By Chip Chandler — Producer
Here's a quick take on your 10 best entertainment bets in the next 10 days.
1. Sounds of Summer
Outdoor music season is singing out again. Amarillo Botanical Gardens' annual Music in the Gardens series will open at 8 p.m. June 6 with The A-Town Rockers at the gardens, 1400 Streit Drive, followed by The Darling Brothers at 8 p.m. June 13. June Jams will feature party band Velvet Funk at 7:30 p.m. June 6 and Amarillo favorites Insufficient Funds at 7:30 p.m. June 13, both on the lawn of the Randall County Courthouse in Canyon. The Starlight Theatre series will continue at 7 p.m. June 11 with Amarillo folk band Mike Fuller & The Repeat Offenders at Sam Houston Park, Line Avenue and Western Street. The Amarillo College June Jazz season will continue with The Martinis at 7 p.m. June 11 on the AC Washington Street campus. Center City of Amarillo's High Noon on the Square will kick off its 25th anniversary with music from the cast of Texas and food from Dickey's BBQ at noon June 12 on the lawn of the Potter County Courthouse, 501 S. Fillmore St.
2. Coors Cowboy Club Ranch Rodeo
Cowboys from a dozen regional ranches will compete for bragging rights in the annual Coors Cowboy Club Ranch Rodeo from June 7 to 8 in the Amarillo National Center on the Tri-State Fairgrounds, 3301 S.E. 10th Ave. Festivities will kick off at 6 p.m. June 6 with the annual cattle drive through downtown Amarillo. Relatedly, check out the Cowboy Fast Draw Association's southern territorial championship and U.S. National Championship through June 9 at the Rex Baxter Building on the fairgrounds.
3. Texas
Opening night got rained out, but the long-running outdoor musical goes on Tuesdays through Sundays through Aug. 17. Performances begin at 8:30 p.m., with optional dinner service at 6 p.m. Another celebration of the region's history will return with Kwahadi Dancers' 75th anniversary performances of Song of the Eagle beginning June 15 (and running Saturdays through July 20).
4. Art After Dark
Enjoy a Retro Rewind party at 7 p.m. June 7 at Amarillo Museum of Art, 2200 S. Van Buren St., featuring a Clue gallery hunt, glass etching and vinyl record art, music from Bomb City Sound and more. Plus, check out the museum's most recent acquisitions in a new exhibiiton. Also, families can get a late-night look at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum at Night at PPHM from 8 to 11 p.m. June 7 at the museum, 2503 Fourth Ave. in Canyon.
5. Amarillo Venom
The indoor squad plays some Monday night football with a 6 p.m. June 10 game against the Omaha Beef in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St. Other sports action in coming days includes Amarillo Sod Poodles games against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on June 11 to 13 and the Tulsa Drillers on June 14 to 16, all in Hodgetown, 701 S. Buchanan St., and FC Amarillo Bombers against Lubbock at 6 p.m. June 15 in the Civic Center Coliseum.
6. Men in Black: International
Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson take over the alien hunting business in this franchise-restarter opening the weekend of June 14. Also on screens that weekend: Mindy Kaling's comedy Late Night, starring Emma Thompson as a talk-show host; and a multigenerational continuation of Shaft. Opening the weekend of June 7 are X-Men sequel Dark Phoenix and animated sequel The Secret Life of Pets 2. Special theatrical engagements will include a RiffTrax Live takedown of the sci-fi clunker Star Raiders on June 6 and 11, and cultural acceptance documentary Free Trip to Egypt at 6:30 p.m. June 12. Plus, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum will screen a stormy mystery movie at 8:30 p.m. June 14 on its lawn, 2503 Fourth Ave. in Canyon, and Amarillo Parks and Recreation will screen The LEGO Movie 2 at 8:45 p.m. June 14 in Memorial Park, 2501 S. Washington St.
7. Jeff Dunham
The popular ventriloquist/comedian will return with all his pals for a 7 p.m. June 14 show in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium.
8. Asleep at the Wheel
The iconic Western Swing band returns to Amarillo for an 8 p.m. June 14 show at Starlight Ranch Event Center, 1415 Sunset Drive. Other music options through June 15 include Tom Petty tribute band American Petty at 8 p.m. June 7 and Texas country star Casey Donahew with Red Dirt singer Stoney LaRue at 8 p.m. June 15 at Starlight Ranch; Polk Street Jazz at 9 p.m. June 7 at Esquire Jazz Club, 626 S. Polk St.; Amarillo rockers Boss 420 at 10 p.m. June 7 at Whiskey River, 5001 S.W. 51st Ave.; Amarillo musician Jason Hodges at 10 p.m. June 7 at Golden Light Cantina, 2908 S.W. Sixth Ave.; '80s retro band Cassettes at 10 p.m. June 8 and country singer Triston Marez at 10 p.m. June 13 at Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road; and New Orleans rock duo Deltaphonic at 10 p.m. June 9 and Atlanta rock band Preachervan at 10 p.m. June 11 at Leftwoods, 2511 S.W. Sixth Ave.
9. The Pillowman
Martin McDonagh's disturbing drama about a writer accused of horrific crimes will be staged at 9 p.m. June 14 and 15 (continuing June 20 and 21) at RR Bar, 701 S. Georgia St.
10. Juneteenth and Route 66: The Heart of Amarillo Festival
Party in north Amarillo in celebration of the African-American community with events including a 10 a.m. June 15 parade, leading to festivities for the rest of the day (including a 7 p.m. concert by saxophonist Tom Braxton) in Bones Hooks Park. Plus, the San Jacinto community will celebrate the Mother Road from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 15 with a street party between Western and Georgia streets, featuring a car and bike show, live music, swap meets, art shows and more.
Chip Chandler is a producer for Panhandle PBS and a member of GALECA. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and on Facebook.
