TRINITY'S LIVELY ARTS

This weekend I was in for a special treat and I had no idea what was coming until it was right in front of me. Mamma Llama had a concert on Saturday night with two unknown young singers, Courtney Marie Andrews and You, Me, and Apollo (Brent Cowles) each trying to make it on there own. They were traveling around on tour throughout California, and up the coast into Oregon and Washington. Their home base is in Phoenix. They booked into Mamma Llama on their way north, stopping for the Llama's last concert until fall.

Cowles had a strong personality and used his voice interpreting the music, sometimes almost yelling out with emotion. Andrews' voice was clear and sweet and the emotion in her voice came across more subtly but was definitely present throughout her original songs. I bought her CD. They each did a set and put on a professional performance and we were surprised that they were only 18 and 19, promoting their careers throughout the tour. They had been touring in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area. Both have Web sites on MySpace where you can log on and hear their music.

I dropped by the Gold Nugget Jewelers and saw Alsah Bundi's watercolors. A new artist will be showing there on July 4, Art Cruise night, so get in before the show changes. This is unusual to have the Art Cruise fall on a holiday, so don't forget to let a nice evening stroll be part of your Independence Day celebration.

The Alps Repertory Theater performances start at 8 p.m. Friday, July 3, with "I Do! I Do!" at the Trinity Alps Performing Arts Center.

Sunday late afternoon a friend and I drove to Lewiston to have a bite at Strings and Beans, a new restaurant serving sandwiches, ice cream treats including banana splits, espresso, Italian sodas and the best potato salad, located near the Lewiston Bridge.

We happened on to a rehearsal of the Porch Monkeys, a band of retired professional musicians. All are songwriters, vocalists and instrumentalists who have been playing together for a while now. Bob Quill on guitar; Dave Collin, guitar; Cary Wagner, mandolin; Tony Brand, keyboard; Dave Wilcox, clarinet; and Dave Hien, bass. They had a great sound and I wished I could stay for a while longer, but I had other plans. I will definitely go back. They will be playing at Strings and Beans from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the 4th and later in the afternoon from 2 to 6 p.m. at The Lewiston Moose Lodge. The shows are free.

Strings and Beans has a music stage area where the band rehearses regularly. Bob Quill and I agree that the best part of music and art is in the enjoyment (fun) of doing it. "The point is to get together and have fun." He is inviting other bands to use the space for rehearsal, so you might just be lucky enough to happen on to one like we did.