Downtown barbecue fest slated Aug. 1-3

7/16/2008

Smoke on the Water Ribs for the Red Cross takes place the first weekend in August at Promenade Park along the downtown riverfront. The event features local and national barbecue vendors and entertainment.

Performing Aug. 1 will be the local country music band Haywire and national act Julie Roberts. Aug. 2 will be rock day with local bands Argyle Everything, Resonant Soul, the Nutones, and We Are the Fury. California alternative rockers Eve 6, best remembered for its No. 1 single Inside Out, will close out the evening. Aug. 3 will be Family Day with children s games and activities and performances by Old Dogs, Polka Floyd, and Candice Coleman.

Hours for the event will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 1 and 2 and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 3.

The Toledo Club and The Blade present Twist & Shout, Party in the Parking Lot XXI from 7 p.m. to midnight Aug. 1 at the Toledo Club, 235 14th St. The event features the Beatles Tribute Band, The Return. Proceeds benefit the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure. Tickets are $27.50 in advance from 419-243-2200 or $30 at the gate.

The fifth annual Midsummer Night Up on the Roof takes place at 7:30 p.m. July 26 in the rooftop gardens of the Main Library, 325 Michigan St. Presented by the Library Legacy Foundation, the event features live music by Hepcat Revival, a grazing menu, and a cash bar. Tickets are $75. Information: 419-259-5123.

The Sandpiper Boat hosts interactive musical mysteries by Random Acts this summer. The two-hour river cruise will board at 6:45 p.m. at the Jefferson Street Dock and includes a pasta buffet from Superior Catering. Cost is $39. Sail dates are Aug. 6 and 27 and Sept. 10 and 24. Reservations: from 419-537-1212.

Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert will perform at the Monroe County Fair at 8 p.m. July 28. Shelton has taken three singles to the top of the charts since 2001 Austin, The Baby, and Some Beach. Lambert has gone platinum with her debut album Kerosene. Reserved seats are $33 and $43, and general admission tickets are $22 from www.starticketsplus.com, by phone from 800-585-3737, or at the fair box office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Bikers, boaters and music lovers are invited to a pig and chicken roast with music by three local bands starting at noon Sunday at the Bitter End Bar/Restaurant at Anchor Pointe Marina off Corduroy Road in Curtice. Performing will be Bobby May, Kentucky Chrome and the Ogres. Admission is $10. Information: 419-836-8726.

A Bluegrass Festival is scheduled from 1 to 8 p.m. July 26 at the Whitehouse Waterville Moose Lodge, 11900 Jeffers Rd., in Grand Rapids. Performers include Flatland Grass, the Clark Bros., Fulton County Bluegrass, and the Silvercreek Band. Admission is $10 for adults; youngsters under 16 will be admitted for free. Other activities include camping, swimming, and fishing. Visitors are asked to bring lawn chairs. Information: 419-832-0722.

The 29th annual Jazz & Rib Fest is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 25 and 26 and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 27 in Bicentennial and Genoa Parks in downtown Columbus. This year s headliner is David Sanborn, performing at 8:30 p.m. July 26. Information: 614-645-3800, or www.hotribscooljazz.org.

• The Croswell Opera House will host auditions for The Great American Trailer Park Musical from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 26, with callbacks from 2 to 4 p.m., in the opera house at 129 East Maumee St., Adrian Needed are five females and two male singers between the ages of 18 and 60 for a fun-loving country-rock and blues musical comedy. Auditioners should come with a prepared song and are asked to bring their own sheet music. Production dates will be Sept. 12-14 and 19-21. Information: 517-263-6868.

• Caryl Crane Children s Theatre will continue its 22nd season with auditions for The Wizard of Oz from 8:30 to 11:45 a.m. Monday and Tuesday in McBride Auditorium at BGSU Firelands campus, One University Dr., Huron, Ohio. Roles are available for ages 10 through adults. Rehearsals begin July 28 and run from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday through Aug. 15, then switch to 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 18 until the the show opens. Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5 and 6 and 2:30 p.m. Sept. 7 in McBride Auditorium. Information: 419-433-3820 or 419-202-6526.