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Barney McClure Trio concert set

The Barney McClure Trio will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday at Pioneer Park Theatre.

The jazz trio, featuring its namesake pianist, drummer Diamond Fuller and Dirk Westfall on bass, will be joined by a handful of guests — guitarist Ron Veliz, Latin percussionist Freddy Anthonys and Musical Rumors, a local jazz choir.

McClure boasts international tours and a variety of jazz recordings on his musical resume. He moved to Fairbanks in 1999, and will be performing a hometown concert to conclude a mini tour of Alaska, with stops in Anchorage and Healy.

Tickets are $20 general; $15 students, seniors and military; and $10 youth, at the Alaska House Art Gallery, The Artworks, and at the door the day of the performance. For more information, call 456-2211 or e-mail barney@alaska.com.

Comic makes local stops

Ryan Stout, the host of “MTV’s Spring Break ‘08,” is continuing a tour of local venues this weekend.

Stout, whose other credits include two game show pilots for MTV and Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham,” will perform 8 p.m. shows tonight at The Blue Loon and Saturday at Kodiak Jack’s.

The Alaska Comedy Web site describes Stout as “a fresh face discovering a jaded world,” with an intellectual, profanity-free take on offensive humor.

For more information, go to www.alaskacomedy.com.

Ester library fundraiser planned

The John Trigg Ester Library is having its fourth annual fundraiser at The Annex art gallery, 2922 Parks Highway, from 1-6:30 p.m. Sunday.

The library “Lallapalooza” will include live music, a lasagna feed, four silent auctions, and more to raise money for a new building.

The library has been expanding since it was founded more than eight years ago in a small rented space. Property for a new building has been purchased and initial clearing done, but construction of the main library scheduled to begin this summer.

Memberships to the nonprofit library, along with T-shirts and construction information, will be available at the event. For more information, call 455-4359 or 378-6744, or e-mail library@esterrepublic.com.

Vowell event tonight

Sarah Vowell, the well-known author and radio personality, will appear at 8 p.m. tonight at Hering Auditorium as part of a Fairbanks Concert Association event.

Vowell has authored books about American history and popular culture, frequently appears on National Public Radio, and voiced one of the characters in the movie “The Incredibles.” Her most recent book, “Assassination Vacation,” takes readers on a tour of presidential assassination attempts.

Tickets for the event are $27, available at www.alaskatix.com or 474-8081.

FST offers ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’

Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” begins next Thursday, with a production of the Bard’s most beloved romantic comedy.

The play, directed by Jeremy Thompson, follows the adventures of four young lovers and a group of bumbling would-be actors as they cross paths with magical creatures in a moonlit forest.

The play will run from April 3-20 at the Empress Theatre, on the second floor of the Co-op building. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, military and UAF students, and free for ages 18 and younger, at Gulliver’s Books or by calling 457-7638.

Weller anniversary celebrated

Weller Elementary School will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this Sunday with an open house from 3-5 p.m.

The school, which opened in 1983, will have cake, music from members of the Fairbanks Community Band, old yearbooks for sale, and T-shirts with the original Weller Whale logo. Old photos and newspaper clippings will be displayed.

For more information, call the school at 457-1629.

W.O.N.C.A.fest seeking acts

The Second Annual W.O.N.C.A.fest outdoor benefit concert is looking for local rock and rap artists to perform at a planned June 7 show.

The “Working on Nullifying Cancer Artistically” concert, which will raise funds for the American Cancer Society, will be at the Birch Hill Recreation Center from noon to midnight. It is an all-ages, alcohol-free event.

Anyone interested in participating in the event may call coordinator Dakota Bayer at 347-0152.