Downtown Tucson will be alive with all manner of folk music this weekend with the 33rd Annual Tucson Folk Festival.
But we found three things you can do that are worlds away from folk music.
- Dancing the night away for Michas: It’s been three weeks since a fire that started in the kitchen and spread throughout the building pretty nearly destroyed Micha’s Restaurant at 2908 S. Fourth Ave. The owners have said they will rebuild, but they are still in the process of sorting out insurance claims and other fire-related matters. So the owners are hosting a benefit dance on Friday, May 4, to help out displaced Micha’s employees. Barrio Band, Relente 520, Poor Boys, Suerte Musical and DJ Cota Productions will perform from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at El Casino Ballroom, 437 E. 26th St. Admission is a $10 donation, which includes dinner, and a silent auction and raffles will be held. Festival Band is providing the sound equipment. Details: facebook.com/TheFestivalBandAZ
- Get freaky with Weird Al: We all know how out-of-the-box Weird Al Yankovic can be, but he might be pushing the envelope further than we’ve seen in a long while with his latest tour: “Weird Al Yankovic: The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent Ill-advised Vanity Tour.” It pulls into Fox Tucson Theatre on Saturday, May 5. This is Weird Al in his most demanding role as himself, performing non-parody songs, without props or costume changes. OK, so maybe this will feel a little like the Tucson Folk Festival taking place on stages a five-minute walk from the Fox. Emo Philips is set to open for Yancovic at 8 p.m. There are only a few tickets ($37-$69) left at foxtucsontheatre.ticketforce.com
- Celebrate Cinco de May with Banda el Limon. Lest we forget, this weekend is Cinco de Mayo and the best way to pay the day its due is with incredible, authentic Mexican music. And one of the top Mexican bandas around is La Original Banda El Limon y Banda Machos, which traces its roots to a tiny town in Sinaloa, Mexico, in early 1965. The band’s members have changed over and over throughout the years, but its traditional sound has remained authentic and dynamic. Banda el Limon has a number of crossover hits to its credit and records that topped charts in Mexico and the States. They are touring on their latest album — No. 27 — “Soy Tu Maestro.” The band takes the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at Desert Diamond Casino, 1100 W. Pima Mine Road. Admission is $20 to $40 through startickets.com
