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Shop rock

Shoppes at North Village Summer Concert Series kicks off Saturday

If you heard about someone who spent their summer Saturday nights in St. Joseph hanging out in a shopping center parking lot for the past four years, you’d probably think they were up to no good or nothing at all. Then, they would just point you to the stage to explain everything. That’s what the Shoppes at North Village Summer Concert Series has given residents an excuse to do with its variety of musical acts, giving both devoted fans and casual shoppers a chance to catch some live tunage. The series now returns for its fifth year and kicks things off from 6 to 8 p.m. June 5 at the Shoppes of North Village stage near Cold Stone Creamery.

Songs at sunset

Sounds of Summer concert series returns with faces old and new

If you ask anyone with the St. Joseph Downtown Association what the Sounds of Summer concert series does better than the rest, they’ll all give you the same response. “We try to mix it up,” says executive director Rhabecca Boerkircher. “We look for popular bands and new bands that appeal to everyone. And every year it gets bigger and better for us.”

I will follow

Meet a few of St. Joe’s die-hard local music fans

“Fan” isn’t a word music lovers should throw around lightly. It doesn’t mean you simply like a performer or that you’ll catch them if you feel like it or if it fits seamlessly into your schedule. The word “fan” implies love, adoration, borderline obsession and, most of all, dedication. Dedication to be at a show regardless of time or location and reveling in the band’s performance as much the 14th time seeing them as you did the first. A feeling of connection to the group where its success becomes your own because you were there with them.

Back for more

Standing on Nines plays at Cafe Acoustic

St. Joe hard rockers Standing on Nines went on hiatus as a quartet in 2008 and came back almost two years later as a trio. It’s enough to make you wonder about any drama or infighting that might have taken place during that time to cause the lineup change. If you’re one of these speculators, prepare to be disappointed.

This is: Soul Harvest Quartet

Striking a chord

Western hosts International Guitar Festival and Competition

Joseph Williams II says playing on the final day of last year’s St. Joseph International Guitar Festival and Competition was one of the most exciting things he has ever experienced. “It’s as close to the Colosseum or a football game that music is going to get,” Williams says. “It’s just so intense and the competitors have spent sometimes years preparing for it.”

Party on

Summer favorite Parties on the Parkway celebrates 10th anniversary

In St. Joseph in the last decade, many festivals have come and gone. Many bars have come and gone. Heck, even a few baseball teams came and went.

Worthy of honor

St. Joseph Community Chorus presents season-ending concert this weekend

Ever have one of those moments where something influenced a choice but you didn’t know it until looking back in hindsight? Dr. David Benz certainly has — and you can hear it for yourself.

Concert review: Puddle of Mudd and Saliva

A mixed bag of hard rock highlights, low notes and strange moments

If Joetown had a craving for big-time hard rock, the city certainly got its fill Thursday night at the Civic Arena.

This is: Aaron Blumer

String sensation

Saint Joseph Symphony presents ‘The Red Violin’ at Missouri Theater

World-renowned violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn didn’t always own one of the most legendary stringed instruments ever made. When she was growing up in northern Pennsylvania, her mother took her to a violin shop to get her first real instrument when she was 5 years old. At that age, she admits she had different criteria than she does today.

Keeping their vision

Midwest Dilemma, Tony Benn come to Cafe Acoustic next week

The two performers taking the stage at Cafe Acoustic next week couldn’t be more different in their musical methods.

This is: Alone After All

Celtic pride

The Elders bring Irish folk rock to St. Joseph

When the average music fan hears the phrase “Celtic rock,” he or she almost immediately thinks of bands like The Pogues, Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys and Kansas City’s The Elders.

Artistic impact

The people and organizations playing the biggest roles in shaping St. Joe arts and entertainment

Some people in St. Joseph may think they have a lot to complain about when it comes having exciting things to do in town. They probably look at the arts, music and entertainment scenes of their neighbors to the north (Omaha) and south (KC and Lawrence, Kan.) and wonder why Joetown doesn’t have similar offerings.