TUSK CALENDAR: Who's playing and what's happening

Mark Hughes Cobb, Tuscaloosa News
·7 min read

This week in West Alabama, March 21-27, Drivin' n' Cryin' will play The Venue; several Easter egg hunts will be held over the weekend; Druid City Derby will open its 2024 season with a triple-header at the Bobby Miller Center; feats of strength will be tested at the Tuscaloosa Gauntlet and Fire Truck Pull; and the 38th Annual Sakura Festival, celebrating ties with Tuscaloosa's sister city Narashino, Japan, will be held Saturday at the Warner Transportation Museum.

MUSIC

FRIDAY

Boon Dock Saints: 9:30 p.m., Copper Top, 2300 Fourth St., Temerson Square, downtown Tuscaloosa. www.facebook.com/TheCopperTopTuscaloosa.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

Zach Bryan will play Friday and Saturday at the BJCC Arena in Birmingham.
Zach Bryan will play Friday and Saturday at the BJCC Arena in Birmingham.

Zach Bryan: 7 p.m. each night, BJCC Arena, Birmingham. Tickets, $171 and up, through www.ticketmaster.com. www.bjcc.org.

SATURDAY

Drivin' n' Cryin' will play The Venue in Tuscaloosa Saturday.
Drivin' n' Cryin' will play The Venue in Tuscaloosa Saturday.

Drivin' n' Cryin', Jackson Chase, Southern Division: 6:30-11 p.m., $26, The Venue Tuscaloosa, opposite Sokol Park, Northport. www.venuetuscaloosa.com.

Birmingham-born soul band St. Paul and the Broken Bones will play Avondale Brewing in the Magic City Saturday.
Birmingham-born soul band St. Paul and the Broken Bones will play Avondale Brewing in the Magic City Saturday.

St. Paul and the Broken Bones: 7 p.m. Avondale Brewing Company, 201 41st S. S., Birmingham. Tickets, $38 and up, through www.ticketmaster.com. www.avondalebrewing.com.

SUNDAY

Open-mic night: 6 p.m., Druid City Brewing Co., 700 14th St., Parkview Plaza, Tuscaloosa. druidcitybrewing.com.

LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY-SUNDAY

The national touring company of eight-Tony-winner "Hadestown" will perform at the BJCC in Birmingham, Tuesday through March 24.
The national touring company of eight-Tony-winner "Hadestown" will perform at the BJCC in Birmingham, Tuesday through March 24.

"Hadestown" national touring company: Eight-Tony-winning musical, entwining the myths of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and King Hades and his wife Persephone. Performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets, $40 and up, through www.ticketmaster.com. www.bjcc.org.

E&H's Open Book Club (virtual): 5:30 p.m. Zoom meeting, featuring author Jennifer Horne discussing her newly released Sara Mayfield biography, "Odyssey of a Wandering Mind." Registration is required in advance, through www.tinyurl.com/2p9zetd8.

FRIDAY

Kevonstage and That Chick Angel: 7:30 p.m., Lyric Fine Arts Theatre, 1800 Third Ave. N., Birmingham. Tickets, $36 and up, through www.ticketmaster.com. www.lyricbham.com.

SATURDAY

Third Annual Tuscaloosa Gauntlet: 8 a.m., Buddy Powell Pavilion, 4205 Northridge Road, Tuscaloosa. Obstacle course race, about 5K, featuring more than 20 obstacles, including a Marine regulation O-course. Competitive, open and team heats, as well as a kids' race. Sponsored by Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority (PARA), Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports (Visit Tuscaloosa), and the Alabama Marines Foundation. www.tuscaloosagauntlet.com.

Egg the City: 9-11 a.m., Tuscaloosa County High School track field, free event, 12500 Wildcat Drive, Northport. Easter egg hunt with carnival-type games, food, and prizes.

Tenth Annual Fire Truck Pull: 10 a.m.-noon, University Mall lot. Teams of 10 members will compete to see who can pull a 35,000-pound fire truck 25 feet. Fund-raiser for The Arc of Tuscaloosa County, supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Contact The Arc for more, www.facebook.com/arctusc, 205-556-4900, or email development@thearcoftuscaloosa.org. www.thearcoftuscaloosa.org.

Dancers and drummers with Nozomi Daiko during the 37th Annual Sakura Festival at Tuscaloosa River Market, March 25, 2023. Sara Naughton performs on stilts and in mask and costume. The 2024 Sakura Festival will be Saturday at the Warner Transportation Museum.
Dancers and drummers with Nozomi Daiko during the 37th Annual Sakura Festival at Tuscaloosa River Market, March 25, 2023. Sara Naughton performs on stilts and in mask and costume. The 2024 Sakura Festival will be Saturday at the Warner Transportation Museum.

The 38th Annual Sakura Festival: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Warner Transportation Museum, 1901 Jack Warner Parkway, Tuscaloosa. Performances, educational demonstrations, activities for all ages, and winners of the Haiku Contest will be announced at the festival. The theme of this year’s Sakura Festival is “Uketsugu" or “preserve." The spring celebration of Sakura, or cherry blossoms, reminds us of the value of each moment, while the return of spring awakens us to fresh possibilities in life. This year’s theme reminds us to cherish and carry on the connection built between the community of Tuscaloosa and sister-city, Narashino, in Japan. For more, see www.bit.ly/4a58xt7.

Micah House book signing event: Noon-1:30 p.m., Ernest & Hadley Booksellers, 1928 Seventh St., downtown Tuscaloosa. House will introduce and sign his fifth book in the Blanchard Witches Series, "Half Sick of Shadows." Reserve spots on Eventbrite, at www.buff.ly/47YwNvo. www.ernestandhadleybooks.com.

Druid City Derby 2024 home season debut: Doors at noon, Bobby Miller Activity Center, 300 Bobby Miller Parkway, Tuscaloosa. Triple-header with Druid City Daredevils against Steel City Slayers and Savannah Junior Roller Derby at 12:30 and 5:30 p.m.; Druid City Derby vs. Montgomery Roller Derby at 3 p.m. Limited seating, so patrons are welcome to bring small folding chairs. Tickets are $12 online, before Friday March 22, through druid-city-derby.square.site; $15 at the door. www.druidcityderby.com.

"The Cut – History of the West’s Most Valuable Horse": 2024 documentary film, 6 p.m., Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N., Birmingham. Tickets, $10, through www.ticketmaster.com. www.alabamatheatre.com.

SUNDAY

Tuscaloosa Cameo Guild's Annual Easter Egg Hunt: 2-4 p.m., Battle-Friedman House and Gardens, 1010 Greensboro Ave., downtown Tuscaloosa, with games, petting zoo, raffle, and refreshments. Tickets $5 adults, $3 children, at the gate, or in advance through www.tinyurl.com/y4de24c7. Easter egg hunt for children ages 2 and up. Fund-raiser for scholarship programs and restoration projects. www.facebook.com/HistoricTuscaloosa.

Egg Hunt on the Northport Bunny Trail: 2-4 p.m., 2158 Fifth St., Northport. www.northportbunnytrail.com.

Panhellenic 2024 Annual Easter Egg Hunt: 2 p.m., President's Mansion front lawn on the campus of the University of Alabama. Open to children 12 and under; all children must be accompanied by an adult. Bring one basket per child to collect eggs and candy. Free parking can be found around Sorority Row, as well as surrounding street parking on Eighth Avenue, and 12th 13th streets. See www.ua.edu/map. No public restrooms.

MONDAY

This Could Be You: Comedy show with open-mic, 8-11 p.m., Black Warrior Brewing Co., 2216 University Blvd., Tuscaloosa. Signup at 7:30. Hosted by Stand-Up Tuscaloosa and Compton Smith.

TUESDAY

"Down to Beesness": 6:30-7:30 p.m., Druid City Brewing Co., 700 14th St., Parkview Plaza, Tuscaloosa. the Alabama Cooperative Extension System will discuss pollinator diversity, conservation, honeybees, and native gardening. For more, contact Dylan Taylor, Regional Extension Agent, at Djt0014@auburn.edu or 251-362-2467.

UPCOMING

Tusk calendar
Tusk calendar

APRIL 18: Riley Green, Tracy Lawrence and Ella Langley, 7:30 p.m. Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater, Tuscaloosa. Tickets through www.ticketmaster.com, and at the Amp box office, 2710 Jack Warner Parkway, for $89.50, $79.50, $59.50, $49.50, and $39.50, plus fees and taxes.

APRIL 26: Travis Tritt, Chase Matthew, Frank Foster, 7 p.m., Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater, Tuscaloosa. Tickets through www.ticketmaster.com, or at the amp's box office, 2710 Jack Warner Parkway in downtown Tuscaloosa, for $99.50, $79.50, $59.50 and $39.50.

Rick Springfield, with 38 Special, will play the Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater in Tuscaloosa May 12. Tickets are on sale through www.ticketmaster.com, and at the venue's box office.
Rick Springfield, with 38 Special, will play the Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater in Tuscaloosa May 12. Tickets are on sale through www.ticketmaster.com, and at the venue's box office.

MAY 12: Rick Springfield, 38 Special, 7:30 p.m., Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater, Tuscaloosa. Tickets, at $99.50, $79.50, $59.50, $39.50 and $29.50, plus fees and taxes, through www.ticketmaster.com, or at the venue's box office. www.mercedesbenzamphitheater.com.

MAY 17: Billy Currington, Kip Moore, Redferrin, Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater. Tickets through www.ticketmaster.com, or at the amphitheater box office, 2710 Jack Warner Parkway, Tuscaloosa, for $99.75, $89.75, $69.75, $49.75 and $29.75, plus taxes and fees. www.mercedesbenzamphitheater.com.

Multi-platinum selling hitmakers Kool and the Gang will play Tuscaloosa's Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater June 1, with The Bar-Kays, Midnight Star and Lakeside.
Multi-platinum selling hitmakers Kool and the Gang will play Tuscaloosa's Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater June 1, with The Bar-Kays, Midnight Star and Lakeside.

JUNE 1: Kool and the Gang, The Bar-Kays, Midnight Star, Lakeside, 6 p.m., Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater, Tuscaloosa. Tickets through www.ticketmaster.com, or at the venue's box office, 2710 Jack Warner Parkway, for $110.50, $99.50, $79.50, $59.50, $39.50 and $29.50, plus taxes and fees. For more see www.mercedesbenzamphitheater.com.

SEPT. 20: Cody Jinks, the Cadillac Three and Calder Allen, 7 p.m., Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater, Tuscaloosa. Tickets through www.ticketmaster.com, or at the venue's box office, 2710 Jack Warner Parkway, for $258, $158, $107.50, $87.50, $67.50, $47.50 and $33, plus taxes and fees. For more see www.mercedesbenzamphitheater.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: TUSK CALENDAR: Who's playing and what's happening