- PHOTO: Charlie Parr
Spotlight
Singer/songwriter and picker Charlie Parr will kick-off the Music in the Vines summer concert series at Falconer Vineyards 7 p.m. Friday June 8 in Red Wing.
A self-confessed failure (and modest to a fault), Minnesota’s Charlie Parr is nonetheless stubborn enough not to quit. Parr released his first recording, “Criminals & Sinners,” to mild local acclaim in 2001.
In any case, since that first recording, Parr has managed to release seven additional raw, lo-fi albums right up to the latest, “When the Devil Goes Blind,” and perhaps his best-known, “1922.” His newest batch of recordings is titled “Barnswallow,” set to be released in 2012.
Parr has achieved a remarkable amount of success for a folk-singer and songwriter of his untrained abilities. This is surely attributable to his all-encompassing and encyclopedic knowledge of the American folk, country and blues cannon. He has a much admired guitar playing style, ranging across a self-taught mix of slide, finger-picking and quasi-frailing technique, also playing on National resonator guitar, 12-string and banjo.
He has traveled throughout the country, Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe playing everywhere from fancy theaters to punk rock dives. Folks seem to like him just fine, in spite of his less than heroic efforts at self-promotion, etiquette or hygiene.
When: 7 p.m. Friday June 8
Where: Falconer Vineyards, 3572 Old Tyler Road, Red Wing
Cost: $12 in advance, $15 at the door
More info: 651-388-8849 or www.falconervineyards.com or www.charlieparr.com
Friday, June 1
Zumbrota State Theatre
Branding Iron Productions presents “Nashville Songwriters in the Round,” with Ray Stephenson and Buddy Owens. The two have written for Grammy-nominated Album of the Year contenders “Red River Blue,” by Blake Shelton and “Hemingways Whiskey,” by Kenny Chesney. A free art show will follow. Tickets can be purchased at Wild Ginger in Zumbrota, Doc Sawyer’s in Goodhue or at the door.
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Zumbrota State Theatre, 88 E. Fourth St., Zumbrota
Cost: $40
More info: 507-732-7616 or www.crossingsatcarnegie.com
Treasure Island
Hitchville entertains at Treasure Island Resort & Casino.
When: 8:30 p.m.
Where: Parlay Lounge
Cost: Free
More info: 877-849-1640 or www.ticasino.com
Saturday, June 2
Cannon River Winery
The winery presents “June Bloom - Local Wine & Food.” Visit all ten wineries on the Great River Road Wine Trail and taste local wines paired with local foods at this annual event. Free live music will be performed by Joel Kachel from 1-4 p.m. and also Relativity from 5-8 p.m.
When: 11-6 p.m.
Where: 421 Mill St., Cannon Falls
Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door
More info: 507-263-7400 or www.cannonriverwinery.com
Abode Gallery
Visit the opening reception for a new show, “Passing Views: Paintings by Francene Christianson.” Her paintings infuse memories into landscapes and portraits.
When: 2-5 p.m.
Where: N2030 Spring Street, Stockholm
Cost: Free
More info: 715-442-2266
Widespot PAC
Minnesota Fringe Fest favorites the Rockstar Storytellers perform a sneak peek of their 2012 Fringe entries at WideSpot. Always entertaining, theatrical and challenging, Rockstar Storytellers is a collective of solo performers from a variety of disciplines — spoken word, stand-up, slam poetry, improv, creative non-fiction, sketch comedy, playwriting — and they’ve even got a mime.
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Widespot Performing Arts and Community Center, second story of N2030 Spring St., Stockholm
Cost: $8, please note this show is not recommended for kids under 16 years old
More info: 715-307-8941 or www.widespotperformingarts.org
Zumbrota State Theatre
Branding Iron Productions presents “Nashville Songwriters in the Round” with Ray Stephenson and Buddy Owens.
When: 7 p.m.
Details: See June 1
Treasure Island
Hitchville entertains at Treasure Island Resort & Casino.
When: 8:30 p.m.
Where: Parlay Lounge
Cost: Free
More info: 877-849-1640 or www.ticasino.com
Sunday, June 3
Cannon River Winery
The winery presents “June Bloom — Local Wine & Food.” Visit all ten wineries on the Great River Road Wine Trail and taste local wines paired with local foods at this annual event. The group treVeld will be performing free live music from 1-4 p.m.
When: 11-6 p.m.
Where: 421 Mill St., Cannon Falls
Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door
More info: 507-263-7400 or www.cannonriverwinery.com
Thursday, June 7
Cannon River Winery
Cannon Falls First Thursday Fun Fest including family entertainment, food, shopping and wine samples.
When: 5-8 p.m.
Where: In front of the winery at 421 Mill St., Cannon Falls
Cost: Free
More info: 507-263-7400 or www.cannonriverwinery.com
Sheldon Theatre
The Sheldon’s summer season kicks off with their film series. The 1961 version of “West Side Story” will be shown. Winner of ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture, this electrifying musical sets the ageless tragedy of Romeo and Juliet against a backdrop of gang warfare in 1950s New York.
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Sheldon Theatre, 443 W. Third St.
Cost: $5
More info: 651-388-8700 or 800-899-5759, or www.sheldontheatre.org.
Friday, June 8
Falconer Vineyards
Music in the Vines Concert presenting Charlie Parr playing blues/bluegrass music.
When: 7 p.m.
Details: See Spotlight
Treasure Island
Stimulus Package entertains at Treasure Island Resort & Casino.
When: 8:30 p.m.
Where: Parlay Lounge
Cost: Free
More info: 877-849-1640 or www.ticasino.com
Saturday, June 9
Cannon River Winery
Tony Williams will entertain with live music. Williams’ solo performance features a variety of classical, flamenco and jazz originals as well as some Americana/Classic cover songs. During the summer of 2011 he was voted the winner of the KARE 11 “The Voice: Minnesota” contest.
When: 2-5 p.m.
Where: In front of the winery at 421 Mill St., Cannon Falls
Cost: Free
More info: 507-263-7400 or www.cannonriverwinery.com
Zumbrota State Theatre
Monroe Crossing will perform classic bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, and heartfelt originals.
When: 8 p.m.
Where: 88 E. Fourth St., Zumbrota
Cost: $18 in advance, $20 at the door
More info: 507-732-7616 or www.crossingsatcarnegie.com
Treasure Island
Stimulus Package entertains at Treasure Island Resort & Casino.
When: 8:30 p.m.
Where: Parlay Lounge
Cost: Free
More info: 877-849-1640 or www.ticasino.com
Sunday, June 10
Summer Car Cruze-Ins
The River Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau will host Car Cruze-Ins. Classic cars, rat rods, motorcycles and other show vehicles are welcome. Bring a vehicle or just come to enjoy downtown River Falls and live music, food, shopping and various prizes. June’s theme is Town ‘N Country Day and includes a free breakfast in the morning, root beer floats in the afternoon and plenty of family activities all day long.
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Downtown River Falls
Cost: Free
More info: 715-425-2533 or www.rfchamber.com
Cannon River Winery
Lingua Luna will entertain with live music. The group is a Minneapolis-based contemporary folk trio who began their musical collaboration after years of friendship. Their music stems from their classical training as well as improvisation and often includes beautiful acoustic harmonies.
When: 1-4 p.m.
Where: In front of the winery at 421 Mill St., Cannon Falls
Cost: Free
More info: 507-263-7400 or www.cannonriverwinery.com
— Compiled by Stacy Bengs, staff writer
Tags: arts and entertainment, lifestyle, minnesota, arts, entertainment
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