Nico Sereba and Vincent Dery make up the world-renowned duo hailing from Oslo, Norway. Inspirational music that brings powerful and hopeful messages to its listeners’ ears has earned the two a faithful fan following. Nico & Vinz debuted in 2010 and have since found fame through their music, performances and videos, having more than 60 million views on YouTube for their “Am I Wrong” music video. At the end of 2013, they performed at the Nobel Peace Prize concert, and in early 2014, Nico & Vinz received the European Boarders Breakers Award (EBBA). Just over a year ago, when “Am I Wrong” found itself on American radio, it became the No. 1 most added record at the Top 40/mainstream format with 90 adds. On Friday, May 8, the ambitious, moving, inspirational and talented Nico & Vinz will perform at Cain’s Ballroom. A show worth being a part of, tickets range from $20 to $35. For more information, visit www.cainsballroom.com.
This comedian/actor has induced audience laughter through standup, on television and on the big screen for years. His first solo album, Here’s Your Sign, was released in May of 1996 and stayed in the #1 slot on Billboard’s Comedy Chart for 15 weeks. His second, Dorkfish, in 1998, was certified gold, selling 500,000 copies, and also clinching a No. 1 position on Billboard’s Comedy Chart. Along with sidekicks Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Ron White, Engvall was a hilarious to the Blue Collar Comedy tour, which sold more than 9 million units. He has hosted a number of TV shows including Country Fried Videos and Mobile Home Disasters, for CMT. For three seasons, he starred in and executive produced his own, self-titled TBS series. Bill Engvall has even tested out his comedy in the written form, including a 2007 autobiography: Bill Engvall – Just A Guy. He was in Oklahoma at the end of February, and Here’s Your Sign returns again this week. On Saturday, May 9, Engvall will be at Tulsa’s River Spirit Casino. Tickets start at $60; the show will begin at 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.riverspirittulsa.com.
A 23-year-old, global icon, just last month, Ed Sheeran reached 2 billion streams on Spotify, a number that hints at his growing success. His most recent album, X, pronounced “multiply, was released in June 2014, finding a spot at No. 1 in 14 countries including the United States. With its release came hits “Sing,” “Don’t” and “Thinking Out Loud,” all reaching platinum status, and the latter being called some of his best music yet. During his career, Sheeran has been nominated for 6 GRAMMY awards and during his most recent trip to a GRAMMYs stage, he got an enormous standing ovation for his performance of “Thinking Out Loud.” See what a great on-stage performer he is on Saturday, May 9, when his 2015 North American headlining tour stops at Tulsa’s BOK Center. Special guest Foy Vance will open the show at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $53.50 and $63.50. For more information, visit www.bokcenter.com.
Monday, May 11 through Friday, May 15 is Tulsa’s “Bike to Work Week,” an annual event by the Transportation Resource Center that promotes biking to work as an alternative to driving. According to the TRC, biking to work just once a week can save a commuter $100 through the Ozone Alert season. It is also good for the health. On Saturday, May 9, join others in your community for a kick-off event in Veterans Park, which includes a Bicycle Safety course from Tulsa Hub, a meet and greet of the Commuter Train leaders, information about the Corporate Challenge, giveaways and check-ups for bikes, free t-shirts and more! The event on Saturday will be from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. and its successor, Bike Week, will run the following week. For more information, visit www.incog.org.
Eric Himan’s latest album, Playing Cards, was largely crowd-funded by fans. Photo by Josh New.
Poster courtesy Eric Himan.
Saturday, May 9 –
On Tuesday, May 5, Eric Himan’s latest EP, Playing Cards, was released. This Saturday, the Tulsa-born, soul/folk/rock singer/songwriter will be at Foolish Things Coffee in downtown Tulsa for an exciting release party where audience members will get a free copy of the CD while hearing the Nashville-recorded music that brings some country flavor to his sound. Himan has shared stages with Leon Russell and Ani DiFranco. His band even performed at Tulsa’s own Center of the Universe Festival with OneRepublic, OK GO and Neon Trees. Enjoy his music this Saturday in a more intimate setting. Tickets are only $15, and the show starts at 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.erichiman.com.
Arriving on the music scene in 1967, Chicago released their first album, Chicago Transit Authority two years later. Just last year, nearly five decades down the road, that same album that started it all was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Today, we can look back at all the talent they’ve shared with the music industry and their fans. A list too long to name them all, some of Chicago’s top hits include “Feeling Stronger Everyday,” “Will You Still Love Me?” “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” “Baby, What A Big Surprise,” “Saturday In The Park,” “Look Away,” “If You Leave Me Now,” “Just You N’ Me,” “You’re The Inspiration” and “Hard To Say I’m Sorry.” During their long and successful career, Chicago has sold more than 100 million records with 25 of their 36 albums being certified platinum. This month, Oklahomans get a special treat as Chicago’s Heart and Soul tour 2015, with Earth, Wind & Fire, lands on two of our stages. On Saturday, May 9, see the show at Norman’s Riverwind Casino, and on Wednesday, May 13, they’ll come to Tulsa for a performance on The Joint stage at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. For more information, visit www.riverwind.com or www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com
Artists will come together on Friday, May 1 at 5:55 p.m. to celebrate other artists at this annual show and sale. Each year, TAC Gallery welcomes eager art enthusiasts to line up outside and splurge on great art for affordable prices. Supporting TAC, an all-volunteer, grassroots organization, the show and sale allows participating artists from across the country to show off their works, and all proceeds directly benefit artists thought the TAC Gallery. If you’re an artist and want to participate in the sale, you can donate a five-inch-by-five-inch creation. You can also join others in line and take home your favorite artwork for $55 or make a contribution through a sponsorship donation. For more information, visit www.tacgallery.org.
Lecrae has created a musical monster that works to break the barriers and exceed the limits that currently hold the roof on the Christian music industry. A Christian rapper and songwriter, Lecrae is also co-owner and co-founder of the Reach Records as well as ReachLife Ministries. Since his career debuted in 2004, he’s already making a powerful difference in his genre and in the music industry as a whole. Between 2004 and 2014, he’s released seven albums that include Real Talk (2004), After The Music Stops (2006), Rebel (2008), Rehab (2010), Rehab: The Overdose (2011), Gravity (2012) and Anomaly (2014). Rebel became the first Christian hip-hop album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Gospel chart and Rehab would do the same with its release. Gravity and his first mixtape, Church Clothes, have been called the most important albums in Christian hip-hop history by Rapzilla and the Houston Chronicle. In 2013, Lecrae won a Grammy for Best Gospel Album for Gravity, making him the first hip-hop artist to be awarded such an honor. On Friday, May 1, Lecrae will be in Oklahoma City to blow the roof off the Cox Convention Center. For more information, visit www.coxconventioncenter.com.
For the last two years, the Woody Guthrie Center has shared with its community Woody Guthrie’s life and legacy. Thursday through Sunday, enjoy special events and exhibits to help celebrate the center’s second anniversary. Ongoing exhibits currently on display include Ladies and Gentlemen…The Beatles and Lead Belly: A Musical Legacy. Both exhibits come out of the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles.
Special events include a 7 p.m. concert on Thursday, April 30, at Cain’s Ballroom that includes Paul Benjamin, Samantha Crain and John Fullbright. On Friday, May 1, the Tulsa Symphony, led by David Amram, will perform “This Land: Symphonic Variations on a Song by Woody Guthrie.” The music will begin on Guthrie Green at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, May 2, enjoy a number of great presentations in the Woody Guthrie Center Theater: At 10:30 a.m., Bob Santelli, GRAMMY Museum executive director, will give a speech titled “The Beatles in American: How They Shaped Our Lives and Our Music.” Next, at 11:30, Jim Pollard will share his multimedia presentation, “Huntington’s in Woody’s Words,” which shows scans of Woody’s writing to illustrate the progression of Huntington’s Disease. At 12:30, Tulsa-native Paul Finkelman will present “John Hope Franklin, Civil Rights, and Music.” And at 1:30, Santelli and Jeff Place will present “The Music of Lead Belly.” Enjoy all discussions with admission to the center. Also on Saturday, a concert from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Guthrie Green will feature Lance Canales, Garrett Lebeau, Sam Baker, Jimmy LaFave and Hal Ketchum.
On Sunday, May 3, family concerts will begin in the Woody Guthrie Center Theater at 11 a.m., with a “Sunday Funday” concert on the Guthrie Green at 3 p.m, which will include Kierston White, Smokey and the Mirror, The Black Lillies, Ellis Paul, David Amran and Red Dirt Rangers. For more information, visit www.woodyguthriecenter.org.
