Music

Thursday, Feb. 7 Jason K Kabler 9 to 11 p.m., Orchards Relax Lounge and Patio, 1580 Orchard Drive, Chambersburg, Pa. 717-264-4711. Ed Barney Acoustic open mic, 8:30 p.m., Mecklenburg Inn, 128 E. German St., Shepherdstown, W.Va. 304-876-2126. ClearSpring Bluegrass Band 7 to 9 p.m., Beans in the Belfry Meeting Place and Cafe, 122 W. Potomac St., Brunswick, Md. 301-869-6610 or 202-415-6610. The Allstars Band Open jam session with guest host Tom EB, 8 p.m. to closing, Crazy Horse Steakhouse and Saloon, 116 Railway Lane, Hagerstown.

In the beginning of the 1800s and earlier, women were not allowed to perform music and female composers were a rarity. If female composers got any recognition, their works were attributed to men or published under male pseudonyms. Those composers got their due Sunday at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts as the museum's consort offered an afternoon of music in tribute to the women of music. While women at one time were largely overlooked in music, some were so talented that their skills broke through the barriers that held others back.

Washington County Free Library's Noteworthy Sundays at Your Library Concert on Sunday, Feb. 10, will feature Jeff Smith, a singer-songwriter and guitarist whose work has been featured on “The Young and the Restless.” Smith's interest in recording and creating music was sparked by the 1960s British invasion groups, the subsequent resurgence of blues music, and the links to country and folk music. The free concert is at 3 p.m. at the Leonard P. Snyder Memorial Branch Library at 12624 Broadfording Road in Clear Spring.

Hagerstown Community College will hold “An Evening of Music and Poetry”  Saturday, Feb. 9, beginning at 7:30 p.m., at Kepler Center. Sponsored by a number of student clubs and the HCC music department, the event will feature classical compositions performed by HCC students and staff, as well as poetry readings. Readings will include work by well-known poets, as well as original pieces written by students, faculty and staff. Tickets cost $20 each and advance registration is required.

Bill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Bluegrass Band played in Winchester, Va., last summer on the courthouse steps. Jack Wink of Berkeley Springs had the honor of playing with the band to a tune titled “Faded Love” with the band's fiddle player. Wink was known as Petty Officer Wink at Navy Recruiting Office in Falls Church, Va.  Wink met Emerson in the Navy in 1973. Emerson served 20 years in the Navy and retired as a master chief. Wink served 20 years and retired as a first class petty officer.

There were comedians and ventriloquists, acrobats and dancing poodles. And every Sunday evening, “The Ed Sullivan Show” escorted them into the homes of millions of Americans. Thousands of acts appeared on Sullivan's television variety program, which ran for two decades. But it was a performance in 1956 by a singer in blue suede shoes that would become a historic pop moment. Swiveling his hips, playing his guitar and launching into such hits as “Don't Be Cruel” and “Love Me Tender,” Elvis Presley's appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” was a ratings success, leading to two more appearances in 1957 watched by millions of his fans.

For the past few months, just about every movie I've seen has been preceded by a short documentary on the making of "Les Miserables. " The point most stressed in these previews is that every song in the movie is being sung live; that unprecedented steps have been taken to ensure that we do not have to put up with the phoniness of lip-synching. Needless to say, the task was a tremendous undertaking for everyone from the actors to the film crew to the musicians who recorded the score to match the actors' pace instead of the other way around.

First Baptist Church, Faith Gospel Singers will present a concert at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Auditions for the Thurmont Thespians Spring Musical, "Grey Gardens" will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6, through Tuesday, Dec. 8, at the St. John's Lutheran Church Social Hall, 15 N. Church St. in Thurmont.  The musical will be Fridays through Sundays, March 15 to 17 and 22 to 24 at the Thurmont American Legion Auditorium. There are 13 singing roles available, some of which can be doubled, if necessary or desired. The female roles are as follows: one woman —60s to 70s; two women - 40s; one woman - 20s and two young girls - 7 to 13 years old. The male roles are as follows: two men - 60s  to 70s; two men — 20s; one man — 20s to 30s who can also play the piano and one or two black men - 20s to 40s. For more information about these auditions contact director Beth Royer Watson at 301-416-0864.