This week's entertainment includes Dwight Yoakam, Uncle Lucius

Music in the Gardens concert series continues through Aug. 31

Music in the Gardens summer concert series continues on Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens. Admission is $10, or $5 for members.

Remaining performers in the lineup include and Geezers Gone Wild (Aug. 31).

For more information about these and over happenings at the gardens, visit amarillobotanicalgardens.org/events/ or call (806) 352-6513.

2023-24 WT arts season announced

CANYON — Students and faculty members alike in West Texas A&M University's Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts are planning a full slate of art exhibitions, concerts and recitals, dance pieces, and theatrical and operatic performances for the 2023-24 academic year.

Upcoming events this semester include the Marcus Melton faculty art exhibition (Aug. 21 to Sept. 30) in the Dord Fitz Formal Gallery, with an opening reception 5-7 p.m. Sept. 7; the Fall Music Faculty Showcase, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29 in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall; “Once Upon a Mattress” musical theatre performance Sept. 28 to Oct. 8 in the Branding Iron Theatre; Opera Cowgirls on Sept. 28 (open to members of The Arts at WT: A Subscription Series); the Katie Tuttle Master of Fine Arts exhibition Oct. 5-28; a WT Symphony Orchestra concert Oct. 6; a WT fall choir concert Oct. 19; Buster Keaton’s “The General” Oct. 26 (open to arts members); “She Kills Monsters” theatre performance Oct. 26 to Nov. 5; several concerts by different groups in November including the Harrington String Quartet; “Falling into Dance” performance Nov. 16-19; “Amahl and the Night Visitors” opera performance Nov. 30 and Dec. 1; “Music of the Christmas Season” concert Dec. 3; and much more.

For information or tickets for School of Music performances, call 806-651-2780 or visit wtamu.edu/music. For information or tickets for opera performances, call 806-651-2780 or visit wtamu.edu/opera. For information or tickets for Harrington String Quartet performances, call 806-651-2780 or visit wtamu.edu/music; season tickets are $50.

For information for art exhibitions, email jrevett@wtamu.edu.

For information or tickets for theater performances, call 806-651-2810, email artsboxoffice@wtamu.edu or visit wtamu.edu/theatre. For information or tickets for dance performances, call 806-651-2810, email artsboxoffice@wtamu.edu or visit wtamu.edu/dance.

Country star Dwight Yoakam coming to Civic Center on Sept. 1

Country music star Dwight Yoakam will be on stage at 8 p.m. Sept. 1 in the Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium.

Yoakam has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, and he is a 21-time nominated, multiple GRAMMY Award winner. He has 12 gold albums and nine platinum or multi-platinum albums, with five of those albums topping Billboard’s Country Albums chart and another 14 landing in the Top 10.

Nearly 40 of Yoakam’s singles have charted on Billboard, with 14 peaking in the Top 10. Yoakam is a recipient of the Artist of the Year award from the Americana Music Association, the most prestigious award offered by the organization, he will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in the Songwriter/Artist category at the 49th anniversary Gala on Oct. 14, 2019 in Nashville.

In addition to his musical career, Yoakam is a formidable film and television actor who has appeared in over 40 feature films, including "Sling Blade" and "Panic Room".

Reserved seat tickets range from $41 to $130 (plus taxes and fees), depending on seating.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit panhandletickets.com .

Uncle Lucius takes Starlight stage

Uncle Lucius takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 1, at Starlight Ranch's Moon Palace.

Five years ago it seemed like Uncle Lucius had run its course. They had torn a swath out of the Texas roots music scene over a 13-year run, worn out five vans and recorded four albums, and grown a reputation at home and abroad as a thrilling, dynamic live act. Long-time fans were certain they'd be a massive global hit. The tide went out, and Uncle Lucius folded up their sails.

The audience had other ideas. Interest in the band continued to grow during their absence from the touring circuit. Pro athletes used their songs for walk on music, and top-rated television shows featured their music during pivotal scenes.

They never intended to reunite. Some things are not up to us. Some people are made to play together and meant to create together.

Tickets for this show range from $18 to $150 (plus taxes and fees), depending on VIP features.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.bigtexan.com/starlight-ranch-event-center/

Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse Live in Concert kicks off upcoming tours for Amarillo Civic Center

Celebrity Attractions and Amarillo Civic Center Complex are excited to announce four shows coming to Amarillo, including "Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse" at 7 p.m. Sept. 6.

Go back to where it all began with this concert event, featuring a soundtrack that blends symphonic orchestral music with hip-hop. Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse Live in Concert pairs a screening of the Academy Award-winning animated film with live musicians and turntables featuring a DJ scratcher live on stage. Emmy winner Daniel Pemberton composed a sprawling score of boundary-pushing original music that is complimented with song contributions by Post Malone, Lil Wayne, Jaden Smith, and Nicki Minaj. The hip-hop based score results in a sonic universe that is woven throughout the fabric of the film, supporting its themes of resilience and universal heroism. Joining the tour is The Broadway Sinfonietta, an all-women and majority women-of-color orchestra led by conductor Emily Marshall.

Tickets went on sale July 31 and may be purchased online at panhandletickets.com, area United Supermarkets, by phone 806-378-3096 or in person at the box office inside the Amarillo Civic Center Complex. Phone and box office hours are Monday-Saturday, from noon to 6 p.m. Information on all four shows is available at CelebrityAttractions.com/Amarillo.

Other events include Johnny Cash - The Official Concert Experience (7 p.m. Oct. 30), "My Fair Lady" (7 p.m., March 20, 2024) and "Mean Girls - The Musical" (7 p.m. April 8, 2024). Follow them on social media for more at Facebook.com/BwayAmarillo and Instagram.com/BwayAmarillo.

Friends of Fogelberg set for Sept. 8

Friends of Fogelberg XIII: Dan and Diggin' Mo Sixties is set for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Globe-News Center for the Arts.

Friends of Fogelberg is a tribute concert in Amarillo honoring the late musician, Dan Fogelberg, who lost his life to prostate cancer in 2007.

Joe Ed Coffman, a long time fan of Dan Fogelberg, began Friends of Fogelberg in 2008. Local musicians come together to put on a benefit concert to celebrate the life and music of Dan Fogelberg, create awareness and education about prostate cancer, raise funds for the fight against prostate cancer, and last, but not least, to have a great time.

Throughout the years, the concert has expanded to include songs of other musicians such as The Beatles, Eagles, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and this year will include a nod to the late Gordon Lightfoot.

The event benefits the Harrington Cancer and Health Foundation by raising money for an annual free prostate screening that is help the morning following the concert. Over the years, over $350,000 has been raised, more than 5,500 men have been screened, and a prostate cancer nurse navigation program has been started in partnership with Amarillo Urology Associates.

In addition, there will be free prostate cancer screenings for men ages 45 and older from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 9, at Amarillo Urology Associates, 1900 Medi Park Drive. No appointment is necessary. This simple blood test could save a life.

Tickets for the concert are $25 and available at panhandletickets.com, United Supermarkets and the Civic Center box office.

ASO presents Passionate Music

Amarillo Symphony Orchestra will kick off its official season with Passionate Music at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at Sharpened Iron Studios, 1314 S. Polk St.

The season opener will feature the Amarillo Symphony’s concertmaster Espen Lilleslåtten alongside cellist Sally Guenther, pianist Elena Lacheva and Harrington String Quartet’s violist Vesselin Todorov.

The repertoire includes: Anna Clyne, "A Thousand Mornings" (violin, cello and piano); Richard Strauss, "Violin Sonata"; Gabriel Faure, "Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor"

Tickets will be on sale soon. For more information, visit amarillosymphony.org/

ASO presents 'Rhapsody in Blue'

Amarillo Symphony Orchestra presents "Rhapsody in Blue" at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 15 and 16 at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St.

Showcasing pianist Michelle Cann on George Gershwin’s classic work, the concert will also include Aaron Copland’s rousing audience favorite, "Rodeo".

Conductor is George Jackson.

Reserved seat tickets range from $21 to $71 (plus taxes and fees), depending on seating.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit panhandletickets.com or amarillosymphony.org/

FABBA Show plays tribute to original 'Dancing Queen' hitmakers at Globe-News Center Sept. 24

The FABBA Show comes to the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, located at 500 S. Buchanan, on Sunday Sept. 24. The show is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m., and tickets went on sale Aug. 22.

The tribute show's description online says "Their homage to ABBA is completely unique. They are thoroughly entertaining from the very first power chord of Waterloo all the way through to the irresistible encore of Dancing Queen. The extraordinary and lovable cast takes you on a high energy, glittery journey full of fun and laughter and showmanship. With hit after hit song including Waterloo, Take a Chance, Mama Mia, Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, Fernando, SOS, Honey Honey, Lay all Your Love, Gimme Gimme and Winner Takes it All. They have spectacular costumes, exciting choreography, World class musicianship and an infectious sense of fun. Everyone is dancing in the aisles and singing at the top of their voices. You can dance, you can jive, and have the time of your life at The FABBA Show!"

ABBA’s legend lives on, with over 600 million records sold, and hit after hit of dance floor classics: Waterloo, Take a Chance, Mama Mia, Fernando, Dancing Queen, SOS, Suor Trouper, Gimme Gimme. The list goes on and on.

The FABBA Show has played at such prestigious venues as The 02 Arena, The Queen’s Jubilee Concert, The Starlight Bowl, Burbank, The Charleston Music Hall, Charleston, Glastonbury Festival, The Theater Royal, Windsor, New Year’s Eves for the Cities of Dubai. London, Paris and Cairns Australia. They are currently on their fifth tour of the US.

'Book of Mormon' coming to civic center

The National Tour of "The Book of Mormon", winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, will play a strictly limited one-night engagement at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium.

"The Book of Mormon" features book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. The Broadway production is directed by Parker and two-time Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw and choreographed by Nicholaw. The tour is directed and choreographed by Jennifer Werner based on the original Broadway direction and choreography.

Since opening on March 24, 2011, "The Book of Mormon" has become one of the most successful shows in Broadway history, breaking the Eugene O’Neill Theatre house record more than 50 times. In addition to nine Tony Awards including Best Musical and the Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album, "The Book of Mormon" won five Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the Drama League Award for Best Musical and four Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best Musical.

The West End production opened in February 2013, winning four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical, and breaking the record for the highest single day of sales in West End history. The first-ever UK and European tour launched in Manchester in June 2019, winning ‘Best Theatre Show’ at the Manchester Evening News City Life Awards before touring throughout the UK and Europe.

Reserved seat tickets range from $35 to $80 (plus taxes and fees) and are available for purchase online at panhandletickets.com

Hoodoo Mural Festival infuses downtown Amarillo with live music, live art Sept. 30

The annual Hoodoo Mural Festival is scheduled to take place this year on Sept. 30 in downtown Amarillo. Each year, the outdoor festival brings together local and national artists for a family-friendly celebration of music and art. The festival will feature approximately 20 total murals throughout downtown.

DJ, producer, and pianist LP Giobbi headlines the music side, which includes 20 music artists. Others on the music lineup include Kaelin Ellis, Giacomo Turra, Cody Jasper, DJ Cassandra, Bomb City Sound and more, as well as a new local music stage.

This year’s muralists include Trav & Emjay, Alli Koch, Jeremy Biggers, Jeks, Ariel Parrow, Malcolm Byers, Blank Spaces and more.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Hoodoo festival’s website, https://www.hoodoomural.com/ .

Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience coming to Amarillo

Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience is bringing songs and stories from the “Man in Black” to the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 30, in a way that audiences haven’t seen or heard before.

With video of Johnny from episodes of The Johnny Cash TV Show projected on a screen above the stage, a live band and singers will accompany him in perfect sync. This concert experience will showcase iconic performances from the TV show and highlight the spirit of the legend by revisiting some of his memorable words and anecdotes. Cash will perform some of his biggest hits, including “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Ring of Fire,” and “I Walk the Line,” and share stories of people he met along the way whose causes he championed – the working man from all walks of life.

For more information, visit www.JohnnyCashConcertExperience.com and follow @johnnycash on Facebook,Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and @johnnycashofficial on YouTube. For more information on the Amarillo performance and to purchase tickets, visit panhandletickets.com .

K-LOVE'S Celebrate Christmas Tour to be at Amarillo Civic Center on Dec. 16

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Awakening Foundation, powered by Awakening Events, has announced K-LOVE'S Celebrate Christmas Tour featuring Natalie Grant and Danny Gokey with special guest Mac Powell. The 12-city tour will kick off on Nov. 29 and runs through Dec. 17, celebrating the most wonderful time of the year.

Immerse yourself in the timeless classics that bring people together during this special season, according to a news release. Gather your loved ones, invite your friends, and make this a Christmas tradition to remember. KLOVE's Celebrate Christmas Tour featuring Natalie Grant and Danny Gokey with special guest Mac Powell is an invitation to experience the reason for the season.

The tour is scheduled to make a stop in Amarillo on Dec. 16 at the Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium. Tickets are available for purchase at the Amarillo Civic Center box office, by phone (806) 378-3096, online at www.panhandletickets.com, and participating United Supermarkets stores in Amarillo, Canyon, Borger, Dumas, Dalhart, Hereford, and Pampa.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo entertainment in brief for week of Aug. 27, 2023