SEATTLE — It's hard to miss the enormous 20-foot-wide American flag on the side of Richard Ormbrek's home. Comprised of around 180 tiles painted with scenes of Americana against a background of red and white stripes, the flag pops from the orange cedar shingles with traffic-stopping audacity.

Indie-folk artist Jay Nash will be performing in the Valley’s very own The Rhythm Room Wednesday, May 22 with fellow performer David Ramirez.

Hard rocker Tom Keifer would be among the first to say that life doesn’t go as planned. The long-time musician, best known for his lead role in the band Cinderella, released his first solo album – ”The Way Life Goes” – April 30 after a 10-year process and a long struggle with partial vocal chord paralysis — the ruination of many music careers.

Zaharis Elementary's Lemonade Club presented $414 to Academy Award winner, author and musician Jeff Bridges, international spokesperson for Share Our Strength: No Kid Hungry, last week. Principal Mike Oliver shared this story:

Zaharis Elementary's Lemonade Club presented $414 to Academy Award winner, author and musician Jeff Bridges, international spokesperson for Share Our Strength: No Kid Hungry, last week. Principal Mike Oliver shared this story:

While the pool, which once sat in the center of the courtyard of Mesa’s Starlite Motel, has long since been filled in, the Diving Lady will again plunge from her perch on Main Street this coming Tuesday.

Mesa Arts Center is inviting music lovers — or workers needing a change of scenery on their lunch breaks — to enjoy free concerts 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursdays through April 11 in its outdoor Wells Fargo Garden.

New West Guitar Group: This up-and-coming jazz trio tour in support of their new album “Round-Trip Ticket,” which blends traditional and Americana sounds.

The nationally known Mill Avenue New Year's Eve party in Tempe is making some changes and some cutbacks.

At the risk of raising ire from fans and lovers of Hostess snacks, I have to confess: I have never been a fan of Twinkies, Ho Hos, Ding Dongs, Zingers or Suzie Q’s. And I would say, outside of eating a package of powdered-sugar doughnuts on rare occasion, I haven’t touched a Twinkie or Hostess cake in more than 30 years. They were just too sweet for me, and I never liked the taste of them.

Martin Taylor’s email is said in jest, but sums up life in his Chandler family’s home very well: “Sorry we haven’t been in touch. It’s a circus around here.”

Known for their classical-Americana blend, the Turtle Island Quartet performs alongside Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton.

BLD (1920 W. Germann Road, Chandler [480] 779-8646). Short for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, BLD serves up chef-crafted comfort foods in a casual neighborhood environment, with a healthy disregard for when you’re “supposed” to crave dishes like bacon-studded waffles paired with fried chicken. (Breakfast is available until 2 p.m. daily.) A drive-thru window serves barista-made coffees, specialty drinks and meals on-the-go when you’re in a hurry — but a couple of bites always convince us these are meals best lingered over with good friends, good drinks (also available) and good conversation. $$

Performing Arts 2012-13 season preview

Performing Arts 2012-13 season preview

For nearly 40 years, Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe has helped people open pages to new chapters and new books by often allowing them to meet the authors and get their books signed.

CANNES, France — Writing the Prohibition-era bootlegger crime film "Lawless" — his second realized script and largest movie production yet — taught Australian songwriter Nick Cave certain foundational lessons of Hollywood moviemaking.

Arizona’s singer-songwriter duo JC and Laney perform Americana music from their most recent album “Heartbreak and Paradise,” among others.

Summer already is a month old, and one of Mesa’s leading ladies has not been able to take a dip into the pool, much less do what she’s best known for — take a dive.

Some noteworthy instruments from jazz history have found their way to the desert.