Bluegrass and Belly Dancers Planned for Poway this Weekend

Bluegrass doesn’t sing about the blues. On the contrary, the upbeat music lifts the spirits, namely in Templar’s Hall at , where the San Diego Folk Heritage proudly presents Virtual Strangers in concert this Saturday at 7 p.m.

Bluegrass, a form of American roots music, often referred as a sub-genre of country music, is a mix of Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music. Bluegrass was said to be inspired by the music of immigrants residing in Appalachia, and influenced by the music of African-Americans through the incorporation of jazz.

Over the years, Virtual Strangers have shared the stage with many bluegrass greats. Their background includes leading the annual Cruise2Jam Carnival Line to Catalina and Ensenada, which happens each February, where they teach “jamming” etiquette and hold onboard jam sessions.

The group also has an alter ego—the Tatar Patch Bluegrass Buddies—where several times each year, the Strangers morph into a kid-friendly front to educate children about bluegrass. As such, they perform an educational set at schools and children’s music camps.

Originally formed in Napa, Calif., in 1992, the Virtual Strangers are currently made up of Kit Birkett on guitar, Yvonne Tatar on bass, Jon Cherry on mandolin and Mike Tatar Sr. on banjo. Usually a four-piece—banjo, guitar, mandolin and bass—they are able to produce three-part harmonies with all musicians singing on one song or another.

The mission of the San Diego Folk Heritage is to present and preserve the folk arts in San Diego County, including concerts, dances and special events in Old Poway Park.

“I am constantly impressed by the quality,” said Dick Jay, president (or chair folk) of the San Diego Folk Heritage, a member of the Old Poway Park Action Committee, which serves as the informal steering group for the park, providing concert ideas.

Admission is $18; $15 for members. For tickets, directions and more information, call 858-386-8459. Parking at Old Poway Park is free.

From bluegrass to belly dance, Poway’s got music and dance. The Academy of World Dance n Arts has popular Monday-night Bellydance and Drumming Classes from 7 to 8 p.m., weekly.

Students will learn eight authentic styles of Middle Eastern dance, taught using veils, canes and swords.

Men and women, teens and older are welcome. The cost for the class is $10 to $15. For more information or to register, call 858-679-8277.

 next Reader’s Theatre, “Talk Radio,” is this Sunday at 7 p.m. Directed by Michael McCullock and produced by Barry Champlain, “Talk Radio” is a modern comedy about a controversial radio host who insults the “pathetic souls who call in the middle of the night to sound off.”

In the play, the radio show makes plans to go into national syndication. With that, the show’s producer is afraid the host will offend the sponsors, which makes for some funny dialogue. Including some adult content and language, the show is described as “funny and moving, offbeat, outrageous and totally entrancing.”

All tickets are $10 for general admission. Reservations can be made through the PowPAC box office at boxoffice@powpac.org or 858-679 8085.