Folkie to play at Courthouse Park

Indiana-based folk singer Robert Hoyt will perform tonight in the Tunes at Twilight series at Common Pleas Courthouse Park.

Hoyt's music has been characterized as "folk/Americana with an edge." He has recorded three CDs, and his music has been included in various compilations with Hank Williams Jr., REM, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Dan Fogelberg.

The free concert will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday night, Hoyt will appear at the Yellow Moon in Cobden, Ill. From 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday he will perform at the River Ridge Winery in Commerce, Mo. While in Cape Girardeau, he also will tape a show for a future broadcast on KRCU 90.9 FM's "Your Folk Connection."

Living History Day at Big Oak Tree

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Music, food and demonstrations of old-time skills will be offered during Living History Day Saturday at Big Oak Tree State Park near East Prairie.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Demonstrations will include flintknapping, blacksmithing, bobbin lacing, carding and spinning, wood carving, candle making, felting, basket making, gun smithing, quilting and others.

The Hammer Sisters and the Soggy Mountain Gang will play music throughout the day.

The James Bayou Cookers will serve a fried catfish and chicken dinner with all the trimmings for $7 beginning at 11 a.m. Other food items and baked goods will be available.

Admission and parking are free. Shuttles will relay guests from parking areas to the event.

Big Oak Tree State Park is 15 miles south of East Prairie on Highway 102.

For more information, phone (573) 649-3149. The TDD number is (800) 379-2419.

Highland Festival Saturday in Paducah

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Bagpipe music will be heard at Paducah's Carson Park Saturday as Scots and Celts gather for the fifth annual Western Kentucky Highland Festival.

The event will begin at 7 the night before with a Ceilidh (Scottish party) at Jeremiah's Restaurant. Entertainment will be provided by Christina Harrison, Colin Grant-Adams and storyteller Robert Valentine.

The festival will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday and will end at 4:30 p.m. It will include the Parade of Tartans at noon, amateur athletic competitions, music, dancing, food and seminars on Scottish genealogy.

For more information, phone Charlotte Harris at (270) 443-2064 and send e-mail to charris@apex.net.

Bluegrass festival Sept. 20-22 near Cairo

CAIRO, Ill. -- The fifth annual Stringbenders Bluegrass Festival will be held Sept. 20-22 at Fort Defiance Park, 1 mile south of Cairo. The park is located at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.

Bands will include: Shady Mix, Old Santa Fe, Billy J. Ivers and the Half Day Bluegrass Band, all of Illinois; String Circle, the Meramac Jets and Level Ground, all of Missouri; Jimmy Adams and The McKendrees, both of Kentucky; and Dan Knowles of Tennessee.

Camping is available. Full hook-up spots are limited. No alcohol is permitted in the stage area. A non-denominational worship service and gospel bluegrass music will be presented Sept. 22.

For more information, contact Zac at (618) 747-2655, send e-mail to caldwellsigns@earthlink.net or visit www.stringbenders.com.

Shrimp Festival in Golconda

GOLCONDA, Ill. -- The second annual Shrimp Festival will be held Sept. 21 in Golconda.

Music will be provided by Big Moody and the Fender Benders, B Douglas and Rhonda Belford.

The festival will be held from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. and will include cook-off contests, a ride-in bike show, river taxi rides, horse and buggy rides and a fun run.

For information, phone (618) 683-6246.

Promenade des Arts Sept. 21-22 in Ste. Genevieve

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- The second annual Promenade des Arts will be held Sept. 21 and 22 in Ste. Genevieve.

Artists will provide demonstrations in woodcarving, basket weaving, fabric art, silk painting, glass sculpture, spinning, weaving, lacemaking and digital photography. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 21 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 22.

A reception for artist Joseph Vorst will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Mammy Shaw House.

Violinist, chamber orchestra in SIU residency

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Violinist Rachel Barton, the Chicago Chamber Orchestra and conductor Edward Benyas will be in residence Sept. 19-22 at SIU.

They will give concerts for area schools on Sept. 20 and perform in small ensembles at the University Museum, the Old Baptist Foundation Hall and the Carbondale Civic Center from 5:30 to 7 that night.

The evening will culminate with Cherry Rhodes performing at 7:30 p.m. at Shryock Auditorium in the Webb-Bateman Distinguished Organ Recital.

Barton will perform three concertos in the Southern Illinois Symphony Series to begin at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22 in Shryock Auditorium.

For information, phone (618) 453-ARTS.

Subscriptions available for symphony series

Tickets for the 2002-2003 Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra Concert Series are on sale until Oct. 10. They can be bought at the Performing Arts Box Office at Southeast.

The series presents the orchestra in four full symphony orchestra concerts in addition to one chamber orchestra performance in February.

The series will offer music with Spanish influences, masterworks by Beethoven and Schubert, a world premiere for organ and chamber orchestra to be performed on the new pipe organ at Old St. Vincent's Church, and a tribute to the American heritage.

Part of the proceeds will support the Southeast Missouri School for the Visual and Performing Arts.

The Oct. 22 concert will feature Manuel Ramos, first violinist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and considered the top Mexican violinist of his generation.

On Dec. 3, the orchestra will join with the Choral Union and University Choir to present "An American Celebration," a concert of music by American composers.

The Feb. 16 concert at Old St. Vincent's Church will spotlight Dr. Gary Miller, chairman of the Department of Music, in an "Organ Spectacular."

Student winners of the university's Concerto and Aria Competition will perform with the orchestra March 11 in a concert titled "European Odyssey."

The final concert May 6 will present the orchestra, Choral Union and University Choir in a celebration of Beethoven and Schubert.

All concerts are at 8 p.m. at Academic Auditorium except the Feb. 16 concert. That concert will begin at 3 p.m.

Subscription series ticket-holders receive priority seating, guaranteed admission and a 10 percent savings. Prices range from $18 to $45 for the entire series.

To subscribe, phone 651-2265.

-- From staff reports