Tucson Weekly: Cheap Thrills (April 30

Cheap Thrills THERE YOU GO: You are Here, a lively little "journal of creative geography" published by the graduate students of the UA Department of Geography and Regional Development, taps three powerful literary voices to celebrate its premier issue.
Alison Deming, Ofelia Zepeda and Kathleen Veslany read from their work from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Christine's Motion Picture, 187 N. Park Ave. For details, call 626-8136.
FAVORITE FOLK: It's become a beloved springtime habit right up there with wildflowers and mariachis. We're talking about the annual Tucson Folk Festival, a weekend-long gig sponsored by The Kitchen Musicians Association, and featuring some of the best homespun sounds west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Headlining this year will be singer/songwriter Chris Smither, the guy Bonnie Raitt calls "my Eric Clapton." Known for a master's touch on the guitar and a smooth raspy voice, Smith is the ultimate road man, playing venues ranging from the New Orleans Jazz Fest to ornery Irish pubs.
On Friday, May 1, the celebration warms-up with Tucson's own stage stompers, Jason Eklund, and legendary Al Perry and the Cattle. The show is 8 p.m. in Godard Hall, 4831 E. 22nd St. Tickets are $6, and available at the door.
The festival rolls into high gear from
10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, May 2 and 3, in Presidio Park. Two stages will feature a continuous stream of veteran players performing everything from folk, blues and bluegrass to gospel and ragtime. There will also be music workshops, open jams, and a special children's show at 10 a.m. Saturday, with singing, dancing and face painting. And of course, there will be plenty of chow and drink.
Presidio Park is located downtown on Alameda Street, between the old County Courthouse and City Hall.
The party wraps up with a concert by Tucson's own Tex-Mex/Irish dervishes made-good, the Mollys. Concert is 8 p.m. Sunday in the Rialto Theater, 318 E. Congress St. Tickets are $6, and available at the door. For information on Folk Festival events, call 749-9770.
OUTRAGE UNDER WRAPS: He's been called the "comedian's comedian." The San Francisco Chronicle says, "Several things about Robert Schimmel call to mind Lenny Bruce: the sexual candor, the vocabulary, the attitude that there are many elements of society--violence, greed, etc.--that are more obscene than sex."
According to Judy Brown of the Los Angeles Times, "Robert Schimmel's act is not so much dirty as it is the equivalent of having a fun-house mirror over your bed."
More than once Schimmel has been called the '90s version of Lenny Bruce, though "Where Lenny Bruce was angry, he is resigned," according to The New York Times. Now he brings his refined style of outrage to Tucson for the University of Tucson's annual Comedy for Cancer fundraising event.
Performance is 8 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at Laffs Comedy Caffé, 2900 E. Broadway. Tickets are $7, and available at the door. Call 323-8669 for details.

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