Urban AZ’s first Spoken Word Showcase brings together a range of poetic performers, along with R&B artists Dwele and Bilal with a band, at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18 at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix.

Gilbert's Desert Ridge High School will graduate 580 students this year. Students have been awarded $7.3 million in scholarships.

Trumpeter/bandleader Doc Severinsen can still hit the notes, and it's not something he ever takes for granted. He always warms up.

Arizonans who have to seek protection from creditors in bankruptcy court soon will be able to hang on to more of what they own.

Want to hear some jazz? The place to be is Gilbert’s Highland High School this weekend.

They brought folk back to mainstream radio long before The Lumineers and Of Monsters And Men hit it big, with blissful, down-home tunes popping up in jaunty car commercials and adorable father-daughter YouTube covers. This weekend, you can find the 10-piece Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros at the McDowell Mountain Music Festival in Phoenix, where they’ll be rubbing shoulders with the likes of The Shins, Dr. Dog and The Roots.

With a banjo, a guitar, an upright bass and a mandolin — and four talented musicians to play them — Yonder Mountain String Band’s songs make you feel more like you’re spending a day in the Alabama woods rather than the Arizona desert.

As staff at the Mesa Arts Center began preparation for its second “Festival of Creativity,” MAC executive director Cindy Ornstein said the group was looking for something to pique their interests — a spark, of sorts.

Sure, you know to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, but how well-versed are you in the history and culture of Ireland?

The Musical Instrument Museum invites you to enjoy a selection of internationally inspired hors d’oeuvres and beverages while The Sugar Thieves, pictured, and the Savoy Hop Cats perform live music and local artists paint pictures before your eyes. Each ticket includes a complimentary beverage and access to a cash bar. The museum galleries will be open.

LOS ANGELES — It’s been called, sometimes derisively, a collection of 72 suburbs in search of a city.

The head of the House Judiciary Committee wants to update Arizona's dated and sometimes anachronistic bankruptcy laws.

Stomp, on stage Wednesday and Thursday in Phoenix, has been making international headlines since it burst onto the music scene in the early ’90s. The renowned street performers continue to wow audiences, using everything from brooms and boots to trash cans and Zippo lighters to create a percussive experience like no other.

Since it broke into the music scene in the early ’90s as a street performance troupe, Stomp has been making international headlines.

Blackbird Music & Art Center, 18911 E. San Tan Blvd., is celebrating its 5 year Anniversary with an Open House Extravaganza.

Get a glimpse at the traditions and cultures of the Native American nations that span the Southwest during the 11th season of Native Trails.

The Musical Instrument Museum invites families to ring in the new year with a Junkanoo festival — a Bahamain street festival celebrating Boxing Day (Dec. 26) and New Year’s Day. Activities, including mini tours, jazz performances, story time and crafts, run throughout the day.

Three years ago, a tuba owned by the Mesa Unified School District was deemed unplayable by a repair store.

Everyone is familiar with the Salvation Army’s bell ringers, who raise money during the holiday season to help the poor. In addition, funding from Mesa United Way helps support the Mesa Citadel Corps’ recreation, education and music programs for children, as well as its emergency food pantry.