After the lights dim on the stage at Wingfield Park and July’s arts and culture festivities come to a close Artown continues its stream of performances with a world-class lineup for the 2010-2011 Artown Encore series. Blending bluegrass and Broadway, dance and spoken word, the series brings six evenings of art to Grand Sierra Resort’s Grand Theatre stage. 

2010-2011 Artown Encore series runs October through April and features:

Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers: An Evening of Bluegrass and Banjo, Oct. 5, tickets $40, $55, $70. Following his successful 2009 tour in support of his Grammy Award-winning album The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo, Steve Martin is once again joined by the award-winning Steep Canyon Rangers for an evening of bluegrass.   

John Lithgow’s Stories By Heart, Oct. 28, tickets $30, $45 and $60. In his one-man theatrical memoir, Stories By Heart, Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor John Lithgow explores storytelling as the unacknowledged tie that binds humanity. 

Ailey® II, Jan. 25, tickets $25, $35 and $45. Ailey II is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s best young dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding emerging choreographers.  

An Evening with Bernadette Peters, Feb. 14, tickets $40, $55 and $70. Throughout her illustrious career, Tony Award-winning actress and Broadway’s brightest star Bernadette Peters has sizzled audiences and critics with her performances on stage and television, in concert and on recordings. 

Max Raabe & Palast Orchester, April 10, tickets $25, $35 and $45. Founded in 1986 by the charismatic baritone Max Raabe, Max Raabe & Palast Orchester embodies the high style and musical glory of the 20s and 30s and has been heard in venues the world over. 

Arlo Guthrie, “The Journey On” Tour featuring The Burns Sisters, April 16, tickets $35 and $45. As a masterful storyteller, humorous philosopher and uncompromising artist, Arlo Guthrie proves that folk music is alive and well. He reunites with The Burns Sisters whose Siren song brings evocative, exquisite support to his seasoned and celebrated performances. 

All performances are at 8 p.m. at Grand Sierra Resort’s Grand Theatre. Members of Friends of Artown receive advance ticketing privileges through July 30 and a 10 percent discount on tickets. Friends need to contact the Artown office at 322-1538 to receive the pre-sale purchasing code. Tickets for the Oct. 5 Steve Martin performance are already on sale to the general public.  

Tickets go on sale to the general public July 31 and are available online at www.RenoIsArtown.com, by phone at 800-648-3568 or in person with no service fees at the Grand Sierra Resort box office.

Music selections at Artown are endless, from classical sounds to modern rock and everything in between. Here’s a glimpse at a few of the music events coming up in the next week:

Artown After Dark, Fridays at 9 p.m. at various locations, suggested $5 donation. Presented by Reno Passport and Noisy Planet, Artown After Dark takes place well into the evening, after most Artown events have wrapped up, and features all local talent, with local bands and DJs paired with local artists to cross-promote the arts and music.

Rollin‘ on the River, Fridays at 5:30 p.m. in Wingfield Park, free. Presented by the Reno News & Review this music series is in it’s 15th year of rockin’ and rollin‘ downtown Reno. The series kicked off with Maria Muldaur and continues with Tempest and The Sturdy Beggars July 9, The House Jacks and Jonie Blinman July 16, Brad Wilson and Todd South July 23 and Elliot Randall and Guitar Woody and The Boilers July 30.

Reno Municipal Band,  Wednesdays and Fridays at 12 p.m. in Wingfield Park, free. Bring a chair and your lunch and relax under the shade with  an hour of free music.

Celtic Jam Session, July 9 at 7 p.m. at Studio on 4th, free. Join Reno’s Celtic musicians for a family friendly night of music.

Boogie Down for Hunger, July 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater, $18 – $24. This concert featuring Little Feat is a benefit for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.

Opera in Blue Jeans, July 11 at 7 p.m. in Wingfield Park, free. It’s a casual evening of un-casual music with Nevada Opera and your favorite operas, operettas and Broadway musicals.

World Music Series, Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. in Wingfield Park, free. Artists from across the globe come to Reno to infuse the festival with exotic cultures. July 14 features Afro-Cuban All Stars. Read here for more.

And a few more: Jazz Outdoors at Park Place, Jazz Moods & Art, Sweet Vibrations, Toot Sweet New Orleans Jazz Band and Barbershop Harmony.

Check out the complete list of Artown’s music events by searching the “Music” genre in the Artown Calendar.

Artown puts arts and culture at the forefront the Fourth of July weekend with patriotic events in Reno and Virginia City.  This Fourth of July weekend you can expect nothing but the best from Artown including:

Pops at the Ranch with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra- July 3, 8 p.m., Robert Z. Hawkins AmphitheaterTo kick off the Reno Philharmonic’s summer concerts the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra performs patriotic music to get the crowd ready for the Fourth of July weekend. The orchestra is led by Jason Altieri, conductor of the Reno Philharmonic Youth Orchestras and the UNR orchestra. Free.

  Sweden Celebrates Virginia City with The Sigtuna Brass Sextet- July 3, 7 p.m., Pipers Opera House, Virginia CityDue to some key Swedish inventions like dynamite, nitro-glycerin and even the match, Virginia City was able to flourish. The Sigtuna Brass Sextet portrays the experience of those early days in uniform playing instruments and music of the day while celebrating Virginia City and the nation it helped build.  Tickets are $7.50 and $15. 

“Patriotic American Fourth Concert: A Family Affair” with MasterWorks Chorale- July 4, 4 p.m., Wingfield ParkThe MasterWorks Chorale presents a Fourth of July patriotic and American folk music concert. Special music featured includes  “Stars Spangled Banner,” “When I First Came to this Land,” “Oh Susannah,” “Camptown Races,” “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” and “Shenandoah,”  plus the well-known “Battle Hymn Of The Republic.”  Free.