Sam's Best Entertainment Bets

Some suggestions for this weekend and next couple of weeks around Carson City and elsewhere. Check entries in the daily Nevada Appeal for more details, but this should be enough for planning this weekend and the next several. Also, see nevadaappeal.com for updates of video games, movie news, musical events and reviews.

Sam Bauman, entertainment editor

- The Brewery Arts Center brings Al Stewart to town Jan. 19. Stewart's restrained delivery, his incredible equanimity is what makes his music instantly recognizable. Stewart appears in the Performance Hall at the Brewery Arts Center, 511 W. King St.

Tickets are $25 for all seating. A $3 discount is available for BAC members, students and seniors. Contact the Brewery Arts Center at 883-1976 or visit www.breweryarts.org.

- Greg London returns to Harrah's Reno with his quick-change "Icons" show. Fast and fun, last week as "ForbiddenBroadway follows. Call 788-2285.

- At the Silver Legacy in Reno, Aaron Lewis plays Jan. 11 (tickets $40 t0 $60, 325-740I) with Etta James jazzing away Jan. 12 (same price range and phone number).

- The Brewery Arts Center and KOZZ present a revival of the classic rock band Sugarloaf in Jan. 26. Sugarloaf is best known for the No. 1 hit "Green Eyed Lady." Opening the event will KOZZ's Max Volume and his band.

This revival performance features hits like "Green Eyed Lady" and "Don't Call Us, We'll Call You," plus hits from Jerry Corbetta's tenure with Franki Valli and the 4 Seasons. The concert features Corbetta of Sugarloaf with special guests Dennis Noda of Cannibal and the HeadHunters, Omar Martinez of Paul Revere and the Raiders and Carson City's own Atlantic recording artist Michael Furlong.

The event will be recorded live to produce a performance video.

"This is a great teaming effort with ACCtv," says John Procaccini, director of the Brewery Arts Center. "I'm excited to shoot a rock video during the concert."

Sugarloaf appears at 7:30 pm in the Performance Hall, 511 W. King St. Tickets are $18 all seating. A $3 discount is available for BAC members, students and seniors. Call 883-1976 or visit www.breweryarts.org.

- Nevada's biggest party is back, bigger and better than ever, as Brew HaHa XIII returns Saturday Jan. 26 to the Rose Ballroom at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks.

Celebrating an effervescent fermentation of music and brews, this year's 13th annual benefit for Sierra Arts features the popular Shane Dwight Band as the evening's headline entertainer. And, once again, a single price includes responsibly unlimited tastings from more the 25 microbrewery selections. Hours for this year's Brew HaHa are 8 p.m. to midnight. Purchased in advance, tickets are $50 per person general admission, and $60 each for reserved seating with early entry. General admission tickets purchased the day of the event will be $60.

Guests can purchase tickets at John Ascuaga's Nugget or Sierra Arts. Call Sierra Arts at 329-2787 or the Nugget at 356-3300.

- The Brewery Arts Center and X-Ville South present Lydia Pense & Cold Blood in Carson City on Feb. 19. After entertaining audiences with their virtuosity in vocals and guitar riffs at the 2006 Jazz & Beyond festival, Lydia is now a local darling.

Formed in the late '60s, these San Franciscans sounded like Tower of Power with Janis Joplin on lead vocals. In their songs, punchy horns and organ jabs ride over some exceptionally tight funk drumming, with everything centered around the soulful wails of Lydia Pense.

Lydia Pense & Cold Blood appear at 7:30 pm in the Performance Hall at the Brewery Arts Center at 511 W. King St. Tickets are $22 all seating. A $3 discount is available for BAC members, students and seniors. Call 883-1976 or visit www.breweryarts.org.

- RENO " Find yourself somewhere "Between Raising Hell And Amazing Grace" as the multi-platinum country duo Big & Rich takes the stage at the Reno Events Center along with opener Cowboy Troy Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. This country music phenom includes Big Kenny Alphin and John Rich. Both singer-songwriters are set to perform a show featuring their third studio release, "Between Raising Hell And Amazing Grace."

The duo has been nominated for several Grammy Awards.

Big & Rich, known for their mixing of traditional country sounds with hip-hop, rock and the occasional Native American yell, will follow crowd pleasing opener, Cowboy Troy, one of the most prominent black country performer since Charley Pride.

Tickets are available for $85, $65 and $45. Tickets are at (888) 288-1833 at www.ticketmaster.com or at Circus Circus Reno, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino.

- It's the story of the quintessential stage mother, her dreams for herself and her daughters, and the daughter who dared live her own dream. One of the best musicals of all time, "Gypsy" entertains at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts on Feb. 29 - March 2.

The performance schedule is Friday, 8 p.m., Saturday 2 and 8 p.m., Sunday, 2 and 7 p.m.

Tickets go on sale Jan. 14 at the Pioneer Center box office or at www.pioneercenter.com or at (877) 840-0457. Ticket prices range from $35 to $70 and are subject to service charges. Groups of 20 or more should call (775) 686-6600.

Based on the memoirs of entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee, "Gypsy" tells the story of Rose, an overbearing stage mother who is determined to make her girls the stars of vaudeville. Rose overwhelmingly favors her younger daughter, June, who headlines the act, while Louise is relegated to the chorus. Rose's attention eventually turns to her older daughter, but it is Louise herself who discovers her own talent, and becomes a bigger star than Rose ever dreamed possible.

- Contact Sam Bauman at 881-1236 or Sbauman@nevadaappeal.com.