MINDEN — Carson Valley Inn’s May entertainment lineup includes a ticketed performance by cowboy humorist Baxter Black on May 2 as well as free shows in the Cabaret Lounge throughout the month.
Black brings candor, patriotism, wit, humor, insight, poetry and charisma to his show, “An Evening with Baxter Black,” 7 p.m. May 2 at the Inn’s Valley Ballroom. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. This show kicks off the Genoa Cowboy Festival, set for May 3-5. Tickets for Black’s performance cost $30 and are available at the Inn’s hotel desk or by phone. A $119 overnight package is available for May 2, and includes a hotel room plus two show tickets. Details: 775-783-6606.
The Carson Valley Inn also has free live entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge from 6 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, from 7 to 11 p.m. Thursday and from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. As a courtesy to the Inn’s sports fans, live entertainment is delayed as appropriate for certain major sports events so that they may be viewed to their conclusion.
Cabaret Lounge schedule:
Through May 1: Steve Lord. Playing guitar and offering dynamic vocals, Steve Lord is a main stage performer on the West Coast. Known as the man of a thousand songs, Lord presents an evening of oldies, country, pop, blues, jazz, soul and rock ’n’ roll.
May 2: Sourdough Slim with Robert Armstrong. Sourdough Slim, also known as Rick Crowder, delivers Vaudevillian camp intermingled with cowboy lore. Since 1988, he has gained national recognition performing at such events and venues as the National Cowboy Gathering in Elko; the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; Carnegie Hall; and the Lincoln Center in New York. His fast-paced show combines cowboy singing, award-winning yodeling, timeless humor and accompaniment on accordion, guitar, ukulele and harmonica, as well as a keen knowledge of the traditional Western repertoire.
May 3-4 and May 19: Stew Stewart. A Stew Stewart show has something for everyone, including country music, blues, oldies, comedy, classic rock, Motown and more. A Nevada entertainer for more than four decades, Stewart has appeared at more than 100 state and county fairs, often as the opening act for such artists as Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Marie Osmond, Herman’s Hermits, the Drifters, the Coasters, Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, The Oak Ridge Boys and others. Stewart’s performances are at 8 and 10 p.m.
May 5-8: Dale Poune. Dale Poune, who plays guitar, dobro, mandolin and bass, is an accomplished vocalist with a variety of musical styles. Poune has performed with the Fortunes, Buddy Miles, the Coasters and the Drifters and currently is working with musician Lacy J. Dalton.
May 9-11: The Steppen Stonz. The Steppen Stonz performs Broadway tunes, oldies, Motown and pop. At the group’s core are its two lead vocalists, Michael Hill and Arthur Hayden, who started in college and have been performing together for more than 30 years.
May 12-15: George Pickard. George Pickard is an accomplished performer, impressionist, entertainer and songwriter. He co-wrote “What Did You Do with Your Old Forty Fives” for Bobby Vinton and backed up many acts from the 1950s and ’60s, including the Shirelles, the Diamonds and the Platters. He also was one of the Kingsmen (“Louie, Louie”). Pickard has played the Fillmore in San Francisco with such acts as Santana, Big Brother and the Holding Company and Jefferson Airplane.
May 16-18: Decades. Decades presents a vibrant and diverse act, with a set list ranging from Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” to Katy Perry’s “California Girls.” The group’s four-part harmonies and rhythm section are utilized to deliver hits from the 1950s to today. Decades consists of Samantha Francis (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Ben Ruttenberg (keyboards, guitar, vocals), Billy DiBono (drums, vocals), Will Watje (guitar, sax, vocals) and Tobias Brooks (bass, guitar, vocals).
May 20-22: Paul Covarelli. Veteran guitarist and vocalist Paul Covarelli started the group Jo Mama more than 20 years ago. He also performs with other are groups, covering jazz, swing, blues, Latin and more music styles.
The Carson Valley Inn is on U.S. 395 in Minden, near the start of state Route 88, 20 minutes from Lake Tahoe’s south shore and 45 minutes south of Reno. The property includes a casino, sports and race book, 150-room hotel, 74-room motor lodge, 59-site RV park and a convenience store with Shell gas and diesel fuel. There are also banquet and meeting rooms and services plus three dining facilities: CV Steak, the Inn’s Nevada-style steakhouse featuring steaks, seafood, pasta dishes and more; Katie’s, for 24-hour dining; and Job’s Perk for coffee drinks, pastries and sundries.
