All Entries Tagged With: "live music"

Pat Liston performing in Ferguson this Friday

Back in 1975, a local rock band called Mama’s Pride soared to national fame, leaving St. Louis behind to tour with big-name acts like the Allman Brothers, Bob Seger and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Guitarist Pat Liston had founded the band with his brother Danny and four other members in the early 70s, and together they ended [...]

Tickets go on sale for the Touhill’s fall season

Seven years ago this fall, the Touhill Performing Arts Center opened its doors amid a wee bit of controversy. “Not in North County!” the theater crowd gasped back then. But today, even the NoCo naysayers have come to love this world-class opera house, which once again is rolling out a jam-packed schedule featuring a little [...]

Germanfest returns to the Ferguson Farmers Market!

It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from. This Saturday at the Ferguson Farmers Market, everybody will enjoy a little slice of German culture! From 9-11am, the wonderfully quirky Waterloo German Band will set the mood with some rousing oom-pah-pah music, featuring Swiss bells, a 10-foot alpine horn and loads of sweet, [...]

Overland hosting Market Center Festival on July 10

If you haven’t patronized the Overland Farmers Market yet, you might want to pay a visit on July 10. That’s when most of downtown Overland is coming together to host the family-friendly Market Center Festival – all day long in the 2500 block of Woodson. The event kicks off with the farmers market at 8am, [...]

Rain clouds couldn’t stop Ferguson’s Twilight 5K

Gray skies threatened to put a damper on Live Well Ferguson’s inaugural Twilight 5K yesterday, but that didn’t stop hundreds of people from showing up. In fact, nearly 900 racers from all over St. Louis competed in the 5K and one-mile fun run! And fortunately, the rain held off just long enough to make the [...]

Thousands will flock to Ferguson on May 15

In some ways, it was a happy accident, but there’s no denying it now… On Saturday, May 15, Ferguson will host no less than four community events, each expected to draw a lot of people. The day kicks off at 7:30am, when the city’s eighth annual Biggest Yard Sale in History gets underway. More than [...]

The Ferguson Farmers Market opens May 1

I’ll just come right out and say it: If you live in North County and you haven’t been to the Ferguson Farmers Market, you are NUTS!  Since the market first opened with a handful of booths in 2003, it has grown and improved every single year – to the point that now 40 vendors and [...]

EarthDance launches Fresh Ideas film series

Happy Earth Day, NOCO fans! As you all must know by now, Ferguson is home to the oldest organic farm in Missouri, which the Mueller family started working in 1883. Today, the farm’s 14 acres are under the care of EarthDance, a fabulous nonprofit that’s currently training 30 apprentices in the ways of organic farming. [...]

Ferguson launches Plaza at 501 with Friday concert

In 2005, when members of Ferguson’s downtown business district took my humble advice and adopted the name Ferguson Citywalk, the idea was to promote walkability and a greater sense of vibrancy along Florissant Road. Rather than just serving as a drive-by locale on a busy thoroughfare, Citywalk, it was hoped, could become a prime destination [...]

It’s Time for the Muggles to Dance!

Wizards, witches, costumes and live music…COUNT ME IN!! On Wednesday, April 14, St. Louis County Library is hosting not one, not two, but three Harry Potter tribute bands in a free live concert for all ages! The lineup includes the Whomping Willows, Justin Finch-Fletchley and the Sugar Quills, and Draco and the Malfoys, with all [...]

The Music of NoCo: the Mad Titans

If there’s one secret about North County that I wish more people knew, it’s that this area is absolutely brimming with artists and musicians. Far from being a “cultural wasteland,” as a city hipster friend once called it, NoCo is actually a goldmine of characters and creative types, most of whom live here because it’s [...]

Local music legend featured in March 6 film & concert

Bring up the subject of music in Ferguson and it’s only a matter of time before somebody mentions Michael McDonald. The famous singer/songwriter, who played in both Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers, grew up in Ferguson, of course. But the local musicians who collaborated with him back then and who went on to achieve [...]

Calling all NoCo residents to help support Haiti

It’s hard to feel useful in the face of the unspeakable tragedy in Haiti, but several North County residents have stepped forward to do what they can. On Saturday, January 30, the Savoy in Ferguson will be hosting NoCo for Haiti, a benefit concert featuring music from at least five popular local performers, including Javier [...]

UMSL & Flo Valley hosting MLK celebrations

In honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday this coming Monday, UMSL and St. Louis Community College will each host MLK celebrations featuring noted guest speakers. Both events are free and open to the public. On Sunday, January 17, the Flo Valley campus will welcome Hispanic entrepreneur and local civic leader Gilberto Pinela, whose [...]

NoCo students featured at Big Band Festival

If you’re looking for a way to warm up a cold Tuesday, head to UMSL for some red hot jazz. On January 12, the Des Lee Big Band Jazz Festival will host a free concert at the Touhill’s Lee Theater, featuring some of the most talented student musicians in the area, including several from North [...]

My NoCo Christmas Wish: a unique music & movie venue

For nearly 30 years beginning in the 1970s, the historic neighborhoods of northeast Portland, Oregon, showed all the tell-tale signs of a community in decline. Housing values dropped, businesses got seedier, and the local grade school – a community landmark since 1915 – closed its doors and eventually was abandoned, causing many families to move [...]

Good green fun at Pesto Festo

As if the glorious weather wasn’t enough to celebrate this weekend, last night’s Pesto Festo event in Ferguson made North County the place to be. Hosted by EarthDance Farms, the annual fundraiser drew more than 300 progressive, green-minded guests from all over St. Louis, and featured delicious local food, gorgeous artwork, and swingin’ performances by [...]

My NoCo Halloween

My friend and neighbor Jack Thomas is an incredibly talented artist who often holds great parties at his studio, a secluded 1930s factory not far from the Chain of Rocks Bridge. Last night, Jack hosted a Halloween Hukilau, transforming his studio into a tiki wonderland and drawing all sorts of interesting and fun revelers. The [...]

Anyone for Opera at the Touhill?

When the Touhill Performing Arts Center opened on the UMSL campus in 2003, many were aghast that it had been built in North County. Two years later, as the beautiful European-style opera house struggled to fill its 1,625 seats, UMSL’s student newspaper blamed it partially on the center’s location, saying “North County does not have [...]

Fun times at Florissant Fall Festival 2009