Unplugged View: Footloose And Fanny Free
by Aaron Rowan
“Without music, life would be a blank to me.” – Jane Austen.
Behold! Modesto’s first annual JaneCon, a weekend devoted to all things Regency era. January 10-12 will be filled with screenings of Jane Austen film adaptations, lectures, costume-making workshops, and at the center of it all, two performances of the opera version of ‘Mansfield Park’ – the story of heroine Fanny Price’s journey into young womanhood. I’ll be venturing outside my listening-concert comfort zone to oversee two Regency dance sessions on Sunday morning. One of the best dance callers in California and her backing musicians will be at the Mistlin Gallery teaching you to move like a Mansfielder. Find the complete weekend schedule at www.modestojanecon.com.
Red Tie Arts’ winter concert series returns to the McHenry Museum with the Brazilian space-funk of Boca Do Rio, a musical collaboration founded on deep respect for past traditions, steeped in the sambas and choros of Brazil while always evolving forward to create an organic sound that is decidedly modern and funky. January 11 at 7:30pm, $25/$35 tickets. www.red-tie.org.
Sunday January 12, you can take in jazz with a French twist with Duo Gadjo, invoking the style of Django Reinhardt with a touch Edith Piaf, Charles Trenet and others who composed under the spell of French musical charm. 3 PM at Congregation Beth Shalom, 1705 Sherwood Ave. $25/$20/$10. www.sundaysatcbs.com
Moon & Sixpence Music And Art House has got more flavors than Baskin Robbins. We’ll begin the new year at this space – downtown Modesto’s only independent listening-room venue – with the finest lyrical songwriter in all of Stanislaus County. Chris Doud and his band The Salvage Company bring their poetic Americana back to the M&S stage on Friday night 1/10, with special guest Holly Bernt opening. 8pm, $10. Six-string siren of the blues Diana Rein appears Saturday 1/18, supported by another of my favorite songwriters to feature, Hannah Jane Kile. 7:30pm, $15. February 1, soprano Liisa Davila and pianist John Hillebrandt bring their program of Romantic era songs to our stage. Strauss, Rachmaninoff, and even some original piano compositions of John’s. $15 admission starting at 8 PM. And on Sunday evening February 2, we’ll have the orchestral indie folk sounds of Her Crooked Heart plus award-winning Modesto youth rock band Esoteric. 7 PM, $10 at the door. Find this lesser-known gem of the live music scene at 500 9th St. between E & F, in the courtyard next to El Sol, and reserve seats for concerts at modestounplugged@yahoo.com or 209-543-5306.
Intimate performances. Infinite playlist. MODESTO UNPLUGGED. www.modestounplugged.com
