The Music

The Bar Kays

Sun., Apr. 28 7 pm • Epic, 110 N. 5th St., Mpls., 612-332-3742 or epicmpls.com • Originating as the Stax Records’ house band in 1966, they played on records by Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, Albert King, Soul Children and Isaac Hayes and were integral to Hayes’ landmarks Hot Buttered Soul, Black Moses, and Shaft. Their music has been sampled by everyone, from Coolio to Will Smith, to old schoolers like Cameo. Expect to hear “Shake Your Rump To The Funk,”  “Move Your Boogie Body,” “Sex-o-Matic,” “Anticipation,”  “Freakshow On The Dance Floor,”  “Hit and Run,” “She talks To Me With Her Body,” among many others.

Jessye Norman

Tues., Apr. 30, 7:30 pm • Ordway Center, 345 Washington St., St. Paul, 651-224-4222 or www.ordway.org • In celebration of its 130th anniversary, The Schubert Club presents a recital by one of the great vocal artists of our day, American soprano Jessye Norman. This is the third time she has appeared in the Twin Cities. This performance is a tribute to American masters such as Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Leonard Bernstein, Nina Simone, Lena Horne, Odetta, and of course, Duke Ellington.

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars 

Fri., May 3, 8:30 pm • Festival of Nations, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, 175 Kellogg Blvd W., St. Paul, FestivalofNations.com • The musicians who form Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars were forced to leave at various times after violent rebel attacks. When it became clear they would not be heading back to their homeland anytime soon, Ruben Koroma and his wife Grace joined other musicians in the Kalia refugee camp to entertain their fellow refugees, and the group was born. They now tour the world providing uplifting songs of hope, faith, and joy and have become one of Africa’s top touring and recording bands. Concert tickets are included with Friday’s regular Festival of Nations admission.

Secret Stash Soul Revue: Sonny Knight, The Valdons, Maurice Jacox, Chastity Brown

Fri., May 3, 8 pm • Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., 612-332-1010 or www.dakotacooks.com • For two nights, the Secret Stash Soul Revue will be returning to the stage for another look back into the Twin Cities Funk & Soul music. Also included will be a rare appearance from legendary Twin Cities R&B DJ, promoter and MC, Jackie Harris. Secret Stash favorite Chastity Brown will also be featured throughout the evening.

The Screen

2013 MSP International Film Festival

Below is a list of the MSR recommended films showing at this years MSP International Film Festival. The IFF is the largest film event in the upper midwest and features over 200 films, from over 60 countries around the world.

Lollywood

St. Anthony Main Theater, showtime Thurs., Apr. 25, 4:10 pm, Sat., Apr. 27, 11:10 am •  Country: Liberia, USA • Documentary Short (run time 10 min.) • Liberian war orphan Edwin loves watching popular Nigerian films. Now, after assembling his entire cast and crew in a single day, he decides to make his own “Nollywood” film

Lucky

St. Anthony Main Theater, showtime Wed., Apr. 17, 4:30 pm, Sat., Apr. 27, 11:45 am • Country: South Africa • The film follows Lucky, a recently orphaned boy in post-apartheid South Africa, who strikes up an unlikely relationship with an elderly Indian immigrant who harbors racial resentment toward her neighbors. While the odds are staggeringly against him, Lucky is determined to get an education, and, after learning that there are government stipends for those housing orphans of AIDS victims, Padma reluctantly agrees to assist him.

Three Kids

St. Anthony Main Theater, showtime Mon., Apr. 22, 4:45 pm, Sat., Apr. 27, 1:10 pm • Country: Belgium/Haiti • Three 12-year-old boys living in a children’s home in Port-au-Prince escape to the streets after the 2010 earthquake. Best friends Mickenson, Pierre, and Vitaleme set up camp stick together like brothers. After a mishap on a borrowed motorbike, Mickenson and Pierre are taken to a care center for children. Vitaleme finds them, but is not as willing to reenter the system. Made on location with a nonprofessional cast and documentary feel, Three Kids is based the lives of today’s children in Haiti, told from the kids’ point of view.

The Stage

Stick Fly

Through May 19 • Park Square Theatre, Historic Hamm Building, 408 St. Peter St., Suite 110, St. Paul, 651-291-7005 or www.parksquaretheatre.org • A relaxing weekend on Martha’s Vineyard … until the baggage got unpacked. Two sons of a financially privileged African American family bring their girlfriends home to meet their parents, only to find that Dad is the only one in residence. As family secrets unravel and sibling rivalries flare, class distinctions rise to the surface. .

Tracy Morgan: Excuse My French

Sat., May 4, 8 pm • Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-339-7007 or www.hennepintheatredistrict.org • Back in town after a “shock and awe” performance at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center in March, downtown Mpls. seems a little more appropriate for Mr. Morgan’s ribald sense of humor!

The Arts

St. Paul Art Crawl

Fri., Apr. 26 — Sun. Apr. 28 • Various art galleries, St. Paul, www.stpaulartcrawl.org • This bi-annual event includes hundreds of artists throughout the Lowertown Artists’ District who open their studios to the public for an entire weekend. In addition to open studios, there are also free music and theater performances and numerous other wonderful arts activities, displays and performances every day of the Crawl. Hours: Fri., 6-10 pm, Sat., 12-8 pm, Sun., 12-5 pm    (photo on left: David Witt – “The Custodian”)

Send all Entertainment Spot briefs abuchanan@spokesman-recorder.com, or call 612-827-4021.