Strike up the bands
Young jazz musicians from across the region will gather for the annual Reno Jazz Festival this week at the University of Nevada, Reno. This event provides students an opportunity to receive feedback from world-renowned artist-educators as they participate in jam sessions, school performances and clinics led by top professionals. The three-day festival also features evening shows by headlining jazz artists. Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Kris Davis and the UNR jazz faculty ensemble, Manzanita Quintet, will perform at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 23. Grammy-nominated saxophonist Ben Wendel and the UNR Jazz Lab 1 will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 24. Tickets are $15-$40 for these shows. The festival concludes with an awards ceremony and a closing concert at 4 p.m., Saturday, April 25. The concerts take place at Nightingale Concert Hall in the Church Fine Arts Building, 1335 N. Virginia St., on the university campus. Festival passes for daytime events range from $10 for a single-day event to $30 for a two-day pass. Visit www.unr.edu/jazz-festival for a full schedule of events.
Get outta town (sort of)
Are you craving a change of scenery—but gasoline prices have you thinking twice about taking a road trip out of town? Fortunately, you won’t have to travel far if you like off-road motorsports, live music, historical buildings and even a ghost hunt. Virginia City boasts several events to attract the speed junkie and the history buff this weekend. Hundreds of motorcyclists of all ages and skill levels will race over and across the rugged terrain surrounding the historic boomtown during the 55th annual Virginia City Grand Prix, which kicks off on Friday, April 24, and runs through Sunday, April 26. Racing starts on C Street in the heart of the city. Spectators can get an up-close view of this high-speed race from the Virginia City Fairground and Arena on F Street. Visit visitvirginiacitynv.com or vcgp.com for more info.
Mix a little history with a strong drink or two at Spirits With the Spirits, a joint event presented by 10 Torr Distilling and Brewing and The Finnish Long Drink, featuring craft cocktail samplings, a historical presentation and a guided ghost hunt. The soirée is open to those age 18 and older and starts at 6 p.m., Friday, April 24, at Piper’s Opera House, 12 N. B St., Virginia City. Tickets are $50 each or $90 for two guests. Non-alcoholic beverages are available for guests who are under age 21 or refrain from alcohol. Learn more at this Instagram link.
Finally, enjoy an evening of classic rock, ragtime, gypsy jazz and more performed by Bay Area group Renegade Orchestra. Classical musicians and a rock band rhythm section make up the 15-piece orchestra, which hits the Piper’s Opera stage at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 25. Tickets are $25 in advance, and $30 at the door. Visit pipersoperahouse.com.
Western traditions
While Virginia City’s Old West charm gets all the attention, it’s really the town of Genoa that can lay claim as Nevada’s oldest pioneer settlement. Join residents as they celebrate their hometown’s long history in the Silver State at Genoa Western Heritage Days, which kicks off Friday, April 24. The event includes a free daytime festival featuring live Western music, cowboy poetry, Chautauqua actors portraying historic characters, a Western fine art show, Ag in the Classroom with the Douglas County Farm Bureau, a Civil War camp, demonstrations by the Truckee Meadows Pioneers and the Invitational Horse Parade, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 25. The entertainment continues with a concert featuring singer-songwriter Trinity Seely and cowboy poets Valerie and Floyd Beard, who get the show started at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at Genoa Town Hall, 2287 Main St. Tickets are $45. The weekend celebration concludes with Cowboy Church with Pastor Patrick Jolly and Trinity Seely, starting at 9 a.m., Sunday, April 26, at the town hall. Visit www.genoanevada.org/visitors/genoa_western_heritage_days.php or www.facebook.com/GenoaWesternHeritageDays.
Hit all the right notes
Whether you’re into indie pop, ’90s alt-rock or ’80s-flavored goth rock, there are plenty of upcoming shows to please rock music fans of all stripes. Here are some to pencil in your live music calendar.
Slap on a flannel shirt and Dr. Martens or just come as you are to the debut performance of As If, featuring vocalist Laura Rocke (who’s also the frontwoman of local ’80s cover band New Wave Crave). The new band will perform ’90s bangers. The show starts at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 25, at Reno Public Market, 299 E. Plumb Lane. Return the following night for an evening of eclectic and energetic pop by singer-songwriter Michelle Lambert. The violinist and Berklee College of Music graduate blends pop, rock, Celtic and classical influences with a message of female empowerment in her songs. Lambert takes the stage at 7 p.m., Sunday, April 26, at Reno Public Market. Both shows are open to all ages and free to attend. Go to www.renopublicmarket.com.
Ritual and DMac Productions bring Rosegarden Funeral Party and Ashes Fallen to Reno for a night of modern gothic rock. DJ Xenobia will get the music started at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 25, at The Cellar stage, located in the basement of Alturas Bar, 1044 E. Fourth St. Tickets to the 21-and-over show are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Check www.facebook.com/renogoth for more info.
Lastly, San Diego noise pop outfit Crocodiles will make a stop in our city in support of their latest album, Greetings From Hell. Doors open at 7 p.m., and local acts Pussy Velour and Rigorous Proof get the all-ages show started at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 29, at The Holland Project, 140 Vesta St. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 on the day of the show. Go to hollandreno.org.
Raise the barn
Get up close with farm animals and participate in fun activities during Farm Day at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. Learn about beekeeping with members of the local 4-H chapter; get lessons on how to pan for gold with members of the Comstock Gold Prospectors; meet animals from Valley Amigos Ranch; listen to stories read by Washoe County librarians; make crafts in the Discovery Room; and more. The free event takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, April 26, in the park’s Nevada Farms and Families Area. Go to www.washoecounty.gov/parks/calendar.php or www.facebook.com/ranchosanrafaelregionalpark.
Stories on film
Jewish Nevada and Congregation Temple Emmanu-El present the Northern Nevada Jewish Film Festival, celebrating Jewish culture, heritage and storytelling through film. The festival offers two days of screenings and discussions with filmmakers on Sunday, April 26, and Monday, April 27, at the Galaxy Theatres Victorian, 1250 Victorian Ave., Sparks. Tickets are $10-$40. A festival pass is $55. Visit www.jewishnevada.org/nnfilmfestival for more info.
Visionary films
Carson City Classic Cinema Collective (C5) kicks off its new series, The Evolution of Science Fiction, with the first of three presentations. This month’s event, Cosmic Origins: The Birth and Rebirth of Sci-Fi, traces how filmmakers first imagined the cosmos—and how those visions evolved into bold, philosophical meditations on humanity’s place in the universe. The evening begins with a screening of Georges Méliès’ silent short film A Trip to the Moon (1902) and culminates with Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). The show begins at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 30, at the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall, 511 W. King St., Carson City. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $30 for a family of four. Go to breweryarts.org or nvstorytellers.org.
Frames of mind
Looking for different perspectives? Check out some art exhibitions opening up this coming week.
Stremmel Gallery presents Flux + Form, a group exhibition of abstract works by Charles Arnoldi, Catherine Courtenaye, Linda Fleming, Jerry Iverson, Marc Katano, Elaine Parks, Chris Trueman and Casey Zablocki. The opening reception is from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, April 23, at Stremmel Gallery, 1400 S. Virginia St. The show runs through May 23. Visit stremmelgallery.com.
Join artist Kenneth Johnston for the opening reception of his exhibit, Exploring the Dream World, at 3 p.m., Saturday, May 2, at the South Valleys Library, 15650A Wedge Parkway. The show runs May 1 through June 27. Go to events.washoecountylibrary.us/event/15369183.
The Artists Co-op Gallery of Reno presents Beautiful World of Pastel, its third annual soft-pastel fine-art show. Meet the artists at the opening reception from noon to 4 p.m., Sunday, May 3. The art will be on view daily through May 31 at the Artists Co-op, 627 Mill St. Learn more at artistsco-opgalleryreno.com.
The Sierra Watercolor Society presents its judged show Wonders in Watercolor in the gallery at the Wilbur D. May Museum at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, 1595 N. Sierra St. The show opens on Sunday, May 3, and runs through Wednesday, June 3. There will be an artist reception from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday, May 16. Go to sierrawatercolorsociety.com.
All exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public.
11 Days a Week is written and compiled by Kelley Lang. Want your event included in 11 Days a Week? Email 11days@renonr.com for consideration. Email advertising@renonr.com for advertising info!
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