AVALON THEATRE calendar of performances and events for the Avalon Theater

Bitter Creek May 3 All-time veterans of Maryland’s Eastern Shore Bluegrass circuit Bitter Creek pops up at weddings, festivals and movie soundtracks where you’d least expect. Yet when you think about it, it’s always somewhere where guests expect a no frills down home authentic sound. And that’s what Bitter Creek brings to crowds time and time again. Making their yearly Spring stop at The Avalon Theatre, these unassuming kings of bluegrass are always inspiring for the honesty and respect with which they play their bluegrass. As always bring the kids and let them run a round. It’s a hoot. $15

	Academy Art Museum Spring Gala May 2, 6 pm “Celebrating the American Impressionists with renowned art historian William H. Gerdts.” Dr. Gerdts is a Professor Emeritus of Art History at the Graduate School of the City University of New York. He was Curator of Art at The Norfolk Museum before serving for twelve years as Curator of Painting and Sculpture at the Newark Museum. He was Associate Professor of Art, and Gallery Director, at the University of Maryland, before assuming his position with the City University of New York, where, for six years, from 1982-88, he also served as Executive Officer of the Art History Ph.D. Program. Co-Founder and Senior Lecturer in the Sotheby’s American Art Institute for twenty years (1985-2005), Gerdts is an honorary member of the Salmagundi Club and served on the board of The American Art Journal. He is the author of over twenty-five books including American Impressionism (1984, revised and expanded edition 2001). The lecture will be followed by cocktails and a catered gourmet dinner catered by Peachblossoms at the Museum. For tickets, please call Marie Bradley at (410) 822-8121. The Spring Gala is an annual event to benefit the Museum’s programs directly, including free education for area at-risk youth and scholarships for both adults and children. Contact The Art Academy at 410-822-2787

	"Escape to Freedom – Young Frederick Douglass" Saturday, May 3, 2 PM A presentation of the Ossie Davis play “Escape to Freedom – Young Frederick Douglass” by professional actors from the Frederick Douglass – Isaac Myers Maritime Park Museum. This presentation has been very well received in Baltimore and is highly recommended for middle school and older children as well as adults. Admission is free.



	Bach to the Future “Songs of Struggle and Hope” May 4, 2:30 pm For more information please contact Carolyn Farrell 410-820-9314. More information also available at www.bachtothefuture.org. Tickets $12 advance & $15 at door

	Talbot Cinema Society Movie –“The Russians are Coming” May 4, 5:30 pm

	Bay Country Chorus Barbershop Open rehearsal May 5, 7:30 pm Free

Mama’s Night Out. May 9, 8pm. Mama’s Night Out features a sassy Brit, a southerner, and a native New Yorker in an eclectic blend of stand-up comedy and audience participation. To top it off, these three have been friends for years. By the end of the show, you’ll feel like Karen, Nancy and Sherry are some of your friends as well. Ladies, gather up you girlfriends – this is gonna be a rare treat for a Mother’s Day observance … enjoy it! $30 http://www.mamasnightout.com

	Easton Choral Arts Society May 10 - 8pm May 11 - 3pm Anton Dvorak's "Mass in D" with a full Symphony Orchestra. www.eastonchoralarts.com

	Chandler Travis May 17 Chandler Travis has had a long and checkered career in the world of show biz, beginning in the seventies when he and Steve Shook joined up as Travis Shook and the Club Wow. Besides achieving much popularity on the east coast, the duo brought their peculiar blend of comedy and music all over the U.S. and to the nationwide television audience on such programs as the Tonight Show and Dick Cavett. Along the way, they appeared on-stage with everyone from Bonnie Raitt to Bruce Springsteen to George Carlin (with whom they toured as an opening act for 10 years) to Elvis Costello to-- well, you get the idea. In 1988, Travis began moonlighting as a solo performer, presenting the unlikely mixture of oddball humor and incisive songwriting that continue to be his trademark while appearing with such diverse acts as 10,000 Maniacs, Mose Allison, Roger McGuinn, and (deja vu perhaps?) George Carlin. Upon the arrival of the critically lauded "writer-songsinger" CD, his solo career kicked into high gear. In concert, his repertoire tends to encompass everything from obscure, anachronistic covers ("What's New Pussycat", "French Toast Man", "Skylark") to mind-numbing spoken interludes to plain old high quality writer-songsinger-type stuff. The Chandler Travis Philharmonic was born in the fall of 1996 at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, on the occasion of Chandler doing a guest shot there with a house band. Since then, the band -all colorfully garbed, 8 pieces of them - have introduced the concept of alternative dixieland to dumbfounded/delighted audiences all over the Boston area or on Cape Cod with occasional excursions beyond (New Orleans, Chicago, Washington DC, etc.) On their three successful visits to the Mercury Lounge in NYC, the Village Voice declared them "keenly entertaining", called Chandler "a true New England eccentric and a master of daft power pop", and the band"a blend of Ringling Bros. and Ra" that "puts the harm back in Philharmonic." DON'T MISS THIS RARE TREAT $20

	Talbot County Mental Health Association hosts Washington Post May 21 Investigative reporter Peter Earley, 7pm - Defeating StigmaVI - Bipolar Disorder

	Crossroads Community, Inc. benefit featuring "The Nighthawks" May 30 - 8pm Over the last 30+ years, The Nighthawks have earned a reputation as one of the best and hardest working bands around. They have gotten their widest acclaim for being one of the first and best white boy blues bands of their generation, and for putting on a great live show. A roots rock band before there was such a thing as "roots rock", they play a wide variety of music that has appeal to a diverse audience, mixing the blues, rock and soul-along with rockabilly and swing. $20

	Carolina Chocolate Drops May 31 There aren't too many African-American musicians who play old-time string-band music from the Carolina foothills region known as the Piedmont. In fact, the Carolina Chocolate Drops are the only young, black jug band out there, according to Tim Duffy, president of the Music Maker Relief Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting elderly Southern musicians and preserving traditional roots music. "Folklorists have been looking for decades," Duffy says, "and just haven't found them." Now that they're here, the Carolina Chocolate Drops are causing quite a sensation. After the Music Maker Relief Foundation signed the trio interest in the group has grown swiftly; and the group is booked into 2009. Last December, the Carolina Chocolate Drops made their big-screen debut in the Denzel Washington film "The Great Debaters." http://www.carolinachocolatedrops.com $20

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