There are a lot of different musical options this week! Choose from jazz and vibes from Chuck Redd or the eclectic Nellie McKay, both at The Shedd. Enjoy re-acquainting yourself with legendary folk icons The Kingston Trio at Hult Center, or Brazilian pianist and singer Eliane Elias, also at The Shedd. Colin Hay from Men At Work lights up the Hult Center. Tuesday is opening night for the Eugene Emeralds (hell0 spring baseball!) at PK Park, and a new art gallery opens up in a space managed by Dr. Dexter, a Eugene dentist, that is always free to the public.
April 14
Chuck Redd Quartet: “My Favorite Things” | Fresh off a 2-week engagement at New York’s legendary Café Carlyle as a member of the John Pizzarelli Quartet and midpoint between his primary Shedd gig as director of Oregon Festival of American Music (both Winter and Summer), vibes master Chuck Redd makes his annual mid-year jazz quartet appearance. Chuck offers up an evening filled with takes on his favorite pieces from the American songbook, jazz standards (“Star Dust,” “Laura,” “Get Happy,” “Squatty Roo,” “How About You?”) and his own compositions. The Shedd, theshedd.org
April 15
Don Dexter Gallery Grand Opening | Don Dexter Gallery is celebrating the grand opening of its new location with a group exhibition comprised of a selection of works from members of PhotoZone Gallery. The group exhibition is on view in Eugene at 2911 Tennyson Ave #202 through June 30, 2023. All are welcome to an opening reception on April 15 from 4 to 7 pm, followed by drinks and snacks. Featured gallery artists include Mark Anderson, Bryan Andresen, David Becker, Linda Devenow, Ron Dobrowski, Greg Giesy, Sandy Brown Jensen, Don Myers, Walt O’Brien, Doremus Scudder, and Michael Z. Taylor. Don Dexter Gallery, dondextergallery.com
April 15
Nellie McKay | Nellie McKay, brilliant, intensely independent, and always enjoyable, is back for her 8th stop here, this time in support of her newest collection of songs, Bagatelles, the companion release to her 2018 LP Sister Orchid. She describes it as “a merry and melancholy bouquet of music.” Come early for dinner at 6. The Shedd, theshedd.org
April 15
Karen Murphy Talk on Rick Bartow | At 2 pm, Bartow Trustee and close friend of Rick Bartow’s, Karen Murphy, will share songs and stories from the sweat lodge and discussion of a new powerful exhibit on Bartow’s work, Myth/Reality.” Karin Clarke Gallery, karinclarkegallery.com
April 16
Kingston Trio | Fans of legendary folk icons The Kingston Trio can re-discover their timeless music all over again as the group returns to their national tour. All three current members, Mike Marvin, Tim Gorelangton, and Buddy Woodward, have intrinsic links to and experience with the original group. They’ll perform such timeless classics as “Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” and “Tom Dooley.” Hult Center, hultcenter.org
April 18
Eugene Emeralds Opening Night | Join the Ems on Opening Night and experience the start of the 2023 season with a live performance from the UO Garter Band. PK Park, milb.com
April 18
Eliane Elias “Quietude” | The New York Times says, “The Brazilian pianist and singer Eliane Elias commands the keyboard with a forceful two-handed muscularity that belies her image as a blond older sister of the mythical Girl from Ipanema. The more percussive her pianism becomes, the more she opens up a song and reimagines it in what might be called a romantic carnival groove…a celebration of the vitality of a culture overflowing with life and natural beauty.” The Shedd, theshedd.org
April 19
Colin Hay with special guest Lazlo Bane | Colin Hay has a prolific career both as the lead singer and principal songwriter of Grammy Award winning band Men at Work and a solo career that spans 25 years and 15 albums. This show will feature songs from his entire catalog and features a special & rare accompaniment of his acoustic band. Hult Center, hultcenter.org
Through April 30
Cottage Theatre presents “Big Fish” | Cottage Theatre opens the second show of its 2023 season with a production of “Big Fish,” based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed Tim Burton film. Cottage Theatre, cottagetheatre.org
Through May 20
Contemplate: New Works by Jon Jay Cruson | White Lotus Gallery is hosting an exhibit of works by Jon Jay Cruson, one of the most celebrated Pacific Northwest artists who has become known for explorations of space, shapes, and colors of the land. Opening reception April 8, 1-3 pm. White Lotus Gallery, wlotus.com
April 19
Wednesday Trivia at Drop Bear Brewery | Drop Bear Brewery hosts trivia night every Wednesday starting at 7pm. Doors open at 4 for the early birds. Join in for fun and great prizes while enjoying a beer and some food! Drop Bear Brewery, dropbearbrewery.com
Through July 1
Spring Museum’s “Stories of Labor in Springfield” | “Working Springfield: exploring labor in Springfield through local voices” is a new exhibit on display at the Springfield History Museum through July 1, 2023. Curator Maddi McGraw says that this exhibit is “a celebration of Springfield’s labor history over the past 175 years, and of the people who have made Springfield into the community it is today.” Springfield Museum, wheremindsgrow.org
