In this time of economic difficulty, the Arts Council of Kern is honoring one of its missions – to make the arts accessible to all in Kern County. To this end, we are giving away 100 free tickets to the Best of Kern Concert Tour Kickoff, featuring Soulajar, Near Miss Mallet, and Ron McOwen. The show is at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 15 at the Fox Theater. Regular ticket prices are $10 for general admission and $5 for students, seniors and Arts Council members.

Each person who brings their March or April unemployment check stub to an Arts Council of Kern event will receive up to two free tickets to the concert. Just bring your check stub, along with ID, to our registration table or booth at one of the following events:

· “Claudia True and Friends: Under the Influence” opening reception, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 9, Younger Gallery, 1430 Truxtun Ave., Suite 105, $5 admission, free for Arts Council of Kern members.

· Gallery on the Green at the Spring Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 10, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 11, The Park at River Walk, free admission.

· Scottish Gathering and Games, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 10, Kern County Fairgrounds, $15 admission, $12 for seniors/students/military.

· Art of Downtown Street Faire, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, April 15, Chester Avenue between 18th and 21st streets, free admission.

The Best of Kern Concert Tour Kickoff starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Fox Theater, 2001 H St. Headliners include funk and jazz group Soulajar, indie pop rock band Near Miss Mallet, and R&B and soul singer Ron McOwen. Tickets are only $10 general admission and $5 for students, seniors and Arts Council members. Buy tickets through Vallitix at 661-322-5200 or www.vallitix.com, or at the Arts Council of Kern, 2000 K St., Suite 110.

The Best of Kern Concert Tour is a year-long journey for 29 local acts (solos, duos and full bands) which have been chosen by a panel of expert judges to play local venues, meet promoters, develop their audiences and secure paying gigs. The program is administered by the Arts Council of Kern with funding from The James Irvine Foundation and California Arts Council/Department of Justice Music Presenting grants. For more information about the Best of Kern Concert Tour, including more upcoming show dates, visit www.kernconcerttour.org.

For more details, contact the Arts Council of Kern at 661-324-9000 or www.kernarts.org.

The arts come alive in Bakersfield on April 15 as the Arts Council of Kern participates in the first of this season’s Downtown Street Faires. Organized by the Downtown Business Association, the street faires are held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month in April, May and June.
The theme of April’s faire is The Art of Downtown, and there will be lots to see and do. In addition to checking out the arts and crafts vendors, farmers’ market and entertainment along Chester Avenue, attendees can also stop by the opening reception for artist Alberto Herrera at the JP Jennings Center for the Arts, as well as get their groove on at the Best of Kern Concert Tour Kickoff at the Fox Theater.
“This is a chance for us to celebrate the visual arts and the performing arts. You will be amazed by all of the talent we have to offer,” said Jeanette Richardson Parks, executive director of the Arts Council of Kern.
The street faire itself is on Chester Avenue between 18th and 21st streets. Chester Avenue will be closed for those three blocks. With the theme of arts, there will be children’s performances, live music, and an outdoor movie in front of the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History. Free horse-drawn carriage rides will get you around to all of the arts venues, plus, for the adventurous, there is a rock climbing wall. Also, The Melodrama and Vision 2020 are coordinating historic trolley tours of downtown Bakersfield, said Cathy Butler, president of the Downtown Business Association. Sponsors for the street faire include KERO Channel 23, Kern Schools Federal Credit Union, and Golden Empire Transit (GET).

One block south of the faire, at 1700 Chester Avenue, the JP Jennings Center for the Arts will host an opening reception for artist Alberto Herrera from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The art teacher at Fruitvale Middle School will be showing all new works of art, including paintings and sculptures. His bold styles have been displayed in various local galleries over the years, and are available for purchase as Kuka’s Folk Art at 1609 19th Street. Learn more about his art at www.albertoherreraart.com.

To top off the evening’s festivities, you can experience a great night of music at the Best of Kern Concert Tour Kickoff at 7:30 p.m. at the Fox Theater, 2001 H St. Headliners include funk and jazz group Soulajar, indie pop rock band Near Miss Mallet, and R&B and soul singer Ron McOwen. Tickets are only $10 general admission and $5 for students, seniors and Arts Council members. Buy tickets through Vallitix at 661-322-5200 or www.vallitix.com, or at the Arts Council of Kern, 2000 K St., Suite 110.

The Best of Kern Concert Tour is a year-long journey for 29 local acts (solos, duos and full bands) which have been chosen by a panel of expert judges to play local venues, meet promoters, develop their audiences and secure paying gigs. The program is administered by the Arts Council of Kern with funding from The James Irvine Foundation and California Arts Council/Department of Justice Music Presenting grants. For more information about the Best of Kern Concert Tour, including more upcoming show dates, visit www.kernconcerttour.org.

For more details about The Art of Downtown Street Faire, contact the Arts Council of Kern at 661-324-9000 or www.kernarts.org, or the Downtown Business Association at 661-325-5892 or www.bakersfielddba.net.