Entertainment writer Ed Balint suggests fun things to do this weekend and later in April and May, including Record Store Day, live theater, an art exhibition, model car event and a poetry show.
1. Record Store Day
Record Store Day is an annual ritual for vinyl lovers and collectors.
It all goes down April 18, with indie stores in the region participating.
One exception will be Erie St Vinyl, 46 Erie St. N in downtown Massillon.
“After plenty of thought and budgeting, (Erie St Vinyl) will be celebrating Record Store Day … a little differently than we have in the past,” the store announced on social media.
Erie St will not be carrying any Record Store Day releases. “Instead, we are offering 20% (off on) all new and used core stock,” the post said.
The event will include live music and community outreach. Store hours will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Representatives of the League of Women Voters will be at Erie St to help educate the public on the upcoming election.
Jéan P the MC, a Canton-based hip-hop artist, will be performing at 5:30 p.m.
Record Store Day releases will be found at other area stores, including Quonset Hut in Canton, Hollow Bone Records in Fairlawn and Blackbird Records in Medina, Wooster and Mansfield. Also participating in Record Store Day will be Big D’s Vinyl at Summit Mall in Fairlawn. Located near Macy’s, Big D’s opens at 8 a.m. Other options are Time Traveler Records in Akron; State Street Records in downtown Salem, which will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; The Record Connection in Niles, which opens at 10 a.m.; and The Vinyl Groove in Cleveland, which is open 10 to 7 a.m.
Hollow Bone opens at 9 a.m. Blackbird’s hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“We’ll have tons of great releases for you to check out,” Hollow Bone announced. “After the morning rush is over, starting at 12 p.m., we’ll be having a sale for 20% off everything in the store, excluding the RSD titles.”
Record Store Day releases include Alcatrazz, “No Parole From Rock ‘N’ Roll”; Bruno Mars, “Collaboration,”; Tony Bennett, “MTV Unplugged”; The Cure, “Greatest Hits” and “Acoustic Hits”; Def Leppard, “Slang”; Peter Gabriel, “Sledgehammer”; Judas Priest, “Live in Los Angeles ’90”; John Lennon, “Love Meditation Mixes”; Tate McRae, “Hung Up On You”; Parmore, “All We Know Is Falling”; Sonic Youth, “Diamond Seas”; The Jayhawks, “2 Meter Sessions”; Billy Strings, “tiny desk”; Pixies, “Live In Newport”; Bruce Springsteen, “Live From Asbury Park 2024”; John Prine, “Found Dogs”; Weezer, “1192”; KISS, “A Special KISS Tour Album”; Van Halen, “Live in New Haven, CT 1986”; and Taylor Swift, “Elizabeth Taylor 7″ Vinyl Single.”
2. Model car show
The Stark Scale Modelers Club Contest will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 18 at Tuslaw Middle School, 1723 Manchester Ave. NW.
Model registration will be 9 a.m. to noon. Cost is $5 for the first model and $1 for each additional model. Divisions will be junior and adult, with both judges’ and people’s choice awards in all 20 model classes. Judging starts at noon, with awards presented at 3 p.m.
Admission is $4. Children younger than 12 are admitted free. Admission is free for vendors and anyone entering a model. Around 40 vendor tables are expected.
3. ‘Blood Brothers’ in Doylestown
“Blood Brothers” the musical will be performed April 17-19 at Blue Macaroon Theater Company in Doylestown.
Blue Macaroon is a blackbox-style theater. Directed by Anthony Harbert, “Blood Brothers,” an acclaimed musical and Broadway hit by Willy Russell, will feature a five-piece orchestra.
“Blood Brothers” is about twin brothers, Mickey and Edward, who were separated at birth and raised in different social classes in Liverpool. They become best friends without knowing their connection. The story explores themes of nature vs. nurture, and class inequality and fate, a news release said.
The theater is at 84½ N. Portage St. in Doylestown in Wayne County.
April 17-18 shows will be 7:30 to 10 p.m. The April 19 performance is 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased via the theater’s Facebook page.
4. ‘Decades of Gold’ rock ‘n’ roll cabaret
“Decades of Gold” will be a live music tribute to the hit songs of the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and currently.
MCM Productions will present the show April 24 at Tozzi’s on 12th Street NW in Canton.
The songs of several artists will be performed, including Donna Summer, Kenny Rodgers, Marvin Gaye, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Bruno Mars, Pat Benatar, Neil Diamond, Chicago and Heart.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The show and dinner cost $39 per person. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.com/. Tozzi’s is at 4210 12th St. NW.
5. Button show in Sugarcreek
The Akron Area Button Club plans the annual show of The Buckeye State Button Society from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 18 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 19 at the Carlisle Inn, 1357 Old Route 39 in Sugarcreek.
Thousands of buttons will be featured and for sale, including those as old as the 18th century. Button dealers from across the United States will be at the show.
Admission is $5. Children younger than 18 will be admitted free.
For more information, go to ohiobuttons.org/.
6. Poetry show featuring Roslyn Pratt
Corey Lipkins Jr. will present a poetry show at 7 p.m. May 2 at Timken Career Center in Canton.
Mental health awareness will be the event’s theme. “I will share pieces that shed light on the journey I’ve had with anxiety, depression, etc.,” Lipkins wrote on Facebook.
The poetry show features Roslynn Pratt.
Tickets cost $25 and are available by calling Lipkins at 330-312-4782. Tickets also will be available at the door.
7. Olivia Lane in Bolivar
Bolivar Community Church plans an early Mother’s Day concert at 6 p.m. May 2 featuring Christian musical artist Oliva Lane.
Lane is the host of “The Message” on SiriusXM Channel 63.
The concert will celebrate mothers and offer an evening of uplifting music and community fellowship. The event also will include a silent auction, raffles and giveaways.
General admission tickets cost $13. VIP tickets include a meet-and-greet and cost $26. Bolivar Community Church is at 241 Pine St. NW.
Tickets can be purchased at shorturl.at/sE5TW.
8. ‘Name That Tune’ at The Auricle
Sing Stark will present “Name That Tune: LIVE, Decades Night” at 7:30 p.m. April 23 at The Auricle Venue + Bar in downtown Canton.
The event features 10 Sing Stark vocalists performing live song excerpts, challenging teams to quickly identify hits from across three decades starting in the ’70s through the current decade.
Tickets cost $10 at the door.
9. Joe Ostrowske art show at Strauss Studios
For those looking to experience bold, expressive abstract artwork, check out the final show of Joe Ostrowske’s exhibition April 18 at Strauss Studios in downtown Canton.
The closing reception will be 5 to 9 p.m. “In Transit,” featuring paintings layered with vibrant color, originally opened March 14.
New works will be on display, and attendees can take part in a collaborative painting led by Ostrowske.
Ostrowske, 60, of Canton, owns General Transport, a trucking company based in Akron.
“This new collection reflects a period of evolution in Joe’s practice, embracing change, momentum, and transformation through loose, dynamic compositions and saturated palettes,” a news release said.
Strauss Studios is at 236 Walnut Ave. NE.
10. Voctave at Ohio Star Theater
Voctave, an 11-member a cappella group, will perform April 17-18 at Ohio Star Theater on the Dutch Valley campus.
Voctave performs arrangements of music from Broadway, Disney, jazz and Christmas music. Voctave has collaborated with a host of Grammy, Dove and American Music Award winners, the theater said.
The April 17 show is 7 p.m. and the April 18 performance is 8 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to dhgroup.com/events/voctave/. Tickets cost $65 and $85.99, with the buffet.
Ohio Star Theater is at 1387 Old Route 39 NE in Sugarcreek.
Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com and follow on Instagram at ed_balint and TikTok @edwardbalint.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Things to do. Record Store Day, Olivia Lane, button show, model cars
Reporting by Ed Balint, Canton Repository / The Repository
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