Volunteer Project Catalog

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Please join us for decoration-making for our In Bloom Gala, The Center's most important fundraising event of the year. This is an elegant evening that includes cocktails, dinner, an auction, and dancing to a live band. As you probably know, concert ticket sales only cover a small portion of any Art Center's expenses, so the Gala is an essential part of making it all happen.

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This is a great volunteer job for a friendly, responsible person who's interested in volunteering during the day. You'll welcome visitors to the Center, answer questions about our Gallery art, inform guests about upcoming concerts, help direct students who are coming in for classes, and prepare postering packets. Ideally, we'd love to have a committment for one shift a week, however, signing up for a single shift is much appreciated.

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Genre: Rock, Blues, Acoustic Folk, Country - Tribute to Tom Petty and The Young Harvesters "It's all-American music," says The Coffis Brothers’ co-frontman, Kellen, about the band's 2022 release, Turn My Radio Up. "There's rock, blues, acoustic folk, and country in there. As music fans, we go all the way back to the beginning — to pioneers like Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers — but we also look to artists like the Eagles and Tom Petty for influence. That's our playbook." Recorded at producer Tim Bluhm's home studio in Marin County and at 25th Street Recording in Oakland CA, Turn My Radio Up is an album for car stereos, hazy afternoons, and long highways. Jangling guitar leads and front-porch folk songs share equal space with heartland rock anthems and campfire-worthy Americana ballads, all dreamt into existence by a group of road warriors who wear their West Coast stripes proudly. This is honest, heartfelt roots-rock with an emphasis on the roots. With the aptly-titled Turn My Radio Up, The Coffis Brothers salute the glory days of the FM dial while planting their flag firmly in the present. A loose, limber album that showcases the full range of the band's abilities, the record bounces between full-throttle anthems like "Find Out the Hard Way" and acoustic folk songs like "Every Day." Along the way, the Californians make room for soulful, piano-driven standouts ("It's So Easy"), atmospheric Americana ("Feel This Free"), and tongue-in-cheek twang ("Ramona"), with brothers Jamie and Kellen Coffis trading vocal and songwriting duties throughout. Jamie and Kellen Coffis were raised in the Santa Cruz Mountains of northern California. Their mother was a children's musician who often recruited the boys to join her onstage, instilling in them an appreciation for energetic, catchy songs that focused on melody, mood, and message. "We learned how to sing three-part harmonies with Mom at a young age," remembers Jamie, who later grew into an accomplished keyboardist as his brother sharpened his chops on guitar. When the two began writing songs together in 2007, they found that their shared upbringing — including the music they'd heard on the radio airwaves as kids — had left a lasting mark on their artistic sensibilities.

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opener: Outlaws and Angels Genre: Country One of those rare acts who actually became stars directly from winning Star Search, country-rockers Sawyer Brown wound up enjoying a long, hit-filled career and remained commercially viable into the new millennium. The group originally grew out of country-pop singer Don King's touring band, with guitarist Bobby Randall and drummer Joe Smyth signing on in 1979, and bassist Jim Scholten, keyboardist Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard, and guitarist/future lead singer Mark Miller all arriving in 1980. King stopped touring in 1981, and the group decided to stay together, naming themselves after the Nashville street where they rehearsed. They spent the next two years on the road, and their agent landed them an audition for the popular syndicated talent show Star Search. Sawyer Brown won the grand prize of 100,000 dollars, and it wasn't long before Liberty/Capitol signed them up in 1984. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1985, and their debut single, "Leona," climbed into the Top 20; its follow-up, "Step That Step," went all the way to number one, and the album fell one spot short of that same position. Their sophomore album, Shakin', was another hit, producing the Top Five single "Betty's Bein' Bad." Sawyer Brown has released twenty studio albums, of which three have been certified gold in the United States for sales of 500,000 copies. More than 50 of their singles have entered the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including three Number One singles. Sawyer Brown also received a Horizon Award from the Country Music Association in 1985, as well as a Vocal Group of the Year award in 1997 from the Academy of Country Music and five Vocal Band of The Year Awards from the TNN Music City News Country Awards.

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Genre: Stand Up Comedy Competition Finals The San Francisco Comedy Competition is an annual, multi-week, judged, stand-up comedy contest. Over thirty comedians, out of hundreds who apply, perform in shows held in comedy clubs, bars, restaurants, casinos and theaters in San Francisco and around the Bay Area. Contestants perform 3-7 minute long sets in one of two preliminary weeks. The top five from each preliminary week will meet in the semi-finals week, which requires them to perform 8-12 minute long sets for another six shows. The top five from the semi-finals move on to the finals. In the finals, they will perform 12-15 minute long sets in five more shows…and, a winner is crowned. This is a judged contest. Each contestant will perform for a unique group of judges for every show they do. Judges score each contestant in seven categories. No other festival or TV show can claim to have discovered as many future comedy superstars as the annual San Francisco Comedy Competition. The list begins with the likes of Louis C.K., Dana Carvey, Ellen DeGeneres and Robin Williams.

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Genre: Rock The Jayhawks and their rootsy sound were definitely swimming against the tide when they emerged from a crowded Minnesota music scene in 1985. Over the course of almost 4 decades, 11 albums, countless memorable live shows and enough personal drama to fill a couple of Behind the Music episodes, this beloved band soared to heights few ever achieve while winning the hearts and minds of numerous critics, fans and peers in the process. After releasing two Indie albums in the 80s The Jayhawks signed with American Recordings in 1991 and over the next decade released 5 challenging, at times groundbreaking, albums, toured the world to widespread acclaim and even survived the departure of founding member Mark Olson in 1995. After a hiatus in the mid 2000s, the “classic” 1994 lineup reunited for another new studio album in 2011 and 2 years of solid touring, re-acquainting audiences old and new with the band's timeless musical vision. 2014 saw a late 90s version of the band led by Gary Louris hitting the road to support the reissues of the 3 Jayhawks albums released from 1997-2003. This lineup released the band's 9th studio album in 2016, recorded in Portland, OR with producers Peter Buck and Tucker Martine. The band's next studio album, Back Roads And Abandoned Motels, was released in the summer of 2018, featuring Jayhawks versions of songs Gary Louris had previously written with other artists plus 2 new compositions. Recording for a new Jayhawks album was completed in Minnesota in late 2019 and in July 2020 the band released their 11th studio album,XOXO.

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Please join us for The Center's most important fundraising event of the year. This is an elegant evening that includes cocktails, dinner, an auction, and dancing to a live band. As you probably know, concert ticket sales only cover a small portion of any Art Center's expenses, so the Gala is an essential part of making it all happen. Last year we raised over $179,000 to help bring our programs to the community, including many low and no-cost programs for kids. We need at least 40 volunteers helping with everything including decor, parking, greeting, check in, cocktail service, dinner service, security, auction assistance, and clean up. You'll notice the later shifts are shorter since we know it's hard to work into the night. Please sign up for those if you can. You can dress in your usual black and white or go with the In Bloom theme and get creative.

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We need some volunteers to attend local farmer's markets during Open Studios Weekends. If you're friendly, outgoing, and want to support local artists, this is for you. The volunteers will be provided with signage and guides.

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As part of The Center's county-wide Open Studios event, we display one artwork from each Open Studios participant in our Granucci Gallery. Patrons can use this "sampler" exhibit to decide which artists to visit during our Open Studios Tour. Volunteers for this exhibit will sit or stand in our gallery, greet gallery visitors, explain the dates when artists will be hosting guests in their studios, and pass out maps of all studios. In addition to educating patrons on how to see local art, these volunteers protect the art by gently reminding people not to touch it or place drinks nearby.

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Genre: Author, Journalist, and Social Observer In a cultural landscape filled with endless pundits and talking heads, Fran Lebowitz stands out as one of our most insightful social commentators. Her essays and interviews offer her acerbic views on current events and the media – as well as pet peeves including tourists, baggage-claim areas, after-shave lotion, adults who roller skate, children who speak French, or anyone who is unduly tan. The New York Times Book Review calls Lebowitz an "important humorist in the classic tradition." Purveyor of urban cool, Lebowitz is a cultural satirist whom many call the heir to Dorothy Parker. Lebowitz on special interest groups: “Special-interest publications should realize that if they are attracting enough advertising and readers to make a profit, the interest is not so special.” Lebowitz on frankness: “Spilling your guts is exactly as charming as it sounds.” Lebowitz on herself: “Success didn't spoil me, I've always been insufferable.” This is Lebowitz off the cuff. Her writing — pointed, taut and economical — is equally forthright, irascible, and unapologetically opinionated.

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Genre: Stand Up Comedy Kevin Nealon is an Emmy and SAG-nominated actor and comedian who sets himself apart from other comedic performers with his unique sense of humor, dry wit and likable demeanor. Nealon is best known for his nine-year stint as a cast member of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, and received critical acclaim for his role in the hit Showtime series Weeds. Kevin currently produces and hosts his digital series Hiking with Kevin, and tours his stand-up globally. He will be releasing his latest book, Exaggerate: My Brushes with Fame (Abrams), on October 25, 2022. Part art book, part memoir -- the book is full of original full-color caricatures Kevin has created along with funny, endearing personal essays about his famous friends. Nealon’s extensive television credits include the CBS sitcom, Man With a Plan, in which he starred alongside Matt LeBlanc; Showtime’s Weeds, which ran for eight seasons and was honored at the 2006, 2007 and 2009 Golden Globes with nominations for “Best Television Series Comedy or Musical.” In 2007 and 2009, Weeds was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for “Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.” Additional television roles include two critically acclaimed stand-up specials for Showtime; and a number of appearances on Hot In Cleveland, Franklin & Bash, Monk, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Still Standing.

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Dinner on the Stage purchased at our 2023 Gala is being served at The Center for the Arts.

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Genre: Jazz At a moment when musical streams are crossing with unprecedented frequency, it’s crucial to remember that throughout its history, New Orleans has been the point at which sounds and cultures from around the world converge, mingle, and resurface, transformed by the Crescent City’s inimitable spirit and joie de vivre. Nowhere is that idea more vividly embodied than in the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, which has held the torch of New Orleans music aloft for more than 60 years, all the while carrying it enthusiastically forward as a reminder that the history they were founded to preserve is a vibrantly living history. PHJB marches that tradition forward once again on So It Is. The album redefines what New Orleans music means today by tapping into a sonic continuum that stretches back to the city’s Afro-Cuban roots, through its common ancestry with the Afrobeat of Fela Kuti and the Fire Music of Pharoah Sanders and John Coltrane, and forward to cutting-edge artists with whom the PHJB have shared festival stages from Coachella to Newport, including legends like Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello and the Grateful Dead and modern giants like Beck, The Foo Fighters, My Morning Jacket, and the Black Keys.

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Genre: In the past few years Cherry Poppin’ Daddies have become the kind of band that you would want to book if you were throwing a soiree at the Gatsby mansion. Penning elegant, lush, pitch perfect arrangements of much of the great American songbook, from Cole Porter to Frank Sinatra, the Daddies have surprised many-likely familiarwith them from the early 90’s-whose limited exposure to the band undoubtedly consists of an image of spray painted vans careening across the US as an iconoclastic, misfit part of an already marginalized punk/ska scene. In fact the Daddies have of late put together a number of excellent swing/ jazz sit down theatre type shows, each tailored to a different era of swing music: a “Jazz Age Lawn Party” consisting of roaring 20’s and Cotton Club Era material, a swanky “Live at the Sands” type tribute to the Rat Pack, and a World War 2 “Christmas Canteen” show that is part Tiki, part Benny Goodman and comes across like a radio broadcast from Guadalcanal circa 1942. The sheer craftsmans hip and professional attention to detail of these performances have shed new light on this criminally underestimated band.

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Genre: Stand Up Comedy Maria Bamford is revered for her deeply personal and experimental comedy about mental illness. She starred in the surreal, semi-autobiographical Netflix comedy series Lady Dynamite, about a comedian who suffers a nervous breakdown, and is the star of three unconventional hour-long stand-up specials: Weakness is the Brand, Old Baby and Maria Bamford, the special, special, special! Maria was the first female comic to have two half-hour Comedy Central Presents specials and starred alongside Patton Oswalt, Zach Galifianakis and Brian Posehn in the Comedy Central series The Comedians of Comedy and Netflix’s Comedians of Comedy: The Movie. She also created and starred in the cult hit web series The Maria Bamford Show, in which she plays all the characters. Maria is often recognized for her prolific voiceover work, including characters on Big Mouth, BoJack Horseman, Summer Camp Island, Adventure Time, Talking Tom and Friends, Bob’s Burgers, Legend of Korra, Puss in Boots, CatDog and PBS’s Emmy-winning series Word Girl. She also stars as Tilly Mulch in Team Coco’s scripted podcast Frontier Tween. Maria played DeBrie Bardeaux on Netflix’s Arrested Development and recurred on the ABC hit series Fresh off the Boat. She is the 2014 winner of the American Comedy Award for Best Club Comic. Maria’s late night appearances include CONAN, The Tonight Show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Late Night with Seth Meyers.

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Genre: Rock, Tribute to Led Zeppelin From the bombastic and epic, to the folky and mystical, Get The Led Out (GTLO) have captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the concert stage. The Philadelphia-based group consists of six veteran musicians intent on delivering Led Zeppelin live, like you’ve never heard before. Utilizing the multi-instrumentalists at their disposal, GTLO re-create the songs in all their depth and glory with the studio overdubs that Zeppelin themselves never performed. When you hear three guitars on the album...GTLO delivers three guitarists on stage. No wigs or fake English accents, GTLO brings what the audience wants...a high energy Zeppelin concert with an honest, heart-thumping intensity. Dubbed by the media as "The American Led Zeppelin," Get The Led Out offers a strong focus on the early years. They also touch on the deeper cuts that were seldom, if ever heard in concert. GTLO also include a special “acoustic set” with Zep favorites such as “Tangerine” and "Hey Hey What Can I Do.".

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MIM: Youth Orchestra

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Genre: Ukranian Folk Having experimented with Ukrainian folk music, the band has added rhythms of the surrounding world into their music, thus creating bright, unique and unforgettable image of DakhaBrakha. It will help to open up the potential of Ukrainian melodies and to bring it to the hearts and consciousness of the younger generation in Ukraine and the rest of the world as well.

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These Volunteers sit at a booth at Penn Valley Rodeo's Fall Festival and talk to visitors about the benefits of Membership at The Center. This is a great role for people who know about, or want to learn about, the variety of offerings we have including art classes, open studios tours, gallery openings, open mic nights, and music performances in order to extoll how their membership supports The Center. These volunteers are outgoing and say hello to people passing. You will be telling people how to become a member, the levels of membership, and the benefits of each. These are day time shifts is from 10 am to 1 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm. Assistance with taking down the booth at the end of the shift is needed.

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Genre: Tribute, Rock FOREJOUR pays tribute to the music of ’80s mega bands FOREIGNER & JOURNEY, recreating the soundtrack of a generation with stunning accuracy. Forejour’s set list includes the 20th century’s most down-loaded song, “Don’t Stop Believing”, as well as power ballads such as Foreigner’s “I Want To Know What Love Is”, and Journey’s “Faithfully”.

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Genre: Cabaret, Jazz, Soul, Blues, Pop, R&B Lolo’s Cabaret Lounge will be back in full force in October with a couple of Lorraine’s all-time favorite musical partners in crime, Chris and Jon Kelly. Identical twins and all around bon vivants whose gifts include piano, guitar, trumpet, a love for strong three-part harmonies, and the tradition of a few whiskey nips for the band to keep rehearsals on the right track. All three singers enjoy way too many kinds of music, so they’re going for a wide range of cool soulful songs with interesting grooves, big vocals, and sensational storytelling, all played by a solid band and full horn section. They’ll be playing songs from Marc Broussard, George Michael, Andreas Aleman, Bobby Caldwell, OutKast, Tevin Campbell, Tina Turner, Mindi Abair, Peter Gabriel, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Brand New Heavies and yes — even a bit of Tom Jones and more! Along with the usual lineup of Lolo’s stellar players: Ray Sayre, Tim Bulkley, Charlie Faber and Matt Langley, they’re also excited to have special guest keyboardist and old friend Bob Villwock flying in from Austin, Tony Unger on nylon-string guitar, and newcomer to the roster, Tyler Smith, on sax from Truckee rounding out the horn section. With this ten-piece band on stage, this evening is going to be one you really don’t want to miss. The twins have had the great pleasure of performing with Lorraine on several occasions, both as backup singers and as band mates (with plenty of buffoonery in-between). They are thrilled and grateful for this opportunity to once again share the stage with the legendary Lolo as featured vocalists, and to bring you a collection of songs never before performed by the twins (or by anybody else on that stage for that matter). Featuring the magic grooves of Lolo’s band and a dreamy horn section, it will be a night to remember with Lolo and the Brobros! Jon and Chris Kelly are twin brothers who grew up here in Grass Valley. Playing piano from a very early age, their musical interests continued to develop through multiple facets, including trumpet, french horn, percussion and choir. After graduating from Nevada Union High School, their ongoing musical pursuits included both undergraduate studies in jazz and musical theatre, as well performance opportunities through west coast touring, cruise ship contracts and regional theatre contracts on the East Coast. They now spend the majority of their time performing their “The Kelly Twins Dueling Pianos” show, which they have been bringing to Northern California audiences since 2008.

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Genre: Pop Rock, Soul, Disco Experience a night of non-stop dancing, soaring falsettos, and the most beautiful ballads ever written.

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We need one or two experienced Bar Cashiers to serve the guests at this rental

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We need one or two experienced Bar Cashiers to serve the guests at this rental.

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Genre: Mexican American Los Lobos has sold millions of records, won prestigious awards and made fans around the world. But perhaps its most lasting impact will be how well its music embodies the idea of America as a cultural melting pot. In it, styles like son jarocho, norteño, Tejano, folk, country, doo-wop, soul, R&B, rock ’n’ roll and punk all come together to create a new sound that’s greater than the sum of its parts.

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Genre: Tribute, R&B, Soul, Rock Nathan Owens Presents: The Three Queens. This is a high energy show with a nine-piece band that you won't want to miss! Celebrating the following music queens: R&B: Diana Ross Rock: Tina Turner Soul: Aretha Franklin Samantha Alexes as Aretha Franklin A Bay Area native with vocal talent as large as the Bay is Samantha Alexes. As a young girl growing up in the big city, she was exposed to many forms of the arts like singing, modeling, painting, acting, etc. At a very young age she started singing opera in a special program designed for young adults. That was just a beginning to her many genres of music she would explore. By the time she was a teenager she had turned into a serious entertainer with numerous State and National Talent titles under her belt and became a multiple beauty pageant winner as well. Her love for the theater brought her to star in such musicals like Carmen Jones, The Wiz, Sparkle, and Pippin at Community Theatre. In 2002 she not only starred, but played a major role in the choreography and vocal arrangements for The Hitsville U.S.A. Legends of Motown Old School Tribute Show. Lea Lolita Sweet as Tina Turner Grammy Nominee, Recording Artist Lea Sweet, Black Queen of Country Music rocks paying tribute to Tina Turner! At an early age, she was invited to see her first concert which was Ike and Tina Turner. At age 6, she became inspired and dreamed of becoming an rock star and entertainer like Tina Turner. Lea began writing, singing and playing songs by age 9 and continued to progress to releasing 2 albums and 2 singles going on international tours in China, Europe, Netherlands, Austria, Mexico, Portugal and Venezuela. Lea is well diverse in singing rock and country music which lead her into becoming one of the worlds best Tina Turner Tribute with dancers. Native of San Francisco but brought up with southern roots and mentors like the God Father of Soul James Brown, she excelled to international tours with legendary Jimi Jamison, Loverboy Mike Reno, Bobbi Kimball (Toto), and the James Brown Band. Stacey Carter as Diana Ross Born in San Mateo, California, Stacy's singing career began in the San Francisco Bay Area when her mother entered her in the California Miss Pageant System. She enjoyed the spotlight so much that throughout her school years she sang in her school choir and in numerous onstage musical productions. Her professional singing career began during her senior year of high school when she performed regularly at Great America in Santa Clara, California. After moving to Southern California and singing locally in the Los Angeles club scene, Stacy's career took on an international flavor when she moved to Japan. During the three years she lived in Tokyo, Stacy opened for popular groups such as “Klymaxx” and “Lakeside.” She also sang with numerous Japanese and American acts, performed on TV, in clubs, and at the world famous Budokan. She has recorded an album, performed voiceovers for commercials, and modeled. Itwas while she was in Japan, her love for singing jazz standards began to blossom.

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Genre: Americana, Indie-Folk Through compelling songs and charismatic performances, singer-songwriter RIVVRS radiates an endearing and optimistic vision; his music connects the authenticity of Folk & Americana with the accessibility of pop. His debut single “I Will Follow You” reached #3 on the iTunes Charts in 2016, leading to support slots with artists such as Jewel, Snow Patrol and Nathaniel Rateliff, in addition to a series of successful US Headline tours and a main stage performance at Bottlerock Music Festival in Napa. His songs have since garnered more than 100 million streams and 100+ features across TV & Film (including shows Suits, Lucifer, Bates Motel, and a National Ad Campaign for Reebok). In 2019, RIVVRS left the city lights of Los Angeles for a simple life in the countryside of the Foothills, where he now resides with his wife and animals on a 5-acre homestead. With his 5th Album, “Sunlight of the Spirit”, RIVVRS returns to his Americana roots with a compilation of raw and vulnerable songs about the struggles that come with addiction, recovery, and spiritual discovery. Self-produced at his home in Nevada County & mixed by Grammy-nominated producer, Andrew Berlin (Gregory Alan Isakov’s ‘Evening Machines’), the album is due for release Fall 2024.

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Genre: Singer Songwriter As the founding member and leader of the Grammy Award winning American rock band Wilco, and before that the cofounder of the alt‐country band Uncle Tupelo, Jeff Tweedy is one of contemporary music’s most accomplished songwriters, musicians, and performers. Jeff has released two solo albums, written original songs for eleven Wilco albums, and is the author of The New York Times’ Bestseller, Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back): A Memoir of Recording and Discording with Wilco, etc. 2020 sees the release of Jeff’s third solo album, Love Is The King, and second book, How To Write One Song. Opener: Elizabeth Moen is a dynamic and soulful musician hailing from the Midwest. Known for her powerful voice and emotionally charged performances, Moen effortlessly blends elements of blues, rock, and indie-folk to create a unique sound that resonates deeply with audiences. Her songwriting is marked by raw honesty and introspection, often drawing on personal experiences to craft lyrics that are both relatable and profound. Since the release of her debut album in 2016, she has steadily gained recognition for her talent, earning spots at notable music festivals and receiving praise from critics and fans alike.

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Several times a year the Center offers our community this free, kid-friendly gathering with live performers, crafts, face painting, balloon animals, and more.

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Genre: New Age, Classical, Jazz, Pianist & Composser Chad Lawson is an American pianist and composer. After performing as a member of the Summit Records act Chad Lawson Trio from 1997 to 2004, Lawson performed as a member of Julio Iglesias' tour band, which inspired him to release his debut studio album Set on a Hill.

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Unraveling 4,000 Years of Juggling REFLEX is a unique theatrical experience that builds an unlikely but beautiful relationship between the ambition of space exploration and the art of juggling. Jay Gilligan interweaves fascinating accounts of the Voyager Mission, Carl Sagan, and the Golden Record with spectacular experimental juggling sequences and stories from his 37-year career as he looks for his own place in the history of his craft. Through object manipulation techniques ranging from the ancient to the avant garde, Jay creates stunning soundscapes and vivid images that stir the sense of cosmic connection within all of us.

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Genre: Folk, Earthtronic remix MaMuse at the Center for the Arts “ReMuse” Album Release Celebration To close the night: Ecstatic Dance set by FunkPharm and live vocals by MaMuse Join MaMuse for an evening of music and song to uplift the spirits and rejuvenate the soul. MaMuse (“Ma” as in Mamma; “Muse” as in the one who inspires) is coming to Grass Valley on the ReMuse tour with their band to share harmonic, uplifting, luscious, folk-soul: a musical tune-up for the heart. Wholeheartedly fed by the folk and gospel traditions, MaMuse (Sarah Nutting and Karisha Longaker) create uplifting music to inspire the world into thriving. Interweaving brilliant and haunting harmony with lyrics born of honed emotional intelligence, MaMuse invokes a musical presence that inspires the opening of the heart. Playing a family of varied acoustic instruments, including upright bass, guitar, mandolins, and flutes, while backed by guitar and keys, these two powerful women embody a love for all life. The synergy created through this musical connection is palpable and truly moving to witness. “Weaving extraordinary voices with surprising syncopation, MaMuse’s soulful folk commitment is evident with every note.” ”Vocal bliss” — Dan DeWayne, California WorldFest With fifteen delicious years of co-creation and five full length albums under their belts, MaMuse keep their hearts tuned to the creation of music for the health of ALL BEINGS. The evening will end in a FunkPharm dance experience to celebrate the new upcoming remix album of the MaMuse folk anthems. Get ready for uplifting ecstatic beats and funk-driven Earthtronic rhythm with the special addition of live MaMuse vocals! Come one, come all, and invite your friends to weave a tapestry of joy and connection together through song.

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Genre: Singer Songwriter, Rock Richard Thompson’s musical influence cannot be overstated. Having co-founded the groundbreaking group Fairport Convention as a teenager in the 60s, he and his bandmates invented the distinctive strain of British Folk Rock. He left the group by the age of 21 which was followed by a decade long musical partnership with his then-wife Linda, to over 30 years as a highly successful solo artist. In 2011, Thompson received an OBE (Order of the British Empire) personally bestowed upon him by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. The Los Angeles Times called him the finest rock songwriter after Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix and Rolling Stone has named him one of the Top 100 Guitarists of All Time. He has received lifetime achievement awards for songwriting from Britain’s BBC Awards, the Americana Music Association, and was awarded the prestigious Ivor Novello Award. His song “1952 Vincent Black Lightning” was named one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Greatest Songs Since 1923.” A wide range of musicians have recorded Thompson’s songs including Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, R.E.M., Sleater-Kinney, Del McCoury, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Jones, David Byrne, Don Henley, Los Lobos, and many more. His massive body of work includes many Grammy nominated albums as well as numerous soundtracks, including Werner Herzog’s Grizzly Man. Thompson’s genre defying mastery of both acoustic and electric guitar along with engaging energy and onstage wit continue to earn him new fans and a place as one of the most distinctive virtuosos and writers in Folk Rock history.

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Genre: Bayou Soul Long hailed as a powerhouse vocalist and king of Bayou Soul, Marc Broussard is altering his iconic recipe of classic soul, R&B, & blues with the help of renowned blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, on his new album S.O.S. 4: Blues For Your Soul. Produced by Bonamassa, who contributes mesmerizing guitar solos on four tracks, alongside longtime collaborator Josh Smith, it is a stunning collection of soul and blues classics plus one Broussard original. S.O.S. 4: Blues for Your Soul is the fourth volume in Broussard's ongoing philanthropic album series, available via Bonamassa's own Keeping the Blues Alive Records. With the burning teamwork of Broussard-Bonamassa and all the players on the album, each of the twelve tracks speaks to the deepest part of the soul. Whether it's Son House's "Empire State Express," Johnny "Guitar" Watson's "Cuttin' In," Bobby Blue Bland's "I've Got to Use My Imagination" to Howlin' Wolf's "I Asked for Water" and the sole Broussard original, co-written with Josh Smith and Calvin Turner, "When Will I Let Her Go," S.O.S. 4: Blues for Your Soul is a remarkable achievement and provides a captivating showcase for Broussard's muscular and passionate singing.

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Genre: Stand Up Comedy With a career spanning over 37 years, comedy veteran Brad Upton is just getting started. The former fourth grade teacher and part-time track coach is seeing a resurgence unlike anyone else. His 2019 Dry Bar comedy special, “Boomer Triggers Gen-Z Snowflakes” with 16.1 million views on YouTube, is the 2nd most viewed comedy special on the planet. The viral phenomenon sent the album to #1 on the iTunes Charts and drove his ensuing special “I’m Not Done Yet” to new heights. Collectively, the clips and full specials have garnered well over 200 million views across all platforms and continue to build momentum from newfound fans all across the country. Over his storied career, Brad has appeared with legendary acts like Jeff Foxworthy, Neal McCoy, Kenny Rogers, Lewis Black, Dolly Parton, George Jones and even now continues to tour with music icon Johnny Mathis. In 2019, he drew the attention of the iconic Grand Ole Opry where he’s had the honor to step into the circle multiple times becoming a regular guest.

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Genre: Speaker, Book Signing With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, David Sedaris has become one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers. The great skill with which he slices through cultural euphemisms and political correctness proves that Sedaris is a master of satire and one of the most observant writers addressing the human condition today. David, photo credit - Ingrid ChristieDavid Sedaris is the author of Barrel Fever and Holidays on Ice, as well as collections of personal essays, Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, and his most recent book, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls, each of which became an immediate bestseller. The audio version of Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls is a 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominee for Best Spoken Word Album. He is the author of the NYT-bestselling collection of fables entitled Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary (with illustrations by Ian Falconer). He was also the editor of Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules: An Anthology of Outstanding Stories. Sedaris’ pieces appear regularly in The New Yorker and have twice been included in “The Best American Essays.” There are over ten million copies of his books in print and they have been translated into 25 languages.

The Center for the Arts

Off Center Stage | 315 Richardson Street, Grass Valley, CA Join us at The Center for open mic night in our black box theater. Participation sign up is at the bar.

The Center for the Arts

Genre: Big Band When New York City pianist Scott Bradlee created Postmodern Jukebox out of a basement in Queens in 2011, his goal was simple: to remake the pop hits of today into the classic sounds of the legends of yesterday. Miley Cyrus became The Platters. Bruno Mars became Frank Sinatra. The Spice Girls became The Andrews Sisters. Guns ’n’ Roses became Bessie Smith. Now, nearly a decade later, Postmodern Jukebox has grown to become a pop culture mainstay in its own right, having played over a thousand shows on six continents worldwide — including acclaimed venues like Radio City Music Hall, Sydney Opera House, and Red Rocks Amphitheater. In the process, PMJ has introduced audience to many of the world’s greatest singers, dancers, and instrumentalist — many of whom have gone on to become stars in their own right. One part celebration of vintage music and culture, one part “’Saturday Night Live’ for singers”, a Postmodern Jukebox show is an unforgettable trip back in time that makes Pop Music History — in your own hometown.

The Center for the Arts

Genre: Comedy Best of San Francisco Comedy competition, hosted by Auggie Smith.