Kazyak, an electric-folk-rock band with its roots back at St. John’s University in Collegeville was founded by three undergrads Jed Anderson, Peter Frey and Danny Vitali. The young musician’s creative relationship and passion for music supported their playing as the rhythm section for many projects during their college years. Now after some time spent in honing their skills, their first album will be released in October. “A Beautiful Brontosaurus” through GroundUp Productions will debut this Saturday at Brigid’s Cross Irish Pub in downtown Bemidji. The show is slated to start at 10 p.m. and the pub is open until 1 a.m. For a preview of the CD, visit kazyak.com.

While talking about Brigid’s Cross, did you hear that they are holding a drawing to give one lucky person a Deluxe Fat Tire Bicycle from the New Belgium Brewery in Colorado? Anyone 21 years old and up may register at the pub once a day, through December 19 and the drawing will be held on the 20^th just in time for a great Christmas present to keep or give away.

*******

Father Doyle Turner will discuss “Native American Spirituality” as the first in Northern Exposure to Lifelong Learning’s fall series of offerings. Doyle has a long history of involvement in Native American spirituality as he served the four Episcopal Churches on White Earth and then went on to become the Executive Director of the Indigenous Theological Training Institute. He served as chairman of the White Earth Tribe from 2000 to 2004. Doyle was born on the White Earth Reservation and believes that his father taught him about the beauty, holiness and wonder of creation. He will talk about what indigenous people have created out of their old beliefs and society’s dominant religious belief system. The program will begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29 at the Good Shepherd Church in Clearbrook, just make the right turn at the light in Bagley and travel north to the town of Clearbrook.

*******

Tickets are selling well for this week’s “Ox Trot,” a fundraiser for our local history center. Last year, I played a 96 year old woman who opened the first hotel in Bemidji during the cemetery walk and this year I’ll be at the Elks Club. Two tours are scheduled to run; the first will begin at 6 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m. As of today, the script has been re-written four times, wish me luck in getting it memorized by Thursday.

******

There will be family entertainment at 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 25 at the Bemidji Public Library, 509 America Ave. Our Heritage in Song, a concert with Curtis and Loretta is a chance for and a history lesson as well. Folk musicians Loretta Simonet and Curtis Teague will appear in costume and play period instruments—banjo, celeste, folk harp, mandocello, harmonica and guitar—as they tell about Minnesota 150 years ago. The event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the Kitchigami Regional Library through the State of Minnesota Legacy Amendment Funds.

*****

Last minute reminder that Billy Collins will be in Bemidji on Saturday and will start his day at the Historic Chief Theater with a free lecture, “Poetry Maneuvers: How to Find the Ending You Never Knew Existed,” at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 25. The lecture is designed for readers and writers at all levels, students, teachers and the general public.

After the lecture, Collins will move next door to Book World for a book signing and sale and later that night, Collins will appear at Bemidji High School. “An Evening with Billy Collins,” former Poet Laureate of the United States, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students and may be purchased now at Lueken’s Village Foods North and the Headwaters School of Music and the Arts.. There will be a post performance reception for ticket holders at Headwaters School of Music and the Arts, 519 Minnesota Ave.

******

Don’t forget about the opening concert of the Bemidji Concert Series on Sunday. Both musicians are world class and have played in the major concert halls of the U.S. and Europe. The series has moved back to Thompson Recital Hall for the first two concerts for a more intimate setting.

*****

It was wonderful to see happy audiences leave the Wild Rose Theater last weekend after the debut performance of Saaren Productions, “Side by Side by Sondheim.” Kevin Cease was his usual uninhibited self on stage and sported a red sequined G-string with aplomb and good natured teasing. That’s all she wrote folks and hope to see you at some of this weekend’s events.