Entertainment

LINDSEY BAHR 1. “Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood”: Quentin Tarantino’s movie business fairy tale, featuring all-time performances from two of our great living movie stars, and the shadow of one’s spirit, is his most warm-hearted and tender and a complete joy to watch and watch again. It’s hard to glean whether a film will stand the test of time, but “Once Upon a Time...” has the makings of a modern classic...

Celebrate the holidays at the Fonda KC Hall December 28th with northwest Iowa country music favorite Brad Morgan. The show is 8-11 p.m., with doors open at 7:30. Tickets are $15 at the door. All presale tickets will automatically be entered in a drawing for Brad Morgan swag. Check out MAGS 4 Fonda Inc. on Facebook for advance ticket information...

Lakeside Presbyterian Church will present “The Promised Messiah”, a Festival of Lessons and Carols by Philip Ledger, as part of the regular church service this Sunday, December 15, at 10 a.m. The service will begin with prelude music by the Tower Bells under the direction of Sharon Daniels. ...

Since its original publication in 1868, “Little Women” has been adapted for numerous films, theater productions and musicals. Beginning with its Friday debut, Spencer Community Theatre is presenting its rendition of the 2005 Broadway hit, “Little Women: The Broadway Musical” written by Allan Knee, Jason Howland and Mindi Dickstein...

There are enough holiday TV movies to overturn Santa’s sleigh this season, with Oprah Winfrey’s OWN channel and a new streaming service adding to the cargo. A more expansive view of the world also is part of the ride, with a lesbian couple included in a Freeform film and Hanukkah shout-outs on the Hallmark and Lifetime channels...

We are just out of the Thanksgiving holiday, but looking at what to get for Christmas presents for folks in your life, seems to have started the holiday shopping season back in October. As always, giving music, via vinyl, CD, or download, is always a good go-to. So here are some left-of-center choices, new and old, that can perk up not just for someone special in your life, but your own...

Popular a cappella group Tonic Sol-fa will be in concert at the Roof Garden in Arnolds Park, Sunday, December 22, 2-5 p.m. Doors open at 1 p.m. Tickets are on presale for $25, the price increases to $30 the day of the show. Tonic Sol-fa is an Emmy award-winning vocal ensemble headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, with multiple PBS specials, original music and over 2,000,000 albums sold...

Normally, Dana’s Dozen is reserved for movies, but I just couldn’t let you suffer those horrific radio sets for one more holiday season. Looking at you, Madonna, and “Santa Baby.” And you, Paul McCartney with “Wonderful Christmastime.” And certainly you, New Kids on the Block and your “Funky Funky Christmas.” Don’t get me started on “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer,” “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” or that “I Want a Hippopotamus” song. ...

Arnold Park Amusement Park is hosting a Gift a Smile Party Tuesday in the Majestic Pavilion from 5-7 p.m. There will be live music by Boon & Lambert. The Okoboji duo of Gary Lambert and David Boon cover songs “from the best time of your life.” Free appetizers, and a cash bar are planned...

Neil Anders, “the one man band,” will be performing at the Miracle on Lake Avenue After Glow Party, Thursday, December 5 in Storm Lake. Anders, from Odebolt, plays a variety of cover music from the past and today. The multi-instrumentalist/vocalist/songwriter/producer has played extensively with various bands for the last 10+, Neil has become a staple of the northwest Iowa music scene. ...

Indie country/rock trubador Bonnie Whitmore will grace Byron’s in Pomeroy December 15, 7 p.m. She may have a heart of gold, an outsize personality and a roof-raising laugh, but don’t be fooled: her debut album has a body count. No fewer than two men die by Bonnie’s own hand over the course of the record: one of them is burned alive, one the victim of a knife that, in Whitmore’s own words, “just slipped.”...

The Iowa Film Series presents: “POW Camp” and “Belle’s Midnight Ride” will be offered at the Lakes Art Center in Okoboji, Dec. 5, 6:30 p.m. By special request the facility will return the Camp Algona documentary, which made a debut here in 2018. The film documents the experience of German prisoners of war at the camp during World War II...

The BVU Concert Band, under the direction of Ms. Tiffany Wurth, director of athletic bands, presents its annual winter concert, Sunday, December 8, starting at 2 p.m. in Schaller Memorial Chapel on campus. The concert is open to the public, admission is free...

The independent underground would not be what it is today without pioneers like Strange Music cofounder Tech N9ne. Tech’s unparalleled tour schedule and signature rapid-fire “chopper” style combined with the business acumen of Strange Music CEO Travis O’Guin have molded Strange Music into the number one independent hip-hop label in the world...

The first of Iowa’s two shotgun deer seasons opens on Dec. 7, and while optimism for a successful hunt is the primary focus, hunters are encouraged to brush up on safe hunting practices. Basic firearm rules are pretty straight forward: treat every firearm as though it were loaded; always point the muzzle in a safe direction; be sure of your target and what’s beyond it; keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot...

It’s all set. The 20th anniversary edition of “KeeLive” - the former Cherokee Jazz & Blues Festival - is fast approaching. The venues, acts and schedules are solidified, bringing to Cherokee some of the regions top musical acts set for Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17 and 18...

Veteran rockers KISS say goodbye after over 40 years of rock ’n’ roll hysteria with its “End of the Road” tour. A northwest Iowa concert was recently added to the tour. Tickets went on sale Friday for the Feb. 21 show at Tyson Events Center in Sioux City. Tickets are $161.50-$452.50...

An evening of fun, wild game food and door prizes is planned at Bethel Baptist Church in Newell, Saturday, January 25. The event is 5-8 p.m., doors open at 4:30. Admission is a $10 donation. What’s cooking? Hog roast and venison with sides, plus samples of bighorn sheep, grizzly, moose, caribou, pheasant, fish, and wild turkey soup...

Area favorite Johnny Holm Band will be next up in the new Roof Garden Concert Series at the famous amusement park at Arnolds Park. The show is November 30, 8 p.m. Tickets are $17. An epitome of the mid-western summer festival band, the Minneapolis-based band plays covers of their audience’s favorite songs from almost every famous genre spanning numerous musical eras. ...

Director Marielle Heller frames “ A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood ” as if it were an episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” with miniature sets of cars and bridges to illustrate New York and Pittsburgh. Mr. Rogers, played with clear-eyed purpose by Tom Hanks, introduces the audience to the film’s protagonist, journalist Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys), using his “picture window” in that all-too-familiar living room where he’s just changed into his sneakers and sweater. It’s even rated PG...

Singer-songwriter Mandy Barnett will be the next attraction in the 2019-20 season at the Rosemary Clausen Center in Holstein, Saturday, January 4. For ticket availability, call 712-368-4849. Mandy is at the top of her game. Whether appearing at the Grand Ole Opry, on the world-famous Ryman Auditorium stage, or with the Nashville Symphony, Mandy brings glamour, flair and incredible talent to her audiences...

Tickets are on sale for the hit musical Jersey Boys at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City, Tuesday, January 7 and Wednesday, January 8. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $28.50. They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note. ...

The Buena Vista University Choir presented a concert, “Celebrating Our Neighbors”, Sunday at Schaller Chapel. The concert was the first for new BVU Director of Vocal Studies Harmony Rose Murphy, who wanted to celebrate the cultures, traditions and musical styles she has experienced in her career and travels, and hoped to share with her students. ...

The Clay County Fair & Events Center announces the 2020 Winter Event Series, which will be held in the Clay County Regional Events Center: “PJ Masks Live!” on Saturday, Jan. 11; Arch Allies on Saturday, Feb. 8; Family Fest on Saturday, March 7; and Rock’n Bac’n Brew’n featuring The Dweebs on Saturday, March 28...

The Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Music Association has announced their Fall Rock the Roof Concert Series, held on Thursday, Nov. 21, will be a Rock 4 Vets concert at the Majestic Pavilion in Arnolds Park. GALAXY with Glenn Henriksen will entertain. All veterans and current military personnel are admitted free. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the show is from 6-8:30 p.m...

The first thing director Roland Emmerich should do after his latest movie “Midway” hits theaters is apologize. Apologize to the visual effects crew, the stuntmen, the carpenters, the costumers and artists. He has squandered their considerable visual skill in retelling the crucial World War II battle at Midway by melding some of the best action sequences in years with the most banal of words...

Start the holiday weekend off with Harper and the Midwest Kind, returning to the stage at Byron’s in Pomeroy, Sunday, November 24. Showtime is 5 p.m. Peter Harper and his band offer up a unique blend of world blues, soul and roots music. The multiple award-winning Australian singer/ songwriter creates a heady mix of original music through his creative use of the harmonica, and the haunting drone of the didgeridoo. ...

Local favorite LD3 will perform December 6 in the Inspiration Vines & Wines Friday Evening Music series. Showtime is 6:30 p.m. at the Linn Grove winery. The band, with members from Spencer and Manson areas, has grown from a family trio that has been playing together since 1968, to a core group of six performers who appear in various arrangements with several guest musicians. Second generation performer Duane “Deacon” Davis leads the group today...

Tony-winning musical “Bandstand” is coming to northwest Iowa for one show, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City. From three-time Tony winner and Hamilton choreographer, Andy Blankenbuehler, comes a poignant and inspiring new American musical that explodes with infectious music and high-octane, heart-stopping dancing...

It’s not too late to get your tickets to A Jazzy Little Christmas with Ernie Haase and The Signature Sound, the next event in the Storm Lake Community Education Performing Arts Series. The concert is Thursday, November 21, 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium...