Looking for fun events? Top 5 things to do around Tallahassee

Bundle up and venture out. The cold is sticking around but the arts scene is sizzling hot.

The Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra serenades the city with two photocentric concerts this weekend. Melody Trucks brings an evening of Allman Brothers inspired music to the House of Music on Sunday. Music Director of the Harlem Symphony Orchestra Amadi Azikiwe will perform with Javacya on Friday.

Here's a roundup of entertaining events around Tallahassee, culled from emails, the Council on Culture & Arts online listings and elsewhere.

1. Drum roll for Melody Trucks and Jackson Stokes

Melody Trucks (daughter of Allman Brothers drummer Butch Trucks) and Jackson Stokes (friends with Gregg Allman son Devon) pay a visit to The House of Music, 2011 South Monroe St., at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, for their Florida/Georgia Tour 2024. Tickets are $15, $20 and $30. Visit houseofmusictally.com.

Trucks, a talented percussionist and vocalist, has performed at major music festivals such as The Peach Music Festival, Suwannee Rising, and Hulaween. Trucks has continued her family's legacy in the world of Southern rock and jam band music with skillful percussion work and dynamic stage presence. By age 18, Stokes produced a 5 song EP with Devon, and eventually started touring with him.

2. Symphony celebrates the bicentennial

The Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra celebrates the bicentennial through a visual concerto combining music and photography. The symphony has been collecting photos from residents for months for “200 Years of Tallahassee — A Symphonic Celebration of our City.”

The piece will feature music from Duke Ellington's "Black, Brown, and Beige" with the images on a giant screen to kick off the bicentennial concert on Jan. 20 and 21 with performances in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

The evening opens with "Cold Mountain Suite," a piece by Pulitzer Prize winner Jennifer Higdon, one of the most-performed living American composers. Also included is Aaron Copland's "iconic "Lincoln Portrait," with narration by Tallahassee's own Darryl Jones. Closing the program is William Grant Still's melodious "Afro-American Symphony."

Tickets are $35-$64. Some tickets for $20 are available online with the code TALLY200 or call the office at 850-224-0461.

3. Broadway star performs benefit at Young Actors Theatre

Tallahassee will welcome Tony & Grammy nominated Broadway star Shoshana Bean to Young Actors Theatre for an intimate benefit concert at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. Ticket proceeds will contribute to the production budget of a movie musical, "Joni & The Whale," featuring students and members of the community. Bean serves as an executive producer of "Joni & The Whale," which is composed by Tallahassee-native and Broadway vet David Reiser – an alumni of Young Actors Theatre.Shoshana Bean can currently be seen starring in Alicia Keys’s new musical, "Hell’s Kitchen," at the Public Theater. She was last seen starring opposite Billy Crystal in Broadway’s "Mr. Saturday Night." Tony & Grammy nominated for her role as Susan Young, she has previously starred on Broadway as Elphaba in "Wicked" and Jenna in "Waitress." Tickets start at $50 and are on sale at youngactorstheatre.com.

4. Javacya Orchestra presents Arts-in-the-Heart concert

Violist-violinist Amadi Azikiwe will perform with Javacya Elite Chamber Orchestra and pianists Joanna Sobkowska and Read Gainsford at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, for the Arts-in-the-Heart concert at St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral, 4784 Thomasville Road. Derek Menchan is the guest principal cellist.

The theme for the free concert is "The Truth About Black Composers Past and Present" and will include works by Florence Price, Saint-Georges, DaSean Stokes and Mozart. The evening also includes the debut performance of the overture from the new opera, "Saturday’s Sorrow," by DaSean Stokes.

Azikiwe has been heard in recitals in major cities throughout the United States and abroad. Currently, Azikiwe is the Music Director of the Harlem Symphony Orchestra, the Community Engagement Director of the Harlem Chamber Players, and a member of the Pressenda Chamber Players.

5. Jazz and Irish tunes on tap at Blue Tavern

A veteran of Tallahassee's music scene, Charlie Nuzzo is back from a long hiatus to play and sing some of his favorite songs for happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St. The Reese Cloud Quintet follows from 8-11 p.m. with originals and arrangements. Reese Cloud - sax, Mike Williams - trumpet, Asher Pereira - piano, Kendrick Jacobs - bass and Nygel Anderson - percussion. $10 cover.

3rd Saturday Irish Session gets lively from 4-6 p.m. All ages & abilities welcome and Ukrainian food. Florida songwriter John R. Butler, known for his cult hit "Hand of the Almighty," steps up at 7 p.m. Saturday. At 9 p.m. Thomas Hendon & Company, an Alt-Country/Americana band from the Florida Panhandle, is on deck. Featuring Drummer Marcus Haines, Bassist Eric Norwood, Lead Guitarist Chris Auvil, and Thomas Hendon on Vocals & Guitar. It's a double-header – all for $10 at the door.

Show at Railroad Square: May Pang displays a different side of John Lennon in traveling photo show

Bonus event: May Pang photos of John Lennon at Railroad Square

Few people knew John Lennon as intimately as May Pang, who took photos during her time with him. Pang was Lennon’s companion and lover during the infamous “Lost Weekend” which lasted 18 months during late 1973 through 1975.  A collection of these private photographs will be on display and available for purchase at Gallery 621 at Railroad Square on Tuesday, Jan. 23, and Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 3-8 p.m.

Pang will be in attendance, meeting customers and telling stories behind these amazing limited-edition photographs of John Lennon. The photo exhibition coincides with the recent release of the documentary "The Lost Weekend - A Love Story" now streaming and on DVD.

Bonus event: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

Florida State University’s College of Music presents the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra featuring celebrated blind Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 22 in the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall.

“The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra’s mission aligns with Florida State University College of Music’s commitment to enriching lives through extraordinary musical experiences,” said Gregory Jones, associate dean of the College of Music. “Their passion for collaboration, innovation and artistic excellence resonates with the university's dedication to fostering a vibrant cultural environment.”

For more information and tickets, $10-$20, visit tickets.music.fsu.

OTHER EVENTS

All Saints Cinema: Tallahassee Film Society presents "Black God, White Devil," During yet another drought-blighted year in the sert?o, the arid hinterland of north-east Brazil, ranch hand Manoel kills his boss after a dispute over money in this restored 1964 film. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, and Saturday, Jan. 20, and 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21. $11 general admission, $9 members. Visit tallahasseefilms.com.

Artist Series of Tallahassee: Harlem Quartet, string quartet, Artist-in-Residence, 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, Opperman Hall.

The Bark: Chilled Monkey Brains w/ Medians, Solomon Hill, Almost at The Bark, 507 All Saints St., on Friday, Jan. 19. Doors at 8:30 p.m., show at 9 p.m., $10 advance, $12 day of show.

Blue Tavern: Shape Note Singing at the tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St., from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23. We will be singing from The Sacred Harp: Cooper Edition, (the blue book). Bluesday Tuesday with Justin Howl, an internationally touring blues and roots singer, songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player based in Chicago, follows from 8-10 p.m. $5 cover. On Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. Kenny Hill Band plays happy hour, followed at 8 p.m. by Open Mic Night. On Thursday, Jen Clark plays happy hour from 5-7 p.m., followed at 8 p.m. by the Kayla Williams and Chris McCarthy Duo exploring a multidisciplinary approach to contemporary chamber music. $10 cover.

Film Screening: Classical ballet production his production of "Giselle" stars Olga Smirnova and Jacopo Tissi, both former stars of the Bolshoi Ballet who fled Russia in protest at the start of the war with Ukraine. The iconic ballet that will play at Regal Governors Square Tallahassee 12. Tickets are on sale at giselleballetcinema.com or at participating theater box offices or websites.

Great Oaks Pub at Southwood: Anna Wescoat, the Songbird of Southwood, returns from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, to the Great Oaks Pub, 3750 Grove Park Drive. Wescoat is back with her beautiful voice, accompanied by  guitar and piano in the Great Room. No cover, full restaurant and bar featuring Chef Dustin’s delicacies. Call 860-942-4653.

Hot Tamale presents “Old Folk, New Folk”: Acoustic duo Hot Tamale will be putting on a specially themed show at the SideTrax Studio in the Breezeway at Railroad Square from 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. They will perform some of the great classics the '60s folk revival era, plus original songs in a style they call “New Folk” - including 8 new originals they released just in the last year. Free admission plus complimentary refreshments.

The Moon: Six String Southern & Scott Carswell Present Shane Smith and The Saints with Special Guest Jonathan Terrell on Friday, Jan. 19, at The Moon, 1105 E. Lafayette St. Ages Allowed : 18+. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with Jonathan Terrell at 7:30 p.m. and Shane Smith and The Saints at 8:30 p.m. General admission $25; reserved $35. Visit moonevents.com.

926 Bar and Grill: Hotel Fiction w/ The Driptones, No Parts at 926 Bar, 926 W. Tharpe St. on Thursday, Jan 25. Doors open at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m., $17 advance, $20 day of show.

The Sound Bar: Humble Road Band at 7 pm Friday, Jan. 19; Old Porch Swing at 5 p.m. Saturday and Temple of the Cat at 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. ($5 cover). 1105 W. Tharpe St.

Square Dance Open House: 7-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22, Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N Monroe St., second floor ballroom. Participate in some basic steps with the Capital Twirlers Square Dance Club.  Then join a new beginner's class starting on Jan. 29 for 12 weeks at $3 a lesson. For more information, contact 850-386-1440.

Tallahassee Swing Big Band: dance to the music of the Tallahassee Swing Band at the American Legion, 229 Lake Ella Drive, 7:30-10 p.m. Tuesday. $10 adults/$7 students. Free dance lessons from 6:30-7:30 with the purchase of admission.

Have an event coming up? Email details to [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Top 5 fun things to do around Tallahassee this weekend