Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Week Ahead: July 19 to 25

What: All Florida Invitational

Where: Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: $10-$12

Contact: 561/392-2500, bocamuseum.org

Art lovers who bemoaned the absence of the All Florida juried exhibition last year can rest assured knowing that the 66-year-old institution’s sabbatical was a short one: It took a year off to regroup and rebrand, returning this past weekend in a new format. Instead of a single juror selecting a smorgasbord of work from thousands of eager artists statewide, this year’s All Florida featured five established artists each selecting five of their favorite emerging artists to be showcased in a group invitational. For the most part, the jurors chose artists in their geographic vicinity, resulting in this All Florida being arguably the most comprehensive state survey ever, from Pensacola’s Jay Flynn to Miami’s Nina Surel. Works of sculpture, painting, photography, video, animation, ceramics, installations and graphite are among the illuminating selections, in an exhibition that runs through Sept. 25.

FRIDAY

What: Stardust Memories: The David Bowie Tribute

Where: Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton

When: 7:30 p.m.

Cost: Free

Contact: 561/544-8600, mizneramp.com

David Bowie may have left the earth to which he fell, but his music is immortal—as this loving and record-perfect tribute act from Tampa confirms with every performance. Mark Alan, the lead vocalist and guitarist of Stardust Memories, will adopt Bowie’s numerous personae, from Ziggy Stardust to the Thin White Duke, complete with accurate makeup and costumes, and he’ll have a seven-piece band re-creating tunes from the rock legend’s 50-plus-year career. Alan promises a smattering of Bowie hits and personal favorites, with special attention paid to masterpieces “Hunky Dory,” celebrating its 45th anniversary this year; “Station to Station,” which turned 40 this year; and even “Blackstar,” the master’s elegiac 2016 swan song. Visitors 21 and older can enjoy craft brews from the on-site beer garden, and Delivery Dudes can bring dishes from Mizner Park restaurants straight to the amphitheater.

What: Counting Crows & Rob Thomas

Where: Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansburys Way, West Palm Beach

When: 6:45 p.m.

Cost: $24 and up

Contact: 561/795-8883, westpalmbeachamphitheatre.com

In the alternative rock boom of the 1990s, Counting Crows represented the anti-grunge: light in distortion, heavy on smiles and accessibility, and wearing classical influences like the Band and Van Morrison on their heartfelt sleeves. Led by charismatic, distinctively coiffed frontman Adam Duritz and backed by a six-piece band to realize the material’s intricate lushness, Counting Crows’ Top 40 success is formidable, from “Mr. Jones” and “Round Here” to “A Long December” and “Hanginaround.” But the group’s deep cuts are just as impressive—and with an ever-changing set list and Duritz’ tendency to spontaneously change lyrics and melodies during concerts, anything goes on its latest jaunt, which launches right here in Palm Beach County. This is a co-headlining tour with Rob Thomas, a politically outspoken compatriot in radio-friendly alt-rock. He led Matchbox Twenty to 12x-platinum success, helped turn Santana’s “Smooth” into an international megahit, and has only matured as a songwriter since focusing on his solo career.

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

What: Leon Russell

Where: The Funky Biscuit, 303 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton

When: 8 p.m.

Cost: $50-$70

Contact: 561/395-2929, funkybiscuit.com

To say that Leon Russell is a musician’s musician is an understatement. As a session player, he is as dependable as rain in July, and in terms of genre, he’s as versatile as a jukebox. In his 50-year career as a songwriter, singer, pianist, bandleader and guitarist, he has crossed paths and performed alongside everyone from Dean Martin, Barbra Streisand and Jerry Lee Lewis to John Lennon, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton. His musicality encompasses pop, rock, blues, country, bluegrass, standards, gospel and surf records, and just a few years ago, he saw his album “The Union,” co-written and performed with Elton John, peak at No. 3 on the Billboard chart. In other words, Russell is a major “get” for the Funky Biscuit, the intimate restaurant-club in Royal Palm Place, which celebrates its fifth anniversary with a weekend of concerts by Russell. At 74, the distinctively voiced chameleon still plays marathon set lists, from his own material to his signature takes on Beatles, Rolling Stones, Ray Charles and Chuck Berry hits.

FRIDAY TO SUNDAY

What: The Naked Magic Show

Where: Broward Center, 201 S.W. Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale

When: 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 6:30 p.m. Sunday

Cost: $45-$65

Contact: 954/462-0222, browardcenter.org

If you’re of the opinion that the only thing movies like “The Full Monty” and “Magic Mike XXL” are missing is wands, card tricks and grand illusions, then the R-rated “Naked Magic Show” is your steaming-hot cup of tea. At this raunchy crossover hit, buff Australian magicians Christopher Wayne and Mike Taylor ensure that their clothes vanish along with their playing cards and bunny rabbits. With more than 200 shows a year under their (loosened) belts, these 30-year-old entertainers are experts in sleight of hand, mentalism and comedy hypnosis as well as large-scale illusions. And needless to say, their Chippendale’s-style wardrobes (or lack thereof) will offer audiences plenty of opportunities for a magician’s favorite tool: distraction. The duo’s tagline says it best: “Sleeves up, pants down.”

FRIDAY TO SUNDAY

What: Marlon Wayans

Where: Fort Lauderdale Improv, 5700 Seminole Way, Hollywood

When: 8 and 10:30 p.m., 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday

Cost: $30 with a two-drink minimum

Contact: 954/981-5653, improvftl.com

It’s hard to believe it, but Marlon Wayans, one of the youngest siblings in the Wayans Brothers comic dynasty, only attempted standup comedy about five years ago, in his late ‘30s. But he’s been involved in every other aspect of Bringing the Funny to Gen-X and Millennial audiences since the early ‘90s, as a cast member on the groundbreaking sketch comedy series “In Living Color;” as a co-writer and actor in the ingenious parody film “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood;” and as co-auteur in the ongoing “Scary Movie” franchise. He’s also proven to be a more subversive on-screen presence than his kin, Keenen Ivory, Damon and Shawn: He played a KKK member on “Mr. Show with Bob and David,” and acted in Darren Aronofksy’s uber-disturbing art film “Requiem for a Dream.” As for standup, he approached the time-honored medium as research for a role he hoped to land: a still-in-development Richard Pryor biopic. He didn’t get the part, but he’s stuck with the form, gigging at clubs both large and small. Expect the material to be rated a hard “R.”

SATURDAY

What: Palm Beach Summer Beerfest

Where: South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach

When: Noon to 4 p.m. or 5 to 9 p.m.

Cost: $40 ($10 for designated drivers)

Contact: 561/793-0333, southfloridafair.com

Hosted inside the fully air-conditioned Expo Center at the Fairgrounds, this event bills itself as South Florida’s only indoor beer festival, and in this especially sweltering summer, that’s a significant advantage over the others. More than 150 craft beers will be available for sampling, along with live music from local bands and food trucks like A Taste of Philly, Dough Dough’s Donuts, Cheesezilla, Chowder Truck, Curbside Gourmet, Poutine Dog Café, Sweet Daddys BBQ and Woody’s Burger’s. Furthermore, the festival has responded to customer demand by dividing the event into a day and evening program, with 1,500 tickets available for each, which will shorten lines and reduce crowd swell during each program. And did we mention it’s all air-conditioned?

John Thomason
John Thomason
As the A&E editor of bocamag.com, I offer reviews, previews, interviews, news reports and musings on all things arty and entertainment-y in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

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