Urban AZ’s first Spoken Word Showcase brings together a range of poetic performers, along with R&B artists Dwele and Bilal with a band, at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18 at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix.

PHOENIX — Obstacle course runners start on their feet, but eventually end up on their stomachs, sides, even backs at they clamber through mud, over shipping containers, across netting made of mangled ropes.

This hit ’80s band, responsible for songs “Heart and Soul,” “The Heart of Rock and Roll,” and “The Power of Love,” performs in Chandler.

Jerome; Willcox; Mormon Lake

Soar into Spring Kite Festival; Fiesta de la Primavera; Prescott Highland Games; Payson Wildlife Fair

Bring your lawn chairs or picnic blankets to Freestone Park for an evening of complimentary music from popular Valley blues band Cold Shott and the Hurricane Horns. Food and beverages are available for purchase. Alcohol and glass containers are prohibited.

There are restaurants that slash prices on margaritas or invite a mariachi band for Cinco de Mayo - and then there are restaurants that go a little nuts.

His acceptance speech was easily the most brief, but the thoughts shared Friday night by United Food Bank President and CEO Bob Evans were certainly among the most poignant.

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.

The valedictorians for Tempe's Corona del Sol are:

There will be 589 graduates receiving diplomas from Gilbert High School this year.

Gilbert's Desert Ridge High School will graduate 580 students this year. Students have been awarded $7.3 million in scholarships.

Gilbert's Highland High School will graduate 715 students in its Class of 2013. The students have earned $10 million in scholarships.

About 568 graduates will receive diplomas this year from Mesa's Westwood High School.

Trumpeter/bandleader Doc Severinsen can still hit the notes, and it's not something he ever takes for granted. He always warms up.

The multi-platinum entertainer comes to Tempe along with his new back-up band 3RDEYEGIRL.

New York • When he first started working with Imagine Dragons, music producer Alex da Kid was looking for some inspiration for the Broadway musical, “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.”

With a reputation for being innovative and versatile, Dante Ariola made a name for himself directing commercials for the likes of Coca Cola, Nike and Lexus. What began as a substantial career in graphic design morphed into a myriad of film work, including music videos for bands like Cake and Cypress Hill, and a documentary short about wildlife conservationist Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, entitled “Man & Beast.”

They may be so commonplace they’re unappreciated, so simple they fail to activate the saliva glands at first sight, but in our book it’s hard to go wrong with chips and salsa.

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:

Longtime guests on “A Prairie Home Companion,” this roots band revives an old-fashioned genre in a new era. They are touring in support of their latest album, “Carry Me Back,” along with special guests, Dale Watson and the Texas Two.

Higley Elementary and Middle School is undergoing a transition to a back-to-basics style of instruction in 2013-14 - the inaugural school year as “The Higley Traditional Academy.”