In Brief: Events in the Modesto region

Dan Hicks at State

Dan Hicks and The Hot Licks bring their quirky songs off their latest CD "Tangled Tales" to the State Theatre on Saturday.

Hicks has been performing more than 40 years and has collaborated with Bette Midler, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Brian Setzer, Willie Nelson and Jimmy Buffet.

Hicks twice has appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

The show begins at 8 p.m. Saturday at the State Theatre, 1307 J St., Modesto. Tickets are $20-$30. For more information, call(209) 527-4697 or go to www.thestate.org

Fiddle and banjo contest in Columbia

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce presents the 30th annual "Fiddle and Bango Contest and Chili Cook-Off" on Saturday at the gazebo in Columbia State Historic Park.

Prizes are awarded for best banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, vocal and miscellaneous with the grand-prize winner getting a gold nugget. The contest is open to all ages.

Registration is 9-10:30 a.m. with the contest scheduled 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Entry fee is $12 per person, per category. Contestants will be graded on rhythm, musicianship and technique. Each contestant must perform two songs.

The chili contest pits local eateries against each other. For $6, people can buy a tasting cup, a spoon, a map to chili hot spots and a ballot for voting. The reference to the misspelled "bango" comes from a misprint on a contest T-shirt from 1983 that has been used ever since.

Columbia State Historic Park is off Parrotts Ferry Road. For more information, Email info@columbiacalifornia.com or call (209) 536-1672.

Jason Michael Carroll

Country singer Jason Michael Carroll performs Thursday at Black Oak Casino's Willow Creek Lounge. The show begins at 8 p.m. Carroll recorded several hits from 2006 to 2009 including "Alyssa Lies," "Livin' Our Love Song," "I Can Sleep When I'm Dead," "Where I'm From" and "Hurry Home."

Tickets are $20; (209) 923-9300, ext. 6508. Black Oak Casino is at 19400 Tuolumne Road North, Tuolumne.

Leo Kottke at the State

Acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke performs Oct. 12 in Modesto. His concert begins at 8 p.m. at the State Theatre, 1307 J St.

Kottke, 67, performs a mix of folk, rock, jazz and bluegrass and has been recording music for more than 40 years.

He has two Grammy nominations and a doctorate in music from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Tickets are $32-$38; (209) 527-4697 or www.thestate.org.

Stevie B to play Fat Cat

Singer Stevie B, known for his 1990 hit "Because I Love You (The Postman Song)" performs Saturday at the Fat Cat Music House & Lounge in Modesto.

The show begins at 9 p.m. Stevie B was influential in Latin freestyle in the Miami dance music scene. Tickets are $20. Call (209) 846-5777.