Aliens, Hawaiian escapes & arts adventures in Polk County

I received an email this week that alien women have landed at Simply Irresistible Gallery. Yes that’s right, aliens. John D. Richards of Burnsville just delivered a van load of these ladies built from planet earth’s discarded materials. Stop by the gallery to examine some of their spacecraft and find out more about these mysterious visitors through the manual co-written by his wife Claudia Dunaway. Travel up Ola Mae Way in downtown Tryon to visit the gallery and see these new visitors for yourself.

Over at the Tryon Fine Arts Center, you may not find aliens, but you will notice some strange new activity. Tryon Painters & Sculptors are moving Gallery Too up to the Mural Room and winter classes have started to stimulate the artist in you. Head up to Melrose Avenue to check out all that is new at the community’s hub of arts activity.

Tonight

Cozy up and enjoy the sweet sounds of the guitar and fiddle duo that enchanted audiences in the parks last summer. Stereofidelics play at The Purple Onion in Saluda at 7 p.m.

Down the hill in Tryon, Susan Bennett will be on piano at Lilac Wine at 7 p.m.

Friday

Jennifer Prince gets the piano jumpin’ at Lilac Wine with original gospel, country, and blues from 7-9 p.m.

Jazz man Fred Whiskin will tickle the ivories at The Purple Onion from 7-9 p.m. this week, or catch him Saturdays and Wednesdays at Lilac Wine in Tryon.

Elmo’s Too welcomes you to warm up with beach and country hits from Norm & Chuck or visit Elmo’s in Tryon to sing your heart out with karaoke.

Saturday

Beat the winter weather with a musical trip to the islands from Kon Tiki at The Purple Onion at 8 p.m. Lovely ukulele lady Lin Llewellyn, slide guitar hero Hank Bones, rhythm diva Lora Pendleton, and percussion master Russ Wilson will bring the sounds of Polynesia to Saluda inviting visions of hula dancing to leave a smile on your face.

Saluda Mountain Jamboree invites you to come out to dance with Kelly Road Band from 8-11 p.m.

At Elmo’s heat up the night dancing to The J’s from Asheville featuring the blues master Abe Reid. Their appearance two weeks ago had the whole joint jumping with high energy rock and roll mixed up with some slow blue sweetness.

Sunday

Pre-Superbowl Blues Jam with Winkie & Red Dog at Elmo’s Too in Columbus starting at 2 p.m. Join a wide variety of local professional and amateur musicians as they experiment with music. Bring an instrument and skip the talking heads before the game by tearing up some classic blues and rock favorites in a friendly environment.

Not feeling like getting all excited about the competition? Escape the game entirely and enjoy a rare live appearance by the exquisite and heartfelt singer/songwriter David Wilcox as part of the Sunday evening concert series at The Purple Onion at 7 p.m.

Coming Soon

Next Thursday get out your bobby socks and slip over to the Tryon Fine Arts Center for Rave On! 50 years after the fateful plane crash the music of Buddy Holly still informs the artists of today. Enjoy this trip back in time to revive the magic of his classic rock and roll music. Contact the box office at 828-859-8322 or visit www.tryonarts.org for more information.

If you’ve been holed up from the winter weather working on creative projects spring may seem a long way off. Plan now for displaying your wares in May at the Saluda Arts and Music Festival. Applications can now be downloaded from the www.saluda.com web site or by contacting Susie Welsh at 828-749-3900 or Catherine Ross at 828-243-8696 or email at sswelsh@tds.net for more information. Applications are due by April 1, 2009.