concert of music and dance? Sounds like a splendid idea — and in fact it turned out beautifully for both when the two companies performed “Crossing the Lines” at Solano College Theatre in Fairfield last weekend. Former […]
On the Stage: Happy Dog Duo wows symphony fans at ‘Concert for the Animals’
A PAIR OF VIRTUOSIC YOUNG PIANISTS wowed the crowd at the winter performance of the Vallejo Symphony Orchestra at Hogan Auditorium in Vallejo on Sunday, whizzing through brisk animal-themed works including “Flight of the Bumblebee” and “Carnival of the Animals” in a collaborative effort with the Humane Society of the North Bay, proceeds from which […]
Review: California Symphony offers intriguing musical evening
RIVERSIDE COUNTY PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA DIRECTOR Tomasz Golka took the podium at the Lesher Arts Center in Walnut Creek on Sunday as guest conductor for the California Symphony’s winter concert, “Whimsy and Virtuosity.” Golka proved to be a passionate conductor and the orchestra produced some polished sound, though at times the group lacked cohesion and even […]
Comedy, music fill in during area theaters’ holiday lull
MOST AREA THEATER COMPANIES wrapped up their production runs early this month, taking a break for the holidays until about the end of January. One exception is Missouri Street Theatre, whose “Into the Woods” opened last Thursday and continues through Sunday at the Downtown Theatre in Fairfield, 1035 Texas St., 940-0700, www.downtowntheatre.com. Meanwhile, music and […]
On the Stage: VOENA shines holiday light at Camel Barns, City Winery
VOENA, Benicia’s own world-renowned children’s choir, sang the second of three scheduled performances of its annual “Voices of the Season: Wintersong” program at Benicia Historical Museum at the Camel Barns on Saturday. The final performance of the 2014 holiday program will be at the City Winery in Napa on Dec. 20. A few of the […]
Review: Vallejo Symphony opener a big hit
THE VALLEJO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OPENED ITS 83RD SEASON SUNDAY with an international sampling from late 19th and early 20th century composers, titled “Worlds Away” and featuring guest soloist David Requiro, prize-winning cellist and professor of music at the University of Puget Sound. And while Requiro was the day’s star performer, each section of the symphony […]