Arts Minded: Hear the music flowing through town

• Susan Beckham

Susan Beckham

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Music is busting out all over. As it does this time every year, we can hear concerts outdoors and indoors, for the next few warm weeks.

“Chill on the Hill” the summer concert series held Tuesday evenings at the amphitheatre on the UWRF campus has already begun and continues through August 7 — some of us from Kentucky wonder why it’s on the “hill” but there is a slope and with fine seats embedded in that slope. See below for upcoming concerts.

And this week, CAB’s Music in the Park begins its 16th year — with twice the concerts, twice the bands and twice the times to get together.

This year we will have concerts at 7 p.m. both Fridays and Saturdays and on three Sundays.

The opening concert is Gene LaFond with “blues and lotsa Dylan” on Friday and, on Saturday, Luna & the Soul Brothers led by a female vocalist. See article in A section for complete schedule.

Summer reading once an important topic — for me it still is — is easier for some to read on the beach with electronic “books.”

I have two musical reads to recommend.

One is “Bell Canto” by Ann Patchett — If you didn’t read it when it was new 11 years ago, there’s still time — and it’s still fine.

Its opera-like plot and musical theme — music saves both captives and captors from going nuts as it provides characters with ways to make peace with themselves.

For something nonfiction that you can read in patches — just like we go to the beach in this strange summer weather — I recommend Oliver Sacks’ Musicophilia. It’s not as heavy as it sounds.

While it does inquire into the interaction between music and the human soul, it does so with countless anecdotes about mysterious effects of music on people — both healthy and those afflicted with medical mishaps from lightning strikes to Parkinson’s to grief.

Not precisely musical but artsy anyway, Under the Moon Desert Theatre will be brought to us again by The River Falls Community Theatre outside at the Dish and the Spoon.

You loved it last year — you will again this year — when it will be called “Love, Politics and other Illusions.” If you’ve always wanted to be in a play, now is your chance — auditions will be Wednesday and Thursday, June 27 and 28, at 7 p.m. in the theatre space at the Academy. The plays won’t happen until the weekends of August 2 and 9.

By the way, Art on the Kinni is coming — if you intended to apply for a booth and didn’t get around to it you better do it right away.

Jurying is next week. If at some time, you thought “I’d really like to have a booth in the most beautiful art fair in the region — and it’s right here at home” but haven’t applied yet, contact Steve Preisler at 608-698-6508 or price_stevens@msn.com me (Sue Beckham) at 715-425-7143 or Beckham@pressenter.com.

--On Saturday, June 30, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sunday, July 1, noon to 6 p.m., Grand Opening of the Orange Dragon Gallery, 122 Orange St., Prescott, includes Dragon unveiling by mayors of Prescott and Hastings, artist demos and refreshments.

--A Floral Exhibit at the River Falls Library, on the main level. It will include floral paintings, photography, as well as other floral art renderings by Judy Rommel, Don Blegan, Connie Pittman and Beth Markus.

These works are the inspirational base for the “Reflections” category in the annual River Falls Days flower arranging contest, co-sponsored by the library and the First National Bank of River Falls, in which contestants “reflect” on artwork in their flower arrangement. Entries for that contest are due on July 11 by 6 p.m.

--Rush River Ramblers will be preforming at Earth Angels, 321 North 2nd Street, Friday, June 29, 7 to 10 p.m.

--Seven Eagles art exhibit through July 1 by ceramic tile artist Margy Jean Balwierz at Great River Road Visitor and Learning Center, 200 Monroe Street, Prescott. While you’re there, you can also see the tiles Margy created for the butterfly garden pathway.

--UWRF Amphitheater (rain site: Falcon’s Nest in the University Center unless otherwise noted): Chris Silver Band: roots, jam; another of the area’s best bands; 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 26; Kids from Wisconsin: show choir, Tuesday, July 3; 7 p.m.;

Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps: indie pop, Tuesday, July 10; 7 p.m.

--St. Croix off Broadway announces the seventh season and with it unfortunately a needed price increase. Season ticket subscribers, however, keep the discounted 2008-2012 rate of $47.05, get preferential seating and have a liberal exchange policy. Call 715-386-2394 for season tickets. Offer available through October 26. Season ticket patrons also receive preferential seating. For more details, go to

www.stcroixoffbroadway.com.

Tags: lifestyle, columns, arts