Texas blues guitarist Lance Lopez to play Fat Cat

Texas blues guitarist Lance Lopez to play Fat Cat

Texas blues guitarist Lance Lopez headlines a concert Sunday at the Fat Cat Music House & Lounge in Modesto. The show begins at 6:30 p.m. and also features local bands DAM, Eli Good Time and the Oldtimers, Nothing But Losers, Broken Trojan, California Medication, Mother Teresa and the Sinners and Broken Injun. The Fat Cat is at 930 11th St. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door; (209) 524-1400 or www.fatcatmodesto.com.

MSO to hold holiday candlelight concert

The Modesto Symphony Orchestra performs its traditional holiday candlelight concert Tuesday at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church. The program begins at 8 p.m. and will be conducted by Ming Luke. Performers are the Modesto Symphony Orchestra, the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Expressions Children's Chorale and the Opus Handbell Ensemble. The groups will perform holiday songs and traditional carols, including "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Joy to the World." St. Stanislaus Catholic Church is at 1416 Maze Blvd. Tickets are $35 adults and $10 youth 17 and under; (209) 338-2100 or www.galloarts.org.

Documentary covers Modesto's arts scene

Brothers Mark and Greg Runnels will show their 20-minute documentary "Mecca," on the cultural rise of downtown Modesto, Thursday at the Building Imagination Center. The free screening begins at7 p.m. The movie covers the emergence of new creative endeavors in Modesto involving theater, art, film, poetry, music, photography and urban revitalization. The film showing is during downtown Modesto's monthly Third Thursday Art Walk, in which several downtown galleries and businesses stay open until9 p.m. and showcase art. The Building Imagination Center is at 1009 J St. Call (209) 524-7451 or visit www. buildingimagination.com.

Modesto native's art on new Caillat album

Modesto native Gregory Keith Metcalf's photography is featured on pop singer Colbie Caillat's new holiday album, "Christmas in the Sand." The 32-year-old shares photographs in fashion, beauty, lifestyle, music and film on his website, www.gregorykeith photography.com. He calls Los Angeles home now but lived in Modesto from birth to age 22.

Studio 4 Dance's 'The Nutcracker'

The Studio 4 Dance Theater is presenting its fifth annual production of "The Nutcracker" holiday ballet Friday and Saturday in Angels Camp. Performances are at 6 p.m. Friday and 1 and 6 p.m. Saturday at the Bret Harte Theater, 323 S. Main St. A Sugar Plum Fairy meet-and-greet with photos and autographs will be held after the 1 p.m. matinee. The show features a cast of more than 50 dancers. The ballet centers on Clara, a young girl who receives a magical nutcracker doll that transforms into a handsome prince and carries her off to the Land of Sweets. Tickets are $15 adults and $7 children 12 and under. Call (800) 595-4849 or visit www. studio4dancetheater.com.

Black Irish Band's 'A Pirate Christmas'

The Black Irish Band will perform a mix of pirate and holiday favorites at its "A Pirate Christmas" concert Saturday in Sonora. The program begins at 7 p.m. at the Sonora Opera Hall,250 N. Broadway. The band just released its 23rd album, "Dark Ocean," which features songs inspired by pirates and privateers. Other performers at the show are fiddler David Rainwater and bagpiper Greg Harrow. Audience members are encouraged to dress in costume as pirates, sailors or Santa. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Call (209) 533-4420.