Briefs: First Friday, music and more

Lecture

LIBRARY PRESENTS

‘A WOMAN’S JOURNEY’

Saudi culture and its effect on women inspires “An Evening With Victoria Kilbury and Nabila : A Woman’s Journey for Independence,” Tuesday at the Clark County Library.

In “Disenchanted: One Woman’s Journey for Independence From the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” author Kilbury recounts Nabila’s experiences in a society where women remained under the control of men from birth to marriage and could not attend school, pursue careers unless sanctioned by the government, drive cars or choose their husbands.

Audience questions and discussion will be part of the program; a book signing will follow the free presentation at 7 p.m. at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. For more information, call 702-507-3459 or go online to www.lvccld.org.

First Friday

SUMMER SOUNDS

PLAY STARRING ROLE

Music’s in the air — everywhere — at June’s First Friday gathering downtown, with six stages devoted to different genres.

Singer-songwriter Megan Barker leads off at 7 p.m. in the Green Street area, while high-energy, Vegas-based Moksha headlines the Third Street Stage (at Colorado Avenue) at 8:30 p.m. Local favorites American Cream hit the Hub at 8:45 p.m. And kid-friendly music plays from 6 to 9 p.m. on the KidZone stage; Juice holds court at the Rock ‘N Roll Wine tasting lounge at the Colorado bar.

Also on tap: a pop-up Cosmopolitan featuring the best of the Strip resort’s Boulevard Pool, featuring P3Studio artist Tamar Ettun ; a fiery 8 p.m. performance by Flameology; and demonstrations by more than a hundred artists.

First Friday runs from 5 to 11 p.m. in downtown Las Vegas; information on attractions, parking and shuttle service is available online at www.firstfridaylasvegas.com.

Musical theater

‘BOOK OF MERMAN’

BELTS OUT AT ONYX

“The Book of Mormon”? Not until next year.

But never fear, “The Book of Merman” is here — this weekend at the Onyx Theatre.

A trio of Ethels — singers Denise Clemente, Vita Corimbi and Kellie Wright — portray the legendary star of such Broadway landmarks as “Girl Crazy,” “Anything Goes,” “Annie Get Your Gun” and “Gypsy.” In the process, Merman introduced pop classics from “I Got Rhythm” to “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.” Bill Fayne , who conceived the evening, also directs the tribute.

So let’s go on with the show: “The Book of Merman” hits the stage at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Onyx Theatre, 953 East Sahara Ave. For tickets ($20), call 702-732-7225 or go online to www.onyxtheatre.com.

Jazz

ESCOVEDO LEADS

SERIES FINALE

All good things must come to an end.

That includes the annual Jazz in the Park concert series, which wraps up Sunday afternoon with Pete Escovedo.

The patriarch of the musical family that includes daughter Sheila E. and son Peter Michael Escovedo (of the “Wayne Brady Show” band), Pete Escovedo has been a star percussionist for more than 50 years, from the Escovedo Brothers Latin jazz sextet to Santana.

Escovedo performs at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway. Seating for those with picnic baskets, blankets and low-back chairs begins at 6 p.m. Food vendors also will be on site. Admission and parking are free; for more information, call 702-455-8200.

Music

PIANO GUYS

VISIT UNLV

From Internet sensation to concert attraction.

That’s the path traveled by The Piano Guys, who’ll bring their musical mashups to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on Thursday.

The Utah-based Guys got together a little more than a year ago and have made 35 Internet videos, including their latest, a 10-handed version of One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful.”

And in their new album, The Piano Guys — featuring pianist Jon Schmidt and cellist Steven Sharp Nelson — deliver imaginative takes on Pachelbel, Bruno Mars and everything in between.

They’ll perform at 8 p.m. Thursday at UNLV’s Artemus Ham Hall, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway; for tickets ($30, $45, $60 and $80), call 702-895-2787 or visit pac.unlv.edu.

Free concert

BRASS BAND

VISITS LIBRARY

Strike up the band — the Las Vegas Brass Band, that is, which presents a free concert Sunday afternoon at the Clark County Library, performing traditional tunes and modern jazz arrangements.

The British-style brass band was founded in 1994 when London-born Pete Cooper — who became a real estate agent when faced with shrinking job prospects for live musicians on the Strip — sought to maintain his musical talents while revisiting the sounds of his British youth.

Now, the ensemble features 30 musicians under the direction of Philip Schlicker , performing on instruments ranging from cornets and euphoniums to trombones and tubas.

The free concert begins at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. More information is available online at www.lasvegasbrassband.org.

— By CAROL CLING