Thursday, August 29 LISTEN TO THE MANDOLIN There is something slightly haunting about the sound of a mandolin, its strings vibrating with sweet tones that can sound sad with one song, upbeat and jaunty with another. A dynamic duo of mandolin artists, Caterina Lichtenberg and Mike Marshall, are coming to Sand City to ply their instruments. Lichtenberg has been called one of the most important classical mandolin artists in the world today. She holds the position of professor of classical mandolin/soprano lute at the Music Conservatory of Cologne, the only position of its kind in the world. Marshall is one of the most accomplished string instrumentalists in the world, a three-time Grammy nominee with numerous recordings under his belt. They will be playing Johann Sebastian Bach’s 15 Two Part Inventions for Mandolin and Mandocello, along with bluegrass, Brazilian music and more. [PM] 7pm Thursday, Aug. 29. SandBox, 440 Ortiz Ave., Sand City. SOLD OUT. sandboxandcity@gmail.com, sandboxandcity.com. GIVE ME THE BEAT When we first heard that Uncle Kracker was coming to this year’s Monterey County Fair, we immediately recognized the name but could not remember his hit songs. In the early 2000s, it seemed like every other song on the radio was “Follow Me” and “Drift Away,” in between the hollow but inoffensive tunes of Lifehouse and Train. A quick YouTube listen, however, immediately resurfaced middle school memories for some of us, and now we can’t get his catchy finger-snapping riffs out of our head. Uncle Kracker, aka Matthew Shafer, headlines the fair’s entertainment lineup that includes ABBA and REO Speedwagon tribute bands and the Chicano All Star Band throughout the event’s run. [EC] 7:30pm Thursday, Aug. 29. Monterey County Fair & Event Center, Payton Stage, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey. $6-$12/pre-sale fair admission. montereycountyfair.com. Friday, August 30 SWEET DEAD Preparing to commemorate death is a journey. It includes flowers, photographs of our loved ones, food and skulls—the sugar kind. They add color and 22 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 29-SEPTEMBER 4, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com JO MORA Artist Joseph Jacinto Mora drew many maps of areas in California. His 1935 “Seventeen Mile Drive” carte, or map, offers a colorful glimpse into the past of this iconic Pebble Beach route. The Monterey History and Art Association’s Stanton Center and Theater houses a new exhibit, “Jo Mora: Cartographer,” which is said to be the largest collection of Mora’s cartes ever displayed, at 22 pieces of art. Many of the pieces were gifted by Susan and Dennis Mar. “Mora’s cartes shed a truly fascinating light on our past on the Monterey Peninsula and beyond,” said Gary Spradlin, Monterey History and Art Association’s board president. “All ages will find something interesting to learn when viewing his cartes currently on display.” The exhibit runs for one year, through August 2025. [EC] HOT PICKS AUGUST 29–SEPTEMBER 04 To see more local events, and add your own, visit calendar.montereycountynow.com COURTESY OF MONTEREY HISTORY AND ART ASSOCIATION ROBERT BROKL VISUALS ROBERT BROKL Bay Area-based artist Robert Brokl wrote that his still life paintings and prints feature “wellknown images with objects in shallow spaces.” At UC Berkeley, where he earned his MFA in 1982, Brokl was influenced by his teachers’ attitude: “independence and self-direction over conformity and commercialism.” “My work in journalism, art and book reviews also nourishes my artistic creations,” he wrote. He has been featured in several national and international exhibitions since 1978, including in Slovakia and Japan. Through Nov. 17, Brokl’s works are on display at the Monterey Museum of Art, including the above oil on panel piece from 2012, titled “Nature Morte—David Park.” [EC] Uncle Kracker was no stranger to the Billboard charts in the early 2000s. The musician perhaps best known for his singles “Follow Me” and “Drift Away” headlines the Monterey County Fair’s entertainment lineup. LAURA E. PARTAIN It’s been nearly seven decades since Jack Kerouac published On the Road, and the Beat writer’s impact is still felt today. Take part in a discussion on his legacy.
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