Various entertainment acts visit Lakeside July 10-16

Hoover Auditorium, one of the cultural hot spots on Lake Erie, hosts a variety of musicians, comedians, illusionists, dancers and bands nightly. This year, the historic auditorium will host such performers as the Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats, Capitol Steps, Micky Dolenz of The Monkees, Kathy Mattea, the OSU Alumni Band, The American Tenors, The Spinners, Larry Miller and the Lakeside Symphony Orchestra. Daily fun and family entertainment await guests of all ages in Lakeside. Admission to the grounds and Hoover Auditorium nightly entertainment requires a gate pass ($17.50 for adults, $12.25 for youth ages 12-18, and free for children under 12 and guests over 90). This week's special events will include:

Mike Albert and the Big "E" Band, "The Ultimate Tribute to Elvis Presley" -- 8:15 p.m., Saturday, July 10 at Hoover Auditorium, 115 Third St.

Mike Albert is known worldwide for his respectful portrayal of Elvis Presley with his show "The Ultimate Tribute." With songs like "All Shook Up" and "Blue Suede Shoes" Albert has won seven major world "Elvis" contests. The demand for his show has resulted in the creation of a seven-piece Big "E" Band which recreates the sound of Elvis' band in his legendary Vegas shows.

Further exposing his talent to audiences, Albert has been featured on "Oprah Winfrey," six music videos and on the national show, "A Current Affair" with Maury Povich. The actual vocal groups that backed Elvis, the Jordanaires and J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet, have toured extensively with Albert's tribute show, including many large conventions and theatres.

Albert's style, charisma and ability to involve the audience have established a long-term relationship with his band which draws sold-out crowds year after year. His powerful voice lends itself well to every type of Elvis' song from the 1950s through the 1970s, including rock n' roll and love songs, gospel and Christmas music. With the numerous Elvis hits, Albert makes it a point to keep the show fresh with an ever-changing song line-up.

Not Quite Saints, Steele Memorial Bandstand -- 6 p.m., Sunday, July 11 at Central Park.

Not Quite Saints has been together for nearly 15 years and is part of the music ministry at Church of the Lakes United Methodist in Canton. Pastor Jay Althouse enjoyed Dixieland music and inspired the band to join together to honor him.

The group plays at church services and nursing homes, and focuses on a repertoire that includes Dixie music. The members include Judge Julie Edwards on trumpet, Denny Smith on trombone, Larry Clapper on clarinet, Bob Boston on piano, Dave Williams on bass trombone, Ron Benech on banjo, John Scott on tenor sax and Denny Rap on drums. Duane Gillispie plays trumpet.

Not Quite Saints plays both sacred and traditional Dixieland music. The band's featured songs include "Ain't Misbehavin," "The Entertainer," "CampTown Races" and "When the Saints Go Marching In."

Country Dance and Family Fun with Dave MacRaild -- 7 p.m., Monday, July 12 at Hoover Auditorium Porch, 115 Third St.

Dave MacRaild will replace Bob Howell as the square dance caller for the Monday, July 12 and Monday, Aug. 12. Robert Howell passed away March 20 at the age of 87.

MacRaild is a native of Cleveland. He currently lives in Sagamore Hills, and has lived there for the past 38 years. He attended Baldwin-Wallace College and graduated with a degree in earth science education. He went on to study at Cleveland State University to get his master's degree in secondary school administration.

MacRaild started studying recreational dance (western, line and square dance) under Bob Howell when he was 12 years old. Together, the two of them taught courses at the University of Akron for several summers. Now, MacRaild is known as a dance caller, someone who calls out the steps of different dance moves. MacRaild square dance calls for church groups, weddings, bah mitzvahs, camps, girl and boy scouts and has even led a square dance group at the Grand Old Opry.

The motivation behind the event at Lakeside was inspire crowds to participate in good, clean fun. Watermelon, lemonade and cookies will be served and MacRaild has secret dances lined up.

Howell graduated from The Ohio State University where he was a C-deck cheerleader. Howell spent his entire career in the Cleveland Heights/University Heights school system as teacher, coach and junior high principal, but to the rest of the world he was a square dance caller and a recreational consultant. He enjoyed square dance calling, running picnics and parties, world traveling and constant family celebrations.

Howell was chairman of a square dance organization called Legacy, president of the Cleveland Area Callers Association and a co-founder of the Lloyd Shaw Foundation. He turned out several records and books and wrote monthly columns for American Square Dance. On the side, Howell taught square and contra (a folk style from Britain) at many places, including summer camps and national dance conventions. He also led dance-filled tours around the world with his wife, Phyllis.

Magician Stephen Knight -- 8:15 p.m., Tuesday, July 13 at Hoover Auditorium, 115 Third St.

Having studied different forms of magic for more than 20 years, Stephen Knight has turned his focus to that of the discipline of theatrical illusion. Some may consider Knight's performances to be a collection of trick boxes, lovely assistants and lots of smoke and mirrors, but by the end of each show, the audience has experienced the kind of entertainment that can only be described as magical.

Knight combines the ancient arts of magic and storytelling with modern theatrical technology to create moments of wonder. He is able to engage his audience using not only illusion, but also comedy, drama, music and special effects to create a unique theatrical experience for all. By developing situations and storylines as a baseline for the magic to occur, he raises his performance beyond that of puzzles and is able to captivate the imagination.

Knight has performed at schools, libraries, fairs, festivals and in theatres around the U.S.

He holds a degree in media and communications and has consulted with and designed effects for himself and other magicians.

Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem -- 8:15 p.m., Wednesday, July 14 at Hoover Auditorium, 115 Third St.

Described as "neo old-timey with cosmopolitan splashes of contemporary pop and jazz" by The Boston Globe, Daisy Mayhem combines wicked grooves, sublime lead singing, great harmonies, original songs and a deep repertoire. The group performs a mixture of musical idioms, held together by excellent musicianship, impeccable taste and charismatic vocals. Their shows feature country blues, vintage swing, modern songwriter fare and Appalachian fiddle tunes. Daisy Mayhem is known as the type of band that can pick up anything that is lying around (from tin cans to traditional instruments) and create something new.

Rani Arbo is the fiddler, lead singer and founder of Daisy Mayhem. On stage she brings her rich life as a 15-year veteran performer, breast cancer survivor, mother and songwriter into her performances. Her alto voice is split into part choir girl, part flirty teenager and part world-weary woman.

With 30 years of choral singing, Arbo has also had experience with honkytonk, Balkan rock and folk-bluegrass.

Along with Arbo, Daisy Mayhem includes Andrew Kinsey on the double bass, banjo and vocals; Anand Nayak on guitar and vocals; and Scott Kessel on vocals and drumship enterprise, a recycled drum kit made up of a cardboard box, cat food tins, a Danish butter cookie tin and a suitcase.

In January of 2008, Acoustic Guitar Magazine stated that "Arbo is a triple threat as a fiddler, songwriter, and possessor of a uniquely beautiful, malleable alto. The group's playing is tight, with stylish, unexpected choices, and Anand Nayak is a marvel of stylistic versatility on lead guitar, with a rich resonant tone and soulful, imaginative fills. (Their CD) Big Old Life is brimming with grace, however defined."

Cantus -- 8:15 p.m., Thursday, July 15 at Hoover Auditorium, 115 Third St.

Recognized as one of America's finest vocal chamber ensembles, Cantus is known for rehearsing and performing without a conductor or music director and for adventurous programming spanning many periods and genres.

Cantus has performed at many nationally recognized festivals and venues and the Washington Post praises the group for "exalting finesse" and having "expressive power." The paper also refers to Cantus' music making as "spontaneous grace." Their eponymous 2007 recording, "Cantus," was named one of National Public Radio's 10 Best for 2007.

Cantus has toured both nationally and internationally throughout Canada and Europe. In the fall of 2007, they made their African debut, performing with the Cameroonian choirs throughout southwest Cameroon.

The group is a non-profit organization and is an active proponent of music education. They strongly encourage people of all ages to sing. Every year, the group works with more than 10,000 young people in the U.S., offering educational activities which range from master classes to festivals. At Lakeside, they will hold a 60 minute children's show, as well as a post-concert questions and answer session at 9:45 p.m. The Cantus performance is funded in part by a grant from Arts Midwest.

Brubeck Brothers Jazz Quartet -- 8:15 p.m., Friday, July 16 at Hoover Auditorium, 115 Third St.

When speaking about the Brubeck Brothers Quartet (BBQ), www.AllAboutJazz .com states that "Once again the BBQ attains that rarefied level where music is both relaxed and expressive, and their joy in its creation is contagious.

There's really nothing out there that comes close to their unique brand of inventiveness."

Made up of four men, guitarist Mike DeMicco, pianist Chuck Lamb and brothers bass and trombone player Chris Brubeck and drummer Dan Brubeck, the Brubeck Brothers Quartet has performed across North America and Europe.

Chris has been called "a 21st Century Leonard Bernstein" by the Chicago Tribune. His brother, Dan, has toured the international music circuit for more than two decades and is known as the rhythmic force of the Quartet.

DeMicco grew up immersed in blues, jazz and rock music. JazzTimes said "DeMicco's guitar is the perfect blend of soul, polish and technique." Lamb has received global acclaim from a variety of publications, sighting accolades for his creativity and expertise with music.

Although the quartet's style is rooted in "straight-ahead" jazz, the

Brubeck Brothers' concerts reveal an ability to explore and play odd time signatures while naturally integrating the influences of funk, blues and world music. The group's creativity, technique and improvisation can be heard in their uncompromising music, which reflects their dedication to melody, rhythm, culture and the spontaneous spirit of jazz.