Boz Scaggs knows he has a reputation for being something of a perfectionist. The casually stylish singer-songwriter recalls the endless tinkering and expansive budgets that went into making his multiplatinum 1970s albums “Silk Degrees” and “Down Two Then Left.”

An eclectic group of four Valley women, the Heady Hoop Tribe aims to inspire others in the Phoenix area through the creative power of modern hoop dance.

Runners in the East Valley are a tight community. If any two enthusiasts don’t know each other, there’s a good chance they know someone who knows someone who they’ve crossed a finish line with.

While Thursday's opening day at Country Thunder was the shortest day concert-wise, there was no disappointment in the four acts that took the stage – especially not when it came to headliner Brantley Gilbert.

Mesa

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Most folks know Memphis for its barbecue and Philly for its cheesesteaks, but how about Nashville and its hot chicken?

They brought folk back to mainstream radio long before The Lumineers and Of Monsters And Men hit it big, with blissful, down-home tunes popping up in jaunty car commercials and adorable father-daughter YouTube covers. This weekend, you can find the 10-piece Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros at the McDowell Mountain Music Festival in Phoenix, where they’ll be rubbing shoulders with the likes of The Shins, Dr. Dog and The Roots.

For weeks now, the women of St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Chandler have been preparing dolmathes, spanakopita, pastichio, baklava, kourambiedes, loukoumades and a wealth of other Greek delicacies in preparation for the annual spring “Taste of Greece” festival, which kicks off Friday.

This time of year, we’ll take nearly any excuse to get out and enjoy the weather. Fortunately, Chandler’s got a good one in its Feb. 23 Classic Car and Hot Rod Show.

Right up front, it’s important to know that I’m not a contestant for the title of Mr. Totally Financially Prepared.

Paco Peña: Flamenco Vivo - Spanish dancers, singers and musicians bring a bit of Andalucía to Scottsdale.

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.

Good Lovelies: This all-girl trio combines quirk and sass for an irresistibly modern take on folk music.

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

"What have you done? The year is gone."

Blake Hammond watched re-runs of the black-and-white television comedy series, “The Addams Family,” growing up. The series is based on the comic strips of the same name about an odd, spooky family that has become a part of pop culture. They’ve spawned not only a television series, but films, video games and most recently, a Broadway musical.

Seeking gift ideas for that music lover this holiday season, check out the following box set reviews from The Associated Press:

Known primarily for his character roles in “Total Recall” and “RoboCop,” long-time performer Ronny Cox is also a singer-songwriter, performing laid-back Southern folk music with a dash of self-depricating humor.

If what you know of United States history came out of school textbooks, prepare to be enthralled by our shared past as never before.

Q: I have thousands of songs in my iTunes at home that I would like to listen to at work and I don’t want to pay Apple to use iTunes Match. Any other suggestions? — Nicholas

Imagine that you found out who the responsible party was who added at least a week to the seemingly endless election season that we all thought ended Tuesday night.

Everyone knows Woody Guthrie for his impact on American folk music and many people associate him with the debilitating genetic disease that left him unable to perform and caused his death in middle age.

Q: I have thousands of songs in my iTunes at home that I would like to listen to at work and I don’t want to pay Apple to use iTunes Match. Any other suggestions? - Nicholas

You can hardly think of Tempe without picturing Hayden Flour Mill, its faded white silos rising from the base of Hayden Butte and anchoring the north end of Mill Avenue.