Best Bets: Upfest

Bands from around the country perform this week at the annual Upfest event at Christ the King Church, 4173 Meridian St., in an effort to raise support for Gulf Coast cities still struggling to recover from the 2005 hurricanes. The two-night event is co-sponsored by Bluetree.org in efforts to raise money for the rebuilding of homes and businesses in the region. Concerts begin at 7 tonight and Friday, March 8-9; doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tonight’s lineup features Doxology and J Minus, No Fi Soul Rebellion, All the Filthy Animals, Typical Ace, Edson, Karate Kitchen, the Love Lights, The Tallest Building in the World, Jenni Potts and Yes Oh Yes. Friday’s bands include John Reuben, right, and Fair, with Aaron Sprinkle, Lucky for Nothing, Deas Vail, Jonathan Hape, Slowly We Survive, The Lonely Forest, Dating Delilah, Patient Patient, Dynamik, Invention, Yes Oh Yes and Oregon Donor. Tickets, $10 on Thursday and $12 on Friday, are available at Village Books and Family Christian Bookstores, at the church and online at www.upfest.com. Call 733-7433 for more information.

The Pacific Arts Association presents the world-renowned Ciompi Quartet — Eric Pritchard, violin; Hsiao-Mei Ku, violin; Jonathan Bragg, viola; and Fred Raimi, cello, all faculty at Duke University — with special guests Joe Robinson, oboe; and Ted DeCorso, clarinet, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at the Blaine Performing Arts Center, 975 H St. in Blaine. Concerts by the Ciompi Quartet are known for their intelligence and musical sophistication, and for a warm, unified sound that is enhanced by the players’ strong individual sound. Tickets are $20 adults, $10 students and seniors, $25 priority seating, and are available in advance at Village Books and the Blaine Visitor Center, and can be reserved by calling 332-6484 and online at www.pacificartsassoc.org.

Champion fiddler Jamie Laval and mandolin champion Ashley Broder perform traditional Irish, Scottish and bluegrass tunes at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, at the Roeder Home, 2600 Sunset Drive (at Broadway). The concert is sponsored by Whatcom County Homemade Music Society and Whatcom County Parks and Recreation Department. For more information on the concert, call 676-9510. For more on their music, visit www.jamielaval.com and www.ashleybroder.com.

Soprano Jessica Rodriguez is a soloist in Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana,” one of the works performed at Whatcom Chorale’s “Celebration of Light” concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at Western Washington University’s Performing Arts Center Concert Hall. Allan Cline directs. The concert also features John Rutter’s “Hymn to the Creator of Light” and Morten Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna.” Tickets are $15 general, $12 students and seniors, $5 ages 18 and younger, and are available at Village Books, the Community Food Co-op at Western’s box office, 650-6146, and online at www.tickets. wwu.edu. Call 738-7166 or visit www.whatcomchorale.org for more information.

Celebrate the birthday of beat author Jack Kerouac and the 50th-anniversary year of the publication of his best-known book, “On The Road,” at 5 p.m. Monday, March 12, at the Wild Buffalo, 208 W. Holly St. The event features spoken word, bebop jazz by Julian MacDonough and The Snaps, and film screenings, including the award-winning, Bellingham-produced “Beat Angel,” with a special appearance by the star, Vince Balestri, at right. Village Books staff will be in attendance with Kerouac’s work available to purchase. Call 752-0848 or go to www.wildbuffalo.net for details.

Kristin and Greg Torok perform in Wade Madsen’s “Mom and Dad,” one in Dance Gallery’s spring concerts staged at 7:30 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, March 9-10, continuing March 16-17 and 5 p.m. March 18 at the Firehouse Performing Arts Center, 1314 Harris Ave. The local cooperative modern dance repertory company celebrates its 16th anniversary with performances by international, regional and local choreographers, including works by Dan Dalley, Melissa Rolnick, Julia Milburn, Chris Stevens and Pablo Cornejo. Tickets, $12, are available in advance at the Community Food Co-op and Village Books. Call 676-4113 or go to www.dancegallery.org for more information.

China’s Golden Dragon Acrobats blend acrobatics, traditional dance, spectacular costumes and ancient and contemporary theatrical techniques at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, at Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St. Tickets are $15, $30 and $35 at the theater’s ticket office, 734-6080, and online at www .mountbakertheatre.com.