Friday, Aug. 16

NME proclaimed this festival as The Greatest Musical Event Ever. Originally billed as An Aquarian Exposition, the event brought together 400,000 young people who coexisted in peace for three days without any visible form of security. It was August 1969. Still, years later, some search for cultural significance. For some the scene conjures up images of Dante's Inferno. Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead recalls, "It was filthy. It was muddy. There wasn't enough food or facilities." Nor was it much fun for activist Abbie Hoffman, allegedly high on LSD, who took to the stage uninvited to pontificate during The Who's set—"I think this is a pile of shit while (White Panther Party founder) John Sinclair rots in prison"—and whose head was swiftly introduced to the headstock of Pete Townsend's guitar. Ouch. For others, the event became a cultural touchstone. Festival organizer/The Road To Woodstock author Michael Lang reflects, "During a time of great challenges in America...a sense of possibility and hope was born and spread around the globe. The spirit embraced at Woodstock continues to grow." As does the intrigue and legacy surrounding the event. Woodstock: A 50 Year Celebration features Anthony Aquarius Mystery: A Jimi Hendrix Tribute, The Who Experience and Creedence and Company—is at the Rialto Theatre.

Meanwhile, Club Congress celebrates Woodstock on the plaza with the likes of Katie Haverly, Little Cloud, Sqwrl, Gabe Kubanda, Jeremy Cashman, Silver Cloud Express, Miss Olivia, Pete Fine and Katherine Byrnes covering Joni Mitchell, Jefferson Airplane, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Sebastian, CSN, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.

Rock 'n' roll with swagger? Led by dynamic frontman/guitarist Josh Kennedy, Tempe's The Black Moods "Say It For the Last Time." At The Rock. Backed by Alien Atmosphere.

 In a Rabelaisian celebration of liberation from restraint and societal dogma, under the stewardship of Tucson Libertine League's Lola Torch, Reveal: A Debut of Burlesque Performances unveils itself at 191 Toole.

The World's Only Heavy Metal Tribute to the Material Girl, Mastodonna will take you far beyond the "Borderline." Celebrate Madonna's 61st birthday at Club Congress.

Bearing No Cross, No Crown, hardcore/metallists Corrosion of Conformity, on a quest to believe, answer a call to the void. At Encore. With Crowbar.

Enjoy jazz in the glorious twilight, outdoors. This installment of Friday Night Live! Free Concert Series finds saxophonist/composer Mike Moynihan's Purple Spectre pushing boundaries at Main Gate Square...

Saturday, Aug. 17

Tucson Weekly and Tucson Electric Power present Woofstock: One Day of Peace, Music and Pets. This dog-friendly concert features epic performances by Leila Lopez as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Joe Novelli as Jimi Hendrix, Keli and The Big Dream as Jefferson Airplane, Johnny Zapp & Paul West as The Band, Ice-9 as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Canned Heat, Southbound Pilot as Janis Joplin, Greyhound Soul as Richie Havens and The Wayback Machine as The Grateful Dead. At the Kino Sports Complex North Stadium.

Reggae Against Hunger finds ZeeCeeKeely, Petey and Zoe of Phoenix's Kill Babylon Coalition performing an acoustic set, The New Current, Jay Lava and Gonzo of Rilen'Out spreading irie vibes and collecting canned goods for the community. With live painting by Keri Ercolini. At Irene's Holy Donuts.

For those not holding tickets, your chance to catch indie/folk stalwarts Calexico and Iron & Wine present their latest, Years to Burn (Sub Pop, 2019), just got slimmer. The show at the Rialto Theatre has sold out.

Sarah Catherine hosts Vamp: Bible Study. Dixon DuMay, Grandma Steven, Brookeback Mountain and others perform in this drag extravaganza.

Alt/indie/ambient trio Moontrax and Phoenix rockers Panic Baby are at Crooked Tooth Brewing Co. DJ Resonance spins.

Performing on tiny keyboards, musical instruments and non-instruments both variegated and amusing—Thøger Lund, Dimitri Manos and Jeff Grubic—SRS (Spontaneous Response Squadron) explore ambient improvisation at Exo Bar.

Dance afterhours? Nite Lite sees DJs Atom Energy, Malice and Cactus keeping the EDM bangin' until the dawn, literally. At Solar Culture...

Sunday, Aug. 18

"Once upon a time, in your wildest dreams." The voice of The Moody Blues, Rock Walk Hall of Famer Justin Hayward, draws material from his near 50-year career. At the Fox Theatre. Acclaimed fingerstyle guitarist Mike Dawes opens the show.

"My one goal is to bring motherfuckers together with this music, enjoy the vibes and stay golden." Hip hop/rap artists Natho x $inclair, RJ, 9Boys, Desertclan and Rated R emerge from the loam. Underground Rising at Club Congress. Positive Satan x Based Hoezer supply the beats...

Farmers Investment Co.(FICO) announced today that the 2019 Sahuarita Pecan Festival is cancelled.

The annual event, originally scheduled for Nov. 9, has been a Sahuarita tradition for the last 10 years but according to their press release is no longer feasible under the current "global economic conditions."

FICO pointed to the imposition of trade tariffs upon the pecan industry as a major factor in the decision to cancel the event.

Last year, the industry took a major hit when China, the top purchaser of U.S. pecans, imposed a 47 percent tariff on them. The increase happened incrementally, with China imposing a seven percent increase in 2017, a 15 percent increase in April of last year and an additional 25 percent last July.

The impacts of the increased tariff have been felt by pecan farmers across the nation including Texas, New Mexico and Georgia.

FICO also cited the "significant expenditure of funds" involved in producing the festival and staff time as factors in the decision.

The pecan festival averaged about 20,000 guests annually since it began in 2009.

The Pecan Classic race on Nov. 9 will still occur as scheduled. 

Co-hosts Christopher Boan and Tyler Vondrak return to the Tucson Weekly audio studio to break down the University of Arizona's opening football game against Hawaii on Saturday, Aug. 24.

The duo then break down the expectations for UA coach Kevin Sumlin as he heads into his second season in Tucson after a 5-7 campaign in 2018.

Vondrak hands out his win total projections for several marquee programs in the show's final segment.

Tune in each Friday for a new episode of the Tucson Weekly's sports podcast. 

For the movie-goer looking to experience the big screen like royalty, one of Tucson’s most popular theaters is getting a multimillion dollar facelift.

The Harkins Tucson Spectrum theatre, located at 5455 S Calle Santa Cruz, will receive a variety of enhancements as part of Harkins Theatres' $150 million initiative to upgrade their existing theaters.

“Tucson Spectrum holds a special place in our hearts as our first Tucson location, especially for me as a native Tucsonan,” said Mike Bowers, President and CEO of Harkins Theatres in a press release Thursday. “Delivering the Ultimate Moviegoing experience for our guests is always our number one priority. Part of delivering on this promise is to reinvest in our theatres with best-in-show technology and amenities. We are thrilled to announce the enhancements coming to Harkins Tucson Spectrum.”

The upgrades to the Spectrum Theatre will include new plush leather seating in all auditoriums, state-of-the-art laser projection, reserved seating and an in-lobby bar with local craft brews.

A CINÉ1 premium large format auditorium will also be added to the theater that includes features like Ultimate Lounger seats and Dolby Atmos 3D sound.

The construction has already begun and the theater will remain open while the upgrades take place.

For more information about Harkins Theatre, visit www.harkins.com/locations/tucson-spectrum-18. 

Leila Counts is the newest member of the TUSD Governing Board.

In recent years, the five member board has generally divided into two camps, voting 3-2 on contentious issues. The majority has shifted back and forth from election to election.

Prior to Counts’ election, Michael Hicks, whom she replaced, tended to vote with Mark Stegeman and Rachel Sedgwick. Many people expected Counts to ally herself firmly with Adelita Grijalva and Kristel Foster. However, her first vote on the board concerned how long the president's term should be, and Counts voted along with Stegeman and Sedgwick to create two half year terms with Stegeman serving the first term, rather than having one person lead the board for the entire year. Her decision upset many educational progressives who felt betrayed by her vote.

I interviewed Ms. Counts recently. Here is our conversation, edited for clarity.

In your first minutes on the TUSD board, you walked into something of a buzzsaw when it came to choosing the board president. Do you think you made the right decision?

As I stated when this thing first exploded, I was put in a very hard position. What I heard from thousands of voters when I knocked on 20,000 doors over the summer was, number one, fix our schools, and number two, fix the dysfunction on the board. Everybody is sick and tired of the fighting. Everyone is ashamed of the behavior on that board.

As a parent, I would watch those board meetings and was appalled by the divisiveness and very unprofessional behavior. That was a large reason why I decided to run.

Keeping the practice of six month terms for the president and clerk is not ideal, but it shows we are willing to share power, that this board does not belong to one side or the other. It belongs to the people. We are a public board, and we are going to work together for our students and our community.

In hindsight I would do the same thing. I’ve become the balancer and referee sometimes. It’s not a position I like, but I’m OK with taking on that responsibility, because it’s needed. We need to work together if we hope to get anything done.

Mark Stegeman served the first half year term as president, then the office transferred to Adelita Grijalva. Was it a good transition?

Yes, it happened very smoothly. I nominated Adelita, and she accepted the nomination. I’m happy she’s our president now.

What do you see as your role on the board?

I think I bring balance. I really try to come at our issues with a balance of my head and my heart and look at things objectively, then try to make the best decisions I can independently.

"Can You Hear The Stars Cry?" This L.A. band asks this question on "The Thirteenth Hour," their latest release.  This multimedia performing arts group fuses electronica/world/rock and dance with surrealism and video projections. AL1CE is at Bar Passé.

By day, this award-winning fiddler's signature black-framed glasses scream mild-mannered Clark Kent. At night, watch this virtuoso transform into a Southwestern country rock Superman. The Billy Shaw Jr. Band is at The Maverick.

This month's installment of the smorgasbord of artistic expression known as Ladytowne Live features candid conversation with mayoral candidates Randi Dorman, Steve Farley and Regina Romero with a musical set by the mighty Just Najima at Club Congress.

It's free jazz! Lookout Tucson Jazz Concert Series—presented by Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance—continues. This week sees the dynamic configuration of pianist Chris Peña, upright bassist Thøger Lund and Josh Carruthers on drums in the Lookout Bar and Grille at The Westward Look Resort.

Bohemian folk rockers Little Cloud scatter rain showers of joy to lead you heavenward at Tap + Bottle-Downtown.

Putting an electrified twist on stripped-down acoustic covers—from retro hits to the indie underground—husband and wife, guitar and violin duo Dos Sueños entertain at Crooked Tooth Brewing Co.

Sky Bar sees October Intuition, BTP & Friends and Sad, Sad Girls cry in their beers.

Nashville music crusader, Virginia Cannon presents a Thursday Night Singer-Songwriter Showcase. Six performers, four original songs, taking turns round robin at Monterey Court.

Accompanied by a revolving cast of guest performers, Joshua Butcher hosts The Butcher's Block at Iron John's Brewing Company–Congress.

This Canadian experimental music collective have amassed a significant cult following since their 1994 inception. GodSpeed You! Black Emperor will have you "Lift[ing] Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas" in reverence at the Rialto Theatre. New York saxophonist/drummer/synthesizer player/composer Devin Brahja Waldman opens.

Find more Claytoonz here. 

Trenton Davis returns to Laff's
We wrote all about Trenton Davis when he came to town in March 2018 and still can't run out of superlatives. Jonathan Gregory opens, so you'll have a chance to preview his headlining appearance on Sept. 7 at The O. Showtimes at Laffs are 8 and 10:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, August 16 and 17. Tickets are $12.50 and $17.50 via laffstucson.com. Laffs has a two-item minimum.

The Ultimate Comedy Fight Club

Albuquerque production company Sick Son brings its popular Ultimate Comedy Fight Club format to The Screening Room at 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 16. The opening round pits Autumn Horvat (Comedians Who Aren’t Men) against Matt Ziemak (Brew Ha Ha at Borderlands Brewery) and Rich Gary (Let’s Keep Tucson Sketchy) against a local favorite touring comedian, the edgy comedy tyrant Joe Tullar. The audience decides the winners. Tickets are $12 at the door or via UCF #22 at holdmyticket.com.


Comedians Who Aren’t Men

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona benefits from the return of Autumn Horvat’s Comedians Who Aren’t Men. The show debuted in June to an overflow crowd at Hotel McCoy. It moves to The O at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, August 18. Tickets are $5 at the door.

Headlining is NYC comedian Sarah Kennedy. She’s written for Reductress, been featured on MTV and in several festivals, and was a finalist in NBC’s Standup for Diversity. Besides Horvat the lineup includes, Stephanie Lyonga, Cindell Hanson, and Phoenix-area comedians Carrie Carson, Celia Contreras and Dana Whissen.

Another outlier makes good!

Marana sprouted two new open mics and a promising showcase over the last few weeks. More on those as they progress, but meanwhile, Dave Margolis and Casa Marana Craft Beer & Wine already have staked an outpost there with Casa de Comedy. The free showcase is at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday every month. The next show is Aug. 22.

The show has a regular following of about 30, but it’s worth the trip for Tucsonans looking for something different.

“Our audience is different than a downtown audience in that they're a bit older, suburban, they have kids," Margolis said.

Older kids are welcome, too.

Margolis first tried standup in the ‘80s but took it up in earnest in 2015 when he moved to Tucson. More than twice the age of most open-mic’ers here, he nevertheless logged several months co-hosting Mo Urban’s former open mic at Caffe Passé.

“I came to enjoy hosting,” he said, “particularly encouraging new or new-ish comics.”

When a friend introduced him to Casa Marana owner Kyle Schwab at a business mixer, the two quickly found common ground.

“(Kyle) is very creative in scheduling special events at the Casa—trivia nights, holiday-themed events, tastings, local musicians, etc," Margolis said. "I asked him if we could do comedy there, and he was all for it. I can’t imagine a more supportive venue.”

ELSEWHERE THIS WEEK . . .

THURSDAY: FREE OPEN MICS at 8 p.m., Laffs Comedy Caffe, 2900 E. Broadway Blvd. and 8:30 p.m. Rockabilly Grill, 3700 N. Oracle Rd.

FRIDAY — STANDUP: 10:30 p.m., $5, Beginners and Veterans Standup Comedy, Tucson Improv Movement, 414 E. 9th St.; 8 and 10:30 p.m., IMPROV: 7:30 and 9 p.m., $5, Tucson Improv Movement, 414 E. 9th St.; NBOJU,7:30 p.m., $8 adults, $5 children, Unscrewed Theater, 4500 E. Speedway Blvd. #39.

SATURDAY — IMPROV: 7:30 and 9 p.m., $5, Tucson Improv Movement, 414 E. 9th St.; 7:30 p.m., $8 adults, $5 children, family friendly NBOJU and 9 p.m., $8, House Team Double Feature, Unscrewed Theater, 4500 E. Speedway Blvd. #39.

SUNDAY –- FREE OPEN MIC: 8 p.m., Chuckleheads, 41 Brewery Ave, Bisbee.

MONDAY –- FREE OPEN MIC: 7 p.m., Surly Wench Pub, 424 N. 4th Ave. STANDUP: 8 p.m., $5, Sarah Kennedy, Borderlands Brewing Company, 119 E. Toole Ave.

WEDNESDAY: FREE OPEN MIC: 7 p.m. The Screening Room, 127 E. Congress St.

The Tucson Convention Center and surrounding campus including the Tucson Music Hall, Leo Rich Theater and the Eckbo Plaza and Fountain, will benefit from a $65 million improvement plan after unanimous approval of the project by the Rio Nuevo Board of Directors on Aug. 13. Rio Nuevo will now solicit bids for a contractor.

The board also voted to proceed with a $126 million financing plan that includes roughly $70 million for the renovation and any other contingency costs.

“This is a great day,” said board chair Fletcher McCusker in a release. “It’s been a long time coming.”

The TCC was built in 1971 and includes 205,000 square feet of meeting space and three performance venues — the Tucson Arena, Tucson Music Hall and the Leo Rich Theater. The facility also houses a pair of exhibit halls, 20,000 square feet of ballroom space and 10,000 square feet of meeting rooms, all located at 260 S. Church Ave.

Tucson Arena also hosts the Tucson Roadrunners AHL hockey team, the Tucson Sugar Skulls professional indoor football team and the University of Arizona club hockey team.

Current improvement commitments include a full replacement of the arena ice floor and ice plant ($3.2 million), a 300-space parking garage in parking lot A ($5.2 million) and an expansion for 45 additional parking spaces ($45,000).

Convention center priorities include renovation of convention space and existing meeting rooms ($7.6 million), arena lighting upgrades ($220,000), streetscaping and connections for accessibility ($2.5 million), landscape restoration in Eckbo Plaza upper area ($1.9 million), and high-speed data infrastructure ($2.5 million).

A meeting room addition will also add 18,000 square feet adjacent to the ball room, costing $9.2 million.

Other priorities include a 500-spot garage in Lot C ($11.4 million); renovations to the music hall to include the restrooms and a lobby, production lighting and sound equipment and new seating ($6.6 million); an outdoor event patio and interior VIP area at the music hall ($780,000); renovations to the Leo Rich Theater to include the restrooms and lobby, production lighting and sound equipment and new seating ($2 million); and improvements to the Eckbo Plaza central plaza and north walkway ($6.1 million).

Agua Caliente Park will close next Monday, Aug. 19 for restoration of Pond 1. The closure, which will include the ranch house visitor center and art gallery, is expected to last several months.

According to Pima County Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation, the purpose of the pond restoration is to “conserve water by minimizing seepage from the pond and to improve habitat by deepening the pond and adding additional features.”

Staff have slowly drained the main pond to prepare for the project. Well water is no longer being pumped into the main pond, and remaining water is being siphoned into Pond 2.

According to the county, the first stage of the restoration project involved removing select palm trees and invasive cattails, which will help restore the historic view of the pond and allow native species at the park to thrive in a healthier environment.

Workers will next excavate the pond to deepen it and install a polymer-amended soil lining to the bottom and sides of the pond to reduce water loss. This phase will also include installation of a wildlife island and replacement of the bridge to the current island.

During the time the park is closed, dog walkers can visit McDonald Park at 4100 N. Harrison Road.