Arts and entertainment briefs

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 25, 2011

ArtSpeak & Eat
SPENCER — Tonight, May 26, Guy Raymond is the featured artist of ArtSpeak & Eat, the semi-monthly series sponsored by the Green Goat Gallery and Pinocchio’s Italian Restaurant designed to connect artists with collectors in a casual atmosphere.
The informal discussion led by Raymond begins at the gallery at 5:30 p.m. Those interested in continuing the conversation will then proceed next door to Pinocchio’s with the artist at 6 p.m. Both the lecture and dinner are open to the public; however, dinner reservations are required.
The Green Goat Gallery is located at 516 South Salisbury Ave. For more information about the event call 704-639-0606. To make dinner reservations call 704-636-8891.
Tractor ride for charity
COOLEEMEE — This Saturday, May 28, the fourth annual 25 mile charity tractor ride will leave the Civitan Arbor in Cooleemee and tour the secondary roads from Cooleemee to and around Woodleaf.
A rest break at the Wetmore Farms in Woodleaf allows for stretching legs, eating watermelon and talking a little “tractor stuff.” The ride will continue on the planned route taking another break then ending back in Cooleemee.
There will also be a tractor show and the $20 entry for each entry goes to a favorite charity.
Registration and staging starts at 8 a.m.; drivers meet at 9, the first nine tractors leave at 9:15, with the next nine leaving 10 minutes later.
There will be sausage biscuits and coffee, hot dogs and drinks and doors prizes.
A separate event will be held at the Civitan Arbor during the tractor show: pit pork barbeque will be for sale starting at 9:30 a.m., rain or shine.
Hosted by the Cooleemee Civitan Club. For more information, rules, route, application and list of charities see cooleemeeciv@yadtel.net or phone 336-284-2975 or 336-284-4167.
WW opening reception
Waterworks Visual Arts Center hosts the opening reception for the summer exhibition “In The Details” on Friday, May 27 from 6-8 p.m.
The reception will also honor the Dare to Imagine Award winner, Dean Crouch. Light refreshments will be served. This free event will be held at Waterworks, 123 E. Liberty St. Call 704-636-1882 or visit www.waterworks.org for more information.
Gold Hill Bike Ride
Registration for “Mine to Mine 2011,” the 12th annual group Gold Hill bike ride, begins at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, May 28, and the 50K and 100K rides begin at 9.
The ride begins in Historic Gold Hill in front of the Stamp Mill Café (840 St. Stephen’s Church Road) and continues south toward and encircling Reed Gold Mine through parts of Rowan, Cabarrus and Stanly counties.
Ride highlights include Saratoga Springs, Smith Lake (rest stop), Gold Hill Mines and Park, Reed Gold Mine, Rocky River Vineyards, Fresh House Restaurant in Locust, and Uwharrie Vineyards.
The $20 registration fee includes lunch at the Arbor in Gold Hill beginning at noon.
For more information contact Darrius Hedrick at darriushedrick@yahoo.com.
Henderson music fest
VIRGINIA — The 17th annual Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition takes place Saturday, June 18, rain or shine, at Grayson Highlands State Park near Mouth of Wilson, Virginia.
The Boxcars are the headline band, along with George Hamilton IV, the April Verch Band, Eddie Pennington, the Harris Brothers, Bobby Ingano and Wayne Henderson and Friends.
Guitar competition contestants will have the chance to win a handmade Henderson guitar, and $11,500 in scholarships will be presented to young musicians studying Appalachian music and the groups that support them.
Performances run from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. A children’s area will feature lariat artist Doug Smith and his rope tricks, along with music, crafts and games.
A portion of proceeds will benefit scholarships for young musicians. Parking is free. Find full event details and directions at www.waynehenderson.org.
OCT auditions
CONCORD — Old Courthouse Theatre will hold auditions for “On Golden Pond” from 7-9 p.m., June 13-14. Performance dates are Aug. 11-28.
OCT is located at 49 Spring St. SW. Visit www.oldcourthousetheatre. org for more information.
‘Henry V’ auditions
Lee Street Theatre will hold auditions for its tongue-in-cheek performance of “Henry V” from 7-10 p.m., June 6.
Performance dates are July 10-16. Auditions will be held at the Looking Glass Artist Collective, 405 N. Lee St. Call 704-754-2321 for information.
Faithful Friends fundraiser at Rail Walk
Rail Walk Studios & Gallery artists will donate 10 percent of sales during the Faithful Friends fundraising sale Saturday, May 28 through Monday, May 30 and Saturday, June 4.
Some of the artists do animal paintings and will donate 10 percent of any commissions received for pet portraits during this time.
The fundraiser will be in a warehouse behind Rail Walk Studios & Gallery, 409 – 413 N Lee St. The back entrance faces the warehouse and parking area where the Faithful Friends event is being held.
For more information, visit www.railwalkgallery.com, or call 704-431-8964.
14th annual recital
“Pop Music,” Steppin’ Out Dance Company’s 14th dance recital, is tonight, May 26, at 6:30 p.m. in Keppel Auditorium at Catawba College. The show is free of charge and open to the public.
The highlight of the show will be an encore performance of “King of Pop,” a Michael Jackson tribute, danced by the Junior and Senior Performing Companies. For more information, call 704-637-1222.
Salisbury Swing Band
MIDLAND — The Salisbury Swing Band, directed by Dr. Steve Etters, will be in concert at the Rocky River Vineyards, 11685 Reed Mine Road in Midland, at 7 p.m. Friday evening, May 27.
The band features Big Band music from the ’40s and ’50s as well as popular dance styles of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s along with familiar beach music selections.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings motion picture trilogy three-night event series comes to Tinseltown in June.
There is nearly an hour of additional feature footage per film with additional and extended scenes selected, as well as introductions to each film from Jackson, which were captured on the set of his current film The Hobbit.
The Fellowship of the Ring will be shown on June 14; The Two Towers on June 21 and The Return of the King on June 28.
Tickets are available at the theater box office or online at www.FathomEvents.com.
###