Bruce Hornsby, One World Tribe, and Bobby Valli Kick Off the Month this Weekend

By Jeanine Zimmer

   August brings you a month of concerts and events around the lake.

   Beginning with this weekend: Friday, August 8 the spontaneous Bruce Hornsby will be taking the stage at the Amphitheatre at Chautauqua Institution. Hornsby who first broke the charts with his 1966 hit “The Way It Is” has enjoyed numerous career accolades including playing the piano alongside the Grateful Dead for a couple of years. He has won several acknowledgements and Grammys for the Best New Artist in ‘87, the Best Bluegrass Recording in ‘89 and the Best Pop Instrument in ‘93.  Hornsby will take the stage at 8:15 pm, tickets are $35. Other shows slated this month at the Institution include: The Dave Stevens Big Band (Wednesday, August 13), “The Sounds of Romance” starring The Letterman, The Association and Lou Christie (Friday, August 15), A Special Acoustic with Vince Gill (Friday, August 22), and An Evening with Bill Cosby (Saturday, August 23). For a complete schedules of lectures and performances log on to: www.ciweb.com.

   Also taking to the stage this Friday is area favorite, One World Tribe at The Village Casino in Bemus Point beginning at 10pm. One World Tribe is a jam band created on the premise of bringing together musicians of various racial and ethnic backgrounds in order to break down social and racial barriers. The group has become one of the area’s favorites, not just for its musicianship, but for its message. Other groups heading to The Village Casino this month include Only Humen (Friday, August 15), Geek Army (formally known as Nerds Inc.) (Saturday, August 16), the Earthquakers (Friday, August 22), the Porcelain Busdrivers (Friday, August 29), and New Wave Nation (Saturday, August 30).  A complete schedule can be found on www.BemusPointCasino.com.

   Rounding the weekend off, Bobby Valli will pay tribute to his brother Frankie and the Four Seasons in his show “Oh What a Night”, Sunday, August 10 at 2:30 pm on the Floating Stage next to the Italian Fisherman. Bobby has been involved in music all of his life and remains on the road. He recently appeared at Carnegie Hall in a tribute with Bruce Springsteen. In a chat with The Villager, Bobby promoted his new release, “America, A Home for You and Me” which he is selling to raise money for the Troops overseas. Come check out the show, you can catch a lot of the “sophisticated songs of Frankie Valli,” noted Bobby.  Other events this month at the Italian Fisherman include Cher & Friends, a tribute (Sunday, August 17 at 2:30 pm), Praise on the Lake (Sunday, August 24 at 9 am), Blues Family Show Band (Sunday, August 24 at 2:30 pm), Trombone Salute with John Marcellus (Friday, August 29 at 6:30pm), and the Labor Day Finale with Fireworks (Saturday, August 30 at 6:30pm).

This Week’s Highlights:

Wednesday, August 6-Sunday, August 10: Gerry Rodeo at Gerry Fairgrounds (www.GerryRodeo.org)

Friday, August 8-Sunday, August 10: Craft Festival at Bestor Plaza at Chautauqua Institution (www.ChautauquaCraftAlliance.org)

Saturday, August 9-Sunday, August 10: Art in the Woods at Audubon Nature Center in Jamestown (www.JamestownAudubon.org)

Saturday, August 9-Sunday, August 10: America’s Grape County Wine Festival at Chautauqua County Fairgrounds in Dunkirk (www.MerrittEstateWinery.com)

Sunday, August 10: Fenton Historical Society Old Fashioned Day at the Fenton Mansion in Jamestown (www.FentonHistoryCenter.org)

Tuesday, August 12: Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet at the Lenna Hall in the Chautauqua Institution (www.CIWeb.com)

Thursday, August 14-Saturday, August 16: Skate Chautauqua at Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena (www.ChautauquaIce.com)

Thursday, August 14: Luncheon and Fashion Show at the Chautauqua Inn and Suites in Mayville (www.ChautauquaSuite.com).