By Ann Leach
Hot Club of Cowtown
Four artists pay homage to the timeless works of the King of Rock and Roll and weave together a combination of country, jazz and swing.
An impromptu performance on the air of Los Angeles’ KLOS Radio launched Tyler Hilton’s award-winning career, which includes portraying Elvis Presley in “Walk the Line” and Chris Keller on “One Tree Hill” as well as writing and touring with Taylor Swift. Now, Tyler Hilton and the Hot Club of Cowtown team up to bring Elvis’ most-celebrated hits to the stage.
“We’ve been on tour with Tyler for the past year and it is always a joy,” Cowtown performer Elana James said. “My band opens the show, and the second half is when Tyler joins us and shares the more vintage take on Elvis. It’s a good fit with the vintage sound of our own trio.”
James is the fiddle player and vocalist for the show and was born in Missouri and grew up in Kansas City. “I spent so many great times in my early life in the Ozarks, like floating down the Buffalo River, going to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and camping. My dad and stepmom actually live in Springfield, Missouri, now. There are so many wonderful memories from my life there and I am pretty sure our show in Joplin will just add to that cherished collection.”
Want to go? Saturday • April 13 • 7 p.m.Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment ComplexBeshore Performance HallTickets: $30 to $35, plus fees. Contact the box office at 417.501.5550 for more details.
Jontavious Willis
Jontavious Willis is resolved in his mission: to reinvigorate today’s blues with the spirit of the past.
Willis began singing in church as a kid and started performing at festivals when he was 16. He said, “The most rewarding part is sharing the music, and I plan to give my new friends in Joplin a taste of the Georgia Blues and have a good time.”
Between all the tour stops, Willis is focused on a new album to be released by Strolling Bones Records and working on a festival he founded in Georgia.
Want to go? Saturday • April 207 p.m. Harry M. Cornell Arts &Entertainment ComplexBeshore Performance HallTickets are free.
TIME FOR THREE
Self-described as a classically trained garage band, Time for Three’s (TF3) eclectic musical tastes cross the boundaries of genres like classical, bluegrass, jazz and hip hop in a blend that both defies and embraces the traditions of Western music.
“Our music is full of heart with big harmonies,” said Nick Kendall, TF3 violinist. “There will be original songs that we play. But then we always throw in covers that are familiar and some that aren’t as familiar, but people do recognize.”
Kendall hopes their Joplin audience is moved by the emotional journey the band takes them on in their concert. “Hopefully they will be unexpectedly surprised at times,” he said. “We are definitely a group that is in the moment with them. They get to know us not only as a band but as people as well. And we hope that our set allows people to think about the good nature of people. There’s a lot of joy, and we hope that people leave feeling joy.”
The band likes to experience local cuisine wherever they go. “We love taking in the fabric of the community and the culture,” Kendall said. “So if anybody in Joplin has any great suggestions for us, please direct message us on social media and tell us where we should get our food. We’d appreciate that a lot.”
Want to go? Tuesday • April 23 • 6 p.m. Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment ComplexBeshore Performance HallTickets: $40 to $45, plus fees. Contact the box office at 417.501.5550 for more details.
The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players production of“The Pirates of Penzance” in One Act & An Evening of G&S Favorites
Come sail the high seas with six New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players in a night of classic comedy as they perform a one-act of “The Pirates of Penzance.” A band of tenderhearted pirates is planning to celebrate the upcoming birthday of Frederic, who was mistakenly apprenticed to them until his 21st birthday. Determined to rid the world of pirates, Frederic suddenly faces a leap year snag that threatens to keep him with the pirates for the rest of his life and prevent him from a happily-ever-after with his love, Mabel. Then, after intermission, the performers return to entertain the audience with selections from Gilbert & Sullivan’s comic operas, including impromptu audience requests.
Want to go? Friday • April 26 • 7 p.m. Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment ComplexBeshore Performance HallTickets: $40 to $45, plus fees. Contact the box office at 417.501.5550 for more details.