Sound Notes Pick o’ the Week

The Des Moines Symphony is the 2013 recipient of Bravo Greater Des Moines’ Bravo Encore Award for its “sustainable, entrepreneurial and innovative programming,” a worthy choice thanks to its unceasing efforts to enrich, educate and enliven the capital city.

Speaking of the Symphony, world-renowned violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg returns to Des Moines to perform Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23 and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or at the Civic Center ticket office and run $15-$55 for adults and $7.50-$27.50 for students. Additionally, $5 rush tickets for junior high/high school students and $10 rush tickets for all other students are available the day of the concerts.

Java Joes is bringing a bit of the Bluebird Café to Des Moines. The Bluebird is generally regarded as the Nashville, Tenn., staple to go to listen and learn from some of the great singer/songwriters in country music in a setting that’s intimate and conducive to the sharing of knowledge. Now, Java Joes has launched its “Nashville Songwriter Series.” Bringing in established songwriters, the event features a casual atmosphere where artists will talk about their craft, perform and share knowledge and conversation. The next installment in the series is Friday, Feb. 22 and Saturday, Feb. 23, featuring Greg Barnhill. Barnhill has written songs for Amy Grant and Trisha Yearwood among others, and will perform and share stories in Java Joes unique setting, starting at 8 p.m. both nights. For more information, check out www.javajoescoffeehouse.com.

Blue Moon Dueling Piano Bar gets us started this week, with Colleen DeFour, Dave Hawke and Drew DeFour performing on Thursday, Feb. 21, starting at 8 p.m. No cover. If you miss ’em that night, they’re doing it all again on Feb. 22 and Feb. 23 as well.

On Friday, Feb. 22, Wooly’s plays host to Greensky Bluegrass. The show starts at 9 p.m., and tickets are $15, available through www.ticketfly.com. The Deadly Gentleman also perform.

Also on Feb. 22, The Underground Rock Shop has In Defence, along with Die Mutts and the delightfully-named Nancy Drew Megadeth Squad, starting at 7 p.m.

Sound Notes Pick o’ the Week: Get on up to the freshly-renovated Hull Avenue Tavern on Saturday, Feb. 23 and check out Viva Montesa, Nest of Snakes and Resurrection Mary, staring at 9 p.m. The show is doubling as Resurrection Mary frontman Jason Boggs’ birthday bash, so it’s sure to be an extra good time. No cover.

Also on Feb. 23, Gas Lamp has the best thing to come out of Los Angeles since “CHiPS,” Andy Frasco. Frasco brings his own style of party blues to town starting at 9 p.m.; $7 at the door will get you in.

On Sunday, Feb. 24, the Vaudeville Mews presents Swedish electropop duo The Deer Tracks, starting at 8 p.m. Magic Wands, Annalibera and Ramona Muse also perform. That one is $7 at the door.

On Tuesday, Feb 26, El Bait Shop has Ryne Doughty performing at 8 p.m. There’s no cover. Mahalo. CV