Tucson, AZ (Top40 Charts/ 2nd Saturdays Downtown) For the first time, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Pops!, conducted by musical director and conductor
George Hanson, will join 2nd
Saturdays Downtown for some of the most memorable Broadway songs ever written. The TSO Pops! will pay tribute to the Best of Broadway at the historical Fox Theatre on April 9, 2011 at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Performances are free.
2nd Saturdays will continue to be the place to be for local and national music groups in April. The Scott Stage at Broadway Boulevard has scheduled Toby Chivers & Deceptively Innocent (alternative/pop punk/rock) from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Ballet Folklorico Tapatio (traditional Mexican dance) from 6:45 to 7:15 p.m. and Shaky Bones (funk/jazz/soul) from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Between each set, Odaiko Sonora, a high-energy Japanese drumming group, will perform for the crowd. All performances at the Scott Stage are free.
At the Rialto Theatre, a benefit for Miles ELC (a Tucson Unified School District K-8 school) will be hosted to bring awareness to the plight of music in our public education system. The benefit will feature MUSIC MATTERS, with Howe Gelb and a handful of other musicians from Calexico, Giant Sand and Granddaddy contributing their time and energy to assist in this cause. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the show scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $21 to $27 for all ages.
FOLKAPALOOZA, a multi-band event, will take over the Hotel Congress patio to benefit the 26th Annual Tucson Folk Festival scheduled to take place from April 30 to May 1. FOLKAPALOOZA will feature Free Range Folk (Namoli Brennet, Leila Lopez, Courtney Robbins), Brian Lopez, The Carnivaleros and the Last Call Girls. Suggested donation is $10.
As part of a preview for the up-coming Tucson International Mariachi Conference in April, Mariachi Aztlan will perform at the Ronstadt Transportation Center, joining Folklorico Tapatio, who is performing on the Scott Stage.
Congress Street will again be lined with music, stilt walkers, break dancers, living statues and vendors. Merchant discounts will be offered throughout downtown.
2nd Saturdays Downtown runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sponsors include Click Automotive Team, Cox Communications, Cricket, Carondelet Health Network, KOLD TV Channel 13, KXCI 91.3FM Community Radio, MEB Property Management, Hollis Graphics, Well Fargo Bank and Providence Service Corp. For a full schedule and parking information visit www.2ndsaturdays.com.
