Dallas,TX

A trip to the State Fair is always a little better when a live music performance is thrown into the mix. After seeing the livestock, the bird shows, eating corn dogs and other fried delights you will regret later, cruising through the Midway, and riding the new SkyWay gondola ride, settle down to a musical treat.

Tonight, as I mentioned in an earlier post, Grupo Fantasma plays at 8 p.m. on the Chevrolet Main Stage. Their mixture of rhythms will keep your feet tapping. Maybe just break out and dance. Or watch the dancers who are a little better at it. Should be interesting.

Saturday, Boyz II Men perform their harmonizing R&B. They are releasing a Motown tribute record in November, so there are sure to be some Motown classics in the show. It would be a good break in the afternoon at the fair. Grab a corny dog and beverage, find a place to seat, and listen to some good harmony.

If you are going to the fair Sunday, end the day with Bowling for Soup as they return to town for the fair. After all, they are from Denton. An irreverent show to be sure, but their onstage antics are sure to entertain. They have come a long way from being a garage band around town.

Enjoy the State Fair this weekend. All three shows are at the Chevrolet Main Stage.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

If you are not going to the fair Friday or Saturday, there are good live country shows coming to town. Check out Jimmy Webb Friday night at Poor David’s Pub. On Saturday, Billy Joe Shaver will be playing at the Granada Theater. They are both stalwarts of country music. The songs of both songwriters have been recorded by countless others and are still being recorded by the younger artists. They are both seasoned artists and at home on stage.

Jimmy Webb, Poor David’s Pub, 1313 South Lamar, 214-565-1295, 8:30 p.m. Friday. Front Gate Tickets.

Billy Joe Shaver, Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave., 214-824-9933, 8 p.m. Saturday, Doors open at 7.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

A sure way to beat the 5 o’clock rush hour traffic Friday is to leave work early and go to the Texas State Fair. My mouth is already watering for a corny dog. IKEA is sponsoring a Celebrity Kitchen where noted chefs will provide their audience with cooking ideas. There are dog shows which are also a fun way to relax after walking for hours. On Friday, Brave Combo plays at 3 p.m. on the Toyota Truck Stage. Grupo Fantasma performs at 8 p.m. on the Chevrolet Main Stage.

I will be bringing you more activities, concerts, and ways to wander around Fair Park each day. The State Fair usually means fall weather and some rain along the way - both of which we could use. There will still be hot days of course, but even variation is a change of pace.

Texas State Fair, Fair Park, September 28 - October 21. Click on the link for more information.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

If you want to go country Wednesday night, there are two performers at opposite ends of the spectrum. Ed Burleson, who will be a Love and War in Texas in Plano, plays country music just like your mama used to listen to. Straight ahead, not too many frills, country music. Then there is David Allan Coe, who will be performing at House of Blues Music Hall. Coe is one of the original “outlaws” of country music back in the ‘70s. While some of the performers branded as outlaws shied away from the term, David Allan Coe wore it like a badge in amongst the tattoos. But he has put out a lot of good songs over the years. Everyone knows the words to “You Never Even Call Me By My Name.” One thing you can say about his shows - you never know what to expect. But it is never boring and always entertaining.

Ed Burleson, Love and War in Texas, Plano, 601 E. Plano Pkwy, 972-422-6201, 7:30 p.m.

David Allan Coe, House of Blues Music Hall, Victory Park, 2200 North Lamar Street, 214-978-2583, Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets at the door or Ticketmaster.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

Steven Curtis Chapman is one of the hottest Christian artists in the field to date. Chapman brings his show (with his two sons - Will Franklin on drums and Caleb on guitar) to the Meyerson this Wednesday on a bill that includes the rocking sounds of Sanctus Real and the songwriting and vocal talents of Bethany Dillon. A night full of sight, sound, and praise.

Steven Curtis Chapman, Sanctus Real, Bethany Dillon, Meyerson, 2301 Flora St., 214-692-0203.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

For a blast from the past tonight, go to the House of Blues and see the Average White Band. Or, on the country rock side, Reckless Kelly at the Granada. My choice though would be Radney Foster at Love and War in Texas in Plano. That is, if I am not at a food festival stuffing my face.

Average White Band, House of Blues Music Hall, Victory Park, 2200 North Lamar Street, 214-978-2583 Doors open at 7 p.m.

Reckless Kelly, Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave., 214-824-9933 9 p.m.

Radney Foster, Love and War in Texas, Plano, 601 E. Plano Pkwy, 972-422-6201 8 p.m.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

Fall Festivals are upon us and are popping up all over the Dallas area. If the Addison Oktoberfest or the Plano Balloon Festival do not strike your fancy (See previous posts), the Mid-Cities Greek Food Fest is just a jaunt out 183 into Euless. The festival kicks off this evening at 6 p.m. with Taverna Night. The evening will include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and dinner (including chicken or beef souvlaki, dolmas, Greek potatoes, Greek green beans and Greek pastries). A portion of the $60 admission for Taverna Night will benefit Kidd’s Kids.

The festival itself will begin Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., continue through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free. There will be food, food, and more food, including gyros, pastitsio and moussaka to baklava and other sweet delights. If that is not enough, the Taverna Grill has grilled octopus and saganaki, not to mention Greek-style sausage. Stroll through the marketplace and peruse the crafts, clothing, jewelry, and packaged foods.

16th annual Mid-Cities Greek Food Fest, St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 303 Cullum Drive, Euless. 817-283-2291

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

There is something about a bunch of colorful balloons in the sky. Who has not watched a balloon slip out of a child’s grip or let go on purpose and followed it until it drifted far away out of sight? Even more fascinating - and more colorful come to think about it - is watching a gathering of hot air balloons. The Plano Balloon Festival will offer plenty of chances to do just that this weekend.

The Plano Balloon Festival begins Friday from 4-8:45 p.m. continues through Saturday, 6 a.m. - 9 p.m., and concludes on Sunday, 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. Balloons will launch Friday at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday the balloons will launch at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. You can also pay for a balloon ride if you are adventurous. Or visit the food vendors and eat while you watch the balloons. You can also take a picnic meal and eat at your car in various locations for a good view of the balloons in flight.

Plano Balloon Festival, Oak Point Park, 2801 E. Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano. 972-867-7566.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

Wynton Marsalis comes to Dallas on Wednesday to appear at the Meyerson Center with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Marsalis, in case you haven’t been paying attention, is one of the best trumpeters and promoter of jazz music in the world today. It was with Art Blakely’s band, the Jazz Messengers, in the 1980’s that Marsalis learned of the relationship between jazz and democracy. Blakely was often heard to say, “No America, no Jazz.” Over the years, Wynton has been invited to perform with Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, Sweets Edison, Clark Terry, Sonny Rollins, and countless other jazz legends.

To say the Wynton Marsalis plays with intensity and feeling is an understatement. When he performs, his entire being comes exploding through his trumpet. He has won countless awards and distinctions, including being the only artist to win Grammy Awards in five consecutive years. He has done as much or more as anyone else in his field to promote jazz and music to all cultures and to children.

Wynton Marsalis with the Dallas Symphony, Meyerson Center, 214-692-0203. Wed. at 8 p.m.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

This is the time for Oktoberfest celebrations to begin. The Addison Oktoberfest begins Thursday at 5 p.m. The four-day celebration includes carnival rides, midway games, arts and crafts. A children’s tent will have live performances for the younger set. Obviously, there will be German food, German potato salad, beverages, and live polka music and yodeling. You can also stroll through the biergarten with its strolling musicians. Thurs. 5-11 p.m., Fri. 5 p.m.- midnight, Sat. noon to midnight and Sun. noon to 6 p.m.

Addison Oktoberfest, Addison Circle Park 4970 Addison Circle Drive.

Have a good morning and Peace be with you.

I apologize for not posting any earlier. The day began with a headache and church activities which stretched on through the day. There are many events this week including food festivals, museum events, music, and more. I will try to post as many as I can. There will also be local news and commentary.

As always, let me know what you may want to see here pertaining to the Dallas area.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

Some of the more soulful songwriters are performing tonight in the Dallas area. Lucinda Williams has honed her skills over the years, gaining speed with each new release. Her new album, West, as well as her Live @ the Fillmore release, demonstrates the power of mind and voice joining in beautiful musical unison. Her songs have been recorded by many other performers for years.

Houston Marchman and Django Walker (son of Jerry Jeff Walker) are coming into their own. All three songwriters do not write songs so much as live them and see them and write them down. Their songs touch the heart, mind, and soul of everyone. Not to mention their appreciation for the humorous side of life.

Kind of makes you wish you could be in three places at the same time.

Lucinda Williams, Longhorn Ballroom, 216 Corinth, St., 214-428-5900. 9 p.m. Front Gate Tickets.

Houston Marchman, Love and War in Texas, Plano, 601 E. Plano Pkwy, 972-422-6201. 7:30 p.m.

Django Walker, Love and War in Texas, Grapevine, 2505 E. Grapevine Mills Circle, 972-724-5557. 9 p.m.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

For being the music of many cultures and having a longer history than any other type of music, folk music always gets the short end of the stick. Modern American folk music began about the time of Woody Guthrie. His legacy helped form the genre as it exists today. He would be proud of the many facets of folk music today. Guthrie was not the first, but he was the one to help propel the musical form into the musical melting pot it has become.

The 1960s are mostly remembered for the popularity of rock and roll which began in the 1950s. Folk music had its distinct role in the ‘60s, but took a backseat to rock and roll and psychedelic sounds. The 1970s brought a resurgence in folk and folk/rock music. In Texas, Dallas in particularly (before they moved to Austin) the early ‘70s folk/rock merged with country to begin the emergence of “Redneck rock,” country-rock, and the outlaw movement. On today’s radio folk and its related cousins can be found, as a general rule, on so-called Americana stations.

In the late 1980’s there was - as there had been in many successive decades - a resurgence of folk music with an updated train of thought. The Indigo Girls were part of that particular resurgence. Twenty years and ten studio albums later, Amy and Emily Saliers are still going strong as the Indigo Girls. The tour is supporting that tenth album, Despite Our Differences - their first since signing with Hollywood Records earlier this year. The Indigo Girls have always put on a dynamic performance and tonight’s show at the Majestic should be no different.

The Indigo Girls, tonight at 8 p.m., the Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St., Downtown, 214-880-0137. Tickets at Ticketmaster or the theater box office.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

Okay, so it is not a secret that President Bush and the First Lady are moving to Dallas when he leaves office. Which naturally raises some concerns for residents here. It is rumored that they will be moving to Highland Park. Which would be a good guess, considering the Bush Library is supposedly going to be at SMU. Although each time it is in the news there is still some question as to where it is going to be. And Laura Bush did attend SMU from what I understand.

The first thing the news crew did was to interview Realtors and speculate on which neighborhoods and which houses they would choose from. They showed a fifteen million dollar home being built on spec that had security out the wazoo. Two elevators and an underground parking garage that is just short of bomb proof. Who knows where they are actually looking and what houses they are considering. It is still over a year before the President leaves office. Not to mention that they would swear the Realtor to secrecy. The Realtor surely would not be on the news showing the world. However, when the family does move in, you can bet it will be on his/her new business card.

But the President and First Lady moving here does, as I said, raise some concerns. The neighbors the reporters interviewed living around the houses they were speculated upon were naturally skeptical. The one mother said that at first it would probably be interested having a President live nearby, but that after a while it might become bothersome what with traffic situations involving the motorcade and secret service agents always around.

Which I understand. But my main concern is that we are high enough on the terrorist attack list as it is. Having what would then be the former President - particularly the one who waged war on terrorism - living in the heart of the city would boost us right up close to numero uno. Washington, D.C. and New York City notwithstanding. I’m not paranoid mind you, but that is the reality of the situation. Life will go on, but there will be another thought that could ring alarms in the back of our minds - along with are our children safe and where they are supposed to be. We shall see what we shall see.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

The largest wine festival in the Southwest returns to Historic Downtown Grapevine Thursday through Sunday. Obviously there will be a wine tasting - or two or three. As well as an International Wine Garden. The GrapeStomp will test the contestants’ stomping agility and entertain the spectators.

For the family, there will be a Kid Zone area for younger children. The carnival and midway games will please kids of all ages. Then go by the arts and crafts booths for that unique gift for yourself or someone else. Take a ride on the Grapefest Express Railroad. There are many other things to see and do including the live music stages with continuous entertainment. Not to mention people-watching.

There will be free admission all day Thursday and up until 5 p.m. on Friday. Go to the Grapevine website for parking information and directions.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.