Find a variety of festivities with this edition of Can’t Miss Alabama.
Alys Stephens Center
Join highly acclaimed jazz vibraphonist Stefon Harris and his band Blackout for a live stream concert Friday, April 9. Harris, an educator and composer, has been heralded as “one of the most important young artists in jazz” by The Los Angeles Times. The four-time Grammy nominee is also a seven-time Best Mallet Player by the Jazz Journalist Association, the recipient of Lincoln Center’s Martin Segal Award, Downbeat’s Critics Poll Winner for Vibraphone (2015, 2013) and 2014 Expanded Critic’s Poll for Vibes from Jazz Times. He won a 2014 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album for “Wonder: The Songs of Stevie Wonder” as a member of the SF Jazz Collective. He tours worldwide with his bands Sonic Creed, Blackout and Ninety Miles. Harris teaches at New York University and is the artistic director of Jazz Education at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. He teaches at the Brubeck Institute through its distance learning program and at the Institute’s Summer Jazz Colony. Harris’ landmark TED Talk, “There Are No Mistakes On The Bandstand,” was the most-watched in its 2011 release and has more than 500,000 views. The livestream is free to the public.
Let’s Flamingle for Girls Night Out
It’s that time of year again for a night of fun at the annual Girls Night Out at The Wharf in Orange Beach this year on Thursday, April 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The evening includes shopping deals, giveaways and luau dancing. Donations will be accepted for Baldwin County Child Advocacy Center. Each registrant will be entered into a giveaway from The Wharf. For every $25 spent at a tenant’s location, there will be an extra entry into the giveaway. Admission is free. All attendees will get a free shopping bag at registration and 20 random registrants will receive a swag bag of goodies and giveaways. Onsite DJ Silky will be turning up the tunes.
Spring Farm Day
Get into the spirit of springtime on the farm with barnyard animals, experience historic skills and learn about life on the farm during the 1800s at Burritt on the Mountain in Huntsville Saturday, April 10. Visitors will be fascinated by the sheep-shearing and blacksmith demonstrations. Come observe wool being spun into yarn, milk the faux cow, Boxy, play with old-fashioned toys and view an assortment of antique farm equipment. Leave with a new appreciation for modern conveniences after trying tasks such as rug beating, butter churning and mattress stuffing. Also, have fun on Geoquest adventures figuring out clues or using GPS technology to look for quest cards throughout the park. COVID-19 safety protocols will be observed at all Burritt events and activities.
Wilson Pickett Music and Arts Festival
The Wilson Pickett Music and Arts Festival will return virtually through Saturday, May 1 with entertainment, artists and activities. From the comfort of your home, shop for art online, attend workshops and more. Shop for original creations of local and regional artists at the virtual Artist Village. Performances include Bama Sound, Cameron DuBois and a concert featuring five fantastic reimaginings of Wilson Pickett hits. Chef Chérie Bryant will demonstrate how to prepare Pickett’s favorite dishes. Get a closer look at Prattville’s talented artists with a sneak peek of Prattville resident Margarita Partridge’s upcoming original musical, featuring the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs. Register for virtual workshops including a live musical theater workshop with Muse founders Alex Lacamoire, Joseph Joubert and Zane Mark. Younger festivalgoers can participate in a live cookie-decorating workshop and three visual art workshops taught by Prattville artists – colored pencil, acrylic painting and watercolor. Participants of the visual art workshops who live in and around Prattville can pick up a free bag containing all of the supplies needed to complete each workshop, while supplies last. Contact the Cultural Arts and Special Events office at 334-595-0850 or visit www.prattvilleal.gov.
Alabama Ballet
Tickets are on sale for Alabama Ballet’s “Romeo & Juliet.” Performances are April 23-25 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. Choreographed by Roger VanFleteren, associate artistic director and resident choreographer of Alabama Ballet, the classical ballet is based on Shakespeare’s tragedy. The ballet is known for its breathless pas de deux, dramatic emotions and tragic tale. Faithful to Shakespeare, it follows the fate of the star-crossed lovers from their first meeting to their untimely deaths. “Romeo & Juliet” is likely the world’s best-known love story, and the ballet version is set to Prokofiev’s dramatic score, widely recognized as a masterpiece of 20th-century music.
Avondale Brewing Company
Only a small number of tickets will be sold for these shows. Tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests are asked not to gather in front of the stage and to stay socially distanced from other groups.
- April 9 – Brandon “Taz” Niederauer: Hear the distinctive sound of Taz, a guitarist who has played over the years with multiple members of the Allman Brothers Band, including Gregg Allman, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, Butch Trucks and Oteil Burbridge, among a variety of other notable musicians.
- April 10 – Funky Fish Fry: Join in the fun at the annual fish fry to support Autism Awareness Month and Mitchell’s Place. Live music from the Drennen Brothers, LiveWire and Automatic Slim Blues Band will provide funky tunes for attendees while they enjoy fried catfish and delicious brews. Masks are required and social distancing will be enforced. Tickets start at $10. Not ready to attend a function quite yet? The event offers a to-go ticket for $15, which includes one plate of food and a donation to the cause.
- April 11 – Allgood with the Bitteroots: Emerging from Athens, Georgia, in the early 1990s, Allgood brings its own brand of classic Georgia boogie-woogie back for a run across the Southeast. This spring, Allgood will unleash material from a project in the works. The Bitteroots‘ latest full-length album is in production and set for release in the first half of 2021. The band’s fifth album of original music, “Derailer,” was released in March 2019.
For tickets and more information, visit avondalebrewing.com/events.
Magic City Classic tickets
Tickets are on sale for the highly anticipated 79th annual Magic City Classic rivalry game at Birmingham’s Legion Field between Alabama A&M and Alabama State on Saturday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m. This year, fans will see a lot of changes around the festivities due to COVID-19 restrictions, including face coverings. Attendance to the game will be limited to 25% of stadium capacity, and there will be no band performances or tailgating. Follow this link to purchase tickets.
