John "Johnny Buffalo" Goodman, the former owner of Wild Buffalo, posed a question on Facebook a few months ago asking his friends if he booked blues vocalist Shemekia Copeland for a gig in Bellingham if they'd go.

He must have had a resounding "yes," because when I ran into to him a few weeks ago at the Redlight he was excited to tell me that he, in cooperation with the Buffalo, will present her (and special guests, currently under wraps) on May 4 at the Buffalo. Tickets, $20, are available online through wildbuffalo.net.

GRAMMY-WINNING BLUEGRASS BAND AT GREEN FROG

In other upcoming "cool gig" news, James Hardesty has scheduled Grammy Award-winning North Carolina bluegrass band the Steep Canyon Rangers (sadly, without their famed banjo player, actor Steve Martin) for April 4 at the Green Frog. Details: acoustictavern.com.

SCULPTURES SOUGHT FOR BIG ROCK GARDEN PARK

Sculpture Northwest is seeking outdoor sculpture on consignment for exhibit (and sale) in Big Rock Garden Park in Bellingham. The exhibit will be open to the public May 9 through Oct. 27.

Big Rock Garden Park is the city sculpture garden set in 2-1/2 acres of rhododendrons, azaleas and Japanese maples. It's beautiful any time of the year but is in full bloom at the time of the opening of the annual exhibit in early May.

Fine art appropriate for the home garden or intimate public spaces is being sought for the 2013 exhibit. The work must be impervious to harsh weather, rain and sun.

Details: sculpturenorthwest.org. All applications are to be made online. Detail: 360-734-9757, or George Drake at gdrake@nas.com.

POETS CAN NOW ENTER SUE C. BOYTON CONTEST

Judges for the eighth annual Sue C. Boynton Poetry Contest will accept single-poem submissions from Whatcom County residents through March 31.

Winners are invited to read their poems at a free public awards ceremony May 16 at Bellingham Cruise Terminal, and winning poems are displayed for a year in front of Bellingham Public Library and/or on placards on WTA buses.

All county residents are invited to participate, regardless of age or experience. Past winners have ranged in age from 5 to 87, and in experience from first-time poets to a former state poet laureate. Participation is free.

This year's judges, poets Mary Gillilan and Bruce Beasley, will select 10 Walk Award winners and 15 Merit Award winners.

Details: boyntonpoetrycontest.wordpress.com, boyntonpoetrycontest@hotmail.com

FERNDALE HOSTS FREE-VERSE PHOTO PROJECT

The Ferndale Arts Commission is seeking participants of all ages to submit entries in its free-verse photo project -a photograph inspired by words or lines from a favorite poem, presented in a nontraditional and creative way. Entries will be displayed in participating businesses during April, National Poetry Month.

Examples can be found at poets.org/page.php/prmID/541. Entry forms are online at cityofferndale.org. Details: 360-384-0050, ferndalearts@cityofferndale.org.