Music

What happens to San Diego institutions if Trump guts federal arts funding?

President Donald Trump’s staff is proposing to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency that has funded art performance, research and accessibility since its formation in 1965, according to a recent report in The Hill. To understand how that decision would affect San Diego, inewsource dug into NEA grant data and spoke with local arts leaders. Here’s what we found: In terms of general operating…


Unlikely RSF resident, WorldstarHipHop founder Lee ‘Q’ O’Denat dies at age 43

“Q was a brilliant businessman who championed urban culture, ultimately creating the largest hip-hop website in the world. But more than that, he was a devoted father and one of the nicest, most generous persons to ever grace this planet.” — WorldstarHipHop statement While legendary hip-hop and street fight website entrepreneurs might not be one’s first guess for ultra-sedate Rancho Santa Fe residency, WorldstarHipHop founder Lee…


Welk Theater Review: ‘My Fair Lady’

Welk Resorts brings a classic to the stage, and it’s just as fun as ever. Oh, that Henry Higgins. What a prig. What a jerk. What a genius! (Just ask him.) Yep, George Bernard Shaw’s favorite linguist is back to amuse and annoy us with his smart-alecky and soulless use of poor Eliza Doolittle as a guinea pig to showcase his great ability to transform…



New season set at Cal Center for the Arts

California Center for the Arts, Escondido this week announced its most ambitious season ever, set to hit the resurgent landmark’s stages beginning Aug. 11. To name but a few of the stars alighting Escondido’s cultural horizons through June 2017: Kathy Griffin, Keith Sweat, Big Head Todd And The Monsters, Montgomery Gentry, Garrison Keillor, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Pink Martini, Shaping Sound, The Midtown Men,…


Leading new wave folk singers take over California Center for the Arts on April 1

No April’s Fools joke here, bluegrass is in the house on Friday, April 1 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. Fans of the folksy country genre have the opportunity to see some of the leading ladies in the bluegrass world providing a singer-songwriter experience. Patty Griffin, Sara Watkins and Anaïs Mitchell performs a rare singers-in-the-round type show with each artist sharing their own…


Do you know the way to Highland Way at California Center for the Arts, Escondido?

At the height of the roaring Twenties Ray Henderson’s “The Best Things in Life are Free” was a popular song. The sentiment applies to the California Center for the Arts, Escondido’s (CCAE) presentation of Highland Way, highlighting Celtic music from Scotland and Ireland, and the occasional cover. Highland Way is highly free at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 shows at CCAE. Tickets,…


Fans converge on store to meet rap star

Welcome to “underground” Escondido. The future starts now. Rapper Self Provoked was in the HypeFright house. His teenaged admirers snaked around the long building, spilling across the 239 E Valley Parkway parking lot into a well-mannered, yet energetic, line for a very special meet and greet opportunity. They were maybe 30 yards away from a staid Second Saturday Art Walk crowd trudging around the Escondido…


Dance a jig, Chieftains coming to town

 Iconic, entertaining and legendary, The Chieftains traditional Irish band roars into California Center for the Arts, Escondido Concert Hall on Thursday, Feb. 25. Considered one of the world’s most memorable musical ensembles, The Chieftains transcend musical boundaries by blending tradition with modern music. They’ve been at it for half-a-century, believe it or not, yet always sound fresh and relevant. You can thank Paddy Moloney for…


Hidden Valley Community Concert Association presents Vida Guitar Quartet

Hidden Valley Community Concert Association (HVCCA) emerges from the shadows in two weeks with a special performance by Vida Guitar Quartet at at the intimate 404-seat Center Theater California Center for the Arts, Escondido. While it may be cliche to say something or someone is a best kept secret, facts on the musical grounds suggest Hidden Valley’s hidden community concert group, while venerable, also is…