SLCene Suggests: 5 Tips for Your Week

From a living Utah legend to a free celebration for Earth Day, there are plenty of options for your perusal this week.

Joe McQueen, Wednesday, April 18, The Garage, 8 p.m., $7

Joe McQueen visited Ogden in the 1940s as a traveling saxophone player, and the jazz man never left. He was the first black man to play in Ogden’s whites-only clubs back in the day, and folks like Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong (both of whom McQueen’s played music with) left his name on the guest list when they played in Salt Lake City, helping McQueen break the color barrier in the capital city’s whites-only clubs as well. He’s never stopped performing, and at 93 he’s ready to headline a gig at the swinging little roadhouse on Beck Street.

Happy Accidents, Friday, April 20, 314 W. Broadway #250, 7 p.m., free

What happens when a bunch of Salt Lake City’s best contemporary artists get together and paint along with two episodes of Bob Ross’ legendary TV show, The Joy of Painting? Find out for yourself at this opening to reveal the results from the likes of Brad Slaugh, Sri Whipple, Lindsey Frei, Trent Call and Tessa Lindsey. And you can even walk away with some of the artwork–buy a $5 raffle ticket via 24Tix.com; all proceeds go to lymphoma research.

Record Store Day, Saturday, April 21, Graywhale locations, various times, free

I’m neither a vinyl aficionado nor a music rarities collector, but I can still always find something to love at Record Store Day. All manner of artists put out exclusive Record Store Day-related music each year to help support indie record stores, and often that material is delivered via LP or even 7″ vinyl. Thankfully, there are also parties that deliver slates of fine local bands playing for free. I’ll be at the University Graywhale in Salt Lake City to see Bronco, The Rubes and Joshua Payne Orchestra, among others, starting Saturday at 11 a.m. Visit the Graywhale Web site to see the local chain’s RSD events, check out the Record Store Day Web site for a list of special releases, and be sure to check in at The Heavy Metal Shop and Uprok for their schedules and special deals.

Save Our Canyons 10th Annual Lone Peak Celebration, Saturday, April 21, Salt Lake Hardware Building, 6 p.m., $40

It’s time for Save Our Canyons to throw their annual fundraiser, which this year also serves as a celebration of the group’s 40th year fighting the good fight in Utah. The Folka Dots and the Cy Schmidt Band will be playing, Cannella’s is catering and Squatters is providing the drinks–not a bad combo, eh?

HEAL Utah Earth Day Festival, Sunday, April 22, Liberty Park, 11 a.m., free

Beginning at 11 a.m., HEAL Utah is throwing an Earth Day Festival on the east side of Liberty Park that will have music from Bronco and Jen Hajj, tasty grub from the Chowtruck available for purchase, activities for kids like face-painting and a balloon artist, as well as info booths from various enviro booths and at least a few fiery speeches, no doubt.