TODAY
LIVE BAND KARAOKE JAM SESSIONS, 7 – 11 p.m. at the Perfect Note.
OLIVIA’S HAPPY HOUR, every Thursday at Olivia’s Bar and Lounge with $.50 wings and drink specials,4 p.m. For more call (205) 326-2881.
JOSÉ CARR WITH JAZZ ON FIRST, 7-10 p.m. at Jazzy’s on First Avenue North.
LIVE AT STEEL, 8 p.m. with SHARRON performing and DJ DUBB in the Mix at Steel on First at 23rd Street, downtown Birmingham. Get your live music and dance on every Thursday night.
COMEDIAN TONY ROBERTS at the StarDome, 7 p.m.
GRISSLOR, BARDUS, BOUDAIN, AWESOME BASTARD and THE DAZE, 9 p.m. at The Nick.
FRIDAY
VALERIE JUNE: THE ORDER OF TIME TOUR, 8 p.m. at Saturn.
BARDS & BREWS OPEN MIC Performance Poetry/Beer Tasting, 6:30 p.m. at the Central Library,2100 Park Place Birmingham, AL 35203.
DJ CED AT THE TIDE AND TIGER on Graymont Avenue.
FRIDAY UNWIND, every Friday, 7 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd.
COMEDIAN COWBOY BILL MARTIN at the StarDome Comedy Club.
FANCY FRIDAYS, 5 p.m. featuring JILLIAN GRAY with YARBROUGH & COMPANY every Friday at Legends on 18th Street North, Downtown. Birmingham. This is an After Work Experience hosted by Keely and Tiger and catered by Chef Jones. Call (205) 212-4406 for more.
PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.
CRANE, HAM BAGBY & THE SEIGE and PONY LEAGUE, 9 p.m. at the Nick.
MUSIC IMPROV with COMEDIAN DENOY POSEY and LAWRENCE JACKSON, 7 and 9 p.m., at the Perfect Note.
SATURDAY
TRUMPETER MELVIN MILLER, 8 p.m. at the Perfect Note.
RAILROAD PARK is where the fun is Saturday.
DJ CED AT THE TIDE AND TIGER on Graymont.
SOULFUL SATURDAY at Steel 1st and 23rd Club.
IT IS WRITTEN, KINZIE, DEMON EYE and AKA FACELESS, p.m. at The Nick.
COMEDIAN TONY ROBERTS at the StarDome Comedy Club.
JAPANDROIDS and CRAIG FINN & THE UPTOWN CONTROLLERS, 8 p.m. at Saturn.
SUNDAY
AHN TRIO at the Alys Stephens Center
PETE RG, SWEET CORN AND PEANUT and STEVEN BRIAN, 9 p.m. at The Nick.
COMEDIAN TONY ROBERTS at the StarDome Comedy Club.
MONDAY
BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND, 9 p.m. at The Nick.
CARD PLAYERS SPOT at the TIDE AND TIGER, 6 – 12 p.m.
DEAFHEAVEN and EMMA RI+UTH RUNDLE and BLACK HOLE KIDS at Saturn, 7 p.m.
TUESDAY
TIDE AND TIGER HOT TUESDAY, 3 p.m. until … on Graymont across from Legion Field with $.50 wings and drink specials until 9 p.m. For more call (205) 503-3880.
OLIVIA’S HAPPY HOUR, 4 p.m., every Tuesday, at Olivia’s Bar and Lounge with $.50 wings and drink specials. For more call (205) 326-2881.
COMEDIAN CHINGO BLING, 7:30 p.m. at the StarDome Comedy Club.
PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.
JOSÉ CARR at the Boss Lounge, 8:30 – 11 p.m.
SOROS, RUINED and BALCONY VIEW at The Nick.
SLEIGH BELLS and TUNDE OLANIRAN at Saturn.
WEDNESDAY
WINE AND JAZZ at the Perfect Note.
WEST KING STRING BAND, ABRAHAM & THE OLD GODS, CHELSEA LOVITTT & BOYS and A TOUCH OF BLACK, 9 p.m. at the Nick
OPEN MIC NIGHT at the Oak Hill Bar & Grill.
NEXT THURSDAY
THE HIGH DIVERS, FRANCES & THE FOUNDATION and LINES IN THE SKY at The Nick.
LILLIE MAE (AKA LILLIE MAE RISCHE) at Syndicate Lounge.
FOR MUSIC LOVERS AND SPOKEN WORD
VALERIE JUNE: THE ORDER OF TIME TOUR, 8 p.m. at Saturn. June knows a thing or two about turning hopes and dreams into realities. With Pushin’ Against A Stone, she went from self-releasing her music as Tennessee’s best kept secret to being hailed by the New York Times as one of America’s “most intriguing, fully formed new talents.” The New Yorker was captivated by her “unique, stunning voice,” while Rolling Stone dubbed her “unstoppable,” and NPR called her “an elemental talent born with the ability to rearrange the clouds themselves.” She astonished TV audiences from coast-to-coast with spellbinding performances on The Tonight Show, The Late Show, Austin City Limits, Rachael Ray, and CBS Saturday Morning, and graced some of the world’s most prestigious stages, from Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center. First Lady Michelle Obama invited June to The White House, and she toured with artists like Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Sturgill Simpson, Norah Jones, and Jake Bugg in addition to flooring festival crowds at Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Newport Folk, Hangout, ACL, Pickathon, Mountain Jam and more. In the UK, the reaction was similarly ecstatic.
BO BERRY QUARTET, 7 p.m. to midnight every Friday at Jazzi’s on 3rd.
IMPROV MUSIC AND COMEDY, 8-11 p.m., Friday, at the Perfect Note.
TRUMPETER MELVIN MILLER, 8 p.m. at the Perfect Note, Saturday.
JAZZ JAM SESSIONS, every Fourth Sunday, 6 p.m. at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (Carver Theatre), except for Christmas.
SPOKEN WORD OPEN MIC NIGHT, every Third Sunday, 7 p.m. at the Carver Theatre.
STUDENT JAZZ BAND FESTIVAL, April 20-22 at the Jazz Hall of Fame, Carver Theatre. New Student Roll Call for 2017 Saturday Jazz classes for new students coming soon.
RADIO HEROES – The PILLARS QUARTET and the Jefferson County Sound will perform at the Carver Theatre, March 9, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. FREE. This production of the Birmingham Black Radio Museum and Four Octave Productions in partnership with Urban Impact, Inc. will include contributions of radio announcer and activist Paul “Tall Paul” White.
FOR THE COMMUNITY
NATIONAL HAIR & HEALTH EXPO, next Saturday, at the BJCC with a full day of free events including Learn Healthy Eating and Weight Loss Tips (11 – 11:30 a.m.), Helpful Tips on Developing a Special Event (Noon – 12:30 p.m.), Empowering Women to Find Their Purpose in Life (11:30 a.m. – Noon), Real Estate 101 – Steps to Home Ownership (12:30 – 1 p.m.), Tips to Transition to a Healthier Lifestyle (1:30 – 2 p.m.), and the 2nd Annual Natural Hair & Health Expo Pageant. Celebrities attending include EVA MARCILLE, CLAIRE SULMERS, CHIME EDWARDS, TAMI RED, TAMARA FLOYD, WE TV’S GOO DOO ATKINS and JAZMUND WALKER.
FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
SATURDAY EVENING WALK – Southeastern Outings Evening Walk, 7 p.m. at the Hillsboro Trail, Helena, Shelby County, Alabama. DETAILS: Join friendly folks on an easy four-mile evening walk on the Hillsboro Trail in Helena, Alabama. This smooth trail is wide, paved and with only a few short hills. On this particular walk you will be walking on a scenic trail which goes through mostly wooded terrain. No motorized vehicles are allowed on your trail! All road crossings are through three tunnels under the roads. Note this is a relatively easy outing, one which should be lots of fun for everyone. Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 7 and up able to walk four miles without complaining are welcome on this walk. After the walk we’ll enjoy going for frozen yogurt at Yogurt Mountain in Hoover. Depart for the walk at 7 p.m. from the front parking lot at the Helena Middle School. For more info: Shannon McDevitt, (205) 789-9815 cell.
BIRMINGHAM CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is hosting several events during the month of March
MARCH: WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
March 17: 6 p.m. – Women’s History Month Program.” The Women Gather,” BCRI’s annual program that features and honors women via dance, spoken word, poetry and music. Community Meeting Room
March 24: 6 p.m. – “Still Standing” – a discussion with singer and performer Melba Moore about her one-woman show, “STILL STANDING: The Melba Moore Story.” Community Meeting Room
FOR BOOK LOVERS
Birmingham Bound Author Series at the Birmingham Public Library…
A MIND TO STAY: WHITE PLANTATION: BLACK HOMELAND – SIDNEY NATHANS, author of “A Mind To Stay: White Plantation, Black Homeland,” will speak on Monday, March 13, 6 p.m. in the fourth floor Arrington Auditorium in the Linn-Henley Research Library, 2100 Park Place. Nathan is a historian who used the Birmingham Public Library Archives Department to research a book about African Americans who moved from being slaves to homeowners. Nathan’s author talk/book signing is among two taking place in March as part of BPL’s Birmingham Bound author series. Free and open to the public.
RECONSTRUCTION IN ALABAMA: FROM CIVIL WAR TO REDEMPTION IN THE COTTON SOUTH – On Monday, March 20, at 6 p.m. inside Arrington Auditorium, author Michael W. Fitzgerald will discuss his book “Reconstruction in Alabama: From Civil War to Redemption in the Cotton South.” Reconstruction in Alabama is the first new study of this critical period in Alabama’s history to be published in decades. Fitzgerald, professor of history at St. Olaf College in Minnesota, explores the impact of Reconstruction and its aftermath from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement. The Birmingham Bound author series recognizes authors who researched their books in the Birmingham
Public Library Archives. Historians, journalists, and other writers from around the world have produced hundreds of books using the Archives’ collections and these books include five recipients of the Pulitzer Prize. Free and open to the public.
AT THE BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
BARDS & BREWS OPEN MIC Performance Poetry/Beer Tasting, Friday, 6:30 p.m. at the Central Library. This event, designed to raise funds to help keep Bards & Brews alive, will be Open Mic., allowing both novice and veteran poets to sign up to share their spoken word talent. Beer tasting will be available courtesy of Grayton Beer Co. of South Walton County, Fla., and The J. Clyde will be serving the beer. Blues guitarist George Griffin will provide musical entertainment beginning at 6:30 p.m., with poetry beginning to flow at 7 p.m. with poet Brian “Voice Porter” Hawkins serving as host. Hawkins is among several poets and community supporters helping BPL staff raise money for the popular spoken word event. For more information about Bards & Brews, call Brandon C. Smith of the Eastwood Branch Library at 205-591-4944 or email him at bcsmith@bham.lib.al.us.
BIRMINGHAM AFRICAN AMERICAN GENEALOGY – The Birmingham Public Library is hosting the Birmingham African American Genealogy Group’s remaining 2017. Here is the class schedule. The group meets monthly on Sundays, 3-5 p.m. at the Central Library.
MARCH 12 – Essentials of Genealogy, 3-5:30 p.m. at the Central Library.
APRIL 9 – Alabama’s Bi-centennial Celebration and BAAGG’s 20th Year Anniversary in 2019
MAY 21 – Introduction to Case Studies 1 & 2, 3-5:30 p.m. at the Central Library.
JUNE 11 – Virtual trip to Alabama Department of Archives and History, 3-5:30 p.m. at the Central Library.
JULY 9 – Youth in Genealogy, 3-5:30 p.m. at the Central Library.
AUGUST 13 – Introduction to Railroad Retirement Records, 3-5:30 p.m. at the Central Library.
SEPTEMBER 10 – BAAGG visit to LDS Center in Vestavia Hills at the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church
OCTOBER 8 – Convict Leasing and Parke Papers, 3-5:30 p.m. at the Central Library.
NOVEMBER 12 – Introduction to the digital library and digital scanning services at Birmingham Public Library’s Southern History Department, 3-5:30 p.m. at the Central Library
DECEMBER 10 – BAAGG Holiday Social and Awards (time and place to be determined)
MONEY MATTERS – The workshops will take place from noon to 1 p.m. in the Linn-Henley Research Library’s Regional Library Computer Center on the 4th Floor, 2100 Park Place. The workshop series, called Money Matters, is held the first Wednesday of each month. 4/5/2017 – Saving Through Tax Refunds and 5/3/2017 – Five Keys to Investing Success. For additional information, call (205) 226-3691.
FOR HELPING YOUTH
CURSIVE WRITING – PENMANSHIP CLASSES – Cursive writing, penmanship classes for students is available at Powderly Branch Library. Tutors are now available at the Powderly Branch Library to assist students in the City of Birmingham in learning basic cursive writing and penmanship. The After School Writing Lab called “Assistance with Cursive Writing and Basic Penmanship” is taught by tutors from Birmingham’s Social Security Administration. The class focuses on teaching second- through fifth-grade students in the Birmingham City School System cursive writing and basic penmanship.
AT THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS
ART GALLERY, open all month long.
FOR THE COMMUNITY LOVERS
FREE TAX PREPARATION – SAVEFIRST – The nonprofit’s SaveFirst initiative has started the efforts to provide free income tax preparation services to working families making up to $53,000/year with kids in the home or $20,000/year without kids in the home. Interested individuals should call 1-888-99-TAX-AL for a free appointment. The tax preparation service is aimed at assisting families eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is the federal government’s largest and most successful antipoverty program for low-income, working families. Impact Alabama’s annual free tax preparation services for working families will be available at five locations in the Birmingham area – Bessemer, Roebuck, Smithfield, West End, and Woodlawn.
TAX SITE INFORMATION:
BIRMINGHAM – SMITHFIELD LOCATION
Birmingham Public Libraries, Smithfield Branch #1 – 8th Ave W, Birmingham, AL 35204
BIRMINGHAM – WEST END LOCATION
Birmingham Public Libraries, West End Branch 1348 Tuscaloosa Ave SW, Birmingham, AL 35211
BIRMINGHAM – WOODLAWN LOCATION
Birmingham Public Libraries, Woodlawn Branch 5709 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35212
BIRMINGHAM – ROEBUCK LOCATION
Springville Road Library 1224 Old Springville Rd, Birmingham, AL 35215
BESSEMER LOCATION
Bessemer Public Library 400 19th St N, Bessemer, AL 35020
FOR BUSINESS LOVERS
BIZWOMEN MENTORING MONDAY – Meet your mentor, April 3, at Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa.
FOR ART LOVERS
FREEDOM? – An exhibition FREEDOM? is at the University of Alabama in the Paul Jones Gallery, through April 28.
AT THE STARDOME:
THIS WEEKEND: COMEDIAN TONY ROBERTS. No Stranger to TV and Film, as an actor Tony has toured with a major theatre play, has been cast in a sketch comedy pilot for CBS entitled, JUST ADD WATER and has appeared in half a dozen movies. As a host, Tony recently hosted the vh1 pilot “Dance Slam Cam, ” and a Guest Lead in “Nite Tales” for BET and recently sat on the couch as guest on The Monique Show. Keep an eye on Tony Roberts… America’s next great talent!!!!
CHINGO BLING. Tuesday ONLY, 7 p.m. …Chingo Bling: Pedro Herrera III is a rapper, actor, comedian, and
entrepreneur born to Mexican emigrants who came to the U.S. to achieve the American Dream for themselves and their children. A native to Houston, Texas, Herrera entered the music industry in the early 2000’s as a premier underground rap artist under the Mexican/Chicano self-parodying alter ego ‘Chingo Bling,’ a over-the-top Mexican cowboy with an outrageous personal style that showed a juxtaposition between hip-hop and the Mexican/Tex-Mex culture. Known by a variety of punning nicknames––the “Ghetto Vaquero,” the “Tamale Kingpin,” the “Versace Mariachi”––Herrera has, over the course of the last decade, produced an extraordinary body of parodic music.
THAT TAX BREAD DUN DROPPED: IT’S ON COMEDY SHOW, March 11, Saturday at Bennie Mac’s on First, 4831 First Avenue North with MICHAEL STATHAM, IVORY CORLEY and DJ GEORGE.
COMING SOON
MARCH 5 – AHN TRIO at the Alys Stephens Center
MARCH 11 – VILLAGE TO VILLAGE 10K in Mountain Brook. Register at www.village2village10k.com.
MARCH 11 – JOHN PIZZARELLI at the Alys Stephens Center.
MARCH 11 – NATURAL HAIR & HEALTH EXPO at the BJCC.
MARCH 16 – ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY PUBLIC MEETING, at the BJCC, East Exhibition Hall
MARCH 24 – CHRIS ROCK at the BJCC.
MARCH 26 – U. S. ARMY FIELD BAND & SOLDIERS CHORUS at the Alys Stephens Center. FREE.
MAY 6 – ERYKAH BADU, KENNY BABYFACE EDMONDS, GOODIE MOB, JOE and more at FUNKFEST at Legion Field
MAY 6-7 – TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY SPRING RACES at Talladega, Alabama.
MAY 12 – JAZZNET at the Harbert Center.
Well, that’s it. Tell you more next time.
(People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send comments to my emails:
thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com or gwenderu@yahoo.com.
