CLASSICAL
by Bruce Reid
FRIDAY 7/28
BELLINGHAM FESTIVAL OF MUSIC--Ah, the beauties of Whatcom County! The coast, Mt. Baker, and, of course, the annual classical music festival. No, there's not much you'd consider off the beaten path--in two weeks of concerts the closest you get to contemporary music is Piazzolla's Tango for Four--although the opening night soloist is worth a mention. Legendary pianist Alicia de Larrocha is the guest for Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1. The remainder of the all-Beethoven concert is equally uninspired (the Overture to Coriolanus, Symphony No. 6), but de Larrocha might be enough to make the drive worth it to you. PAC Concert Hall, Western Washington University, 650-6146 or 855-998-3272, 8 pm. $23, $13 students.
SEATTLE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL--This lively series hits the home stretch with a nice program. After Steven Doane's recital reading of Britten's monumental Suite No. 3 for Cello, there's Fauré's Quartet for Piano and Strings in G, Op. 45; Janácek's Sonata for Violin and Piano; and Dvorák's fine Quartet for Piano and Strings in E flat, Op. 87, bringing everything to an elegant, lovely conclusion. Lakeside School, 14050 First Ave NE, 283-8808 or 292-ARTS, 7 pm. $25-$32, $15 students.
SEATTLE COMPOSERS' SALON--A monthly showcase of "finished works, previews, and works-in-progress" by local composers. You never can tell with these kind of things, but if even only one piece raises the hair on the back of the neck and gives you a new name to look out for, it seems worth it to me. Seattle Mennonite Church, 3120 NE 125th, 548-0981, 8 pm. $5 suggested donation.
SATURDAY 7/29
SEATTLE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL--One of the best things about this annual series is its eclectic programming, so for closing night they've opted for... Brahms? Oh well, at least the music (the Violin Sonata in A, Op. 100; the wonderful Trio for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano in A, Op. 114; and the Piano Sonata in F, Op. 5) is nice, however much you've heard it. Lakeside School, 14050 First Ave NE, 283-8808 or 292-ARTS, 7 pm. $25-$32, $15 students.
WEDNESDAY 8/2
SEATTLE SYMPHONY CHORALE--This installment of the summer sing-along concerts features Verdi's Gloria, which is lovely and stunning but far too outsized and dramatic to be entrusted to a pick-up group of singers; and Haydn's organ-driven Missa brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo, which is lovely and noble, but far too intimate and elegant to be entrusted to a pick-up group of singers. St. Mark's Cathedral, 214 10th Ave E, 215-4734, 7 pm, $8.
RADIO SHOWS
by Mark Pinkos
SATURDAY 7/29
AMERICAN ROUTES--This installment of American Routes takes the listener deep into the heart of the American South where the kudzu grows thick, gators patrol the bayous, and the strains of Delta Blues still roll across the landscape like morning fog. Expect interviews with singer Little Milton and Delta DJ Early Wright (famous for "snake alerts"), among others. KUOW 94.9 PM, 1 pm.
LIVE ROOM--Two guitars + one drum kit = Welcome. The region's best purveyors of jagged, splintered, harmolodic, and hypnotically compelling rock (given Unwound's recent hiatus) grace Jack Straw studios with one hour of their music tonight. Tune in or be banished to squaresville forever. KCMU 90.3 FM, 8-9 pm.
SUNDAY 7/30
ALTERNATIVE RADIO--Retune to KUOW as the topic switches to terrorism and its discontents. Host Eqbal Ahmad, professor emeritus of Middle Eastern studies at Hampshire College, will be on hand to guide listeners through examples of the gross distortions the U.S. media can use when covering terrorist-related stories. KUOW 94.9 PM, 11 pm.
TUESDAY 8/1
TOMORROW'S STARS TODAY--I rarely stoop to autobiographical nostalgia when previewing events, but... the first time I heard my own band being broadcast over public airwaves, where anyone with an itchy radio-dial trigger finger could potentially stumble upon the best punk rock song ever, I almost cried tears of joy. You could be next--all you have to do is submit a radio-quality recording of your band (no cover songs please) with proof of copyright to Tommorow's Stars Today c/o Connie McCarty, 704 Antrim Rd, Winlock, WA. Lucky finalists will be played from 7-10 pm on KCED 91.3 FM.
WEDNESDAY 8/2
LOVELINE--The wry Adam Corolla and stoic Dr. Drew continue their quixotic quest to enlighten the (arguably) unenlightenable: America's adolescent population. Listen in fascination to called-in tales of broken condoms, extreme marijuana abuse, and codependent relationships. KQBZ 100.7 FM, 10 pm.
REGIONAL MUSIC
FEMI KUTI: Thurs July 27, Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre, Portland
JUAN ATKINS, STACEY PULLEN, SWAYZAK: Thurs July 27, Sonar, Vancouver, BC
RICKY MARTIN: Thurs July 27, Rose Garden Arena, Portland
WILCO, LOS LOBOS, JOHN HIATT: Fri July 28, Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland
STING, K. D. LANG: Sat July 29, Rose Garden Arena, Portland
SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE: Mon July 31, Paradigm, Portland
HANSON: Wed Aug 2, Crystal Ballroom, Portland
NEKO CASE & HER BOYFRIENDS: Wed Aug 2, Berbati's Pan, Portland
CHARLIE HUNTER: Wed Aug 2, Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre, Portland
