By Michael Swanger scenescribe@mchsi.com
Indie-rockers Miniature Tigers are road testing new material for their forthcoming album and will perform an all-ages show on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. at the Vaudeville Mews. Admission is $10.
East Nashville alt-country act Daddy, featuring former Todd Snider guitarist Will Kimbrough, performs Friday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. at Tim Rasmussen’s Music Room, 6299 510th Ave. (near Prairie Moon Winery), in Ames. Admission is $15, but fans can bring their own booze. Call (515) 450-2466.
The Val Air Ballroom hosts the third annual Halloween Masquerade featuring performances by DJ Commando and DJ Chuck Fresh on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 9 p.m. Admission is $15. Also playing the Val Air is the 2009 Lazer Rock Girl Pageant featuring performances by Papa Roach, Jet, Saving Abel, Red and Taddy Porter on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at the Val Air Ballroom at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $29.50. Meanwhile, Flo Rida’s Friday, Oct. 30 show at the ballroom has been cancelled. Tickets may be refunded at the point of purchase.
Think you’re the smartest person at the bar? Test your knowledge of pop culture, history, and of course, music, at the House of Bricks Sunday Smarts Smackdown, held the first and third Sunday at 8 p.m. at House of Bricks, starting Sunday, Nov. 1. Teams of four will compete for a free bar tab. Call 710-8550 to sign up. … In other HOB news, Bowling for Soup performs Nov. 11 and Jeffree Star, Breathe Electric and Teen Hearts will play Dec. 18. Tickets are $15 and $12, respectively, through IowaTix.
New Found Glory with Here’s My Chance performs an all-ages show on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. at People’s Court. Advance tickets are $16 through IowaTix or $19 at the door.
The Waukee Area Arts Council will host the Community Jazz Center of Greater Des Moines’ next Jazz Session on Sunday, Nov. 1 from 2 to 4 p.m. at ArtsCentral, 405 Maple St., Waukee. Admission is free.
Australian alt-rockers Batrider are touring the United States for the first time, promoting their third album, “Why Can’t We Be Together.” They play Monday, Nov. 2 at 10 p.m. Admission is $5.
Fresh Breath Poetry will be premiering an all-female lineup during a performance of music, poetry and dance at the Vaudeville Mews on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. The revue will include 15 acts. Admission is $6.
Guitarist Richard Smith will perform at Raccoon River Brewery on Nov. 14. Thirsty and the Waterboys, a Kansas City trio will open the show at 8:30. Admission is $20.
Mayday Parade, There for Tomorrow, The Dangerous Summer and City Lights will play a concert on Dec. 12 at People’s Court. The all-ages affair starts at 5 p.m. Advance tickets through IowaTix are $13.
The Ankeny School of Performing Arts, 107 N. Ankeny Blvd., Suite 7, recently opened. It offers private and small group music lessons, rock band classes and percussion ensembles. Instruction for voice, piano, guitar, strings, brass, woodwinds and percussion is available. Founder and director Al Biela opened a similar school in Ames, which included the Iowa School of Rock, which will also be offered in Ankeny. Call (515) 232-6546 or visit www.ankenymusiclessons.com.
The Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival — that’s right, all things bacon — will be held Feb. 27, 2010 at the Scottish Rite Consistory and will include live music. Acts TBA. Visit www.blueribbonbaconfestival.com. CV
