Little Joe Hernandez is always a popular favorite here on la frontera — so much so he cut a live album here at the Plaza Theatre nearly two years ago.
He returns on Sept. 25, this time to the Chavez Theatre, to headline a benefit concert for Centro Mujeres de la Esperanza (Women of Hope Center).
Dubbed "An Evening Por El Bien de la Mujer," the classic Tejano singer will help raise money for a faith-based non-profit group that works with abused women to give them skills to improve their lives.
It's being organized by Wise Latina Entertainment, the same two ladies who brought Vikki Carr back to El Paso last year and organized the post-screening reception for "The Dry Land" writer-director and EP native Ryan Piers Williams and his fiancee and executive producer America Ferrera during the Plaza Classic Film Festival.
Tickets for the show are $25, $40 and $50. They go on sale at 10 a.m. Aug. 27 at the Plaza Theatre box office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and 800.745.3000.
An unspecified discount is being offered on the $50 tickets through Sept. 3.
One thing that could hurt the show: the equally popular Tejano singer Sonny Ozuna will give a free concert at 9 p.m. Sept. 24 at Speaking Rock Entertainment Center.
Hopefully, this town is big enough to support both shows.
In other news:
•UTEP's Special Events office has a new program coordinator, Becky Montes, who replaces Marina Monsisvais, who left to start her own PR and marketing biz.
Montes has put together her first Wednesday Music Cafe series, which started Wednesday with a set by rock en espanol band Los Plasmatikoz.
The free, noon series takes place in the plaza area outside the Student Union Building, with the exception of the Sept. 1 show by Nino Cooper's rootsy Dirty River Boys, which will be on the lawn of the Geology Building.
Also booked: the sweet harmonies of the Iveys (Sept. 8); the hard pop of Bash (Sept. 15); rockers 3rd Edge (Sept. 22); border reggae perennials Radio La Chusma (Sept. 29); the UTEP marching band (Oct. 6); DJ Mano Sol (Oct. 13); punkers Terroreyes (Oct. 20); rockers VDO (Oct. 27); cumbia-hip-hop fusionists Sons of Villa (Nov. 3) and Latin reggae band Border Roots (Nov. 10).
• Speaking of Border Roots, Mark Alvarado and company will headline the Rum-N-Reggae Bash at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 2 at Ardovino's Desert Crossing in Sunland Park. Appleton rum and rum snow cones will be available. Admission is $15. Call 575.589.0653 or go to ardovinos.com for more info.
• "Viva Mexico," singer and director Malena Cano's celebration of Mexican history and music, returns for its 16th year Sept. 17-19 at the Chamizal National Memorial Theater. This year's version marks the Mexican bicentennial and the centennial of the Mexican Revolution.
Cano, Carlos E. Ayub, Barbie Valdiviez's Ballet Folklorico Aires Internacionales, Mariachi Cuauhtemoc and several others will perform.
Shows are at 7 p.m. Sept. 17-18, 4 p.m. Sept. 19.
Tickets are $12 GA, on sale at All My Children Daycare, 110 N. Zaragoza, Andale Restaurant, 9301 Gateway West, Casa Blanca Flowers & Gifts, 3500 N. Mesa and Gerardo's Restaurant & Bar, 6099 Montana.
Info: 772.3905, 329.7774, vivamexicoelpaso.com.
• Jon Castaneda, Justin Jude Carmona and Rudy Vasquez will be on hand for the release of two new titles from their Project IV Studios at 2 p.m. Aug. 28 at All Star Comics, 4406 Dyer.
Castaneda's new edition of "One-Eyed Jack," a creature trying to get some much-needed shuteye as he battles demons in more than one dimension. Carmona and Vasquez (who recently had a show at the Hal Marcus Studio and Gallery) will show off their new "Dead Horizons" comic, about a zombie-infested world.
They're also touting Carmona's "Hired Gun Book 2: Hard Way to Die" and "Hired Gun Book 3: Hits, Heists & Hang-ups," which features visuals by five different artists including Sirac and Chris Morrill.
Info: 562.0443, project4studios.net.
• UTEP's theater department is having auditions for its studio theater production of "Jesus Hopped the A Train" and its annual production of "A Christmas Carol" from 5-10 p.m. Aug. 27 and 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Aug. 28 in the Wise Family Theatre.
Interested actors need to prepare a contemporary monologue of no more than two minutes. If you don't have one, one will be provided.
In addition to adult roles, children will be needed for "A Christmas Carol."
Callbacks for "Carol" will be 1-5 p.m. Aug. 28.
"Jesus," Stephen Adly Guirgis' 2000 play about two men on death row, will be staged Nov. 11-14 in the Studio Theatre in the Fox Fine Arts Center.
"Carol" will be performed Dec. 12 and 17-19 in the Wise Family Theatre, also in the Fox Fine Arts building.
Signups are available by calling 747.5146.
• Charlie McDonald's Applejack emerges for a rare show at 8 p.m. Dec. 11 at La Tierra Cafe, 1731 Montana. It's their fifth annual Christmas show. Tickets are $32, which includes dinner. It's a BYOB show.
Details: 592.5122, 575.541.1992.
• Jazz man Bob Burns and singer Lauren Michaels team up for a mix of jazz, country, folk and standards from 2-4 p.m. Aug. 28 at Emilia's on the Plaza in Old Mesilla.
• The DVD of "Border Lords II: Dark Secrets," the locally made drama about a fictional local drug kingpin, is now on sale at All That Music & Video, 1506 Lee Trevino. Co-writer and director Billy Townes, who's a jazz pianist by day, is selling it as his Wednesday night residency at Pelican's. It's also available at borderlords2.com.
• California metalists Confide return at 6 p.m. Oct. 23 at Open Gate Church, 9821 McCombs. Local bands Takes South by Storm, Emerson Grey, This Is a Calling and Ira, The Machine open.
Tickets are $10, all ages. Go to myspace.com/ponyproductions13 for more info.
• Keyboardist Dave Schulz, who has toured with the Goo Goo Dolls and Berlin, is promoting his debut solo album, "Connect," which features heavy hitters like Daniel Lanois and Tony Levin, with the Acoustic Circus Tour, coming at 10 p.m. Sept. 2 to the Rock House Cafe and Gallery, 400 W. Overland.
He'll be joined by fellow LA-based band Elyse and the Aftermath.
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