Texarkana Entertainment Blog

The public is invited to the 2nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration at Texas A&M University-Texarkana tomorrow, Wednesday. At 11 a.m. a program titled “Engaging Latino Students for Higher Education” is held at the Aikin Building, Quad 116. Speakers include Dr. LuzMary Rincon, associate professor of bilingual and Spanish education at TAMU-T, Genaro Camarillo, mass communication student at TAMU-T, and Alex De La Rosa, AEP/SWEPCO supervisor for IT field operations in Texarkana.

At 11:45 a.m. in the University Breezeway there is a Mexican fiesta with a Mexican dance performed by Ballet Folklorico Alma Latina from Texarkana. There is also a Mexican buffet. You can visit a Latin American market replica and try Columbian coffee and Mexican desserts compliments of the bilingual education program. The event is organized by the TAMU-T Office of Enrollment Management and the Multicultural Association.

- Aaron Brand

(Correction: the Hispanic Heritage Celebration is on Wednesday.)

There’s an interesting arts- and culture-oriented activity on tap for Tuesday.

A singing zoologist Lucas Miller will entertain starting at 6 p.m. at the Regional Arts Center for the Arts on Main at Stewart Title Kickoff Party. TRAHC hosts the party, which is free and open to the public. Adults and kids are invited to come on down and enjoy refreshments, drawings, and an opportunity to register for classes. More info: 903-792-8681.

- Aaron Brand

Just got some breaking music news late this afternoon. Legendary singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, noted for such important rock albums as “The Pretender” and “Running on Empty,” returns to Music City Texas Theater in Linden, Texas, on Thursday, Dec., 3.

It’s his first solo show at Music City since a sold-out concert in 2004. His MCT stop is part of Browne’s Fall 2009 Solo Acoustic Tour which starts in November.

Browne is particularly noted for the raw honesty, intense emotion, and personal politics he conveys in his finely crafted songs. Browne was a 2004 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was also entered into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2007.

His latest album, “Time the Conqueror,” was released in 2008 and the first batch of new material from him in six years.

Tickets for the MCT concert are $195 for the first row, $175 for the second row, $150 for the third row, $125 for the fourth row, and $100 for seats elsewhere in the house. Tickets and more info: 903-756-9934. MCT’s office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tickets go on sale to MCT patrons on Monday, Oct. 5, and to the public on Monday, Nov. 2.

You can also find MCT information at Musiccitytexas.org.

- Aaron Brand

Submitted photo:

A Friday night benefit show at Fat Jack’s Oyster and Sports Bar from 8 p.m. to midnight right here in T-Town helps the Animal Care & Adoption Center of Texarkana. It’s a good chance to have some fun and do right for some lovable critters in need. On tap for the evening’s entertainment is live music from Texarkana band Synergistic. Those guys will be joined by Jon Taylor, billed as a master comedy hypnotist, and comedian Brent Reed. They have quite a long list of door prizes lined up for the evening, and they’ll be given out all night long.

- Aaron Brand

Wade Bowen’s fourth album, “If We Ever Make It Home,” has been out about a year but it’s still a hit maker for the Texas singer-songwriter. Waco-born Bowen sees it as lyrically-driven, mature work. Being married and fathering two sons, he said, has also given him a new perspective.  And so far, that perspective seems popular because his latest album has produced songs that have consistently hit the top of the Texas charts. “It just seems to keep growing and growing,” he told me recently during an interview. He’ll bring his country tune repertoire and six-piece band to town Friday night for an upbeat concert date here at Shooters Sports Bar. Things kick off at 9:30 p.m. and tickets are $10. More info: 870-773-4903.

- Aaron Brand

It’s a bit of a drive from Texarkana, but Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia hosts a potentially fascinating and inspiring question and answer session and lecture Tuesday evening that movie fans (or anyone intrigued by young dreamers) may want to check out.

It’s a neat opportunity to see two young and precocious filmmakers speak, one of whom attended SAU. Twin brothers Noah and Logan Miller directed the film “Toucing Home,” starring Ed Harris, Brad Dourif, and Robert Forster; the movie, which has yet to gain wide release but has played at film festivals, chronicles their real life struggles with an alcoholic father who died in jail. For a time, Noah was an SAU student on a baseball scholarship. But he ultimately left the school when he had to return to California.

The Miller brothers wrote a book on how—without much money and no Hollywood connections—they accomplished their dream of making a movie. I read a bit of the book online and it features some crisp, great writing, and it seems like both a sad and redemptive tale. It’s also funny and insightful.  The book is called “Either You’re In or You’re In the Way,” and they’ll discuss it at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Grand Hall of the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center at SAU.

More info on the Miller brothers is available at www.inorintheway.com.

- Aaron Brand

Submitted photo:

I’ve been pretty fortunate to see and experience some great art in my days—from the Louvre in Paris where I saw Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” to great symphony concerts, and from fine Renaissance art in Florence, Italy, to excellent bands. And I have to say that nothing was as incredible and fun as the San Jose Taiko performance last night with eight drummers rhythmically creating wave after wave of amazing beats. It was encouraging to see an enthusiastic audience but a bit disappointing the crowd was not larger. Nevertheless if you didn’t see them and ever get the chance to do so please grab at the chance. You’ll never regret it. It was an amazing show and hats off to TRAHC for bringing this group. Anyone out there see them and if so what did you think?

- Aaron

Researching the upcoming fall movies. Despite what seems like its troubled production history, I’m looking forward to this Spike Jonze flick, an adaptation of one of my favorite books as a kid. Trailer below. It’s out Oct. 16. Anyone else excited to see how it turns out?

- Aaron Brand

In addition to the big opening with Deryl Dodd, Shenandoah, Restless Heart, and Johnny Lee for the Friday Night Concert tomorrow at the Four States Fair & Rodeo, there are other music acts and performers appearing nightly on the outdoor stage beween Sept. 18 and 27. Here’s a rundown of the outdoor stage acts on tap for the next week at Four States:

Friday, Sept. 18 – Street dance

Saturday, Sept. 19 – Jason Helms Band

Sunday, Sept. 20 – Gospel show by Circle J Cowboy Church

Monday, Sept. 21 – Too Far Gone

Tuesday, Sept. 22 – Magic shows at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 23 – Shooters Karaoke Night

Thursday, Sept. 24 – ADC Cummins Prison Band

Friday, Sept. 25 – To be announced

Saturday, Sept. 26 – Dallas band Radio Edit

Sunday, Sept. 27 – Gospel show with Otis McGill & the Anointed Angels

- Aaron Brand

Submitted photos:

Johnny Lee

Deryl Dodd

The “Dichos” exhibit up on the walls of the Regional Arts Center here in Texarkana may contain words in the form of pithy sayings scrawled on Latin American buses and trucks, but like all art those words can serve as inspiration for more art, action or just plain old reflection and creative thinking. TRAHC is taking a cue on that for its Sixth Annual WRITE! on Art Competition. People from 7th grade to adult ages can enter the competition by writing poetry or prose inspired by the photographs in this exhibit. Of course, you have to see the exhibit to participate, and it closes Oct. 3. Entries are due at the RAC by 4 p.m. on Oct. 16. There’s even a prize for winning—and that’s a $100 savings account at Red River Credit Union. Age groups are 7th/8th Grade, High School, University/Adult.

Entry forms and guidelines can be downloaded at Trahc.org. (Once there click on the ArtsSmart link.) Ultimately, winners are honored at a December awards ceremony and their works are collected in an anthology. More info: 903-792-8681. So take out your pencils, a pad of paper, and get to work.

- Aaron Brand