Can’t Miss Alabama: Summer is heating up with musicals, festivals
Red Mountain Theatre presents the “Beautiful: Carole King Musical” through Aug. 11. (Stewart Edmonds / Red Mountain Theatre)
‘Beautiful: Carole King Musical’
Before she was a hitmaker and music legend, Carole King was Carole Klein, a teenage songwriter from Brooklyn. “Beautiful” is the story of her journey from a high school dreamer to a trailblazer in a male-dominated profession. Along the way, she befriends fellow writer Cynthia Weil, fights convention and finds her own definition of success. With classic songs from King, Weil, Gerry Goffin and Barry Mann (“Up on the Roof,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” “One Fine Day,” “You’ve Got a Friend” and more), it’s the story of an icon. The production runs through Aug. 11 at the Red Mountain Theatre in Birmingham.
Red Mountain Theatre presents the “Beautiful: Carole King Musical” through Aug. 11. (Stewart Edmonds / Red Mountain Theatre)
Red Mountain Theatre presents the “Beautiful: Carole King Musical” through Aug. 11. (Stewart Edmonds / Red Mountain Theatre)
Black Belt Birding Festival
The annual Black Belt Birding Festival will take place Aug. 2-4 in Greensboro, Dallas, Hale, Perry and Sumter counties. Highlighting the birds, history and heritage of Alabama’s Black Belt region, the festival offers a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of many species of birds in a natural environment. Enjoy field trips, talks and a vendor expo. For tickets and information, visit alaudubon.org. Follow this link for upcoming events.
Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival
Save the date for Birmingham’s Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival Saturday, Aug. 24, from 2-10 p.m. for a day filled with music, food, vendors and community. Attendees will experience businesses throughout the district. For the children, there will be a video game truck, clowns and face painting. Small coolers and lawn chairs are welcomed. Admission is free. Follow on Facebook and Instagram.
Talladega Bluegrass & Fingerstyle Guitar Festival
It’s music nonstop all weekend at the Talladega Bluegrass & Fingerstyle Guitar Festival. Tune up your fiddle, bring along your banjo, get out the guitar, bust out the bass and make tracks with that mandolin. Pick a tune, sing a song, catch up with old friends and make a few new ones along the way. Enjoy the festivities with food and merchandise vendors onsite. The event is Aug. 1-3 at the Talladega Pit Stop RV Park & Campground.
Montgomery Whitewater
There is something for the entire family at Montgomery Whitewater. Enjoy whitewater rafting, kayaking and mountain biking. Walk around the vendor village and grab a meal at Eddy’s Restaurant and Bar. Plan your visit here. For general inquiries, email info@montgomerywhitewater.com or call 334-746-6530. The water park is at 1100 Maxwell Blvd.
Plan an adventurous family outing at Montgomery Whitewater. (Montgomery Whitewater)
‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’
One of the most enduring shows of all time, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is a humorous retelling of the biblical story of Joseph, his 11 brothers, his father, Jacob, and the coat of many colors. Follow Joseph’s journey from bondage to becoming Pharaoh’s right-hand man to his ultimate reunion with his family. The merry musical embraces country-western, calypso and Elvis-style rock. Children ages 5 and younger, including babies, will not be admitted to performances unless otherwise noted in the show age recommendations. All children must have a purchased, ticketed seat to enter. The drama is underway through Aug. 11 at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery.
Art on The Rocks
Birmingham’s popular summer event returns with an artistic evening featuring funk rapper Ric Wilson as the musical guest as well as DJs, artist demos, pop-up performances and specialty cocktails. Wilson is a young Chicago standout who makes party-ready hip-hop with an intelligent twist. Wilson’s funk/disco-infused take on rap features robust percussion, buoyant vocal arrangements and triumphant instrumentation. Wilson has toured with and opened for a wide range of talented acts, including Cory Henry, Big Freedia, The Roots, Lil Yachty, BadBadNotGood, Azealia Banks, The All-American Rejects, Noname, Alex G, Mr. Twin Sister, Kweku Collins and RDGLDGRN. Tickets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Event schedule:
- 7 p.m. – Doors open.
- 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Live gallery performances by Davis Little, Haleigh Black, Choko Kimura Aiken and Erin Mitchell.
- 8 p.m. – Drag show featuring girl group classics from The Supremes to Destiny’s Child.
- 9 p.m. – DJ sets by DJ Slim Robb and DJ Rahdu.
- 9:30 p.m. – Dance performance by BhamBeatBullyz Dance Crew.
- 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. – Featured musical guest Ric Wilson.
Birmingham Museum of Art presents Art on The Rocks Aug. 2. (contributed)
Birmingham Museum of Art presents Art on The Rocks Aug. 2. (contributed)
Birmingham Barons baseball
The Birmingham Barons will battle the Montgomery Biscuits at Regions Field through Sunday, Aug. 4. Follow this link for the complete schedule, updates, promotions, giveaways and ticket information. Regions Field is a cashless facility.
Birmingham Legion soccer
The Magic City’s professional soccer team, Birmingham Legion FC, will face Hartford Athletic at Protective Stadium Saturday, Aug. 3, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available online. Birmingham Legion FC games are broadcast live on WABM My68. Call 205-791-7145, download the Legion FC app or follow @bhmlegion on social media for more information.
