Imperial Symphony Concludes Season with ‘West Side Story’

Apr 29, 2019 at 3:55 pm

In recent years, major orchestras have found it popular – and lucrative – to perform concert versions of hit Broadway musicals. In these performances, there are no costumes, staging or dancing but simply singers standing with the orchestra on stage, singing through the score.

The recent centennial birth year of composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) has given occasion for orchestras to perform a concert version of his most successful and beloved work, “West Side Story,” on which he collaborated with lyricist Stephen Sondheim. The Imperial Symphony Orchestra has enthusiastically jumped on the bandwagon, and in its final concert of the 2018-2019 season, the orchestra will perform a concert version of “West Side Story” featuring singers from Polk County. More

A & E

Live Music in Lakeland This Weekend

Apr 25, 2019 at 11:16 am

Live music hereabouts runs the gamut from the redneck rap of The Lacs at Wild Greg’s Saloon tonight to reflective piano at Midday Meditations (St. Joseph’s Church) on Friday to the blues and soul of St. Pete’s Betty Fox Band at La La Land Friday night. Keep scrolling for the whole live music calendar. More

A & E

Craftsmanship and Faith Combine in Polk Museum Exhibition

Apr 22, 2019 at 6:56 am

The tragic fire last week at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris drew attention to its Gothic structure, the architectural art of the Middle Ages. But another artistic achievement of that same period sits in a current exhibition at the Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College. More

A & E/ Business

Dan Signor Sets May 3 Opening for Dixieland Music Venue

Apr 19, 2019 at 3:44 pm

As Dan Signor sipped on a latte and talked about his plans to open a hip new music venue in Dixieland, it was easy to get caught up in his enthusiasm.

The rock ‘n roll musician has entertained in Florida for years, but now he’s setting up a permanent location in Lakeland called Union Hall at 1023 S. Florida Ave., formerly the site of Truly Nolan. More

A & E

Live Music in Lakeland This Weekend

Apr 18, 2019 at 11:14 am

It looks like a good weekend for musical comedy, a Swan Brewing birthday and good ol’ Southern Rock. Some of the music highlights:

Tague Zachary, a Chicagoan with a guitar and a refined funny bone, brings his show (directed by Swan City Improv‘s Nate Fleming) to LkldLive Friday.
Swan Brewing celebrates its first anniversary with the Deadhead sounds of Uncle John’s Band Friday night, Pensacola’s aptly named Spearman Brewers Saturday afternoon and the guitar/mandolin/violin interweavings of the Munn Park Saints Saturday night.
Music Ranch continues to preserve Southern Rock with Second Shot out of Jacksonville and guitar slinger Jimmy Sexton Saturday night.

Keep scrolling for our updated music calendar: More

A & E/ People

Lakeland Director’s Women-in-Aviation Documentary Showing April 26

Apr 16, 2019 at 7:17 pm Bay News 9

“Fly Like a Girl,” the documentary that Lakeland resident Katie Wiatt and her team spent three years producing, is screening at film festivals, including St. Petersburg’s Suncreen Festival. It will be shown April 26 at 4:15 p.m. at AMC Sundial Theater | Learn more about the film

A & E

Live Music in Lakeland This Weekend

Apr 11, 2019 at 11:20 am

We’re continually impressed by the live music offered weekly by local musicians. Check our calendar below to see who’s playing and where to hear live music. More

A & E

Live Music in Lakeland This Weekend

Apr 4, 2019 at 8:25 am

North Carolina bluesman Jon Shain will be accompanied by bassist FJ Ventre at an Among Friends Music house concert Friday night. See more on this and other shows in our live music calendar below. More

A & E/ City Hall

Commission Approves New Members of Arts Council

Apr 1, 2019 at 9:47 pm

Amid hints that increased funding for the arts may lie in the future, the Lakeland City Commission today unanimously approved a resolution increasing the number of organizations represented on the Mayor’s Council for the Arts. The resolution added three educational institutions – Harrison School for the Arts, Florida Southern College and Southeastern University – to the list of art and art-related organizations entitled to a seat on the council. More

A & E/ Downtown

View New Downtown Sculptures; Vote for Your Favorite

Mar 29, 2019 at 3:36 pm Facebook: City of Lakeland

Ten new sculptures have been placed on the Lemon Street Promenade between Florida and Massachusetts Avenues and will stay there the rest of the year. Now you can vote for your favorite in the Facebook post below. Each photo includes a description from the artist. Click on any photo to start. Learn more about the art on Lemon Street and the Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition.