Fresh-grown sound of the islands

Slack-key guitarist George Kahumoku Jr. was already up for three hours by the time he answered the phone for his interview with Caliente at 6 a.m. last week.

Thorn, set for show here, puts his touch on favorites

Paul Thorn gave his writing arm a rest when creating his latest release, "What the Hell is Goin' On?"

Rialto brings on funk for fundraiser

The Rialto Theatre Foundation is bringing the funk for its first gala fundraiser.

At La Cocina, things are really cookin' now

A slight chill in the air didn't stop the crowds from descending on the late night festivities at La Cocina last Saturday evening.

Desert Rose to return to its roots

Guitarist Herb Pedersen looks back at his time with the Desert Rose Band with equal amounts of fondness and pride.

Matisyahu shaves beard, instruments

The music won't be the only thing that is stripped down when Matisyahu performs an acoustic set at the Rialto Theatre Wednesday.

Aussie Day set, mate

The tastes and traditions of life Down Under will take center stage at the Tucson Botanical Gardens on Saturday.

It's gem show time! Tucson sparkles with thousands of dealers

You can't throw a rock in Tucson during the month of February without hitting someone willing to buy it. • Thousands of dealers sporting tens of thousands of specimens - everything from fossils to fluorite - will descend on the Old Pueblo in the coming weeks as the Tucson Gem, Mineral & …

Folk singer to perform here, get tour of border to boot

Grammy-winning folk singer Tom Chapin is getting an education during his latest visit to Southern Arizona.

Williams avoiding musical ruts

You'd better practice your penmanship if you want Keller Williams to play a specific song during his set at Club Congress tonight.

At last, an album Greg Brown likes

Greg Brown plans on getting reacquainted with the road on his upcoming tour.

Bluegrass band true to tradition

For the last 13 years, members of Monroe Crossing have been bringing the hills of Appalachia to the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Restaurants are in Mislinski's DNA

Kade Mislinski put down deep roots when he launched Hub Restaurant and Creamery in downtown Tucson nearly two years ago.

Magpies turns to fan for an update

As a trained architect, Jason Anderson is just as good at building restaurants as he is at building menus.

Kon Tiki's Hawaiian Revue

Ernie Menehune has seen his fair share of New Year's Eves come and go.

Club Congress salutes disco glam

David Slutes was working through some complex disco math on a recent afternoon in the back lot of the Sunstate Equipment Co. on West Grant Road.

Festivus, a party and fundraiser for the rest of us, is set Saturday

The Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association is going bigger and better with a Festivus for the rest of us on Saturday.

Pied Piper Bootsy led way to funk, now heads to Rialto

Bassist Bootsy Collins likes to think of himself as a bit of a Pied Piper.

Celtic Women will be 'Home for Christmas'

The women of Celtic Woman will be cutting it close this year in living up to the title of their latest album, "Home for Christmas."

Kinky shares festive last-days tale

Kinky's show at the Rialto Theatre next Thursday falls perfectly in line with the end of the Mayan calendar, and possibly the world, the next day.

Trident Grill mugs it up since 2004

It's easy to pick out the diehard regulars from the casual patrons at Trident Grill on East Speedway.

Neville to mix holiday cheer with doo-wop

Aaron Neville's Christmas Show, at the Rialto Theatre Tuesday, will be just as much about the singer sharing a piece of his past as the spreading of holiday cheer.

Exhibit explores close-knit connections in downtown

An interactive exhibit aimed at taking the strange out of strangers will be on display this weekend amid the festivities of Second Saturdays Downtown.

Whiskey as you've never tasted it

There is a certain eloquence to the way David Torkko describes what makes a good whiskey.

Some kimchi on your hot dog?

In a town dominated by Sonoran and Chicago-style hot dogs, a couple of restaurants are trying something a little more far out by going Far East.

Lost Bayou Ramblers find their sound

Like a good Louisiana hot sauce, the Lost Bayou Ramblers enjoy adding a little kick to their Cajun music.

Essayist, humorist Sedaris Tucson-bound

Author and humorist David Sedaris had trouble nailing down his exact location during a phone interview Monday.

Debut album is six-year journey

Saint Maybe's debut album "Things As They Are" was a long overdue creative venture for the Tucson band's frontman Oliver Ray.

Downtown brew, coffee shop gets kickstarted via website

A new nanobrewery and specialty coffee shop will soon be a part of the downtown food-and-drink landscape thanks to a website where ordinary folks back creative projects.

Mary Black bringing a bit of the auld sod

Mary Black picked one heck of a time and place to kick off her latest tour through the United States.

Duo's new CD a sharply written release

Roots musician Steve Grams has a simple reason for why he and his musical partner, Danny Krieger, decided to create a new album.

Dining suited to a 'T'

It's more of a "restaurant T" than a restaurant row.

Get to know joe at crawl

Craft coffee is king this weekend as seven local shops play host to Tucson's inaugural coffee crawl.

Tucson struts its post-WWII style in 3-day event

The Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation is asking residents to give the past a big bear hug this weekend.

Huge, fiery urn built to honor loved ones

What is 6 feet tall, weighs 500 pounds and will serve as the fiery vessel for the wishes and offerings to lost loved ones on Sunday night?

Folk cellist to rock election-night party

On Oct. 11, folk rock cellist Ben Sollee played the opening slot for a unique set of headliners: Vice President Joe Biden and VP hopeful Paul Ryan.

Sound bagpipes; let games begin

The Tucson Celtic Festival & Scottish Highland Games is going more festive and less formal during its Friday night opening ceremonies this year.

Tucson Comic-Con's driving force puts the artists front and center

When Mike Olivares set out to create Tucson's first major Comic-Con, he had a novel concept in mind: Hold a comic book convention that actually focused on comics.

Floats, masks, face paint honor the dead

The annual All Souls Procession is moving in a different direction this year. Recent track work for the modern streetcar on North Fourth Avenue and East Congress Street has forced the grassroots parade, which brings tens of thousands of people downtown to honor lost family and friends, to ch…

Mandolinist Hull heads music fest

Sierra Hull is feeling a little less stressed these days.

Kung fu 'Warriors' to take over stage at UA

Don't be surprised if you see 22 Shaolin Warriors window shopping on North Fourth Avenue or huddled together for a group photo in front of the San Xavier Mission this weekend.

Tango concert, fashion show to aid cancer effort

The war against cancer can be won one milonga at a time.

Nam Jam has music, info, help

Nam Jam coordinators are reaching out to all veterans, particularly those who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, for the concert's 25th anniversary.

'Daily Show' trio stop in on 'Indecision Tour'

Over the last 13 years, "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" has made its way to the forefront of political parody.

Get set for All Souls Procession

With the All Souls Procession less than a month away, preparation for the parade honoring the dead is in full swing. • A rundown of events is at allsoulsprocession.org • Here are some ways to get involved:

Music, dance, car show on festival menu

The eclectic tastes and flavors found at Tucson Meet Yourself go far beyond its array of global food options.

Flagstaff's Diablo Burger, new bar, restaurant to open in Rialto block

Two new restaurants and a beer and wine bar, all with Flagstaff ties, are coming to the Rialto block downtown.

Broadcasting from the 'Little Tune Coupe'

For the last 14 years, "DJ John" Strobeck has been the golden voice with the golden oldies at the regular car shows held at Little Anthony's Diner on Tucson's east side.

Retracing road trip taken with dad in a 1940 Ford

In 1948, John R. Gasho embarked on a road trip that he remembers as one of the greatest experiences of his life.

Cars for those with influence, affluence

One of the world's largest collections of luxury Franklins, a high-end automobile that came to prominence in the early 1900s, can be found in midtown Tucson.