Friday, May 22
To get a foot up
“John Brown’s Jukebox” is a musical benefit for youth and the arts in the South Bay and it features the John Brown Band plus teachers, alumni, and students of Fantasia Family Music. A wine-tasting party and show starts at 5:30, with the main event at 8 p.m., taking place in the Hermosa Beach Community Theatre, 710 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach.
Striking it rich
The 90th anniversary celebration of Charlie Chaplin in “The Gold Rush” screens at 8:15 on Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Tickets, $10 general; $8 seniors. More at OldTownMusicHall.org.
i before e except after c
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is being presented this weekend and next on the Main Stage at Santa Monica College, located at 19th and Pico, in Santa Monica. Tickets, $20 general; $18 SMC students and seniors, but with a $1 service charge per ticket. Call (310) 434-4319 or go to smc.edu/mainstage.
Jamming with the jellies
“Jellies” (meaning jellyfish) opens at the Aquarium of the Pacific. They have no heart, brain, or lungs (although they peruse the Easy Reader), but have been on the planet since the time of dinosaurs. Learn more about them as you explore new exhibits, films, and education programs, at Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. Call (562) 590-3100 or go to aquariumofpacific.org.
Sunday, May 24
Joltin’ Joe
During this weekend’s street fair Vietnam veteran Joe Cipolla (Singing Joe Cipolla) performs on Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m. in The Standing Room, 1320 Hermosa Ave., and then on Monday (with a full band) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lighthouse Cafe, 30 Pier Ave., both venues in Hermosa Beach.
Show what you’ve learned
The “Piano Festival 2015,” presented by the Japan Musician’s Association of California, takes place at 8:30 a.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. It’s an annual piano recital competition. Free. For tickets, call (310) 371-5816.
Surfin’ safari
The 13th Annual “South Bay Surf Stomp and Music Festival,” celebrating Instrumental surf music, an indigenous music style from California, takes place from 2 to 10 p.m. at Suzy’s Bar & Grill, 1141 Aviation Blvd., Hermosa Beach. South Bay’s Chum (SoCal’s killerest surf band), with five full-length albums, and Saz Bombers, from Redondo Beach, are featured. Also appearing: fuzz guitar legend Davie Allan & the Arrows; Bombon (an all-girl trio from San Pedro); ukulele virtuosos Jason Arimoto & Brad Ranola; The Tiki Creeps; Banned From The Beach; and 3 Balls Of Fire from Austin, Texas. All ages. Live music for only five bucks!
Tuesday, May 28
Learning their trade
Richardson Middle School Music presents its “Spring Concert” at 6:30 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. The Jazz Band, Beginning Band, and Advanced Band lineups will be featured. Tickets, $5. Call (818) 517-2180.
More than cats and dogs
“In Focus: Animalia” opens at the J. Paul Getty Museum and features numerous photographs of animals from the mid-19th century up to the present. Just as there’s more than one way to skin a cat there’s also more than one way to photograph it. Through Oct. 18. Call (310) 440-7300 or go to getty.edu.
