The Center's 2,400 sq. ft. state-of-the-art "black box" theatre stages the finest delegates of music genres from around the world. It also provides the perfect setting for small dramatic and musical productions. Whether theatre in the half round or a club setting, the modular riser and staging system is configured for an intimate presentation between the artist(s) and audience. With a maximum seating capacity of 240, there's not a bad seat in the house.

Mike Hammar & The Nails
The Merced CD release party for their new album Recipe for the Blues

Saturday September 11th 2010
Tickets: $12 adv / $15 @ the door - available at the Merced Arts Center and online

The Merced County Arts Council is pleased to present the Merced CD release party for Mike Hammar & The Nails newest album Recipe for the Blues. This is sure to be a special evening with Mike and the boys fresh off a busy summer season. They will be joined by special guests Cynthia Huddleston and Rudy Merino. For more information call the Merced County Arts Council at 209-388-1090. You can also visit Mike Hammar & The Nails online at www.mikehammar.com.

Mike Hammar has been playing the blues up and down the state of California for the past 25 years. This Oklahoma born Native American was brought up on the blues by his father Mike Hammar, Sr. who introduced him to the music of Lightin' Hopkins, Gatemouth Brown, T-Bone Walker, and BB King. After years of being a sideman, Mike set out to create his own legacy. He put together a hard working blues band in 2001 and swore he would do his best to write, record, and perform his own style of blues. Mike Hammar and his band, The Nails, released their first album "Going Home" in the summer of 2004. Their album has received airplay on American Roots Music Radio in Norway, England, Germany, Belgium, Canada, and on the college radio circuit here in the United States. Their newest album “Recipe for the Blues” will be released June 20th, 2010. This sophomore effort presents 12 eclectic blues tunes written and produced by Mike Hammar. Mike and his crew have had the honor of opening for some of the biggest names in modern blues. They continue to make their mark on the California blues scene with well crafted original music and heart felt performances. Mike's band consists of "Harmonica Jim" Pedersen, Sparky Gehres on the bass, Greg Merino on drums, and Allan "B3blues" Carroll on the Hammond organ. This unique blues crew offers a refreshing new feel to a traditional American genre of music. Influenced by many blues styles, their sound is eclectic, enthusiastic, and energetic.

Billie Lives - A Tribute to Billie Holiday featuring Cheryl Lockett
Saturday, September 18th 2010

After a little over a decade, The Billie Holiday tribute concert returns to Merced.

Join Cheryl Lockett as she brings her tribute concert, Billie Lives, to the Merced Multicultural Art Center on Saturday, September 18, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. The entertaining concert illustrates the tremendous impact Billie Holiday made in music industries throughout the world, performed by a quartet of All-Star and world-class musicians, featuring Cheryl Lockett-vocalist, Ron Foggia-pianist, Shelley Denny-bass (acoustic) and Jeff Minnieweather-drums. These musicians are a coalition of creatively, seasoned artists who were picked like fresh, grapes for the finest of wines. Collectively, the jazz ensemble generates a spectacular fusion of sound that will ascend throughout the universe. Every listener is promised an enjoyable atmosphere of magical energy!

Cheryl Lockett was born in the City of Merced California as Cheryl Craig. She is the daughter of Kenneth and Lila Craig. Kenneth is the original lead member of the famous Merced Blue Notes (The Merced Blue Notes was a 60's groove oriented sextet, as noted in a music article of the Sacramento News and Review entitled, "Finding the Soul-y Grail"). The group is still considered today as the baddest band in the Central Valley. Cheryl’s innate singing ability was recognized at age 4. She has performed with some of the industries finest musicians, too numerous to mention and the accolades of her presentation are many. Currently freelancing as a musician and visual artist, Lockett’s work impeccably, reflect her dedication to the Arts and her intense passion to share music with the world, using her voice, the ultimate organic instrument. The main focus of her goal is to advocate the importance of restoring and strengthening the existence of the Fine Arts in education and in the community, through stellar performance.

Master pianist, Ron Foggia has been performing every style from classical music to jazz and rock in the Sacramento area since 1980 when he first moved to California from Chicago. Highlights include winning the CSUS concerto competition, numerous scholarships and grants including Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission grants to compose music for Dale Scholl’s dance company at CSUS, performances as a soloist with the Sacramento Symphony, Camellia Symphony, CSUS Percussion Ensemble and over 4,000 performances in the Sacramento area playing with many of Sacramento’s finest jazz musicians as well as Mike Clarke (drummer with Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters), Vernon Black (guitarist with Mariah Carey) and Delfeayo Marsalis to name a few.

Shelley Denny is a freelance musician and teacher whose experience ranges from ballet to big bands, from musical theatre to modern jazz. His varied career includes national tours with Stan kenton, Les and Larry Elgart, and Petula Clark, plus concerts with such names as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzerald, Henry Mancini, Nancy Wilson, and The Supremes. He has enjoyed playing over seventy Broadway shows with Sacramento’s Music Circus. He is currently performing, writing, and teaching from his home in Sacramento.

Jeff Minnieweather, drummer and composer, has studied with Mel Brown and Greg Warner. He has toured throughout the United States, Europe, the Caribbean and Japan with Steve Miller, Joe Louis Walker, Steve Allen, Bud Shank, Leroy Vinnegar, Jeff Lorber, Tom Grant and many others.

To sum it up, this is a Billie Holiday tribute which transcends all others and definitely a show that you don’t want to miss. A generation of power, energy and excitement that will move you right out of your seat. The artists would like to cordially invite the public to join us at the Merced Multicultural Art Center on Saturday, September 18, 2010 for a magical evening of music as they journey back in time to pay homage to a legendary and incredibly soulful vocalist known to all as, Lady Day. For tickets or more information please call the Merced County Arts Center at (209)388-1090.

Concerts for Children
2nd Saturday of each month at 10:30am

The Merced County Arts Council presents children’s performances the 2nd Saturday of each month at 10:30am at The Merced Multicultural Arts Center, 645 West Main Street in downtown Merced. It's a huge hit and we hope you will bring your little ones over to check it out.

The series has included favorites from the Central Valley such as Rhythm Magic and Music with a Kiddie Beat, as well as local faves such as Tahitian hula dancers, rock 'n rollers, actors, opera singers and much more. Join our eBulletin (see column on your left) for weekly emails about these and other performances and events.

Tickets are only $5 for children. Parents are free.

Bring your little ones and enjoy a Saturday morning downtown!

Buy tickets to the next Arts Council event now!

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The Arts Council staff will instantly be notified when your transaction is complete and will contact you to confirm your reservation within a few days. Tickets for each event go on sale 3-4 weeks in advance. You can also stop in the Arts Center at 645 West Main Street to buy tickets with cash or check. We're open Monday-Friday 10am-4pm. For more information please call (209) 388-1090.

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